Jeremiah 17:2
Whilst their children remember their altars and their groves by the green trees upon the high hills.
Original Language Analysis
כִּזְכֹּ֤ר
remember
H2142
כִּזְכֹּ֤ר
remember
Strong's:
H2142
Word #:
1 of 10
properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e., to remember; by implication, to mention; to be male
בְּנֵיהֶם֙
Whilst their children
H1121
בְּנֵיהֶם֙
Whilst their children
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
2 of 10
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
וַאֲשֵׁרֵיהֶ֖ם
and their groves
H842
וַאֲשֵׁרֵיהֶ֖ם
and their groves
Strong's:
H842
Word #:
4 of 10
asherah (or astarte) a phoenician goddess; also an image of the same
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
5 of 10
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
רַֽעֲנָ֑ן
by the green
H7488
רַֽעֲנָ֑ן
by the green
Strong's:
H7488
Word #:
7 of 10
verdant; by analogy, new; figuratively, prosperous
Cross References
2 Chronicles 24:18And they left the house of the LORD God of their fathers, and served groves and idols: and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their trespass.Jeremiah 2:20For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot.Isaiah 17:8And he shall not look to the altars, the work of his hands, neither shall respect that which his fingers have made, either the groves, or the images.Isaiah 1:29For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which ye have desired, and ye shall be confounded for the gardens that ye have chosen.Jeremiah 7:18The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger.2 Chronicles 33:3For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.Judges 3:7And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves.
Historical Context
High places (bamot) were elevated worship sites pre-dating Israel's settlement in Canaan. Though sometimes used for legitimate Yahweh worship before the temple's construction, they became associated with idolatrous practices. The "groves" or Asherah poles represented the consort of Baal in Canaanite religion. Despite repeated warnings from prophets and occasional reforms, these sites persisted throughout Judah's history, demonstrating the tenacity of cultural syncretism and the human tendency toward idolatry.
Questions for Reflection
- What spiritual compromises might we be transmitting to the next generation through our worship practices and priorities?
- How does this warning about children remembering their parents' idolatry inform our approach to family discipleship?
- In what ways do modern Christians create 'high places'—locations or practices where worship of God is mixed with worldly values?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
This verse reveals the tragic intergenerational transmission of idolatry. The children's remembrance of "altars and groves" (asherim, אֲשֵׁרִים—wooden poles representing the Canaanite goddess Asherah) demonstrates how false worship becomes culturally embedded. The parents' compromise has shaped their children's spiritual formation, creating cycles of covenant unfaithfulness.
The locations specified—"by the green trees upon the high hills"—reference classic sites of Canaanite fertility cult worship that Israel was commanded to destroy (Deut 12:2-3). Instead of eliminating these pagan shrines, Judah adopted them, blending Yahweh worship with nature-based polytheism. This syncretism violated the first and second commandments, provoking God's covenant wrath.
Theologically, this passage emphasizes the covenantal principle that God visits "the iniquity of the fathers upon the children" (Ex 20:5)—not arbitrary punishment, but the natural consequence of sin's social transmission. Parents who compromise their faith inevitably shape their children's spiritual trajectory. This underscores the Reformed emphasis on covenant nurture, catechesis, and the vital importance of maintaining doctrinal purity for future generations.