Jeremiah 2 · Verse 8

Jeremiah 2:8

The priests said not, Where is the Lord? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.
Jeremiah 2:8, King James Version

Jeremiah 2:8 in other translations

BSBThe priests did not ask, ‘Where is the LORD?’ The experts in the law no longer knew Me, and the leaders rebelled against Me. The prophets prophesied by Baal and followed useless idols.
WEBThe priests didn’t say, ‘Where is the LORD?’ and those who handle the law didn’t know me. The rulers also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal and followed things that do not profit.
ASVThe priests said not, Where is Jehovah? and they that handle the law knew me not: the rulers also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.
YLTThe priests have not said, ‘Where is Jehovah?' And those handling the law have not known Me. And the shepherds transgressed against Me, And the prophets have prophesied by Baal, And after those who profit not have gone.
DARBYThe priests said not, Where is Jehovah? and they that handled the law knew me not; and the shepherds transgressed against me; and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.
BBEThe priests did not say, Where is the Lord? and those who were expert in the law had no knowledge of me: and the rulers did evil against me, and the prophets became prophets of the Baal, going after things without value.
WebsterThe priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.

What does Jeremiah 2:8 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
8. The three leading classes, whose very office under the theocracy was to lead the people to God, disowned Him in the same language as the nation at large, "Where is the Lord?" (See Jr 2:6). priests--whose office it was to expound the law (Mal 2:6, 7). handle--are occupied with the law as the subject of their profession. pastors--civil, not religious: princes (Jr 3:15), whose duty it was to tend their people. prophets--who should have reclaimed the people from their apostasy, encouraged them in it by pretended oracles from Baal, the Phoenician false god. by Baal--in his name and by his authority (compare Jr 11:21). walked after things ... not profit--answering to, "walked after vanity," that is, idols (Jr 2:5; compare Jr 2:11; Ha 2:18).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 8 They that handle the law - ותפשי vethophe shey, they that draw out the law; they whose office it is to explain it, draw out its spiritual meanings, and show to what its testimonies refer. The pastors also - Kings, political and civil rulers. Prophesied by Baal - Became his prophets, and were inspired with the words of lying spirits.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Jeremiah 2:1-8

God expostulates with his people. (Jr 2:1-8) Their revolt beyond example. (Jr 2:9-13) Guilt the cause of sufferings. (Jr 2:14-19) The sins of Judah. (Jr 2:20-28) Their false confidence. (Jr 2:29-37) Verses 1-8 Those who begin well, but do not persevere, will justly be upbraided with their hopeful and promising beginnings. Those who desert religion, commonly oppose it more than those who never knew it. For this they…

Read the full comment on Jeremiah 2:1-8 →

Jeremiah 2:8 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

הַכֹּהֲנִ֗יםha.ko.ha.Nimthe priestsH3548
לֹ֤אlo'notH3808
אָֽמְרוּ֙'a.me.Ruthey saidH559
אַיֵּ֣ה'ai.Yehwhere?H346
יְהוָ֔הYah.weh[is] YahwehH3068
וְתֹפְשֵׂ֤יve.to.fe.Seiand [those who] handledH8610
הַתּוֹרָה֙ha.to.Rah<of> the lawH8451
לֹ֣אlo'notH3808
יְדָע֔וּנִיye.da.'U.nithey knew meH3045
וְהָרֹעִ֖יםve.ha.ro.'Imand the shepherdsH7462
פָּ֣שְׁעוּPa.she.'uthey rebelledH6586
בִ֑יViagainst <the> me
וְהַנְּבִיאִים֙ve.ha.ne.vi.'Imand the prophetsH5030
נִבְּא֣וּni.be.'Uthey prophesiedH5012
בַבַּ֔עַלva.Ba.'alby <the> BaalH1168
וְאַחֲרֵ֥יve.'a.cha.Reiand afterH310
לֹֽא\־lo'-[things which] notH3808
יוֹעִ֖לוּyo.'I.luthey profitedH3276
הָלָֽכוּ\׃ha.La.khuthey walkedH1980

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Jeremiah 2:8

  • Habakkuk 2:18

    What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols?

  • Jeremiah 10:21

    For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the Lord: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered.

  • Jeremiah 5:31

    The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?

  • 2 Corinthians 4:2

    But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

  • Romans 2:17-24

    Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. …

  • Hosea 4:6

    My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

  • Isaiah 30:5

    They were all ashamed of a people that could not profit them, nor be an help nor profit, but a shame, and also a reproach.

  • Isaiah 29:10

    For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.

  • John 16:3

    And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.

  • Luke 11:52

    Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.

  • John 8:55

    Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.

  • 1 Samuel 12:21

    And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
priests.
6; 5:31; 8:10,11; 23:9-15; 1Sa 2:12; Isa 28:7; 29:10; 56:9-12
Ho 4:6
and they that.
8:8,9; De 33:10; Mal 2:6-9; Lu 11:52; Joh 8:55; 16:3; Ro 2:17-24
2Co 4:2
the pastors.
10:21; 12:10; 23:1,2
prophets.
23:13; 1Ki 18:29,22,40
do not.
11; 7:8; 1Sa 12:21; Isa 30:5; Hab 2:18; Mt 16:26

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Jeremiah 2:7

    And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination.

  • Jeremiah 2:8

    The priests said not, Where is the Lord? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.

  • Jeremiah 2:9

    Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the Lord, and with your children’s children will I plead.

Read all of Jeremiah 2

Jeremiah 2:8 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Los sacerdotes no dijeron: ¿Dónde está Jehová? y los que tenían la ley no me conocieron; y los pastores se rebelaron contra mí, y los profetas profetizaron en Baal, y anduvieron tras lo que no aprovecha.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Les sacrificateurs n’ont pas dit: Où est l’ Éternel? et ceux qui s’occupaient de la loi ne m’ont point connu, et les pasteurs se sont rebellés contre moi, et les prophètes ont prophétisé par Baal et ont marché après des choses qui ne profitent pas.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Die Priester sprachen nicht: Wo ist Jehova? Und die das Gesetz handhabten, kannten mich nicht, und die Hirten fielen von mir ab; und die Propheten weissagten durch den Baal und sind denen nachgegangen, welche nichts nützen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Sacerdotes non dixerunt: Ubi est Dominus? et tenentes legem nescierunt me, et pastores prævaricati sunt in me, et prophetæ prophetaverunt in Baal, et idola secuti sunt.