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Jeremiah 2:5

Made Simple — Modern English Translation

Translated by Verse Made Simple Editorial
KJV ORIGINAL
Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE

This is what the LORD says: What wrong did your ancestors find in me that made them turn away from me? They chased after worthless things and became worthless themselves.

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

God is asking why His people abandoned Him when He had done nothing wrong to them, pointing out that chasing empty things made them empty too.

📚 Historical Context

This verse comes from Jeremiah's prophecy to the kingdom of Judah around 627-586 BC, as they faced increasing threats from Babylon. God is reminding them through Jeremiah how their ancestors had turned away from Him despite His faithfulness, choosing to worship idols and follow pagan practices instead of remaining loyal to the God who had delivered them from Egypt.

Explore Similar Verses

2 Kings 17:15
They rejected God's laws, the covenant he made with their ancestors, and the warnings he gave them. Instead, they followed worthless things and became worthless themselves. They copied the pagan nations around them, even though the LORD had specifically commanded them not to act like those nations.
Jeremiah 16:19
O LORD, you are my strength, my fortress, and my safe place when trouble comes. People from all nations will come to you from every corner of the earth, and they will say, 'Our ancestors passed down to us lies, worthless things, and beliefs that don't help us at all.'
Jeremiah 18:15
Because my people have forgotten me, they have burned incense to worthless idols, and these false gods have caused them to stumble and fall away from the good old paths their ancestors walked, making them walk on rough, unpaved roads instead.

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Translation & Methodology Sources

The original manuscript text provided is based on the King James Version (KJV), which is in the public domain. Our modern English simplifications are generated via proprietary philological synthesis, cross-referenced against Strong's Exhaustive Concordance and the Textus Receptus to ensure unwavering theological and etymological precision.

Read our full translation methodology →