Jeremiah 32:30

For the children of Israel and of Judah have done nothing but evil in My sight from their youth; indeed, they have done nothing but provoke Me to anger by the work of their hands, declares the LORD.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — YHWH addresses Jeremiah concerning the imminent Chaldean destruction of Jerusalem. The declaration pronounces that the combined people of Israel and Judah have uniformly provoked divine anger from their youth onward.

The words — The Hebrew adverb אַ֣ךְ ('akh) translates as "only" or "nothing but," establishing exclusivity. Paired with the participle עֹשִׂ֥ים ('o.Sim) for "doing," it frames their lifelong conduct as uniformly evil.

The thread — This cumulative pattern of provocation runs through Deuteronomy 9:7 and Jeremiah 7:22, while the declaration of wrath directly supports the judgment context of Jeremiah 32:29 and 31.

Why it lands — The text demands recognition that persistent, unrepentant action provokes divine judgment. It requires the reader to account for the cumulative weight of daily choices rather than isolated failures.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

King James Version

For the children of Israel and the children of Judah have only done evil before me from their youth: for the children of Israel have only provoked me to anger with the work of their hands, saith the Lord.

Cross-references

Jeremiah 7:22 For when I brought your fathers out of the land of Egypt, I did not merely command them about burnt offerings and sacrifices,
Genesis 8:21 When the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, He said in His heart, “Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from his youth. And never again will I destroy all living creatures as I have done.
Deuteronomy 9:7 Remember this, and never forget how you provoked the LORD your God in the wilderness. From the day you left the land of Egypt until you reached this place, you have been rebelling against the LORD.
Isaiah 63:10 But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit. So He turned and became their enemy, and He Himself fought against them.
Jeremiah 2:7 I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and bounty, but you came and defiled My land and made My inheritance detestable.
Jeremiah 3:25 Let us lie down in our shame; let our disgrace cover us. We have sinned against the LORD our God, both we and our fathers; from our youth even to this day we have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God.”
Jeremiah 22:21 I warned you when you were secure. You said, ‘I will not listen.’ This has been your way from youth, that you have not obeyed My voice.
Jeremiah 25:7 ‘But to your own harm, you have not listened to Me,’ declares the LORD, ‘so you have provoked Me to anger with the works of your hands.’
Deuteronomy 9:22 You continued to provoke the LORD at Taberah, at Massah, and at Kibroth-hattaavah.
2 Kings 17:9 The Israelites secretly did things against the LORD their God that were not right. From watchtower to fortified city, they built high places in all their cities.