King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 1:16 Mean?

Jeremiah 1:16 in the King James Version says “And I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have burned incense ...” — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 1 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands.”

Jeremiah 1:16 · KJV

Context

14

Then the LORD said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land. shall: Heb. shall be opened

15

For, lo, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north, saith the LORD; and they shall come, and they shall set every one his throne at the entering of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all the walls thereof round about, and against all the cities of Judah.

16

And I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands.

17

Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them. confound: or, break to pieces

18

For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
This verse explains the reason for judgment: 'And I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands.' The phrase 'I will utter my judgments' (debavarti mishpatai, דִּבַּרְתִּי מִשְׁפָּטַי) means 'I will speak my verdicts/sentences'—formal judicial pronouncement. The charges follow: 'all their wickedness' (kol-ra'atam, כָּל־רָעָתָם) encompasses comprehensive covenant violation. Specifically: 'they have forsaken me' (azabuni, עֲזָבוּנִי, from azab, עָזַב)—the fundamental sin of abandoning covenant relationship with Yahweh. The second charge: 'burned incense unto other gods' (qitter le'elohim acherim, קִטֵּר לֵאלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים)—offering worship (incense being a standard ritual act) to deities other than Yahweh, violating the first and second commandments (Exodus 20:3-5). Third: 'worshipped the works of their own hands' (hishtachavu lema'asei yedeihem, הִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לְמַעֲשֵׂי יְדֵיהֶם)—bowing down to idols they manufactured themselves, emphasizing the absurdity of worshipping human-created objects. The phrase 'works of their own hands' appears frequently as prophetic mockery of idolatry's foolishness—worshipping what you yourself made. These charges define covenant unfaithfulness: relational abandonment of God and religious prostitution to false gods.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Judah's idolatry reached its zenith under King Manasseh (697-642 BC), who rebuilt high places his father Hezekiah destroyed, erected altars to Baal, made an Asherah pole, worshipped astral deities, practiced child sacrifice in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, consulted mediums and spiritists, and even placed idols in the temple itself (2 Kings 21:1-16). Though Josiah's reforms (640-609 BC) temporarily reversed these practices, the spiritual damage was irreversible—most people changed external behavior without heart transformation. After Josiah's death, Jehoiakim and subsequent kings restored idolatrous practices. Archaeological discoveries confirm widespread syncretistic worship: figurines of Asherah found in Israelite homes, altars combining Yahweh worship with pagan elements, and pottery inscriptions mentioning 'Yahweh and his Asherah.' This pervasive idolatry, combined with social injustice, false prophecy, and trust in foreign alliances rather than God, accumulated divine judgment that even Josiah's reforms couldn't avert (2 Kings 23:26-27).

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the sequence—forsaking God, then turning to false gods—reveal the pattern of spiritual adultery that begins with relational abandonment?
  2. In what ways might modern believers create and worship 'works of their own hands'—ideas, achievements, or religious systems of their own making rather than submitted to God's revelation?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 14 words
וְדִבַּרְתִּ֤י1 of 14

“And I will utter”

H1696

perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue

מִשְׁפָּטַי֙2 of 14

“my judgments”

H4941

properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant's) divine law, ind

אוֹתָ֔ם3 of 14
H854

properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc

עַ֖ל4 of 14

“against them touching”

H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

כָּל5 of 14
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

רָעָתָ֑ם6 of 14

“all their wickedness”

H7451

bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)

אֲשֶׁ֣ר7 of 14
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

עֲזָב֗וּנִי8 of 14

“who have forsaken”

H5800

to loosen, i.e., relinquish, permit, etc

וַֽיְקַטְּרוּ֙9 of 14

“me and have burned incense”

H6999

to smoke, i.e., turn into fragrance by fire (especially as an act of worship)

לֵאלֹהִ֣ים10 of 14

“gods”

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

אֲחֵרִ֔ים11 of 14

“unto other”

H312

properly, hinder; generally, next, other, etc

וַיִּֽשְׁתַּחֲו֖וּ12 of 14

“and worshipped”

H7812

to depress, i.e., prostrate (especially reflexive, in homage to royalty or god)

לְמַעֲשֵׂ֥י13 of 14

“the works”

H4639

an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication, a product (specifically, a poem) or (generally) property

יְדֵיהֶֽם׃14 of 14

“of their own hands”

H3027

a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Jeremiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Jeremiah 1:16 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Jeremiah 1:16 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jeremiah 7:9Jeremiah 19:4Deuteronomy 28:20Acts 7:41Isaiah 2:8Isaiah 37:19

Places in This Verse

JerusalemSettlement · Modern: Jerusalem · 31.78°N, 35.23°E955 verses across 37 books
View all places in Jeremiah 1 →

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