Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version The priests did not ask, ‘Where is the LORD?’ Those who deal with the law did not know me; the leaders rebelled against me. The prophets prophesied by Baal, following worthless idols. New Living Translation The priests did not ask, ‘Where is the LORD?’ Those who taught my word ignored me, the rulers turned against me, and the prophets spoke in the name of Baal, wasting their time on worthless idols. English Standard Version The priests did not say, ‘Where is the LORD?’ Those who handle the law did not know me; the shepherds transgressed against me; the prophets prophesied by Baal and went after things that do not profit. Berean Standard Bible The 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. King James Bible 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. New King James Version The priests did not say, ‘Where is the LORD?’ And those who handle the law did not know Me; The rulers also transgressed against Me; The prophets prophesied by Baal, And walked after things that do not profit. New American Standard Bible “The priests did not say, ‘Where is the LORD?’ And those who handle the Law did not know Me; The rulers also revolted against Me, And the prophets prophesied by Baal And walked after things that were of no benefit. NASB 1995 “The priests did not say, ‘Where is the LORD?’ And those who handle the law did not know Me; The rulers also transgressed against Me, And the prophets prophesied by Baal And walked after things that did not profit. NASB 1977 “The priests did not say, ‘Where is the LORD?’ And those who handle the law did not know Me; The rulers also transgressed against Me, And the prophets prophesied by Baal And walked after things that did not profit. Legacy Standard Bible The priests did not say, ‘Where is Yahweh?’ And those who handle the law did not know Me; The shepherds also transgressed against Me, And the prophets prophesied by Baal And walked after things that did not profit. Amplified Bible “[Even] the priests did not say, ‘Where is the LORD?’ And those who deal with the law [given to Moses] did not know Me. The rulers and shepherds also transgressed against Me, And the prophets prophesied by [the authority and in the name of] Baal And walked after [idolatrous] things that did not benefit [them]. Christian Standard Bible The priests quit asking, “Where is the LORD? ” The experts in the law no longer knew me, and the rulers rebelled against me. The prophets prophesied by Baal and followed useless idols. Holman Christian Standard Bible The priests quit asking, “Where is the LORD?” The experts in the law no longer knew Me, and the rulers rebelled against Me. The prophets prophesied by Baal and followed useless idols. American Standard Version The 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. Contemporary English Version The priests who teach my laws don't care to know me. Your leaders rebel against me; your prophets give messages from Baal and worship false gods. English Revised Version The priests said not, Where is the LORD? 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. GOD'S WORD® Translation The priests didn't ask, "Where is the LORD?" Those who deal with my teachings didn't know me. The rulers rebelled against me. The prophets prophesied in the name of Baal and followed statues that couldn't help them. Good News Translation The priests did not ask, 'Where is the LORD?' My own priests did not know me. The rulers rebelled against me; the prophets spoke in the name of Baal and worshiped useless idols. International Standard Version "The priests didn't say, 'Where is the LORD?' and those handling the Law didn't know me. The rulers transgressed against me, the prophets prophesied by Baal, and they followed that which does not profit. Majority Standard Bible The 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. NET Bible Your priests did not ask, 'Where is the LORD?' Those responsible for teaching my law did not really know me. Your rulers rebelled against me. Your prophets prophesied in the name of the god Baal. They all worshiped idols that could not help them. New Heart English Bible The priests did not say, 'Where is the LORD?' And those who handle the law did not know me. The rulers also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit. Webster's Bible Translation 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. World English Bible The priests didn’t say, ‘Where is Yahweh?’ 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. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionThe priests have not said, Where [is] YHWH? And those handling the Law have not known Me. And the shepherds transgressed against Me, "" And the prophets have prophesied by Ba‘al, "" And have gone after those who do not profit. Young's Literal Translation The 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. Smith's Literal Translation The priests said not Where is Jehovah? and they holding the law knew me not: and the shepherds transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and they went After what will not profit. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThe priests did not say: Where is the Lord? and they that held the law knew me not, and the pastors transgressed against me: and the prophets prophesied in Baal, and followed idols. Catholic Public Domain Version The priests have not sad: ‘Where is the Lord?’ And those who held the law did not know me. And the pastors betrayed me. And the prophets prophesied in Baal and followed idols. New American Bible The priests did not ask, “Where is the LORD?” The experts in the law did not know me: the shepherds rebelled against me. The prophets prophesied by Baal, and went after useless idols. New Revised Standard Version The priests did not say, “Where is the LORD?” Those who handle the law did not know me; the rulers transgressed against me; the prophets prophesied by Baal, and went after things that do not profit. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThe priests did not say, Where is the LORD? And those who handle the law did not know me; the leaders also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and went after things that do not profit. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated The Priests did not say, “Where is LORD JEHOVAH and the Curators of The Law? They did not know me and the Shepherds were unfaithful to me, and the Prophets prophesied by Baal, and they went after the thing that has no benefit in it OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917The priests said not: 'Where is the LORD?' And they that handle the law knew Me not, And the rulers transgressed against Me; The prophets also prophesied by Baal, And walked after things that do not profit. Brenton Septuagint Translation The priests said not, Where is the Lord? and they that held by the law knew me not: the shepherds also sinned against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and went after that which profited not. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Israel has Forsaken God…7I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and bounty, but you came and defiled My land, and made My inheritance detestable. 8The 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. 9Therefore, I will contend with you again, declares the LORD, and I will bring a case against your children’s children.… Cross References Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children. Malachi 2:7-8 For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the LORD of Hosts. / But you have departed from the way, and your instruction has caused many to stumble. You have violated the covenant of Levi,” says the LORD of Hosts. Ezekiel 22:26 Her priests do violence to My law and profane My holy things. They make no distinction between the holy and the common, and they fail to distinguish between the clean and the unclean. They disregard My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. Zephaniah 3:4 Her prophets are reckless, faithless men. Her priests profane the sanctuary; they do violence to the law. Micah 3:11 Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets practice divination for money. Yet they lean upon the LORD, saying, “Is not the LORD among us? No disaster can come upon us.” Isaiah 56:10-11 Israel’s watchmen are blind, they are all oblivious; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they are dreamers lying around, loving to slumber. / Like ravenous dogs, they are never satisfied. They are shepherds with no discernment; they all turn to their own way, each one seeking his own gain: 1 Samuel 2:12 Now the sons of Eli were wicked men; they had no regard for the LORD 1 Kings 18:21 Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him. But if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people did not answer a word. 2 Kings 17:13 Yet through all His prophets and seers, the LORD warned Israel and Judah, saying, “Turn from your wicked ways and keep My commandments and statutes, according to the entire Law that I commanded your fathers and delivered to you through My servants the prophets.” 2 Chronicles 15:3 For many years Israel has been without the true God, without a priest to instruct them, and without the law. Matthew 15:14 Disregard them! They are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.” Matthew 23:16 Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ Luke 11:52 Woe to you experts in the law! For you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.” John 10:12-13 The hired hand is not the shepherd, and the sheep are not his own. When he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf pounces on them and scatters the flock. / The man runs away because he is a hired servant and is unconcerned for the sheep. Acts 20:29-30 I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. / Even from your own number, men will rise up and distort the truth to draw away disciples after them. Treasury of Scripture 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. priests Jeremiah 2:6 Neither said they, Where is the LORD that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt? 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? Jeremiah 8:10,11 Therefore will I give their wives unto others, and their fields to them that shall inherit them: for every one from the least even unto the greatest is given to covetousness, from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely… and they that Jeremiah 8:8,9 How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribes is in vain… Deuteronomy 33:10 They shall teach Jacob thy judgments, and Israel thy law: they shall put incense before thee, and whole burnt sacrifice upon thine altar. Malachi 2:6-9 The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity… the pastors 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 12:10 Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness. Jeremiah 23:1,2 Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD… prophets Jeremiah 23:13 And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria; they prophesied in Baal, and caused my people Israel to err. 1 Kings 18:29,22,40 And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded… do not Jeremiah 2:11 Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit. Jeremiah 7:8 Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit. 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. Jump to Previous Baal Ba'al Deal Evil Following Handle Law Pastors Priests Profit Prophesied Prophets Rulers Transgressed Walked Where WorthlessJump to Next Baal Ba'al Deal Evil Following Handle Law Pastors Priests Profit Prophesied Prophets Rulers Transgressed Walked Where WorthlessJeremiah 2 1. God having shown his former kindness, 5. expostulates with the people on their causeless and unexampled revolt 14. They are the causes of their own calamities 18. The sins and idolatries of Judah 35. Her confidence is rejected. The priests did not ask, ‘Where is the LORD?’ The priests, who were responsible for leading the people in worship and maintaining the spiritual health of the nation, failed in their duty to seek God. This reflects a spiritual apathy and neglect of their primary role. In the context of Israel's history, the priesthood was established to mediate between God and the people (Exodus 28-29). Their failure to inquire of the Lord indicates a breakdown in their relationship with Him, reminiscent of the period of the Judges when "everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25). The experts in the law no longer knew Me, and the leaders rebelled against Me. The prophets prophesied by Baal and followed useless idols. Persons / Places / Events 1. PriestsReligious leaders responsible for temple worship and teaching the law. They failed to seek God, indicating a spiritual decline. 2. Experts in the Law Also known as scribes or teachers of the law, these individuals were expected to know and interpret God's commandments but were ignorant of God Himself. 3. Leaders Likely referring to the political and social leaders of Israel who turned away from God, leading the nation into rebellion. 4. Prophets Supposed to be God's mouthpieces, they instead prophesied by Baal, a Canaanite deity, showing a departure from true worship. 5. Baal A false god worshiped in Canaan, representing the idolatry that had infiltrated Israel. Teaching Points Spiritual Leadership AccountabilityLeaders, both religious and secular, are accountable to God for their influence. They must seek God earnestly and lead others in truth. The Danger of Idolatry Idolatry can take many forms, including the elevation of false ideologies or materialism. Believers must guard against anything that takes the place of God in their lives. The Importance of Knowing God Intellectual knowledge of scripture is insufficient without a personal relationship with God. Believers should strive to know God intimately. Prophetic Integrity Those who speak for God must ensure their messages align with His truth, avoiding the temptation to follow popular but false teachings.(8) The priests said not . . .--As throughout the work of Jeremiah and most of the prophets of the Old Testament, that which weighed most heavily on their souls was that those who were called to be guides of the people were themselves the chief agents in the evil. The salt had lost its savour. The light had become darkness. The rebuke, we must remember, came from the lips of one who was himself a priest. The priests said not, Where is the Lord?--The same failure to seek as that condemned in Jeremiah 2:6. To them, too, all was a routine. Jehovah was absent from their thoughts even in the very act of worship. They that handle the law.--These, probably, were also of the priestly order, to whom this function was assigned in Deuteronomy 33:10. The order of non-priestly scribes, in the sense of interpreters of the law, does not appear till after the captivity. Their sin was that they "dealt with the law" as interpreters and judges, and forgot Jehovah who had given it. The pastors.--Better, shepherds, the English "pastors" having gained a too definitely religious connotation. The Hebrew word was general in its significance, but in its Old Testament use was applied chiefly to civil rulers, as in Psalm 78:71; 1Kings 22:17. Even in Ezekiel 34, where the spiritual aspect of rule is most prominent, the contrast between the false shepherds and the one true shepherd of the house of David (Jeremiah 2:23) shows that the kingly, not the priestly, office was in the prophet's mind. . . . Verse 8. - The priests, etc. The blame principally falls on the three leading classes (as in ver. 26; Micah 3:11). First on the priests who "handle the Law," i.e. who have a traditional knowledge of the details of the Law, and teach the people accordingly (Deuteronomy 17:9-11; Deuteronomy 33:10; Jeremiah 18:18; see also on Jeremiah 8:8); next on the "pastors," or "shepherds" (in the Homeric sense), the civil and not the spiritual authorities; so generally in the Old Testament (see Jeremiah 3:15; Jeremiah 10:21; Jeremiah 22:22; Jeremiah 25:34; Zechariah 10:3; Zechariah 11:5, 8, 16; Isaiah 44:28); and lastly on the prophets, who sought their inspiration, not from Jehovah (comp. note on ver. 30), but from Baal. To prophesy by (by means of) Baal or rather, the Baal, implies that prophecy is due to an impulse from the supernatural world; that it is not an objectifying of the imaginations of the prophet himself. Even the Baal prophets yielded to an impulse from without, but how that impulse was produced the prophet does not tell us. We are told in 1 Kings 22:19-23, that even prophets of Jehovah could be led astray by a "lying spirit;" much more presumably could prophets of the Baal. The Baal is here used as a representative of the idol-gods, in antithesis to Jehovah; sometimes "Baalim," or the Baals, is used instead (e.g. ver. 23; Jeremiah 9:13), each town or city having its own Baal ("lord"). Things that do not profit. A synonym for idols (comp. Jeremiah 16:19; Isaiah 44:9;. 1 Samuel 12:21). An enlightened regard for self-interest is encouraged by the religion of the Bible, at any rate educationally. Contrast Comtism.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew The priestsהַכֹּהֲנִ֗ים (hak·kō·hă·nîm) Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 3548: Priest did not לֹ֤א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no ask, אָֽמְרוּ֙ (’ā·mə·rū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 559: To utter, say ‘Where אַיֵּ֣ה (’ay·yêh) Interrogative Strong's 346: Where? is the LORD?’ יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel The experts וְתֹפְשֵׂ֤י (wə·ṯō·p̄ə·śê) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct Strong's 8610: To manipulate, seize, chiefly to capture, wield, to overlay, to use unwarrantably in the law הַתּוֹרָה֙ (hat·tō·w·rāh) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 8451: Direction, instruction, law no לֹ֣א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no longer knew Me, יְדָע֔וּנִי (yə·ḏā·‘ū·nî) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural | first person common singular Strong's 3045: To know and the leaders וְהָרֹעִ֖ים (wə·hā·rō·‘îm) Conjunctive waw, Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural Strong's 7462: To tend a, flock, pasture it, in, to graze, to rule, to associate with rebelled פָּ֣שְׁעוּ (pā·šə·‘ū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 6586: To break away, trespass, apostatize, quarrel against Me. בִ֑י (ḇî) Preposition | first person common singular Strong's Hebrew The prophets וְהַנְּבִיאִים֙ (wə·han·nə·ḇî·’îm) Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 5030: A spokesman, speaker, prophet prophesied נִבְּא֣וּ (nib·bə·’ū) Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 5012: To prophesy, speak, by inspiration by Baal בַבַּ֔עַל (ḇab·ba·‘al) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 1168: Baal -- a heathen god and followed וְאַחֲרֵ֥י (wə·’a·ḥă·rê) Conjunctive waw | Preposition Strong's 310: The hind or following part useless לֹֽא־ (lō-) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no idols. יוֹעִ֖לוּ (yō·w·‘i·lū) Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 3276: To confer or gain profit or benefit Links Jeremiah 2:8 NIVJeremiah 2:8 NLT Jeremiah 2:8 ESV Jeremiah 2:8 NASB Jeremiah 2:8 KJV Jeremiah 2:8 BibleApps.com Jeremiah 2:8 Biblia Paralela Jeremiah 2:8 Chinese Bible Jeremiah 2:8 French Bible Jeremiah 2:8 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Jeremiah 2:8 The priests didn't say Where is Yahweh? 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