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(Yet they are not gods at all.) But my people have exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/jeremiah/2.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />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!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/jeremiah/2.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/jeremiah/2.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Has a nation ever changed its gods? (Yet they are not gods at all.) But My people have exchanged their Glory for useless idols.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/jeremiah/2.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Hath a nation changed <i>their</i> gods, which <i>are</i> yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for <i>that which</i> doth not profit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/jeremiah/2.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Has a nation changed <i>its</i> gods, Which <i>are</i> not gods? But My people have changed their Glory For <i>what</i> does not profit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/jeremiah/2.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />“Has a nation changed gods, When they were not gods? But My people have exchanged their glory For that which is of no benefit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/jeremiah/2.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220Has a nation changed gods When they were not gods? But My people have changed their glory For that which does not profit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/jeremiah/2.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“Has a nation changed gods, When they were not gods? But My people have changed their glory For that which does not profit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/jeremiah/2.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Has a nation changed gods Though they were not gods? But My people have changed their glory For that which does not profit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/jeremiah/2.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />“Has a nation [ever] changed gods Even though they were not gods [but merely man-made objects]? But My people have exchanged their Glory (the true God) For that [man-made idol] which does not benefit [them].<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/jeremiah/2.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Has a nation ever exchanged its gods? (But they were not gods! ) Yet my people have exchanged their Glory for useless idols.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/jeremiah/2.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Has a nation ever exchanged its gods? (But they were not gods!) Yet My people have exchanged their Glory for useless idols. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/jeremiah/2.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Hath a nation changed its gods, which yet are no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/jeremiah/2.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />You will find that no nation has ever abandoned its gods even though they were false. I am the true and glorious God, but you have rejected me to worship idols. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/jeremiah/2.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Hath a nation changed their gods, which yet are no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/jeremiah/2.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Has any nation ever exchanged gods? (Their gods aren't really gods.) Yet, my people have exchanged their Glory for something that doesn't help them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/jeremiah/2.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />No other nation has ever changed its gods, even though they were not real. But my people have exchanged me, the God who has brought them honor, for gods that can do nothing for them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/jeremiah/2.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Has a nation ever changed gods when they aren't even gods? But my people have exchanged their glory for that which does not profit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/jeremiah/2.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Has a nation ever changed its gods? (Yet they are not gods at all.) But My people have exchanged their Glory for useless idols.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/jeremiah/2.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Has a nation ever changed its gods (even though they are not really gods at all)? But my people have exchanged me, their glorious God, for a god that cannot help them at all! <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/jeremiah/2.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Has a nation changed its gods, which really are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/jeremiah/2.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/jeremiah/2.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Has a nation changed its gods, which really are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which doesn’t profit. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/jeremiah/2.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />Has a nation changed gods? (And they [are] no gods!) And My people has changed its glory "" For that which does not profit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/jeremiah/2.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Hath a nation changed gods? (And they are no gods!) And My people hath changed its honour For that which doth not profit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/jeremiah/2.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Did a nation change their gods, and they no gods? and my people changed their glory for what will not profit.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/jeremiah/2.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />If a nation hath changed their gods, and indeed they are not gods,: but my people have changed their glory into an idol. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/jeremiah/2.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />See if a nation has ever changed their gods, though certainly those are not gods. Yet truly, my people have exchanged their glory for an idol.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/jeremiah/2.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Does any other nation change its gods?— even though they are not gods at all! But my people have changed their glory for useless things. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/jeremiah/2.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for something that does not profit.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/jeremiah/2.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Have the Gentiles changed their gods, which are not gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/jeremiah/2.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />If the nations exchange their gods, those that have not been gods, and my people have exchanged its honor with that which does not profit<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/jeremiah/2.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Hath a nation changed its gods, Which yet are no gods? But My people hath changed its glory For that which doth not profit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/jeremiah/2.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />if the nations will change their gods, though they are not gods: but my people have changed their glory, <i>for that</i> from which they shall not be profited.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/jeremiah/2-11.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5k55c51ZGhs?start=328" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/jeremiah/2.htm">Israel has Forsaken God</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">10</span>Cross over to the coasts of Cyprus and take a look; send to Kedar and consider carefully; see if there has ever been anything like this: <span class="reftext">11</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/1471.htm" title="1471: gō·w (N-ms) -- Rarely goy; apparently from the same root as gevah; a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts.">Has a nation</a> <a href="/hebrew/3235.htm" title="3235: ha·hê·mîr (V-Hifil-Perf-3ms) -- Perhaps to exchange. A primitive root; to exchange; by implication, to change places.">ever changed</a> <a href="/hebrew/430.htm" title="430: ’ĕ·lō·hîm (N-mp) -- Plural of 'elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used of the supreme God">its gods,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1992.htm" title="1992: wə·hêm·māh (Conj-w:: Pro-3mp) -- They. Or hemmah; masculine plural from halak; they.">though they are</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">no</a> <a href="/hebrew/430.htm" title="430: ’ĕ·lō·hîm (N-mp) -- Plural of 'elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used of the supreme God">gods at all?</a> <a href="/hebrew/5971.htm" title="5971: wə·‘am·mî (Conj-w:: N-msc:: 1cs) -- From amam; a people; specifically, a tribe; hence troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock.">Yet My people</a> <a href="/hebrew/4171.htm" title="4171: hê·mîr (V-Hifil-Perf-3ms) -- To change. A primitive root; to alter; by implication, to barter, to dispose of.">have exchanged</a> <a href="/hebrew/3519.htm" title="3519: kə·ḇō·w·ḏōw (N-msc:: 3ms) -- Rarely kabod; from kabad; properly, weight, but only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or copiousness.">their Glory</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: bə·lō·w (Prep-b:: Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">for useless</a> <a href="/hebrew/3276.htm" title="3276: yō·w·‘îl (V-Hifil-Imperf-3ms) -- To confer or gain profit or benefit. A primitive root; properly, to ascend; figuratively, to be valuable.">idols.</a> </span><span class="reftext">12</span>Be stunned by this, O heavens; be shocked and utterly appalled,” declares the LORD.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/32-21.htm">Deuteronomy 32:21</a></span><br />They have provoked My jealousy by that which is not God; they have enraged Me with their worthless idols. So I will make them jealous by those who are not a people; I will make them angry by a nation without understanding.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/1-23.htm">Romans 1:23</a></span><br />and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/44-9.htm">Isaiah 44:9-20</a></span><br />All makers of idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Their witnesses fail to see or comprehend, so they are put to shame. / Who fashions a god or casts an idol which profits him nothing? / Behold, all his companions will be put to shame, for the craftsmen themselves are only human. Let them all assemble and take their stand; they will all be brought to terror and shame. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/11-33.htm">1 Kings 11:33</a></span><br />For they have forsaken Me to worship Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the Ammonites. They have not walked in My ways, nor done what is right in My eyes, nor kept My statutes and judgments, as Solomon’s father David did.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/17-15.htm">2 Kings 17:15</a></span><br />They rejected His statutes and the covenant He had made with their fathers, as well as the decrees He had given them. They pursued worthless idols and became worthless themselves, going after the surrounding nations that the LORD had commanded them not to imitate.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/106-20.htm">Psalm 106:20</a></span><br />They exchanged their Glory for the image of a grass-eating ox.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/4-7.htm">Hosea 4:7</a></span><br />The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against Me; they exchanged their Glory for a thing of disgrace.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/micah/4-5.htm">Micah 4:5</a></span><br />Though all the nations may walk in the name of their gods, yet we will walk in the name of the LORD our God forever and ever.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/8-5.htm">1 Corinthians 8:5-6</a></span><br />For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many so-called gods and lords), / yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we exist.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/4-8.htm">Galatians 4:8-9</a></span><br />Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. / But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to those weak and worthless principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/6-16.htm">2 Corinthians 6:16</a></span><br />What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/2-8.htm">Isaiah 2:8</a></span><br />Their land is full of idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/46-5.htm">Isaiah 46:5-7</a></span><br />To whom will you liken Me or count Me equal? To whom will you compare Me, that we should be alike? / They pour out their bags of gold and weigh out silver on scales; they hire a goldsmith to fashion it into a god, so they can bow down and worship. / They lift it to their shoulder and carry it along; they set it in its place, and there it stands, not budging from that spot. They cry out to it, but it does not answer; it saves no one from his troubles.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/17-29.htm">Acts 17:29</a></span><br />Therefore, being offspring of God, we should not think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by man’s skill and imagination.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_thessalonians/1-9.htm">1 Thessalonians 1:9</a></span><br />For they themselves report what kind of welcome you gave us, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Has a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit.</p><p class="hdg">a nation</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/2-5.htm">Jeremiah 2:5</a></b></br> 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?</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/micah/4-5.htm">Micah 4:5</a></b></br> For 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.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_peter/1-18.htm">1 Peter 1:18</a></b></br> Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, <i>as</i> silver and gold, from your vain conversation <i>received</i> by tradition from your fathers;</p><p class="hdg">no gods</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/16-20.htm">Jeremiah 16:20</a></b></br> Shall a man make gods unto himself, and they <i>are</i> no gods?</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/115-4.htm">Psalm 115:4</a></b></br> Their idols <i>are</i> silver and gold, the work of men's hands.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/37-19.htm">Isaiah 37:19</a></b></br> And have cast their gods into the fire: for they <i>were</i> no gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them.</p><p class="hdg">changed their glory</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/2-8.htm">Jeremiah 2:8</a></b></br> The priests said not, Where <i>is</i> 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 <i>things that</i> do not profit.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/33-29.htm">Deuteronomy 33:29</a></b></br> Happy <i>art</i> thou, O Israel: who <i>is</i> like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who <i>is</i> the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/3-3.htm">Psalm 3:3</a></b></br> But thou, O LORD, <i>art</i> a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/isaiah/33-6.htm">Change</a> <a href="/isaiah/52-14.htm">Changed</a> <a href="/isaiah/43-4.htm">Exchange</a> <a href="/psalms/106-20.htm">Exchanged</a> <a href="/isaiah/66-19.htm">Glory</a> <a href="/jeremiah/1-16.htm">Gods</a> <a href="/isaiah/66-18.htm">Honour</a> <a href="/jeremiah/2-5.htm">Idols</a> <a href="/isaiah/66-8.htm">Nation</a> <a href="/jeremiah/2-8.htm">Profit</a> <a href="/jeremiah/2-8.htm">Worthless</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/jeremiah/2-36.htm">Change</a> <a href="/jeremiah/2-21.htm">Changed</a> <a href="/ezekiel/27-9.htm">Exchange</a> <a href="/ezekiel/27-12.htm">Exchanged</a> <a href="/jeremiah/3-19.htm">Glory</a> <a href="/jeremiah/2-25.htm">Gods</a> <a href="/jeremiah/14-7.htm">Honour</a> <a href="/jeremiah/4-1.htm">Idols</a> <a href="/jeremiah/3-19.htm">Nation</a> <a href="/jeremiah/7-8.htm">Profit</a> <a href="/jeremiah/7-8.htm">Worthless</a><div class="vheading2">Jeremiah 2</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/jeremiah/2-1.htm">God having shown his former kindness, </a></span><br><span class="reftext">5. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/jeremiah/2-5.htm">expostulates with the people on their causeless and unexampled revolt</a></span><br><span class="reftext">14. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/jeremiah/2-14.htm">They are the causes of their own calamities</a></span><br><span class="reftext">18. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/jeremiah/2-18.htm">The sins and idolatries of Judah</a></span><br><span class="reftext">35. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/jeremiah/2-35.htm">Her confidence is rejected.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/jeremiah/2.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/jeremiah/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/jeremiah/2.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Has a nation ever changed its gods?</b><br>In the ancient Near East, nations were typically identified with their deities, and changing gods was almost unheard of. This rhetorical question highlights the absurdity of Israel's actions. Nations were loyal to their gods, even when those gods were powerless. This phrase underscores the covenant relationship between Israel and Yahweh, contrasting it with the surrounding pagan nations' steadfastness to their false gods. The historical context shows that nations like Egypt and Babylon remained devoted to their pantheon, despite political or military changes.<p><b>(Yet they are not gods at all.)</b><br>This parenthetical statement emphasizes the futility and falsehood of pagan deities. The Bible consistently teaches monotheism, asserting that idols are lifeless and powerless (<a href="/psalms/115-4.htm">Psalm 115:4-8</a>, <a href="/isaiah/44-9.htm">Isaiah 44:9-20</a>). This phrase serves as a reminder of the unique nature of Yahweh, the living God, in contrast to the non-existent power of idols. It reflects the biblical theme of the folly of idolatry, which is a recurring issue for Israel throughout the Old Testament.<p><b>But My people have exchanged their Glory</b><br>The term "Glory" refers to the presence and majesty of God, who dwelt among His people and was their source of strength and identity. This exchange signifies a profound spiritual betrayal, as Israel abandoned the true God for worthless idols. The historical context includes Israel's repeated lapses into idolatry, despite witnessing God's mighty acts, such as the Exodus and the giving of the Law at Sinai. This phrase also foreshadows the New Testament concept of exchanging the truth of God for a lie (<a href="/romans/1-23.htm">Romans 1:23</a>).<p><b>for useless idols.</b><br>The term "useless" highlights the impotence and vanity of idols, which cannot save or provide for their worshippers. This reflects the biblical theme of idolatry as spiritual adultery, where Israel's unfaithfulness leads to their downfall. The cultural context includes the allure of Canaanite religion and practices, which often tempted Israel away from exclusive worship of Yahweh. This phrase serves as a warning against the seductive nature of idolatry and the consequences of forsaking God, as seen in the eventual exile of Israel.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/jeremiah.htm">Jeremiah</a></b><br>A prophet called by God to deliver His messages to the people of Judah. He is known for his prophecies of warning and calls for repentance.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/j/judah.htm">Judah</a></b><br>The southern kingdom of Israel, which had turned away from God and was engaging in idolatry and other sins.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God (Yahweh)</a></b><br>The one true God, who is addressing His people through the prophet Jeremiah, expressing His dismay at their unfaithfulness.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/i/idols.htm">Idols</a></b><br>Representations of false gods that the people of Judah were worshiping, which are described as "useless" in this passage.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_glory.htm">The Glory</a></b><br>Refers to the presence and majesty of God, which the people of Judah have exchanged for worthless idols.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_danger_of_idolatry.htm">The Danger of Idolatry</a></b><br>Idolatry is not just the worship of physical idols but can be anything that takes the place of God in our lives. We must be vigilant in identifying and removing idols from our hearts.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_unchanging_nature_of_god.htm">The Unchanging Nature of God</a></b><br>Unlike the false gods that nations might change, the one true God is unchanging and faithful. Our allegiance should remain steadfast to Him.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_value_of_god's_glory.htm">The Value of God’s Glory</a></b><br>The glory of God is incomparable and should never be exchanged for anything else. We must recognize the worth of God’s presence and prioritize it above all.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/repentance_and_return.htm">Repentance and Return</a></b><br>God calls His people to recognize their errors and return to Him. Repentance is a crucial step in restoring our relationship with God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/cultural_influence.htm">Cultural Influence</a></b><br>Just as Judah was influenced by surrounding nations, we must be cautious of cultural influences that lead us away from God. Our identity should be rooted in Christ, not in the world.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_jeremiah_2.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Jeremiah 2</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_choose_idols_over_the_true_god.htm">Why worship idols instead of the true God?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_will_god_judge_and_restore_israel.htm">How will God's judgment and restoration manifest for Israel?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_call_evil_good_and_good_evil.htm">Why label evil as good and good as evil?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_are_'creeping_things'_in_the_temple.htm">In Ezekiel 8:10, why would the temple contain images of “creeping things” if this contradicts the temple’s strict laws against idolatry? </a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/jeremiah/2.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(11) <span class= "bld">Hath a nation . . .</span>--Emphatically a heathen "nation," as contrasted with the "people" of Jehovah. They were faithful to their false gods; Israel was unfaithful to the true. The words "changed their glory" find an echo in <a href="/romans/1-23.htm" title="And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four footed beasts, and creeping things.">Romans 1:23</a>, though here they express the thought that the worship of Jehovah was the true glory of Israel as a people, and that they had wilfully abandoned it.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/jeremiah/2.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 11.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Hath a nation changed their gods</span><span class="accented">? Has any heathen nation ever changed its idol-god for another?</span> The prophet clearly implies a negative answer; and yet it must be admitted that the adoption of a new religion, under the pressure of conquest or a higher foreign civilization is not an unknown phenomenon in the ancient world. Glory; <span class="accented">i</span>.<span class="accented">e</span>. source of all outward prosperity (comp. <a href="/psalms/3-3.htm">Psalm 3:3</a>," my Glory, and the Lifter up Of my head"). Religion was, in fact, the root of national life in antiquity; contrast our own division between the sacred and the secular Jehovah elsewhere receives the title "the Pride of Israel" -Authorized Version, rather weakly, "the Excellency of Israel" -(<a href="/amos/8-7.htm">Amos 8:7</a>; <a href="/hosea/5-5.htm">Hosea 5:5</a>. Comp. the parallel passages, <a href="/psalms/106-20.htm">Psalm 106:20</a>; <a href="/romans/1-23.htm">Romans 1:23</a>). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/jeremiah/2-11.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Has a nation</span><br /><span class="heb">גּוֹי֙</span> <span class="translit">(gō·w)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1471.htm">Strong's 1471: </a> </span><span class="str2">A foreign nation, a Gentile, a troop of animals, a flight of locusts</span><br /><br /><span class="word">ever changed</span><br /><span class="heb">הַהֵימִ֥יר</span> <span class="translit">(ha·hê·mîr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4171.htm">Strong's 4171: </a> </span><span class="str2">To alter, to barter, to dispose of</span><br /><br /><span class="word">its gods?</span><br /><span class="heb">אֱלֹהִ֔ים</span> <span class="translit">(’ĕ·lō·hîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_430.htm">Strong's 430: </a> </span><span class="str2">gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative</span><br /><br /><span class="word">(though they</span><br /><span class="heb">וְהֵ֖מָּה</span> <span class="translit">(wə·hêm·māh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1992.htm">Strong's 1992: </a> </span><span class="str2">They</span><br /><br /><span class="word">were no</span><br /><span class="heb">לֹ֣א</span> <span class="translit">(lō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">gods [at all]!)</span><br /><span class="heb">אֱלֹהִ֑ים</span> <span class="translit">(’ĕ·lō·hîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_430.htm">Strong's 430: </a> </span><span class="str2">gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Yet My people</span><br /><span class="heb">וְעַמִּ֛י</span> <span class="translit">(wə·‘am·mî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5971.htm">Strong's 5971: </a> </span><span class="str2">A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock</span><br /><br /><span class="word">have exchanged</span><br /><span class="heb">הֵמִ֥יר</span> <span class="translit">(hê·mîr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4171.htm">Strong's 4171: </a> </span><span class="str2">To alter, to barter, to dispose of</span><br /><br /><span class="word">their Glory</span><br /><span class="heb">כְּבוֹד֖וֹ</span> <span class="translit">(kə·ḇō·w·ḏōw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3519.htm">Strong's 3519: </a> </span><span class="str2">Weight, splendor, copiousness</span><br /><br /><span class="word">for idols</span><br /><span class="heb">יוֹעִֽיל׃</span> <span class="translit">(yō·w·‘îl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3276.htm">Strong's 3276: </a> </span><span class="str2">To confer or gain profit or benefit</span><br /><br /><span class="word">[that are] useless.</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּל֥וֹא</span> <span class="translit">(bə·lō·w)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1094.htm">Strong's 1094: </a> </span><span class="str2">Worn-out things, rags</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/jeremiah/2-11.htm">Jeremiah 2:11 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/jeremiah/2-11.htm">Jeremiah 2:11 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/jeremiah/2-11.htm">Jeremiah 2:11 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/jeremiah/2-11.htm">Jeremiah 2:11 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/jeremiah/2-11.htm">Jeremiah 2:11 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/jeremiah/2-11.htm">Jeremiah 2:11 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/jeremiah/2-11.htm">Jeremiah 2:11 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/jeremiah/2-11.htm">Jeremiah 2:11 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/jeremiah/2-11.htm">Jeremiah 2:11 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/jeremiah/2-11.htm">Jeremiah 2:11 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/jeremiah/2-11.htm">OT Prophets: Jeremiah 2:11 Has a nation changed its gods which (Jer.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/jeremiah/2-10.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Jeremiah 2:10"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Jeremiah 2:10" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/jeremiah/2-12.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Jeremiah 2:12"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Jeremiah 2:12" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>