King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 7:10 Mean?

Jeremiah 7:10 in the King James Version says “And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abomin... — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 7 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations? which: Heb. whereupon my name is called

Jeremiah 7:10 · KJV


Context

8

Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit.

9

Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not;

10

And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations? which: Heb. whereupon my name is called

11

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.

12

But go ye now unto my place which was in Shiloh, where I set my name at the first, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people Israel.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
God exposes the absurd logic: 'And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations?' (ûḇāṯem waʿămaḏtem lĕp̄ānay babbayiṯ hazzeh ʾăšer-niqrā-šĕmî ʿālāyw waʾămarttem niṣṣalnû lĕmaʿan ʿăśôṯ ʾēṯ kol-hatōʿēḇôṯ hāʾēlleh). The verb nāṣal (delivered, saved) typically refers to divine rescue from danger. Jeremiah accuses them of perverting salvation's purpose—instead of deliverance from sin leading to righteousness, they view it as license to sin with impunity. 'To do all these abominations' (lĕmaʿan ʿăśôṯ ʾēṯ kol-hatōʿēḇôṯ) uses tôʿēḇâ, a strong term for detestable, abominable acts—especially idolatry and sexual perversion. This exposes the ultimate religious hypocrisy: using God's grace as excuse for continued sin. Paul addresses identical error in Romans 6:1-2: 'Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid.' Genuine salvation produces transformation, not license for immorality.

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Historical & Cultural Context

This verse captures the perverted theology of Jeremiah's contemporaries. They believed temple worship and covenant status provided unconditional protection regardless of behavior. This allowed them to participate in temple ritual while continuing flagrant covenant violations—a form of cheap grace that divorced justification from sanctification. The prophets consistently condemned this disconnect between worship and ethics (Isaiah 1:10-20, Amos 5:21-24, Micah 6:6-8). Jesus later confronted similar hypocrisy in religious leaders who maintained external piety while hearts remained evil (Matthew 23:25-28). The New Testament teaches that genuine salvation produces transformed life—faith without works is dead (James 2:14-26), and those who continue in sin prove they never knew God (1 John 2:3-6, 3:6-10). Grace that doesn't transform isn't biblical grace but dangerous deception.

Reflection Questions

  1. In what ways might you be treating God's grace as license to continue in sin rather than power to be transformed from sin?
  2. How does understanding salvation's purpose—deliverance from sin for righteousness—challenge comfortable religion that divorces justification from sanctification?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 17 words
וּבָאתֶ֞ם1 of 17

And come

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

וַעֲמַדְתֶּ֣ם2 of 17

and stand

H5975

to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)

לְפָנַ֗י3 of 17

before

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

בַּבַּ֤יִת4 of 17

me in this house

H1004

a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

הַזֶּה֙5 of 17
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

אֲשֶׁ֣ר6 of 17
H834

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

נִקְרָא7 of 17

which is called

H7121

to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)

שְׁמִ֣י8 of 17

by my name

H8034

an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character

עָלָ֔יו9 of 17
H5921

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

וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֖ם10 of 17

and say

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

נִצַּ֑לְנוּ11 of 17

We are delivered

H5337

to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad sense

לְמַ֣עַן12 of 17
H4616

properly, heed, i.e., purpose; used only adverbially, on account of (as a motive or an aim), teleologically, in order that

עֲשׂ֔וֹת13 of 17

to do

H6213

to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

אֵ֥ת14 of 17
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

כָּל15 of 17
H3605

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

הַתּוֹעֵב֖וֹת16 of 17

all these abominations

H8441

properly, something disgusting (morally), i.e., (as noun) an abhorrence; especially idolatry or (concretely) an idol

הָאֵֽלֶּה׃17 of 17
H428

these or those


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 7:10 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 7:10 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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