Bible Strands
Jeremiah 7:11
Has this house, which bears My Name, become a den of robbers in your sight? Yes, I too have seen it, declares the LORD.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The LORD speaks through Jeremiah to the people of Judah gathered in the temple courts, confronting their claim of safety after engaging in idolatrous practices.
The words — The phrase מְעָרַת פָּרִצִים (meʿarat paritsim) literally means "den of robbers," describing a cave used by violent bandits for concealment rather than a place of worship.
The thread — This charge reappears in Jesus’ temple cleansing at Matthew 21:13 and Luke 19:45, while standing in direct contrast to God’s promise in Isaiah 56:7 that the temple will be a house of prayer for all nations.
Why it lands — The text first states that the temple has become a hiding place for criminals, then demands that readers abandon the belief that ritual attendance excuses ongoing injustice.
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
Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the Lord.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 56:7 I will bring them to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on My altar, for My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations.”
- Luke 19:45 Then Jesus entered the temple courts and began to drive out those who were selling there.
- Matthew 21:13 And He declared to them, “It is written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer.’ But you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’”
- Mark 11:17 Then Jesus began to teach them, and He declared, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”
- 2 Chronicles 6:33 then may You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You. Then all the peoples of the earth will know Your name and fear You, as do Your people Israel, and they will know that this house I have built is called by Your Name.
- John 2:16 To those selling doves He said, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn My Father’s house into a marketplace!”
- Jeremiah 23:24 “Can a man hide in secret places where I cannot see him?” declares the LORD. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the LORD.
- Jeremiah 2:34 Moreover, your skirts are stained with the blood of the innocent poor, though you did not find them breaking in. But in spite of all these things
- Jeremiah 16:16 But for now I will send for many fishermen, declares the LORD, and they will catch them. After that I will send for many hunters, and they will hunt them down on every mountain and hill, even from the clefts of the rocks.
- Jeremiah 29:23 For they have committed an outrage in Israel by committing adultery with the wives of their neighbors and speaking lies in My name, which I did not command them to do. I am He who knows, and I am a witness, declares the LORD.”