Jeremias 2:27

27 They said to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou has begotten me: and they have turned backs to me, and not their faces: yet in the time of their afflictions they will say, Arise, and save us.

Jeremias 2:27 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 2:27

Saying to a stock
"To a tree" ^F6; to a piece of wood; that is, to an image made of it; so the Targum,

``they say to an image of wood;''

what follows: thou art my father;
ascribing that to the idol which belongs to God, who was their Father that made them, and upheld them, was the author of their beings, and the God of their mercies: and to a stone;
an image of stone: thou hast brought me forth:
into being; affirming it to be his former and maker; so the Targum,

``to that which is made of stone, thou hast created me:''

for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face;
they turned their faces to images of wood and stone, and worshipped them; and they turned their backs upon the Lord, his worship and ordinances, and apostatized from him; which the Targum thus expresses,

``for they turned their backs on my worship, and did not put my fear before their faces:''

but in the time of their trouble;
when any calamity befalls them, as famine, pestilence, sword, captivity, and the like: they will say, arise, and save us;
not that they will say so to their idols, but they will say so to the true God; for notwithstanding they worshipped idols in time of prosperity, forgetting God their Saviour; yet in adversity they are brought to their senses, and find that none but God can save them, and therefore apply to him; to which agrees the Targum,

``and in the time that evil comes upon them, they deny their idols, and confess before me, and say, have mercy on us, and save us.''

---

FOOTNOTES:

F6 (Uel) "ligno", V. L. Pagnanius, Montanus, Schmidt.

Jeremias 2:27 In-Context

25 Withdraw thy foot from a rough way, and thy throat from thirst: but she said I will strengthen myself: for she loved strangers, and went after them.

26 As is the shame of a thief when he is caught, so shall the children of Israel be ashamed; they, and their kings, and their princes, and their priests, and their prophets.

27 They said to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou has begotten me: and they have turned backs to me, and not their faces: yet in the time of their afflictions they will say, Arise, and save us.

28 And where are thy gods, which thou madest for thyself? will they arise and save in the time of thine affliction? for according to the number of thy cities were thy gods, O Juda; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem they sacrificed to Baal.

29 Wherefore do ye speak unto me? ye all have been ungodly, and ye all have transgressed against me, saith the Lord.