Jeremiah 11:15 Meaning and Explanation
“What hath my beloved to do in mine house, seeing she hath wrought lewdness with many, and the holy flesh is passed from thee? when thou doest evil, then thou rejoicest.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God grieves that Israel, His beloved, has committed spiritual adultery and defiled His house.
The Context of Jeremiah 11:15
Israel has defiled God's house through spiritual infidelity and celebrates her wrongdoing.
What Does Jeremiah 11:15 Mean?
Israel is addressed as 'my beloved'—a term of tenderness that makes the betrayal even more painful. The imagery shifts to marital unfaithfulness: she has 'wrought lewdness with many,' suggesting promiscuous idolatry. The reference to 'mine house' (the temple) and 'holy flesh' (possibly referring to sacrificial offerings) indicates that the people's infidelity has polluted even God's own sanctuary. What should be holy has been defiled by the people's compromised worship.
The final phrase—'when thou doest evil, then thou rejoicest'—reveals a perversity in the people's hearts: they actively celebrate their wrongdoing rather than repent. This gleeful embrace of evil, combined with betrayal of a beloved status, justifies God's withdrawal of mercy. The covenant relationship, built on the metaphor of marriage, has been violated through systematic unfaithfulness.
Jeremiah 11:15 in the Original Language
'Lewdness' (zimmah, זִמָּה) — means wickedness or morally shameful conduct, often used to describe covenant infidelity or sexual perversion.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jeremiah 11:15
What does Jeremiah 11:15 mean?
God grieves that Israel, His beloved, has committed spiritual adultery and defiled His house.
What is the context of Jeremiah 11:15?
Israel has defiled God's house through spiritual infidelity and celebrates her wrongdoing.