Jeremiah 5:7

King James Version

How shall I pardon thee for this? thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they then committed adultery, and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots' houses.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Why should I forgive you?Your children have abandoned meand sworn by those who are not gods.I satisfied their needs, yet they committed adultery;they gashed themselves at the prostitute’s house.

Hebrew Names Version
How can I pardon you? your children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they committed adultery, and assembled themselves in troops at the prostitutes' houses.

English Standard Version
"How can I pardon you? Your children have forsaken me and have sworn by those who are no gods. When I fed them to the full, they committed adultery and trooped to the houses of whores.

New American Standard Bible
"Why should I forgive you? Your sons have forsaken Me And sworn by those who are not gods. When I had fed them to the full, They committed adultery And stayed at the prostitute's house.

New Century Version
The Lord said, "Tell me why I should forgive you. Your children have left me and have made promises to idols that are not gods at all. I gave your children everything they needed, but they still were like an unfaithful wife to me. They spent much time in houses of prostitutes.

Amplified Bible
"Why should I [overlook these offenses and] forgive you? Your children have abandoned (rejected) Me And sworn [their oaths] by those who are not gods. When I had fed them until they were full [and bound them to Me by a promise], They committed [spiritual] adultery, Assembling in troops at the houses of prostitutes (idols).

World English Bible
How can I pardon you? your children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they committed adultery, and assembled themselves in troops at the prostitutes' houses.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Howe should I spare thee for this? thy children haue forsaken me, and sworne by them that are no gods: though I fed them to the full, yet they committed adulterie, and assembled them selues by companies in the harlots houses.

Legacy Standard Bible
"Why should I pardon you?Your sons have forsaken MeAnd sworn by those who are not gods.I had satisfied them to the full,Then they committed adulteryAnd trooped to the harlot's house.

Berean Standard Bible
"Why should I forgive you? Your children have forsaken Me and sworn by gods that are not gods. I satisfied their needs, yet they committed adultery and assembled at the houses of prostitutes.

Contemporary English Version
The Lord said: People of Judah, how can I forgive you? I gave you everything, but you abandoned me and worshiped idols. You men go to prostitutes and are unfaithful to your wives.

Complete Jewish Bible
"Why should I forgive you? Your people have abandoned me and sworn by non-gods. When I fed them to the full, they committed adultery, thronging to the brothels.

Darby Translation
Wherefore should I pardon thee? Thy children have forsaken me, and swear by them that are not God. I have satiated them, and they have committed adultery, and they troop to the harlots' house.

Easy-to-Read Version
God says, "People of Judah, why should I forgive you? Your children have abandoned me. They made promises to idols that are not really gods! I gave your children everything they needed, but they were still unfaithful to me! They spent their time with prostitutes.

George Lamsa Translation
How shall I pardon you? Your children have forsaken me and sworn by those that are no gods; when I had fed them until they were satisfied, they then committed adultery, and they fought one another in the harlots houses.

Good News Translation
The Lord asked, "Why should I forgive the sins of my people? They have abandoned me and have worshiped gods that are not real. I fed my people until they were full, but they committed adultery and spent their time with prostitutes.

Lexham English Bible
"How can I forgive you? Your children have forsaken me, and they have sworn by those who are not gods. But I fed them to the full, and they committed adultery, and flocked to the house of a prostitute.

Literal Translation
Why should I pardon you for this? Your sons have forsaken Me and have sworn by No-gods. When I adjured them, they then committed adultery and gathered themselves by troops in a harlot's house.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Shulde I then for all this haue mercy vpon the? Thy children haue forsaken me, and sworne by them that are no goddes. And albeit they were bounde to me in mariage, yet they fell to aduoutrie, and haunted harlottes houses.

American Standard Version
How can I pardon thee? thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods. When I had fed them to the full, they committed adultery, and assembled themselves in troops at the harlots' houses;

Bible in Basic English
How is it possible for you to have my forgiveness for this? your children have given me up, taking their oaths by those who are no gods: when I had given them food in full measure, they were false to their wives, taking their pleasure in the houses of loose women.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
Wherefore should I pardon thee? The children have forsaken Me, and sworn by no-gods; and when I had fed them to the full, they committed adultery, and assembled themselves in troops at the harlots' houses.

King James Version (1611)
How shall I pardon thee for this? Thy children haue forsaken mee, and sworne by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they then committed adulterie, and assembled themselues by troupes in the harlots houses.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Shoulde I then for all this haue mercie vpon thee? Thy children haue forsaken me, and sworne by them that are no gods: and albeit that I fed them to the full, yet they fall to adulterie, and haunt harlottes houses.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
In what way shall I forgive thee for these things? Thy sons have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: and I fed them to the full, and they committed adultery, and lodged in harlots’ houses.

English Revised Version
How can I pardon thee? thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they committed adultery, and assembled themselves in troops at the harlots' houses.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
On what thing mai Y be merciful to thee? Thi sones han forsake me, and sweren bi hem that ben not goddis. Y fillide hem, and thei diden auowtrie, and in the hous of an hoore thei diden letcherie.

Update Bible Version
How can I pardon you? your sons have forsaken me, and sworn by those that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they committed adultery, and they dwell at a prostitute's house.

Webster's Bible Translation
How shall I pardon thee for this? thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by [them that are] no gods: when I had fed them to the full, then they committed adultery, and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots' houses.

New English Translation
The Lord asked, "How can I leave you unpunished, Jerusalem? Your people have rejected me and have worshiped gods that are not gods at all. Even though I supplied all their needs, they were like an unfaithful wife to me. They went flocking to the houses of prostitutes.

New King James Version
"How shall I pardon you for this? Your children have forsaken Me And sworn by those that are not gods. When I had fed them to the full, Then they committed adultery And assembled themselves by troops in the harlots' houses.

New Living Translation
"How can I pardon you? For even your children have turned from me. They have sworn by gods that are not gods at all! I fed my people until they were full. But they thanked me by committing adultery and lining up at the brothels.

New Life Bible
"Why should I forgive you? Your sons have left Me and have sworn by those who are not gods. When I gave them everything they needed, they did sex sins and met at the house of the woman who sells the use of her body.

New Revised Standard
How can I pardon you? Your children have forsaken me, and have sworn by those who are no gods. When I fed them to the full, they committed adultery and trooped to the houses of prostitutes.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
How, for this, can I pardon thee? Thine own sons, have forsaken me, And have sworn by No-gods, - When I had fed them to the full, Then committed they adultery, And the house of the unchaste woman, they used to throng:

Douay-Rheims Bible
How can I be merciful to thee? thy children have forsaken me, and swear by them that are not gods: I fed them to the full, and they committed adultery, and rioted in the harlot’s house.

Revised Standard Version
"How can I pardon you? Your children have forsaken me, and have sworn by those who are no gods. When I fed them to the full, they committed adultery and trooped to the houses of harlots.

Young's Literal Translation
For this I am not propitious to thee, Thy sons have forsaken Me, And are satisfied by that which is not god, I satisfy them, and they commit adultery, And at the house of a harlot They gather themselves together.

THE MESSAGE
"Why should I even bother with you any longer? Your children wander off, leaving me, Taking up with gods that aren't even gods. I satisfied their deepest needs, and then they went off with the ‘sacred' whores, left me for orgies in sex shrines! A bunch of well-groomed, lusty stallions, each one pawing and snorting for his neighbor's wife. Do you think I'm going to stand around and do nothing?" God 's Decree. "Don't you think I'll take serious measures against a people like this?

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Why should I pardon you? Your sons have forsaken Me And sworn by those who are not gods. When I had fed them to the full, They committed adultery And trooped to the harlot's house.

Contextual Overview

¹ Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it. ² And though they say, The Lord liveth; surely they swear falsely. ³ O Lord , are not thine eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return. ⁴ Therefore I said, Surely these are poor; they are foolish: for they know not the way of the Lord , nor the judgment of their God. ⁵ I will get me unto the great men, and will speak unto them; for they have known the way of the Lord , and the judgment of their God: but these have altogether broken the yoke, and burst the bonds. ⁶ Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, and a wolf of the evenings shall spoil them, a leopard shall watch over their cities: every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces: because their transgressions are many, and their backslidings are increased. ⁷ How shall I pardon thee for this? thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they then committed adultery, and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots' houses. ⁸ They were as fed horses in the morning: every one neighed after his neighbour's wife. ⁹ Shall I not visit for these things? saith the Lord : and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

How shall: Jeremiah 3:19, Hosea 11:8, Matthew 23:37, Matthew 23:38

sworn by: Jeremiah 12:16, Joshua 23:7, Hosea 4:15, Amos 8:14, Zephaniah 1:5

no gods: Jeremiah 2:11, Deuteronomy 32:21, 1 Corinthians 8:4, Galatians 4:8

I had fed: Jeremiah 2:31, Deuteronomy 32:15, Ezekiel 16:49, Ezekiel 16:50, Hosea 13:6, James 5:1-5

they then: Jeremiah 9:2, Jeremiah 13:27, Jeremiah 23:10, Jeremiah 29:22, Jeremiah 29:23, Leviticus 20:10, Psalms 50:18, Ezekiel 22:11, Hosea 4:2, Hosea 4:13, Hosea 4:14, Hosea 7:4, Malachi 3:5, 1 Corinthians 6:9, Hebrews 13:4, James 4:4

by troops: Numbers 25:1-3

Reciprocal: Genesis 35:2 - strange Genesis 42:15 - By the life Exodus 23:21 - he will not Leviticus 27:8 - according Deuteronomy 6:13 - shalt swear Judges 19:25 - and abused Job 31:12 - General Jeremiah 16:11 - Because Lamentations 3:42 - thou Hosea 6:4 - what Romans 2:22 - adultery

Gill's Notes on the Bible

How shall I pardon thee for this?.... Because of their manifold transgressions, and multiplied backslidings; or "wherefore, or for what, shall I pardon thee?" r as the Targum; can any reason be given why I should? what goodness is there in thee, or done by thee, that I should do this unto thee? The particle אי, according to Kimchi, is a word of exclamation; and, according to Jarchi, of admiration; and may be rendered, "oh! for this shall I pardon?" how can it be? R. Menachem; in Jarchi, takes it to be the same with אין, "not"; and to be rendered, not for this will I pardon; and so is an affirmation, and fixed resolution not to pardon, and that for the following reasons:

thy children have forsaken me; my worship, as the Targum interprets it; that is, the children of Jerusalem, the inhabitants of it, the common people, as distinguished from their fathers, the civil and ecclesiastical rulers; see Matthew 23:37, though not to the exclusion of them; for they were guilty of the same sin in forsaking the word, worship, and ordinances of God:

and sworn by them that are no gods; by the name of idols, as the Targum; or, "by those things which are not god", as Noldius s renders the words; who rightly observes, that there were other things besides idols that they swore by, as the heaven and earth, temple, altar, c. with which the Arabic version agrees when an oath ought only to be taken in the name of the living God; or, "swore without God"; without making mention of the name of the true God:

when I had fed them to the full; with the good things of life; gave them all things richly to enjoy; the best provisions, and fulness of them; so that they had all that heart could wish for. There is in the Hebrew text a beautiful play on words t, between the word used for swearing in the former clause, and this for feeding here:

they then committed adultery; either idolatry, which is spiritual adultery; or adultery literally taken; as it seems from the following verse. This is the consequence of their being fullly fed; and that is an aggravation of this their sin against God and their neighbour; see

Deuteronomy 32:13:

and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots' houses; either in the temples of idols, or in the stews or brothel houses, where harlots prostituted themselves; their going thither in troops, or in great numbers, shows both how universal and how public this sin was, and how impudent and barefaced they were in the commission of it.

r אי לזאת אסלח לך "ad quid, [vel] ob quid, [vel] quare parcam tibi?" De Dieu. s Ebr. Concord. Part. p. 199. No. 911. t וישבעו "et juraverunt", ואשבע "cum saturarem".

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Rather, Why, “for what reason” should “I pardon thee?”

When ... - Or, “though I bound them to me by oath, yet they committed adultery.”

The harlots’ houses - The harlot’s house, i. e., the temple of an idol; the prophet had also in view (see Jeremiah 5:8) the unchastity which accompanied most forms of nature-worship.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Jeremiah 5:7. In the harlots' houses. — In places consecrated to idolatry. In the language of the prophets, adultery generally signifies idolatry. This we have often seen.