What is God correcting when the people say, I am not polluted?

God is answering the people’s claim that they are innocent and have not gone after Baalim. They speak as if they are clean and have done nothing wrong. God tells them to look honestly at their “way in the valley,” meaning their actual behavior, especially in places where idols were worshiped. He compares them to a restless camel and a wild donkey chasing after mates, showing how eager and unrestrained they have been in seeking idols. Their words say, “we are not polluted,” but their actions prove the opposite.

What do the images of a swift dromedary and a wild ass mean here?

The swift dromedary and the wild ass are pictures of an animal driven by strong desire, running here and there without control. God uses these images to show how Judah chases after idols and foreign lovers. Like a wild animal in heat that no one can turn back, they rush after other gods with eagerness, not caring about the danger. The point is not about the animals themselves, but about the people being stubborn, unrestrained, and unwilling to be guided, even though God has warned them again and again.

Why are the people ashamed like a thief when he is found?

The shame of a thief who is caught is sudden and forced. He may have denied his guilt until the moment he is taken. God says the house of Israel will be ashamed in that same way. Their kings, princes, priests, and prophets have all joined in idolatry, even saying to wood and stone, “You are my father” and “You gave me birth.” While things seem calm, they turn their backs to God. But when trouble comes, and it is clear their idols cannot save them, their sin is exposed and they are finally ashamed, like a thief caught in the act.

Why does God ask, Where are thy gods that thou hast made thee?

God’s question is meant to expose how empty their idols are. The people had many gods, as many as their cities. They treated these man-made gods as their protectors. So God tells them, in effect, “Go and call on those gods you made. Let them arise and save you in your trouble, if they can.” Of course they cannot. Wood and stone cannot act or speak. The question shows that only the true God can rescue, and that trusting in many idols, or in anything else we make or choose in place of God, will fail when real trouble comes.

What does it mean that your own sword has devoured your prophets?

This means the people themselves killed the prophets God sent to warn them. Instead of listening to correction, they used violence against those who called them back to God. Their sword “devouring” the prophets like a destroying lion shows how fierce and hostile they were toward God’s messengers. It also explains why earlier discipline had little effect. God says, “In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction.” They were so hardened that they not only ignored warnings, they removed the very people who spoke God’s word to them.

What is the point of the questions about a maid forgetting her ornaments or a bride her attire?

These questions remind the people how unlikely it is for a young woman to forget her jewelry, or a bride to forget what she wears on her wedding day. Such things are precious and always on their minds. God then says that His people have forgotten Him “days without number.” The contrast is sharp. They hold on tightly to their idols and foreign loves, but they let go of the God who saved and cared for them. The picture shows how unnatural and shocking it is that they would treat God so lightly and yet cling to lesser things.

What does trimming thy way to seek love mean in this passage?

“Why trimmest thou thy way to seek love?” is God’s way of asking why Judah carefully adjusts and decorates its path to win the favor of others. It pictures someone changing their behavior, smoothing things over, and even lowering their standards just to gain the love of foreign nations and their gods. By doing this, the people not only follow evil ways, they also teach wicked ones their methods. Instead of being set apart for God, they become teachers of sin. The phrase shows how far they are willing to go to keep their unfaithful relationships.

Why will Judah be ashamed of Egypt as they were of Assyria?

Judah kept running from one foreign power to another, hoping these nations would save them from trouble instead of turning back to God. They had already been disappointed by Assyria, and now they were looking to Egypt. God warns that Egypt will fail them too. They will leave Egypt with their hands on their heads, a sign of deep sorrow and defeat. The Lord has rejected these “confidences” because they are false trusts. The lesson is that depending on human strength, instead of God, will bring shame and no lasting help.

Jer.2.23

Jeremiah 2:23

Q: What does withhold thy foot from being unshod and thy throat from thirst mean?

This line is God urging His people to stop wearing themselves out in their search for help apart from Him. Bare feet and a thirsty throat picture long, tiring journeys, likely to foreign nations and their gods. God is saying, in simple terms, “Stop running after these other helpers. You are only hurting and exhausting yourselves.” But the people answer, “There is no hope, for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go.” They are so attached to their idols and foreign support that they refuse to turn back, even when warned.

Q: Why does God say in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents?

This picture means that guilt is openly seen on them, not hidden. Blood on the skirts suggests that innocent people have been killed, likely including prophets and faithful ones, and the evidence is right there for all to see. God says He has not had to search in secret to find this. Their violence and wrongdoing are out in the open. Yet even with such clear guilt, they still say, “Because I am innocent, surely his anger shall turn from me.” God answers that He will judge them because they keep claiming they have not sinned.

KJV GOD

How canst thou say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways;

Israel’s Unfaithfulness

How canst thou say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways;

A wild ass used to the wilderness, that snuffeth up the wind at her pleasure; in her occasion who can turn her away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her.

Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst: but thou saidst, There is no hope: no; for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go.

As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets,

Saying to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.

But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee? let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble: for according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah.

Wherefore will ye plead with me? ye all have transgressed against me, saith the Lord.

In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.

¶ O generation, see ye the word of the Lord. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? a land of darkness? wherefore say my people, We are lords; we will come no more unto thee?

Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.

Why trimmest thou thy way to seek love? therefore hast thou also taught the wicked ones thy ways.

Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these.

Yet thou sayest, Because I am innocent, surely his anger shall turn from me. Behold, I will plead with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned.

Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou also shalt be ashamed of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria.

Yea, thou shalt go forth from him, and thine hands upon thine head: for the Lord hath rejected thy confidences, and thou shalt not prosper in them.

Cross References

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