Jeremiah 2:11
Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
This verse crystallizes Israel's fundamental apostasy across their history. The golden calf incident (Exodus 32) set the pattern—exchanging "their glory" for an ox image, as Psalm 106:20 notes. Throughout Judges and the monarchy, Israel repeatedly adopted Canaanite Baalism, Asherah worship, Molech child sacrifice, and other pagan practices. What makes this trade so irrational is what they abandoned: they had witnessed plagues on Egypt, Red Sea parting, Sinai theophany, wilderness provision, Jericho's fall, and centuries of covenant faithfulness. Yet they abandoned this demonstrated reality for Baal—a storm god who couldn't provide rain when Yahweh shut the heavens (1 Kings 17-18). Archaeol evidence shows syncretism at every level—figurines in homes, compromised altars, inscriptions combining Yahweh with pagan elements. Paul uses similar logic in Romans 1:18-25, noting how humanity exchanged God's glory for created things, worshipping creation rather than Creator. The pattern continues: believers today exchange God's glory for career success, material prosperity, sexual pleasure, human approval—worthless substitutes incapable of satisfying souls.
Questions for Reflection
- What "glories" (worthless substitutes) do modern believers sometimes exchange for God Himself—what are our functional idols?
- How does recognizing that even false gods inspire more loyalty than Israel showed to Yahweh convict us of taking God's grace for granted?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
God's rhetorical question makes the accusation explicit: "Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit." The question expects negative answer—nations don't change their gods. The phrase "which are yet no gods" (vehem lo elohim, וְהֵם לֹא אֱלֹהִים) reveals these deities' non-existence—they aren't gods at all. Yet pagans remain loyal to nothing, while Israel abandoned "their glory" (kevodoh, כְּבוֹדוֹ)—a term referring to God Himself (Psalm 106:20 uses similar language for golden calf incident). God is Israel's glory, honor, and weightiness (kavod, כָּבוֹד means weight, glory, honor). They exchanged this for "that which doth not profit" (belo yoil, בְּלוֹא יוֹעִיל)—worthless idols offering no benefit. The trade is absurd: infinite glory for empty nothingness. This verse captures the essence of all sin—exchanging God's glory for substitutes that cannot satisfy (Romans 1:23, 25 makes similar accusation against humanity generally).