Saying to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.
They say to a piece of wood, 'You are my father,' and to a stone, 'You gave birth to me.' They have turned their backs on me instead of facing me. But when trouble comes, they cry out, 'Get up and save us!'
God is expressing His hurt that His people worship lifeless idols made of wood and stone, yet still expect Him to rescue them when they're in trouble.
📚 Historical Context
Jeremiah prophesied during the final decades before Jerusalem's destruction (around 627-586 BC), when the people of Judah had turned to worshiping Canaanite idols and foreign gods. They would carve wooden poles (Asherah poles) and set up stone pillars as objects of worship, treating these man-made things as their spiritual parents and providers.
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