📖 Jeremiah — Chapter 2 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
Jeremiah 2:1 Moreover Rthe word of the LORD came to me, saying,
Jeremiah 2:2 Go and Rcry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember Tthee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.
Jeremiah 2:3 Israel was Rholiness unto the LORD, and the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD.
Jeremiah 2:4 RHear ye the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel:
Jeremiah 2:5 Thus saith the LORD, RWhat iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?
Jeremiah 2:6 Neither said they, Where is the LORD that Rbrought 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 2:7 And I Rbrought you into Ta 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 Rpriests 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 RI will yet plead with you, saith the LORD, and with your children’s children will I plead.
Jeremiah 2:10 For pass Tover Rthe isles of Chittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing.
Jeremiah 2:11 Hath Ra nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.
Jeremiah 2:12 Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD.
Jeremiah 2:13 RFor 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.
Jeremiah 2:14 Is RIsrael a servant? is he a homeborn slave? why is he Tspoiled?
Jeremiah 2:15 The Ryoung lions roared upon him, and Tyelled, and they made his land waste: his cities are burned without inhabitant.
Jeremiah 2:16 RAlso the children of Noph and Tahapanes Thave broken the crown of thy head.
Jeremiah 2:17 RHast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, when he led thee by the way?
Jeremiah 2:18 And now what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of RSihor? or what hast thou to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river?
Jeremiah 2:19 RThine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.
Jeremiah 2:20 RFor of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not Ttransgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot.
Jeremiah 2:21 RYet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?
Jeremiah 2:22 RFor though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord GOD.
Jeremiah 2:23 RHow canst thou say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: Tthou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways;
Jeremiah 2:24 RTA wild ass Tused to the wilderness, that snuffeth up the wind at Ther pleasure; in her occasion who can Tturn her away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her.
Jeremiah 2:25 RWithhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst: but thou saidst, TThere is no hope: no; for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go.
Jeremiah 2:26 As Rthe 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.
Jeremiah 2:27 Saying Rto a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast Tbrought me forth: for they have turned Ttheir back unto me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.
Jeremiah 2:28 RBut where are thy gods that thou hast made thee? let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy Ttrouble: for according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah.
Jeremiah 2:29 Wherefore Rwill ye plead with me? ye all have transgressed against me, saith the LORD.
Jeremiah 2:30 RIn vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.
Jeremiah 2:31 O generation, Rsee ye the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? a land of darkness? wherefore say my people, TWe are lords; we will come no more unto thee?
Jeremiah 2:32 Can Ra maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.
Jeremiah 2:33 RWhy trimmest thou thy way to seek love? therefore hast thou also taught the wicked ones thy ways.
Jeremiah 2:34 RAlso in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: I have not found it by Tsecret search, but upon all these.
Jeremiah 2:35 Yet thou sayest, Because I am innocent, surely his anger shall turn from me. Behold, RI will plead with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned.
Jeremiah 2:36 Why Rgaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou also shalt be ashamed of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria.
Jeremiah 2:37 Yea, thou shalt go forth from him, and Rthine hands upon thine head: for the LORD hath rejected thy confidences, and thou shalt not prosper in them.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
Jeremiah 2:1–13 — The fountain abandoned for broken cisterns
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The Lord remembers Israel’s early devotion and the goodness of the land he gave. Priests, rulers, and prophets turn away, exchanging glory and living water for powerless substitutes.
Key Truth: Return to the source that truly sustains life.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “____ the word of the LORD came to me, saying,” (Jeremiah 2:1)
Find it in Jeremiah 2:1 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “And I ____ you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof …” (Jeremiah 2:7)
Find it in Jeremiah 2:7 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “… changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my ____ have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.” (Jeremiah 2:11)
Find it in Jeremiah 2:11 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Jeremiah 2:14–25 — False alliances and the bitterness of rebellion
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Israel’s ruin is examined alongside reliance on Egypt and Assyria. Images of a spoiled vine and restless desire expose denial and the painful consequences of forsaking the Lord.
Key Truth: Recognize the cost of misplaced trust.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “Is Israel a ____ ? is he a homeborn slave? why is he spoiled?” (Jeremiah 2:14)
Find it in Jeremiah 2:14 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “For of old ____ I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands; and …” (Jeremiah 2:20)
Find it in Jeremiah 2:20 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “____ thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst: …” (Jeremiah 2:25)
Find it in Jeremiah 2:25 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Jeremiah 2:26–37 — A people deny guilt and seek failed help
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Kings, priests, prophets, and people are shamed by their idols yet ask God to rescue them in trouble. Forgotten devotion, innocent blood, and rejected confidences expose the failure of their claimed innocence.
Key Truth: Confess guilt rather than defend failed loyalties.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “As the ____ is ashamed when he is found, so is the house …” (Jeremiah 2:26)
Find it in Jeremiah 2:26 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “Can a ____ forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my …” (Jeremiah 2:32)
Find it in Jeremiah 2:32 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “… thou about so much to change thy way? thou also ____ be ashamed of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria.” (Jeremiah 2:36)
Find it in Jeremiah 2:36 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
John 4:14 — Jesus speaks of water that becomes a spring of everlasting life.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
What broken cistern has taken the place of trust in God?
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. What makes the cisterns a fitting contrast to the fountain?
2. How is rebellion connected with its consequences?
3. What inconsistency appears in the people’s response to trouble?
4. How does the ornament comparison expose forgotten devotion?
5. Why will the people’s chosen confidences fail?
Notes
Write what you want to remember, questions to explore, or Scriptures to look up later. Your saved notes are private to your account.
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