For the land is full of adulterers; for because of swearing the land mourneth; the pleasant places of the wilderness are dried up, and their course is evil, and their force is not right.
For the land is full of adulterers—na'aph (נָאַף) refers both to literal sexual immorality and spiritual adultery (covenant unfaithfulness). Jeremiah likely means both: the prophets' moral corruption (23:14) reflected and enabled widespread covenant breaking. Because of swearing the land mourneth—alah (אָלָה) means curse or oath-breaking, not profanity. The covenant curses of Deuteronomy 28 were activating. The pleasant places of the wilderness are dried up uses na'oth (נְאוֹת), meaning pastures or habitations, showing ecological judgment.
Their course is evil employs merutsah (מְרוּצָה), meaning running or pursuit—their life-direction races toward wickedness. Their force is not right uses geburah (גְּבוּרָה), meaning might or strength, indicating they exert power unrighteously. The verse links moral corruption (adultery), covenant violation (oath-breaking), environmental consequences (drought), and misdirected zeal (evil pursuits with wrongly applied strength). This holistic view of judgment—affecting land, society, and individuals—reflects Torah theology where covenant faithfulness brings blessing and unfaithfulness brings curse.
Historical Context
Jeremiah prophesied during the reigns of Josiah, Jehoiakim, and Zedekiah (627-586 BC). Despite Josiah's reforms (2 Kings 22-23), surface compliance masked deep-rooted idolatry and injustice. Archaeological evidence confirms this period experienced severe droughts, which Jeremiah interprets as covenant curse rather than random weather. The 'adulterers' included religious leaders who maintained temple rituals while practicing Baal worship and sexual immorality at high places. Oath-breaking pervaded society—false oaths in courts, broken treaties with foreign powers, and violated covenant commitments to God. The wilderness pastures drying up affected both nomadic shepherds and settled farmers, creating economic crisis that should have prompted repentance but instead hardened hearts.
Questions for Reflection
How does the connection between moral corruption and environmental judgment challenge modern separation of ethics from ecology?
In what ways might religious leaders today be 'full of adultery'—maintaining external orthodoxy while violating covenant faithfulness?
What does 'their force is not right' teach about misdirected zeal and wrongly applied strength in spiritual pursuits?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
For the land is full of adulterers—na'aph (נָאַף) refers both to literal sexual immorality and spiritual adultery (covenant unfaithfulness). Jeremiah likely means both: the prophets' moral corruption (23:14) reflected and enabled widespread covenant breaking. Because of swearing the land mourneth—alah (אָלָה) means curse or oath-breaking, not profanity. The covenant curses of Deuteronomy 28 were activating. The pleasant places of the wilderness are dried up uses na'oth (נְאוֹת), meaning pastures or habitations, showing ecological judgment.
Their course is evil employs merutsah (מְרוּצָה), meaning running or pursuit—their life-direction races toward wickedness. Their force is not right uses geburah (גְּבוּרָה), meaning might or strength, indicating they exert power unrighteously. The verse links moral corruption (adultery), covenant violation (oath-breaking), environmental consequences (drought), and misdirected zeal (evil pursuits with wrongly applied strength). This holistic view of judgment—affecting land, society, and individuals—reflects Torah theology where covenant faithfulness brings blessing and unfaithfulness brings curse.