Jeremiah 2:10 Meaning and Explanation
“For pass over the isles of Chittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God invites Israel to search the nations west and east, asking them to show him any people who have forsaken their gods as Israel has forsaken the Lord.
The Context of Jeremiah 2:10
Chittim refers to Cyprus and Greek territories; Kedar to nomadic tribes of Arabia. Jeremiah's time had enough international contact to make such a survey credible.
What Does Jeremiah 2:10 Mean?
God turns the case outward: send observers to Chittim (Cyprus and the Mediterranean isles, the west) and to Kedar (Arab tribes of the eastern desert). Look at every nation under heaven. Is there any people, any civilization, so foolish as to abandon the gods they have always known? The implicit answer is no. Even pagan nations cling to their false gods with more consistency than Israel clings to the true God. This is not just indictment; it is shame, your unfaithfulness is lower than the world's ordinary idolatry.
The universality of the appeal is meant to sting. The Lord is not comparing Israel to itself but to the nations. It is one thing to be less faithful than your ancestors; it is another to be less faithful than pagan peoples who worship vanities. The search across the known world, east and west, leaves no escape. Israel's covenant-breaking stands without parallel in history.
How to Apply Jeremiah 2:10 Today
We live in a world of many competing loyalties and gods. When we measure our covenant fidelity against the world's merely natural persistence in its idols, we should be ashamed, not into despair but into repentance and recommitment.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jeremiah 2:10
What does Jeremiah 2:10 mean?
God invites Israel to search the nations west and east, asking them to show him any people who have forsaken their gods as Israel has forsaken the Lord.
What is the context of Jeremiah 2:10?
Chittim refers to Cyprus and Greek territories; Kedar to nomadic tribes of Arabia. Jeremiah's time had enough international contact to make such a survey credible.
How can I apply Jeremiah 2:10 today?
We live in a world of many competing loyalties and gods. When we measure our covenant fidelity against the world's merely natural persistence in its idols, we should be ashamed, not into despair but into repentance and recommitment.