Jeremiah 32:30
For the children of Israel and the children of Judah have only done evil before me from their youth: for the children of Israel have only provoked me to anger with the work of their hands, saith the LORD.
Original Language Analysis
כִּֽי
H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
1 of 21
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
הָי֨וּ
H1961
הָי֨וּ
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
2 of 21
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
בְנֵֽי
For the children
H1121
בְנֵֽי
For the children
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
3 of 21
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל
of Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל
of Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
4 of 21
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
בְנֵֽי
For the children
H1121
בְנֵֽי
For the children
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
5 of 21
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
יְהוּדָ֗ה
of Judah
H3063
יְהוּדָ֗ה
of Judah
Strong's:
H3063
Word #:
6 of 21
jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
אַ֣ךְ
H389
עֹשִׂ֥ים
have only done
H6213
עֹשִׂ֥ים
have only done
Strong's:
H6213
Word #:
8 of 21
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
בְּעֵינַ֖י
before
H5869
בְּעֵינַ֖י
before
Strong's:
H5869
Word #:
10 of 21
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
מִנְּעֻרֹֽתֵיהֶ֑ם
me from their youth
H5271
מִנְּעֻרֹֽתֵיהֶ֑ם
me from their youth
Strong's:
H5271
Word #:
11 of 21
(only in plural collective or emphatic form) youth, the state (juvenility) or the persons (young people)
כִּ֣י
H3588
כִּ֣י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
12 of 21
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
בְנֵֽי
For the children
H1121
בְנֵֽי
For the children
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
13 of 21
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל
of Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל
of Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
14 of 21
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
אַ֣ךְ
H389
מַכְעִסִ֥ים
have only provoked me to anger
H3707
מַכְעִסִ֥ים
have only provoked me to anger
Strong's:
H3707
Word #:
16 of 21
to trouble; by implication, to grieve, rage, be indignant
אֹתִ֛י
H854
אֹתִ֛י
Strong's:
H854
Word #:
17 of 21
properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc
בְּמַעֲשֵׂ֥ה
with the work
H4639
בְּמַעֲשֵׂ֥ה
with the work
Strong's:
H4639
Word #:
18 of 21
an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication, a product (specifically, a poem) or (generally) property
Cross References
Isaiah 63:10But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.Jeremiah 2:7And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination.Jeremiah 22:21I spake unto thee in thy prosperity; but thou saidst, I will not hear. This hath been thy manner from thy youth, that thou obeyedst not my voice.Jeremiah 3:25We lie down in our shame, and our confusion covereth us: for we have sinned against the LORD our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even unto this day, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God.Jeremiah 25:7Yet ye have not hearkened unto me, saith the LORD; that ye might provoke me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt.Genesis 8:21And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.
Historical Context
Judah's religious history was cyclical—revival under reformer kings (Hezekiah, Josiah) followed by relapse (Manasseh, Jehoiakim). Despite prophetic warnings spanning centuries (Moses to Jeremiah), the nation persistently chose idolatry, proving human inability to achieve righteousness through law-keeping.
Questions for Reflection
- How does corporate/generational sin ('from their youth') manifest in your family or church?
- What 'works of your hands'—self-made righteousness or idols—compete for God's place?
- Does this verse's severity drive you to despair or to Christ's sufficient grace?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
The children of Israel and the children of Judah have only done evil before me from their youth—God indicts both the northern kingdom (Israel, exiled 722 BC) and southern kingdom (Judah). The phrase from their youth (מִנְּעֻרֵיהֶם) recalls Israel's wilderness rebellion (Exodus 32, Numbers 14), not just recent apostasy. The adverb only (אַךְ, akh) intensifies: exclusively, persistently, nothing but evil.
Provoked me to anger with the work of their hands (מַכְעִסִים אֹתִי בְּמַעֲשֵׂה יְדֵיהֶם)—the 'work of their hands' denotes man-made idols (Deuteronomy 4:28, Psalm 115:4). God's grief isn't over trivial offenses but systematic idolatry. This total depravity theme anticipates Paul's Romans 3:10-12: 'There is none righteous, no, not one.' Only the New Covenant (announced in Jeremiah 31:31-34) can remedy this endemic heart corruption.