Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.
Parallel translations
- WEB Has a nation changed its gods, which really are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit.
- BSB Has a nation ever changed its gods, though they are no gods at all? Yet My people have exchanged their Glory for useless idols.
- ESV Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit.
- NKJV Has a nation changed its gods, Which are not gods? But My people have changed their Glory For what does not profit.
- NASB “Has a nation changed gods, When they were not gods? But My people have exchanged their glory For that which is of no benefit.
- NLT Has any nation ever traded its gods for new ones, even though they are not gods at all? Yet my people have exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols!
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
No nation swaps its gods, yet Israel traded their glorious God for worthless idols. Their exchange was a senseless loss.
Overview
Yahweh marvels that nations keep their false gods, but Israel exchanged 'their glory,' the true God, for what cannot profit. The trade is portrayed as the height of folly, surrendering infinite worth for nothing. This warns against valuing created things over the Creator who alone is our glory.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Rom 1:23And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
- Isa 37:19And have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them.
- Ps 106:20Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass.
- Jer 16:20Shall a man make gods unto himself, and they are no gods?
- Mic 4:5For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever.
- 1 Cor 8:4As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.
- Jer 2:8The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.
- Ps 115:4Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.
- Deut 33:29Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.
- Jer 2:5Thus 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?
- Ps 3:3But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.
- 1 Pet 1:18Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Against the failure of false shepherds Jeremiah promises the Righteous Branch, 'The LORD our righteousness,' and the new covenant written on the heart and sealed in the blood of Christ.
How Jeremiah 2:11 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.