Jeremiah 2:27 Meaning and Explanation
“Saying to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Israel calls lifeless idols 'father' and 'creator,' yet abandons these false gods in crisis and begs the true God to save them.
The Context of Jeremiah 2:27
Jeremiah describes the idolatry explicitly: wooden stocks and stone idols receive the titles belonging only to God. The irony is that when Israel faces judgment, she will cry out to the God she has rejected.
What Does Jeremiah 2:27 Mean?
The absurdity is almost comical, yet the tragedy is profound. To call wood and stone 'father' and 'creator' is to invert the very meaning of those words. A father provides, protects, sustains; a creator gives life. Wood and stone provide nothing. They cannot hear, cannot act, cannot love. Yet Israel has turned her back from the living God and faces the stone idols. But note: even idols cannot sustain Israel in trouble. When judgment comes, these false parents will be silent and useless. Then, in her desperation, Israel will turn back to the God she rejected and beg for salvation. The problem is that she is seeking to use God, not to love Him.
We recognize our own patterns here. We neglect the God of genuine relationship, trusting instead in our own sufficiency, in pleasures, in status, in security systems that feel reliable until they fail. In crisis, we suddenly remember prayer, suddenly cry out to the God we had ignored. But true relationship is not a rescue service; it is built in the quiet times, in the moments of ease, when we choose to face the living God and not hide our face.
Jeremiah 2:27 in the Original Language
stock (Hebrew עץ, etz) -- a piece of wood, literally a tree or wooden idol used in Canaanite shrines
How to Apply Jeremiah 2:27 Today
In moments of peace, what do you turn your face toward? What receives your trust and devotion? When you face crisis, your true gods will be revealed in what you cry out to.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jeremiah 2:27
What does Jeremiah 2:27 mean?
Israel calls lifeless idols 'father' and 'creator,' yet abandons these false gods in crisis and begs the true God to save them.
What is the context of Jeremiah 2:27?
Jeremiah describes the idolatry explicitly: wooden stocks and stone idols receive the titles belonging only to God. The irony is that when Israel faces judgment, she will cry out to the God she has rejected.
How can I apply Jeremiah 2:27 today?
In moments of peace, what do you turn your face toward? What receives your trust and devotion? When you face crisis, your true gods will be revealed in what you cry out to.