New International Version you say, ‘I am innocent; he is not angry with me.’ But I will pass judgment on you because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’ New Living Translation And yet you say, ‘I have done nothing wrong. Surely God isn’t angry with me!’ But now I will punish you severely because you claim you have not sinned. English Standard Version you say, ‘I am innocent; surely his anger has turned from me.’ Behold, I will bring you to judgment for saying, ‘I have not sinned.’ Berean Standard Bible you say, ‘I am innocent. Surely His anger will turn from me.’ Behold, I will judge you, because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’ Berean Literal Bible you also say ‘Because I am innocent, surely His anger has turned away from me.’ Behold, I will plead with you, because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’ King James Bible 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. New King James Version Yet you say, ‘Because I am innocent, Surely His anger shall turn from me.’ Behold, I will plead My case against you, Because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’ New American Standard Bible You said, ‘I am innocent; Surely His anger is turned away from me.’ Behold, I will enter into judgment with you Because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’ NASB 1995 Yet you said, ‘I am innocent; Surely His anger is turned away from me.’ Behold, I will enter into judgment with you Because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’ NASB 1977 Yet you said, ‘I am innocent; Surely His anger is turned away from me.’ Behold, I will enter into judgment with you Because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’ Legacy Standard Bible Yet you said, ‘I am innocent; Surely His anger is turned away from me.’ Behold, I will enter into judgment with you Because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’ Amplified Bible Yet you keep saying, ‘I am innocent; Surely His anger has turned away from me.’ Behold (listen very carefully), I will bring you to judgment and will plead my case against you Because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’ Berean Annotated Bible you say, ‘I am innocent. Surely His anger will turn from me.’ Behold, I will judge you, because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’ Christian Standard Bible you claim, “I am innocent. His anger is sure to turn away from me.” But I will certainly judge you because you have said, “I have not sinned.” Holman Christian Standard Bible you claim, “I am innocent. His anger is sure to turn away from me.” But I will certainly judge you because you have said, “I have not sinned.” American Standard Version Yet thou saidst, I am innocent; surely his anger is turned away from me. Behold, I will enter into judgment with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned. Contemporary English Version you claim to be innocent, and you want me to stop being angry with you. So I'll take you to court, and we'll see who is right. English Revised Version Yet thou saidst, I am innocent; surely his anger is turned away from me. Behold, I will enter into judgment with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned. GOD'S WORD® Translation In spite of all this you say, 'I'm innocent. God will turn his anger from me, because I haven't sinned.' Good News Translation you say, 'I am innocent; surely the LORD is no longer angry with me.' But I, the LORD, will punish you because you deny that you have sinned. International Standard Version you say, 'I'm innocent. Surely his anger has turned away from me.'" "I'm about to bring charges against you because you say, 'I haven't sinned.' NET Bible you say, 'I have not done anything wrong, so the LORD cannot really be angry with me any more.' But, watch out! I will bring down judgment on you because you say, 'I have not committed any sin.' New Heart English Bible "Yet you said, 'I am innocent. Surely his anger has turned away from me.' "Look, I will judge you, because you say, 'I have not sinned.' Webster's Bible Translation Yet thou sayest, Because I am innocent, surely his anger will turn from me. Behold, I will plead with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Bibleyou say, ‘I am innocent. Surely His anger will turn from me.’ Behold, I will judge you, because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’ World English Bible “Yet you said, ‘I am innocent. Surely his anger has turned away from me.’ “Behold, I will judge you, because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’ Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd you say, Because I have been innocent, "" Surely His anger has turned back from me? Behold, I have been judged with you, "" Because of your saying, I have not sinned. Berean Literal Bible you also say ‘Because I am innocent, surely His anger has turned away from me.’ Behold, I will plead with you, because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’ Young's Literal Translation And thou sayest, 'Because I have been innocent, Surely turned back hath His anger from me?' Lo, I have been judged with thee, Because of thy saying, 'I have not sinned.' Smith's Literal Translation And thou wilt say, Because I was innocent his anger turned back from me. Behold me judging thee for thy saying, I sinned not. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd thou hast said: I am without sin and am innocent: and therefore let thy anger be turned away from me. Behold, I will contend with thee in judgement, because thou hast said: I have not sinned. Catholic Public Domain Version And you have said: ‘I am innocent and without sin. And because of this, let your fury be turned away from me.’ Behold, I will contend with you in judgment, because you have said: ‘I have not sinned.’ New American Bible Nonetheless you say, “I am innocent; at least, his anger is turned away from me.” Listen! I will judge you on that word of yours, “I have not sinned.” New Revised Standard Version you say, “I am innocent; surely his anger has turned from me.” Now I am bringing you to judgment for saying, “I have not sinned.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleYet you say, Because I am innocent, therefore he will turn his anger from me. Behold, I will contend with you, because you have said, I have not sinned. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And you said: "I am innocent! Because of this, he will turn his anger from me." Behold, I bring suit against you, because you have said, "I have not sinned" OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Thou saidst: 'I am innocent; Surely His anger is turned away from me'-- Behold, I will enter into judgment with thee, Because thou sayest: 'I have not sinned.' Brenton Septuagint Translation Yet thou saidst, I am innocent: only let his wrath be turned away from me. Behold, I will plead with thee, whereas thou sayest, I have not sinned. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context Israel's Unfaithfulness…34Moreover, your skirts are stained with the blood of the innocent poor, though you did not find them breaking in. But in spite of all these things 35you say, ‘I am innocent. Surely His anger will turn from me.’ Behold, I will judge you, because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’ 36How unstable you are, constantly changing your ways! You will be disappointed by Egypt just as you were by Assyria.… Cross References ‘I am innocent. Job 33:9 ‘I am pure, without transgression; I am clean, with no iniquity in me. Proverbs 16:2 All a man’s ways are pure in his own eyes, but his motives are weighed out by the LORD. Proverbs 30:12 There is a generation of those who are pure in their own eyes and yet unwashed of their filth. Surely His anger will turn from me.’ Hosea 14:4 I will heal their apostasy; I will freely love them, for My anger has turned away from them. Isaiah 12:1 In that day you will say: “O LORD, I will praise You. Although You were angry with me, Your anger has turned away, and You have comforted me. Psalm 85:3 You withheld all Your fury; You turned from Your burning anger. Behold, I will judge you, Ezekiel 7:3 The end is now upon you, and I will unleash My anger against you. I will judge you according to your ways and repay you for all your abominations. Ezekiel 18:30 Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, so that your iniquity will not become your downfall. Romans 2:5 But because of your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’ 1 John 1:10 If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us. Proverbs 20:9 Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am cleansed from my sin”? Ecclesiastes 7:20 Surely there is no righteous man on earth who does good and never sins. Isaiah 43:26 Remind Me, let us argue the matter together. State your case, so that you may be vindicated. Hosea 12:8 And Ephraim boasts: “How rich I have become! I have found wealth for myself. In all my labors, they can find in me no iniquity that is sinful.” Ezekiel 16:51-52 Furthermore, Samaria did not commit half the sins you did. You have multiplied your abominations beyond theirs, and all the abominations you have committed have made your sisters appear righteous. / So now you must bear your disgrace, since you have brought justification for your sisters. For they appear more righteous than you, because your sins were more vile than theirs. So you too must bear your shame and disgrace, since you have made your sisters appear righteous. Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who turn darkness to light and light to darkness, who replace bitter with sweet and sweet with bitter. Treasury of Scripture Yet you say, Because I am innocent, surely his anger shall turn from me. Behold, I will plead with you, because you say, I have not sinned. because Jeremiah 2:23,29 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; … Job 33:9 I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me. Proverbs 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. I will Jeremiah 2:9 Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the LORD, and with your children's children will I plead. 1 John 1:8-10 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us… Jump to Previous Anger Angry Cause Enter Innocent Judged Judgment Plead Sinned Surely Turn Turned Wrath WrongJump to Next Anger Angry Cause Enter Innocent Judged Judgment Plead Sinned Surely Turn Turned Wrath WrongJeremiah 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. you say, ‘I am innocent. Judah denied guilt even while idolatry, covenant betrayal, and the blood of innocent victims stood as evidence against her. Like Adam and Eve after the fall, the people sought to evade responsibility rather than confess their rebellion before God. Job 33:9 I am pure, without transgression; I am clean… Surely His anger will turn from me.’ They presumed that the Lord’s judgment would pass without repentance. God is merciful and patient, yet His mercy never excuses unrepentant sin; His kindness is meant to lead sinners to repentance. Hos 14:4 I will heal their apostasy; I will freely love them… Behold, I will judge you, The Lord Himself would bring the case against Judah. The God who sees hidden sin and public injustice would not accept empty claims of innocence, and Jerusalem’s coming judgment would reveal the truth of His righteous verdict. Ezk 7:3 The end is now upon you, and I will unleash My anger.… because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’ Their greatest danger was not merely their sin but their refusal to acknowledge it. Forgiveness is promised to those who confess and turn to God, but self-righteous denial hardens the heart and shuts out the grace they claim to desire. 1Jn 1:10 If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar,… Persons / Places / Events 1. JeremiahA prophet called by God to deliver messages of warning and judgment to the people of Judah. His ministry spanned over 40 years during a tumultuous period in Judah's history. 2. Judah The southern kingdom of Israel, which had turned away from God and was engaging in idolatry and other sins. Jeremiah's prophecies were directed towards this nation. 3. God The sovereign Lord who is addressing the people of Judah through Jeremiah, highlighting their sin and the consequences of their actions. 4. Idolatry The worship of idols or false gods, which was a significant issue in Judah at the time. This sin is a central theme in Jeremiah's prophecies. 5. Judgment The divine response to sin, which God promises to bring upon Judah due to their unrepentant hearts and false claims of innocence. Teaching Points The Danger of Self-DeceptionJudah's claim of innocence despite their sin highlights the human tendency to deceive ourselves about our spiritual state. We must be vigilant in examining our hearts and actions. The Necessity of Confession True repentance requires acknowledging our sins before God. Denying our sinfulness prevents us from receiving God's forgiveness and grace. God's Righteous Judgment God's judgment is just and certain. He will not overlook sin, and His anger is a response to unrepentant hearts. We must take His warnings seriously. The Role of Prophets Prophets like Jeremiah serve as God's messengers, calling people back to righteousness. We should heed the warnings and teachings found in Scripture. The Importance of Humility Humility before God is essential. Recognizing our sinfulness and need for His mercy is the first step towards restoration and healing. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Jeremiah 2:35?2. How does Jeremiah 2:35 reveal the danger of self-righteousness in our lives? 3. What does Jeremiah 2:35 teach about God's response to unrepentant sin? 4. How can we avoid the denial of sin seen in Jeremiah 2:35? 5. Connect Jeremiah 2:35 with 1 John 1:8-9 on confessing sins. 6. How should believers respond to God's judgment as described in Jeremiah 2:35? 7. How does Jeremiah 2:35 challenge the notion of self-righteousness in believers? 8. What historical context led to the message in Jeremiah 2:35? 9. How does Jeremiah 2:35 reflect God's view on unrepentant sin? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Jeremiah 2? What Does Jeremiah 2:35 Mean You say, “I am innocent.”Israel insists nothing is wrong. The claim flies in the face of God’s previous charges (Jeremiah 2:13, 20). • Self-deception: “All a man’s ways seem right in his own eyes” (Proverbs 16:2). • Comparison trap: Like the Pharisee who thanked God he wasn’t “like other men” (Luke 18:11-12). • Reality check: “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves” (1 John 1:8). God’s standard, not our feelings, determines innocence. Surely His anger will turn from me. Presumption replaces repentance. • Misreading mercy: “The LORD, gracious and compassionate… yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished” (Exodus 34:6-7). • False security: “When someone hears the words of this oath… he blesses himself in his heart, saying, ‘I will have peace even though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart’” (Deuteronomy 29:19). • Warning: “Do you presume on the riches of His kindness… not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4). Behold, I will judge you God answers presumption with promised judgment. • Certain justice: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay” (Hebrews 10:30). • Present discipline: “Your own evil will discipline you” (Jeremiah 2:19). • Final reckoning: “The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness” (Romans 1:18). Divine patience has limits. Because you say, “I have not sinned.” Denial is the root issue. • Open confession brings mercy: “He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy” (Proverbs 28:13). • Universal guilt: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). • Truth requirement: “If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar” (1 John 1:10). Refusing to admit sin shuts the door to forgiveness. summary Jeremiah 2:35 exposes the deadly trio of self-deception, presumption, and denial. Claiming innocence without repentance invites God’s sure judgment. The passage presses every reader to drop excuses, acknowledge sin, and seek the mercy that God freely offers to the humble and contrite. (35) Yet thou sayest . . .—Once again we have the equivocating plea of the accused. She takes up the word that had been used by the accuser: “You speak of the innocents; I, too, am innocent. His anger has turned away from me. Here, as in Jeremiah 2:33, there is an implied reference to the partial reformation under Josiah. The accuser retorts, and renews his pleadings against her. Confession might have led to forgiveness, but this denial of guilt excluded it, and was the token of a fatal blindness (comp. 1John 1:8).Verse 35. - Because. This "because" is misleading; there is no argument, but the statement of a supposed fact. The particle so rendered merely serves to introduce the speech of the Jews (like ὅτι). Shall turn; rather, hath turned. Judah had so long been undisturbed by any foreign power, that the people fancied the promises of Deuteronomy were being fulfilled, and that they, on their part, had pleased God by their formal obedience (comp. 2 Kings 22:17). I will plead with thee. Here, as in some other passages (e.g. Isaiah 66:16; Ezekiel 38:22), the word includes the sense of punishing.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew you say,וַתֹּֽאמְרִי֙ (wat·tō·mə·rî) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person feminine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say ‘I am innocent. נִקֵּ֔יתִי (niq·qê·ṯî) Verb - Nifal - Perfect - first person common singular Strong's 5352: To be, clean, to be bare, extirpated Surely אַ֛ךְ (’aḵ) Adverb Strong's 389: A particle of affirmation, surely His anger אַפּ֖וֹ (’ap·pōw) Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 639: The nose, nostril, the face, a person, ire will turn שָׁ֥ב (šāḇ) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again from me.’ מִמֶּ֑נִּי (mim·men·nî) Preposition | first person common singular Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of But I will certainly הִנְנִי֙ (hin·nî) Interjection | first person common singular Strong's 2005: Lo! behold! judge נִשְׁפָּ֣ט (niš·pāṭ) Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 8199: To judge, pronounce sentence, to vindicate, punish, to govern, to litigate you, אוֹתָ֔ךְ (’ō·w·ṯāḵ) Preposition | second person feminine singular Strong's 854: Nearness, near, with, by, at, among because עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against you say, אָמְרֵ֖ךְ (’ā·mə·rêḵ) Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | second person feminine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say ‘I have not לֹ֥א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no sinned.’ חָטָֽאתִי׃ (ḥā·ṭā·ṯî) Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular Strong's 2398: To miss, to sin, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, lead astray, condemn Additonal Resources Jeremiah 2:35 Blue Letter BibleJeremiah 2:35 Bible Gateway Jeremiah 2:35 Bible.com Jeremiah 2:35 NIV |
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