Jeremiah 2:3

¹ Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

² “Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem that this is what the LORD says: ‘I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.

Israel was holy to the LORD, the firstfruits of His harvest. All who devoured her found themselves guilty; disaster came upon them,’” declares the LORD.

⁴ Hear the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all you families of the house of Israel.

⁵ This is what the LORD says: “What fault did your fathers find in Me that they strayed so far from Me, and followed worthless idols, and became worthless themselves?

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: Israel was holy to the LORD, the firstfruits of His harvest. All who devoured her found themselves guilty; disaster came upon them,’” declares the LORD.
KJV: Israel was holiness unto the LORD, and the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD.
WEB: Israel was holiness to the LORD, the first fruits of his increase. All who devour him will be held guilty. Evil will come on them,”’ says the LORD.”
ASV: Israel [was] holiness unto Jehovah, the first-fruits of his increase: all that devour him shall be held guilty; evil shall come upon them, saith Jehovah.
DARBY: Israel was holiness unto Jehovah, the first-fruits of his increase: all that devour him are guilty; evil shall come upon them, saith Jehovah.
BLB: “Israel [was] holy to YHWH, and the firstfruit of His increase. All those eating it were guilty; [and] disaster came upon them,’” a declaration of YHWH.

ÅB: Hellig var Israel for Herren, hans førstegrøde[^1]; alle som ville spise det, måtte bøte, ulykke kom over dem, sier Herren.
OTB: Israel var hellig for Herren, den første frukt av hans høst. Alle som fortærte henne ble holdt skyldige; ulykke kom over dem," erklærer Herren.
B1930: Hellig var Israel for Herren, hans førstegrøde; alle som vilde ete det, måtte bøte, ulykke kom over dem, sier Herren. / < JAK 1, 18.>

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Revelation 14:4
These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they are virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever He goes. They have been redeemed from among men as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.
Read in context
James 1:18
He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of His creation.
Read in context
Isaiah 41:11
Behold, all who rage against you will be ashamed and disgraced; those who contend with you will be reduced to nothing and will perish.
Read in context
Deuteronomy 7:6
For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His prized possession out of all peoples on the face of the earth.
Read in context
Romans 11:16
If the first part of the dough is holy, so is the whole batch; if the root is holy, so are the branches.
Read in context
Exodus 4:22–23
Then tell Pharaoh that this is what the LORD says: ‘Israel is My firstborn son,
Read in context
Jeremiah 50:7
All who found them devoured them, and their enemies said, ‘We are not guilty, for they have sinned against the LORD, their true pasture, the LORD, the hope of their fathers.’
Read in context
Deuteronomy 14:2
for you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD has chosen you to be a people for His prized possession out of all the peoples on the face of the earth.
Read in context