Jeremiah 5:7

Forgiveness Faithfulness and loyalty

⁵ I will go to the powerful and speak to them. Surely they know the way of the LORD, the justice of their God.” But they too, with one accord, had broken the yoke and torn off the chains.

⁶ Therefore a lion from the forest will strike them down, a wolf from the desert will ravage them. A leopard will lie in wait near their cities, and everyone who ventures out will be torn to pieces. For their rebellious acts are many, and their unfaithful deeds are numerous.

“Why should I forgive you? Your children have forsaken Me and sworn by gods that are not gods. I satisfied their needs, yet they committed adultery and assembled at the houses of prostitutes.

⁸ They are well-fed, lusty stallions, each neighing after his neighbor’s wife.

⁹ Should I not punish them for these things?” declares the LORD. “Should I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?

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: “Why should I forgive you? Your children have forsaken Me and sworn by gods that are not gods. I satisfied their needs, yet they committed adultery and assembled at the houses of prostitutes.
KJV: How shall I pardon thee for this? thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they then committed adultery, and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots’ houses.
WEB: “How can I pardon you? Your children have forsaken me, and sworn by what are no gods. When I had fed them to the full, they committed adultery, and assembled themselves in troops at the prostitutes’ houses.
ASV: How can I pardon thee? thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they committed adultery, and assembled themselves in troops at the harlots` houses.
DARBY: Wherefore should I pardon thee? Thy children have forsaken me, and swear by them that are not God. I have satiated them, and they have committed adultery, and they troop to the harlots' house.
BLB: “How can I grant forgiveness to you for this? Your sons have forsaken Me and have sworn by those not gods. And I satisfied them, and they committed adultery, and [in] the houses of a harlot they gather themselves together.

ÅB: Hvorfor skulle jeg tilgi deg? Dine barn har forlatt meg og svoret ved guder som ikke er guder; og jeg mettet dem, men de drev hor og flokket seg i skjøgens hus.
OTB: “Hvorfor skulle jeg tilgi deg? Dine barn har forlatt Meg og sverget ved dem som ikke er guder. Jeg sørget for dem, men de begikk ekteskapsbrudd og flokket seg til skjøgenes hus.
B1930: Hvorfor skulde jeg tilgi dig? Dine barn har forlatt mig og svoret ved guder som ikke er guder; og jeg mettet dem, men de drev hor og flokket sig i skjøgens hus.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Galatians 4:8
Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.
Read in context
Joshua 23:7
So you are not to associate with these nations that remain among you. You must not call on the names of their gods or swear by them, and you must not serve them or bow down to them.
Read in context
Deuteronomy 32:21
They have provoked My jealousy by that which is not God; they have enraged Me with their worthless idols. So I will make them jealous by those who are not a people; I will make them angry by a nation without understanding.
Read in context
Jeremiah 2:11
Has a nation ever changed its gods, though they are no gods at all? Yet My people have exchanged their Glory for useless idols.
Read in context
Zephaniah 1:5
those who bow on the rooftops to worship the host of heaven, those who bow down and swear by the LORD but also swear by Milcom,
Read in context
1 Corinthians 8:4
So about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one.
Read in context
Jeremiah 23:10
For the land is full of adulterers— because of the curse, the land mourns and the pastures of the wilderness have dried up— their course is evil and their power is misused.
Read in context
Deuteronomy 32:15
But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked— becoming fat, bloated, and gorged. He abandoned the God who made him and scorned the Rock of his salvation.
Read in context