Jeremiah 5:19
New International Version
And when the people ask, ‘Why has the LORD our God done all this to us?’ you will tell them, ‘As you have forsaken me and served foreign gods in your own land, so now you will serve foreigners in a land not your own.’

New Living Translation
“And when your people ask, ‘Why did the LORD our God do all this to us?’ you must reply, ‘You rejected him and gave yourselves to foreign gods in your own land. Now you will serve foreigners in a land that is not your own.’

English Standard Version
And when your people say, ‘Why has the LORD our God done all these things to us?’ you shall say to them, ‘As you have forsaken me and served foreign gods in your land, so you shall serve foreigners in a land that is not yours.’”

Berean Standard Bible
And when the people ask, ‘For what offense has the LORD our God done all these things to us?’ You are to tell them, ‘Just as you have forsaken Me and served foreign gods in your land, so will you serve foreigners in a land that is not your own.’”

King James Bible
And it shall come to pass, when ye shall say, Wherefore doeth the LORD our God all these things unto us? then shalt thou answer them, Like as ye have forsaken me, and served strange gods in your land, so shall ye serve strangers in a land that is not yours.

New King James Version
And it will be when you say, ‘Why does the LORD our God do all these things to us?’ then you shall answer them, ‘Just as you have forsaken Me and served foreign gods in your land, so you shall serve aliens in a land that is not yours.’

New American Standard Bible
And it shall come about when they say, ‘Why has the LORD our God done all these things to us?’ then you shall say to them, ‘Just as you have abandoned Me and served foreign gods in your land, so you will serve strangers in a land that is not yours.’

NASB 1995
“It shall come about when they say, ‘Why has the LORD our God done all these things to us?’ then you shall say to them, ‘As you have forsaken Me and served foreign gods in your land, so you will serve strangers in a land that is not yours.’

NASB 1977
“And it shall come about when they say, ‘Why has the LORD our God done all these things to us?’ then you shall say to them, ‘As you have forsaken Me and served foreign gods in your land, so you shall serve strangers in a land that is not yours.’

Legacy Standard Bible
It shall come about when they say, ‘Why has Yahweh our God done all these things to us?’ then you shall say to them, ‘As you have forsaken Me and served foreign gods in your land, so you will serve strangers in a land that is not yours.’

Amplified Bible
It will come about when your people say, ‘Why has the LORD our God done all these things to us?’ then you shall answer them, ‘As you have abandoned (rejected) Me,’ [says the LORD,] ‘and have served strange and foreign gods in your land, so you will serve strangers in a land that is not yours.’

Christian Standard Bible
When people ask, ‘For what offense has the LORD our God done all these things to us? ’ You will respond to them, ‘Just as you abandoned me and served foreign gods in your land, so will you serve strangers in a land that is not yours.’

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When people ask, ‘For what offense has the LORD our God done all these things to us?’ You will respond to them: Just as you abandoned Me and served foreign gods in your land, so will you serve strangers in a land that is not yours.

American Standard Version
And it shall come to pass, when ye shall say, Wherefore hath Jehovah our God done all these things unto us? then shalt thou say unto them, Like as ye have forsaken me, and served foreign gods in your land, so shall ye serve strangers in a land that is not yours.

Contemporary English Version
And the people who survive will ask, "Why did the LORD our God do such terrible things to us?" Then tell them: I am the LORD, but you abandoned me and worshiped other gods in your own land. Now you will be slaves in a foreign country.

English Revised Version
And it shall come to pass, when ye shall say, Wherefore hath the LORD our God done all these things unto us? then shalt thou say unto them, Like as ye have forsaken me, and served strange gods in your land, so shall ye serve strangers in a land that is not yours.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They will ask, "Why has the LORD our God done all this to us?" Answer them, "You have abandoned me and served foreign gods in your land. So you will serve foreigners in a land that isn't yours."

Good News Translation
When they ask why I did all these things, tell them, Jeremiah, that just as they turned away from me and served foreign gods in their own land, so they will serve strangers in a land that is not theirs."

International Standard Version
When the people ask, 'Why has the LORD our God done all this to us?' you are to say to them, 'Just as you have forsaken me and served foreign gods in your land, so you will serve strangers in a land that is not yours.'"

Majority Standard Bible
And when the people ask, ‘For what offense has the LORD our God done all these things to us?’ You are to tell them, ‘Just as you have forsaken Me and served foreign gods in your land, so will you serve foreigners in a land that is not your own.’”

NET Bible
"So then, Jeremiah, when your people ask, 'Why has the LORD our God done all this to us?' tell them, 'It is because you rejected me and served foreign gods in your own land. So you must serve foreigners in a land that does not belong to you.'

New Heart English Bible
It will happen, when you say, 'Why has the LORD our God done all these things to us?' Then you shall say to them, 'Thus says the LORD, Just like you have forsaken me, and served foreign gods in your land, so you shall serve strangers in a land that is not yours.'

Webster's Bible Translation
And it shall come to pass, when ye shall say, Why doeth the LORD our God all these things to us? then shalt thou answer them, As ye have forsaken me, and served strange gods in your land, so shall ye serve strangers in a land that is not yours.

World English Bible
It will happen when you say, ‘Why has Yahweh our God done all these things to us?’ Then you shall say to them, ‘Just as you have forsaken me and served foreign gods in your land, so you will serve strangers in a land that is not yours.’
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And it has come to pass, when you say, Why has our God YHWH done all these [things] to us? That you have said to them, As you have forsaken Me, "" And serve the gods of a foreigner in your land, "" So you serve strangers in a land [that is] not yours.

Young's Literal Translation
And it hath come to pass, when ye say, 'For what hath Jehovah our God done to us all these?' That thou hast said unto them, 'As ye have forsaken Me, And serve the gods of a foreigner in your land, So do ye serve strangers in a land not yours.

Smith's Literal Translation
And it was when ye shalt say, For what did Jehovah our God all these things to us? and thou saidst to them, As ye forsook me, and ye will serve a strange god in your land, so shall ye serve strangers in a land not to you.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And if you shall say: why hath the Lord our God done all these things to us? thou shalt say to them: As you have forsaken me, and served a strange god in your own land, so shall you serve strangers in a land that is not your own.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And if they say, ‘Why has the Lord our God done all these things to us?’ You shall say to them: ‘Just as you have abandoned me and have served a strange god in your own land, so will you serve strangers in a land not your own.’

New American Bible
And when they ask, “Why has the LORD our God done all these things to us?” say to them, “As you have abandoned me to serve foreign gods in your own land, so shall you serve foreigners in a land not your own.”

New Revised Standard Version
And when your people say, “Why has the LORD our God done all these things to us?” you shall say to them, “As you have forsaken me and served foreign gods in your land, so you shall serve strangers in a land that is not yours.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And it shall come to pass, when you shall say, Why does the LORD our God do all these things to us? Then you shall say to them, Thus says the LORD. Because you have forsaken me and served strange gods in your land, so you shall serve strangers in a land that is not yours.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And it shall be when you will say: “Why has LORD JEHOVAH our God done all these things to us?, you shall say to them: “Thus says LORD JEHOVAH, “Because you have abandoned me and you have served foreign gods in your land, so you shall serve foreigners in a land that not is yours”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And it shall come to pass, when ye shall say: 'Wherefore hath the LORD our God done all these things unto us?' then shalt Thou say unto them: 'Like as ye have forsaken Me, and served strange gods in your land, so shall ye serve strangers in a land that is not yours.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And it shall come to pass, when ye shall say, Wherefore has the Lord our God done all these things to us? that thou shalt say to them, Because ye served strange gods in your land, so shall ye serve strangers in a land that is not yours.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Judgment Proclaimed
18“Yet even in those days,” declares the LORD, “I will not make a full end of you. 19And when the people ask, ‘For what offense has the LORD our God done all these things to us?’ You are to tell them, ‘Just as you have forsaken Me and served foreign gods in your land, so will you serve foreigners in a land that is not your own.’” 20Declare this in the house of Jacob and proclaim it in Judah:…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 28:47-48
Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joy and gladness of heart in all your abundance, / you will serve your enemies the LORD will send against you in famine, thirst, nakedness, and destitution. He will place an iron yoke on your neck until He has destroyed you.

Judges 10:13-14
But you have forsaken Me and served other gods, so I will no longer save you. / Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you in your time of trouble.”

2 Kings 17:7-8
All this happened because the people of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They had worshiped other gods / and walked in the customs of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites, as well as in the practices introduced by the kings of Israel.

Isaiah 1:4
Alas, O sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children who act corruptly! They have forsaken the LORD; they have despised the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on Him.

Isaiah 65:11-12
But you who forsake the LORD, who forget My holy mountain, who set a table for Fortune and fill bowls of mixed wine for Destiny, / I will destine you for the sword, and you will all kneel down to be slaughtered, because I called and you did not answer, I spoke and you did not listen; you did evil in My sight and chose that in which I did not delight.”

Hosea 2:13
I will punish her for the days of the Baals when she burned incense to them, when she adorned herself with rings and jewelry, and went after her lovers. But Me she forgot,” declares the LORD.

Hosea 8:14
Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces; Judah has multiplied its fortified cities. But I will send fire upon their cities, and it will consume their citadels.

Hosea 13:6
When they had pasture, they became satisfied; when they were satisfied, their hearts became proud, and as a result they forgot Me.

Amos 3:2
“Only you have I known from all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.”

Micah 6:9-13
The voice of the LORD calls out to the city (and it is sound wisdom to fear Your name): “Heed the rod and the One who ordained it. / Can I forget any longer, O house of the wicked, the treasures of wickedness and the short ephah, which is accursed? / Can I excuse dishonest scales or bags of false weights? ...

Matthew 21:43
Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.

Luke 19:41-44
As Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it / and said, “If only you had known on this day what would bring you peace! But now it is hidden from your eyes. / For the days will come upon you when your enemies will barricade you and surround you and hem you in on every side. ...

John 12:48
There is a judge for the one who rejects Me and does not receive My words: The word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.

Romans 1:21-25
For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. / Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, / and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. ...

Romans 11:20-22
That is correct: They were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. / For if God did not spare the natural branches, He will certainly not spare you either. / Take notice, therefore, of the kindness and severity of God: severity to those who fell, but kindness to you, if you continue in His kindness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.


Treasury of Scripture

And it shall come to pass, when you shall say, Why does the LORD our God all these things to us? then shall you answer them, Like as you have forsaken me, and served strange gods in your land, so shall you serve strangers in a land that is not your's.

Wherefore.

Jeremiah 2:35
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.

Jeremiah 13:22
And if thou say in thine heart, Wherefore come these things upon me? For the greatness of thine iniquity are thy skirts discovered, and thy heels made bare.

Jeremiah 16:10
And it shall come to pass, when thou shalt shew this people all these words, and they shall say unto thee, Wherefore hath the LORD pronounced all this great evil against us? or what is our iniquity? or what is our sin that we have committed against the LORD our God?

like as.

Jeremiah 2:13
For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

Deuteronomy 4:25-28
When thou shalt beget children, and children's children, and ye shall have remained long in the land, and shall corrupt yourselves, and make a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, and shall do evil in the sight of the LORD thy God, to provoke him to anger: …

Deuteronomy 28:47,48
Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things; …

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Jeremiah 5
1. The judgments of God upon the people, for their perverseness;
7. for their adultery;
10. for their impiety;
15. for their worship of idols;
19. for their contempt of God;
25. and for their great corruption in the civil state;
30. and ecclesiastical.














And when the people ask
This phrase sets the stage for a dialogue between God and His people. The Hebrew root for "ask" is "שָׁאַל" (sha'al), which implies a seeking or inquiring. It reflects a moment of realization and questioning, indicating that the people are beginning to understand the gravity of their situation. Historically, this reflects a time when the Israelites were facing the consequences of their actions, prompting them to seek answers from God.

‘Why has the LORD our God done all these things to us?’
The use of "LORD" here is significant, as it translates from the Hebrew "יהוה" (YHWH), the covenant name of God. This question reveals a disconnect between the people's understanding of their covenant relationship with God and the reality of their circumstances. It highlights a moment of introspection and confusion, as they grapple with the divine justice being meted out upon them.

you are to tell them
This directive to Jeremiah underscores his role as a prophet and messenger of God. The Hebrew root "אָמַר" (amar) for "tell" conveys a command to speak with authority. Jeremiah is tasked with delivering a message that is both a response to the people's inquiry and a divine pronouncement of judgment.

‘Just as you have forsaken Me
The word "forsaken" comes from the Hebrew "עָזַב" (azab), meaning to leave or abandon. This phrase captures the essence of Israel's sin: a deliberate turning away from God. It is a poignant reminder of the broken relationship between God and His people, emphasizing the gravity of their spiritual adultery.

and served foreign gods in your own land
The act of serving "foreign gods" is a direct violation of the first commandment. The Hebrew word for "served" is "עָבַד" (avad), which implies worship and allegiance. This phrase highlights the irony and tragedy of Israel's idolatry, as they chose to worship false deities within the very land that God had given them as an inheritance.

so will you serve foreigners in a land that is not your own
This is a prophetic declaration of the consequences of Israel's actions. The repetition of the word "serve" (עָבַד) underscores the theme of servitude, but now it is a servitude to foreign powers as a result of their disobedience. The phrase "a land that is not your own" speaks to the impending exile, a historical reality that would see the Israelites removed from their homeland and subjected to foreign rule. This serves as a sobering reminder of the cost of forsaking God and the inevitable justice that follows.

(19) When ye shall say.--The implied promise in Jeremiah 5:18 is explained. Then there shall come the backward glance at the past, which brings with it questionings and repentance.

Strange gods.--Stronger than the "other gods" of Jeremiah 1:16, "gods of an alien race." The threats that they should "serve strangers" in a "land" that was not theirs points to the Chaldaean rather than to the Scythian invasion. With this ends the section which began in Jeremiah 5:14.

Verses 19-29. - Judah's own obstinacy and flagrant disobedience are the causes of this sore judgment. Verse 19. - Like as ye have forsaken me, etc. The law of correspondence between sin and punishment pervades Old Testament prophecy (comp. Isaiah 5.). As the Jews served foreign gods in Jehovah's land, they shall become the slaves of foreigners in a land which is not theirs.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And
וְהָיָה֙ (wə·hā·yāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

when
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

the people ask,
תֹאמְר֔וּ (ṯō·mə·rū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

‘For
תַּ֣חַת (ta·ḥaṯ)
Preposition
Strong's 8478: The bottom, below, in lieu of

what
מֶ֗ה (meh)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

offense has the LORD
יְהֹוָ֧ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

our God
אֱלֹהֵ֛ינוּ (’ĕ·lō·hê·nū)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

done
עָשָׂ֨ה (‘ā·śāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

these things to us?’
אֵ֑לֶּה (’êl·leh)
Pronoun - common plural
Strong's 428: These, those

You are to tell
וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ (wə·’ā·mar·tā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

them,
אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם (’ă·lê·hem)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

‘Just as
כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר (ka·’ă·šer)
Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

you have forsaken
עֲזַבְתֶּ֤ם (‘ă·zaḇ·tem)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 5800: To loosen, relinquish, permit

Me
אוֹתִי֙ (’ō·w·ṯî)
Direct object marker | first person common singular
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

and served
וַתַּעַבְד֞וּ (wat·ta·‘aḇ·ḏū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 5647: To work, to serve, till, enslave

foreign
נֵכָר֙ (nê·ḵār)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5236: That which is foreign, foreignness

gods
אֱלֹהֵ֤י (’ĕ·lō·hê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

in your land,
בְּאַרְצְכֶ֔ם (bə·’ar·ṣə·ḵem)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 776: Earth, land

so
כֵּ֚ן (kên)
Adverb
Strong's 3651: So -- thus

will you serve
תַּעַבְד֣וּ (ta·‘aḇ·ḏū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 5647: To work, to serve, till, enslave

foreigners
זָרִ֔ים (zā·rîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 2114: To turn aside, to be a, foreigner, strange, profane, to commit adultery

in a land
בְּאֶ֖רֶץ (bə·’e·reṣ)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

that is not your own.’
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 5:19 It shall happen when you shall say (Jer.)
Jeremiah 5:18
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