Jeremiah 1:16

16 I'll pronounce my judgment on the people of Judah for walking out on me - what a terrible thing to do! - And courting other gods with their offerings, worshiping as gods sticks they'd carved, stones they'd painted.

Jeremiah 1:16 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 1:16

And I will utter my judgments against them
Not against the kingdoms of the north, but against the people of the Jews. The sense is, that God would enter into judgment with this people, and pass sentence upon them, and execute it: touching all their wickedness;
or on account of all their sins and transgressions hereafter mentioned: who have forsaken me.
The Targum is, "who have forsaken my worship"; for to forsake the public worship of God, attendance on his word and ordinances, or to forsake the assembling of themselves together for such a purpose, is to forsake the Lord himself, the fountain of living waters; and this is to forsake their own mercies: and have burnt incense to other gods;
to the idols of the Gentile, as the Targum explains it; to Baal, to the queen of heaven, and to others: and worshipped the works of their own hands:
idols of gold, silver, brass, and wood, which their own hands formed and carved, and which argued great stupidity and ignorance.

Jeremiah 1:16 In-Context

14 Then God told me, "Disaster will pour out of the north on everyone living in this land.
15 Watch for this: I'm calling all the kings out of the north." God's Decree. "They'll come and set up headquarters facing Jerusalem's gates, Facing all the city walls, facing all the villages of Judah.
16 I'll pronounce my judgment on the people of Judah for walking out on me - what a terrible thing to do! - And courting other gods with their offerings, worshiping as gods sticks they'd carved, stones they'd painted.
17 "But you - up on your feet and get dressed for work! Stand up and say your piece. Say exactly what I tell you to say. Don't pull your punches or I'll pull you out of the lineup.
18 "Stand at attention while I prepare you for your work. I'm making you as impregnable as a castle, Immovable as a steel post, solid as a concrete block wall. You're a one-man defense system against this culture, Against Judah's kings and princes, against the priests and local leaders.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.