For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot.
Long ago I broke the chains that held you captive and set you free from slavery. You promised me, 'I will not sin against you.' But then you went to every hilltop and under every green tree, worshiping other gods like an unfaithful spouse.
God is reminding Israel that even after He freed them from slavery, they broke their promise and turned to worship false gods everywhere they went.
📚 Historical Context
In the 7th century BC, during the time of the prophet Jeremiah, God was addressing the people of Judah, reminding them of how He had delivered them from slavery in Egypt by breaking their yoke of bondage and setting them free. Despite this act of liberation and their promises to remain faithful, the Israelites turned to idolatry, worshiping pagan gods on high hills and under green trees, which were common sites for Canaanite rituals. This verse uses the metaphor of unfaithfulness, like a spouse committing adultery, to highlight Israel's betrayal of their covenant with God.
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