Jeremiah 2:23
<< Jeremiah 2:23 >>
New International Version (©1984)
"How can you say, 'I am not defiled; I have not run after the Baals'? See how you behaved in the valley; consider what you have done. You are a swift she-camel running here and there,

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
"How can you say, 'I am not defiled, I have not gone after the Baals '? Look at your way in the valley! Know what you have done! You are a swift young camel entangling her ways,

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
"How can you say that you haven't dishonored yourselves and haven't followed other gods-the Baals? Look how you've behaved in the valley. Acknowledge what you've done. You are like a young camel that swiftly runs here and there.

King James Bible
How canst thou say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways;

American King James Version
How can you say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim? see your way in the valley, know what you have done: you are a swift dromedary traversing her ways;

American Standard Version
How canst thou say, I am not defiled, I have not gone after the Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways;

Bible in Basic English
How are you able to say, I am not unclean, I have not gone after the Baals? see your way in the valley, be clear about what you have done: you are a quick-footed camel twisting her way in and out;

Douay-Rheims Bible
How canst thou say: I am not polluted, and I have not walked after Baalim? see thy ways in the valley, know what thou hast done: as a swift runner pursuing his course.

Darby Bible Translation
How sayest thou, I am not defiled, I have not gone after the Baals? See thy way in the valley, acknowledge what thou hast done a swift dromedary traversing her ways!

English Revised Version
How canst thou say, I am not defiled, I have not gone after the Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways;

Webster's Bible Translation
How canst thou say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways;

World English Bible
"How can you say, 'I am not defiled. I have not gone after the Baals'? See your way in the valley. Know what you have done. [You are] a swift dromedary traversing her ways;

Young's Literal Translation
How sayest thou, 'I have not been defiled, After the Baalim I have not gone?' See thy way in a valley, know what thou hast done, A swift dromedary winding her ways,

Geneva Study Bible

How canst thou say, I am not polluted, I have not {h} gone after Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: thou art a swift {i} dromedary traversing her ways;

(h) Meaning that hypocrites deny that they worship the idols, but that they honour God in them, and therefore they call their doings God's service.

(i) He compares the idolaters to these beasts, because they never cease running to and fro: for both valleys and hills are full of their idolatry.

Wesley's Notes

2:23 Baalim - The word is plural, as comprehensive of all their idols. Thy way - The filthiness thou hast left behind thee, whereby thou mayst be traced. Valley - Whether of Hinnom where they burnt their children in sacrifice, or in any valleys where thou hast been frequent in thy idolatries. Traversing - A metaphor taken from creatures that are hunted, that keep no direct path.

King James Translators' Notes

thou art...: or, O swift dromedary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

23. (Pr 30:12).

Baalim-plural, to express manifold excellency: compare Elohim.

see-consider.

the valley-namely, of Hinnom, or Tophet, south and east of Jerusalem: rendered infamous by the human sacrifices to Moloch in it (compare Jer 19:2, 6, 13, 14; 32:35; see on [894]Isa 30:33).

thou art-omit. The substantive that follows in this verse (and also that in Jer 2:24) is in apposition with the preceding "thou."

dromedary-rather, a "young she-camel."

traversing-literally, "enfolding"; making its ways complicated by wandering hither and thither, lusting after the male. Compare as to the Jews' spiritual lust, Ho 2:6, 7.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

2:20-28 Notwithstanding all their advantages, Israel had become like the wild vine that bears poisonous fruit. Men are often as much under the power of their unbridled desires and their sinful lusts, as the brute beasts. But the Lord here warns them not to weary themselves in pursuits which could only bring distress and misery. As we must not despair of the mercy of God, but believe that to be sufficient for the pardon of our sins, so neither must we despair of the grace of God, but believe that it is able to subdue our corruptions, though ever so strong.


Proverbs 30:12 There is a kind who is pure in his own eyes, Yet is not washed from his filthiness.
Jeremiah 2:33 "How well you prepare your way To seek love! Therefore even the wicked women You have taught your ways.
Jeremiah 2:36 "Why do you go around so much Changing your way? Also, you will be put to shame by Egypt As you were put to shame by Assyria.
Jeremiah 7:31 "They have built the high places of Topheth, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, which I did not command, and it did not come into My mind.
Jeremiah 9:14 but have walked after the stubbornness of their heart and after the Baals, as their fathers taught them,"
Jeremiah 31:22 "How long will you go here and there, O faithless daughter? For the LORD has created a new thing in the earth-- A woman will encompass a man." (NASB ©1995)

Able Baalim Baals Ba'als Behaved Camel Clear Consider Defiled Polluted Quick-Footed Running Swift Tracks Traversing Twisting Unclean Valley Way Ways Young


How canst thou say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways;

how canst Jer 2:34,35 Ge 3:12,13 1Sa 15:13,14 Ps 36:2 Pr 28:13 30:12,20 Lu 10:29 Ro 3:19 1Jo 1:8-10 Re 3:17,18

see Jer 3:2 Ps 50:21 Eze 16:1 23:1

valley Jer 7:31 Isa 57:5,6

thou art a swift. or, O swift Es 8:16

Bible Gateway: Jeremiah Chapter 2 Verse 23 NIV ESV NKJV NLT KJV Message Amplified

Alphabetical: a after am and are at Baals' behaved camel can consider defiled done entangling gone have her here How I in Know Look not run running say See she-camel swift the there valley way ways what you young your

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