Jeremiah 19:13
And the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses of the kings of Judah, shall be defiled as the place of Tophet, because of all the houses upon whose roofs they have burned incense unto all the host of heaven, and have poured out drink offerings unto other gods.
Original Language Analysis
וְהָי֞וּ
H1961
וְהָי֞וּ
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 22
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
הַבָּתִּ֗ים
And the houses
H1004
הַבָּתִּ֗ים
And the houses
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
2 of 22
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
יְרוּשָׁלִַ֗ם
of Jerusalem
H3389
יְרוּשָׁלִַ֗ם
of Jerusalem
Strong's:
H3389
Word #:
3 of 22
jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine
הַבָּתִּ֗ים
And the houses
H1004
הַבָּתִּ֗ים
And the houses
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
4 of 22
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
יְהוּדָ֔ה
of Judah
H3063
יְהוּדָ֔ה
of Judah
Strong's:
H3063
Word #:
6 of 22
jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
כִּמְק֥וֹם
as the place
H4725
כִּמְק֥וֹם
as the place
Strong's:
H4725
Word #:
7 of 22
properly, a standing, i.e., a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific); also (figuratively) of a condition (of body or mind)
לְכֹ֣ל
H3605
לְכֹ֣ל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
10 of 22
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הַבָּתִּ֗ים
And the houses
H1004
הַבָּתִּ֗ים
And the houses
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
11 of 22
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
12 of 22
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
קִטְּר֜וּ
they have burned incense
H6999
קִטְּר֜וּ
they have burned incense
Strong's:
H6999
Word #:
13 of 22
to smoke, i.e., turn into fragrance by fire (especially as an act of worship)
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
14 of 22
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
גַּגֹּֽתֵיהֶם֙
upon whose roofs
H1406
גַּגֹּֽתֵיהֶם֙
upon whose roofs
Strong's:
H1406
Word #:
15 of 22
a roof; by analogy, the top of an altar
לְכֹל֙
H3605
לְכֹל֙
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
16 of 22
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
צְבָ֣א
unto all the host
H6635
צְבָ֣א
unto all the host
Strong's:
H6635
Word #:
17 of 22
a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (speci
הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם
of heaven
H8064
הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם
of heaven
Strong's:
H8064
Word #:
18 of 22
the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies r
וְהַסֵּ֥ךְ
and have poured out
H5258
וְהַסֵּ֥ךְ
and have poured out
Strong's:
H5258
Word #:
19 of 22
to pour out, especially a libation, or to cast (metal); by analogy, to anoint a king
Cross References
Jeremiah 32:29And the Chaldeans, that fight against this city, shall come and set fire on this city, and burn it with the houses, upon whose roofs they have offered incense unto Baal, and poured out drink offerings unto other gods, to provoke me to anger.2 Kings 23:12And the altars that were on the top of the upper chamber of Ahaz, which the kings of Judah had made, and the altars which Manasseh had made in the two courts of the house of the LORD, did the king beat down, and brake them down from thence, and cast the dust of them into the brook Kidron.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.Zephaniah 1:5And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham;Deuteronomy 4:19And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.Psalms 79:1O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps.Psalms 74:7They have cast fire into thy sanctuary, they have defiled by casting down the dwelling place of thy name to the ground.Jeremiah 44:18But since we left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine.2 Kings 23:10And he defiled Topheth, which is in the valley of the children of Hinnom, that no man might make his son or his daughter to pass through the fire to Molech.
Historical Context
Rooftop worship was common in ancient Near Eastern culture. The flat roofs of houses provided convenient spaces for pagan rituals, making idolatry visible throughout the city.
Questions for Reflection
- How does public sin increase accountability and corporate guilt?
- What modern forms of 'host of heaven' worship compete with devotion to God alone?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
The houses of Jerusalem and the kings' palaces are 'defiled' because they burned incense to 'all the host of heaven' on their rooftops. Astral worship (worship of sun, moon, stars) violated the first commandment and the explicit warnings of Deuteronomy 4:19. Rooftop worship was public and flagrant. The defilement made these houses 'as the place of Tophet' - fit only for judgment.