Jeremiah 2:33

Sin

³¹ You people of this generation, consider the word of the LORD: “Have I been a wilderness to Israel or a land of dense darkness? Why do My people say, ‘We are free to roam; we will come to You no more’?

³² Does a maiden forget her jewelry or a bride her wedding sash? Yet My people have forgotten Me for days without number.

How skillfully you pursue love! Even the most immoral of women could learn from your ways.

³⁴ Moreover, your skirts are stained with the blood of the innocent poor, though you did not find them breaking in. But in spite of all these things

³⁵ you say, ‘I am innocent. Surely His anger will turn from me.’ Behold, I will judge you, because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’

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: How skillfully you pursue love! Even the most immoral of women could learn from your ways.
KJV: Why trimmest thou thy way to seek love? therefore hast thou also taught the wicked ones thy ways.
WEB: How well you prepare your way to seek love! Therefore you have even taught the wicked women your ways.
ASV: How trimmest thou thy way to seek love! therefore even the wicked women hast thou taught thy ways.
DARBY: How dost thou trim thy way to seek love! Therefore hast thou also accustomed thy ways to wickedness.
BLB: “Why do you beautify your way to seek love? So even the wicked you have taught your ways.

ÅB: Hvor vel vet du ikke å legge din vei for å søke kjærlighet! Derfor har du også vent dine veier til det onde.
OTB: Hvor dyktig du er til å forfølge kjærlighet! Selv de verste av kvinner kan lære av dine veier.
B1930: Hvor vel vet du ikke å legge din vei for å søke kjærlighet! Derfor har du også vent dine veier til det onde.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Isaiah 57:7–10
On a high and lofty hill you have made your bed, and there you went up to offer sacrifices.
Read in context
Ezekiel 16:47
And you not only walked in their ways and practiced their abominations, but soon you were more depraved than they were.
Read in context
Hosea 2:5–7
For their mother has played the harlot and has conceived them in disgrace. For she thought, ‘I will go after my lovers, who give me bread and water, wool and linen, oil and drink.’
Read in context
Jeremiah 2:23
“How can you say, ‘I am not defiled; I have not run after the Baals’? Look at your behavior in the valley; acknowledge what you have done. You are a swift young she-camel galloping here and there,
Read in context
Jeremiah 3:1–2
“If a man divorces his wife and she leaves him to marry another, can he ever return to her? Would not such a land be completely defiled? But you have played the harlot with many lovers— and you would return to Me?” declares the LORD.
Read in context
2 Chronicles 33:9
So Manasseh led the people of Judah and Jerusalem astray, so that they did greater evil than the nations that the LORD had destroyed before the Israelites.
Read in context
Jeremiah 2:36
How unstable you are, constantly changing your ways! You will be disappointed by Egypt just as you were by Assyria.
Read in context
Ezekiel 16:27
Therefore I stretched out My hand against you and reduced your portion. I gave you over to the desire of those who hate you, the daughters of the Philistines, who were ashamed of your lewd conduct.
Read in context