Jeremiah 17:2
New International Version
Even their children remember their altars and Asherah poles beside the spreading trees and on the high hills.

New Living Translation
Even their children go to worship at their pagan altars and Asherah poles, beneath every green tree and on every high hill.

English Standard Version
while their children remember their altars and their Asherim, beside every green tree and on the high hills,

Berean Standard Bible
Even their children remember their altars and Asherah poles by the green trees and on the high hills.

King James Bible
Whilst their children remember their altars and their groves by the green trees upon the high hills.

New King James Version
While their children remember Their altars and their wooden images By the green trees on the high hills.

New American Standard Bible
As they remember their children, So they remember their altars and their Asherim By green trees on the high hills.

NASB 1995
As they remember their children, So they remember their altars and their Asherim By green trees on the high hills.

NASB 1977
As they remember their children, So they remember their altars and their Asherim By green trees on the high hills.

Legacy Standard Bible
As they remember their children, So they remember their altars and their Asherim By green trees on the high hills.

Amplified Bible
As they remember their children, So they remember [in detail] their [pagan] altars and their Asherim Beside green trees on the high hills.

Christian Standard Bible
while their children remember their altars and their Asherah poles, by the green trees on the high hills —

Holman Christian Standard Bible
while their children remember their altars and their Asherah poles, by the green trees on the high hills—

American Standard Version
whilst their children remember their altars and their Asherim by the green trees upon the high hills.

Contemporary English Version
One generation after another has set up pagan altars and worshiped the goddess Asherah everywhere in your country--on hills and mountains, and under large trees.

English Revised Version
whilst their children remember their altars and their Asherim by the green trees upon the high hills.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Even their children remember their altars and their poles dedicated to the goddess Asherah beside large trees on high hills

Good News Translation
Your people worship at the altars and the symbols that have been set up for the goddess Asherah by every green tree and on the hilltops

International Standard Version
When their sons remember, they remember their altars and their Asherah poles beside green trees on the high hills.

Majority Standard Bible
Even their children remember their altars and Asherah poles by the green trees and on the high hills.

NET Bible
Their children are always thinking about their altars and their sacred poles dedicated to the goddess Asherah, set up beside the green trees on the high hills

New Heart English Bible
while their children remember their altars and their Asherim by the green trees on the high hills.

Webster's Bible Translation
Whilst their children remember their altars and their groves by the green trees upon the high hills.

World English Bible
Even their children remember their altars and their Asherah poles by the green trees on the high hills.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
As their sons remember their altars and their Asherim, "" By the green tree, by the high hills.

Young's Literal Translation
As their sons remember their altars and their shrines, By the green tree, by the high hills.

Smith's Literal Translation
For their sons remember their altars and their images by the green tree upon the high hills.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
When their children shall remember their altars, and their groves, and their green trees upon high mountains,

Catholic Public Domain Version
And their sons make a remembrance of their shrines, and their sacred groves, and their leafy trees on high mountains,

New American Bible
when their children remember their altars and their asherahs, beside the green trees, on the high hills,

New Revised Standard Version
while their children remember their altars and their sacred poles, beside every green tree, and on the high hills,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And their idols are under every green tree and upon every high hill and upon the mountains and in the open country.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Whenever they recall in their heart their altars and their worshipped things under every tree that is thick and upon every hill that is high
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Like the symbols of their sons are their altars, And their Asherim are by the leafy trees, Upon the high hills.
Audio Bible



Context
The Sin and Punishment of Judah
1“The sin of Judah is written with an iron stylus, engraved with a diamond point on the tablets of their hearts and on the horns of their altars. 2Even their children remember their altars and Asherah poles by the green trees and on the high hills. 3O My mountain in the countryside, I will give over your wealth and all your treasures as plunder, because of the sin of your high places, within all your borders.…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 12:2-3
Destroy completely all the places where the nations you are dispossessing have served their gods—atop the high mountains, on the hills, and under every green tree. / Tear down their altars, smash their sacred pillars, burn up their Asherah poles, cut down the idols of their gods, and wipe out their names from every place.

Hosea 4:13
They sacrifice on the mountaintops and burn offerings on the hills, under oak, poplar, and terebinth, because their shade is pleasant. And so your daughters turn to prostitution and your daughters-in-law to adultery.

Isaiah 57:5
who burn with lust among the oaks, under every luxuriant tree, who slaughter your children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks?

2 Kings 17:10-11
They set up for themselves sacred pillars and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree. / They burned incense on all the high places like the nations that the LORD had driven out before them. They did wicked things, provoking the LORD to anger.

Ezekiel 6:13
Then you will know that I am the LORD, when their slain lie among their idols around their altars, on every high hill, on all the mountaintops, and under every green tree and leafy oak—the places where they offered fragrant incense to all their idols.

1 Kings 14:23
They also built for themselves high places, sacred pillars, and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree.

2 Chronicles 28:4
And he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.

Isaiah 1:29
Surely you will be ashamed of the sacred oaks in which you have delighted; you will be embarrassed by the gardens that you have chosen.

Ezekiel 20:28
When I brought them into the land that I swore to give them and they saw any high hill or leafy tree, there they offered their sacrifices, presented offerings that provoked Me, sent up their fragrant incense, and poured out their drink offerings.

Judges 3:7
So the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD; they forgot the LORD their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs.

2 Kings 16:4
And he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.

2 Kings 23:5
Josiah also did away with the idolatrous priests ordained by the kings of Judah to burn incense on the high places of the cities of Judah and in the places all around Jerusalem—those who had burned incense to Baal, to the sun and moon, to the constellations, and to all the host of heaven.

2 Chronicles 33:3
For he rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had torn down, and he raised up altars for the Baals and made Asherah poles. And he worshiped and served all the host of heaven.

Romans 1:21-23
For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. / Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, / and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

Acts 17:29
Therefore, being offspring of God, we should not think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by man’s skill and imagination.


Treasury of Scripture

Whilst their children remember their altars and their groves by the green trees on the high hills.

their children.

Jeremiah 7:18
The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger.

Hosea 4:13,14
They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery…

their altars.

Jeremiah 2:20
For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot.

Judges 3:7
And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves.

2 Chronicles 24:18
And they left the house of the LORD God of their fathers, and served groves and idols: and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their trespass.

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Altars Asherah Asherim Ashe'rim Branching Children Green Groves High Hills Leafy Mountains Pillars Poles Remember Spreading Symbols Tree Trees Whilst Wood
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Altars Asherah Asherim Ashe'rim Branching Children Green Groves High Hills Leafy Mountains Pillars Poles Remember Spreading Symbols Tree Trees Whilst Wood
Jeremiah 17
1. The captivity of Judah for her sin.
5. Trust in man is cursed;
7. in God is blessed.
9. The deceitful heart cannot deceive God.
12. The salvation of God.
15. The prophet complains of the mockers of his prophecy.
19. He is sent to renew the covenant in hallowing the Sabbath.














Even their children
This phrase highlights the generational impact of idolatry and sin. In the Hebrew context, the word for "children" (בָּנִים, banim) signifies not just offspring but the continuation of a legacy. The fact that even the children remember these practices indicates a deep-rooted cultural and spiritual problem. It suggests that the sins of the parents have been passed down, becoming ingrained in the societal fabric. This serves as a warning about the long-lasting consequences of turning away from God and the importance of teaching future generations the ways of the Lord.

remember
The Hebrew word used here is "זָכַר" (zakar), which means to recall or bring to mind. This is not a passive memory but an active, conscious recollection. The children are not merely aware of the altars and Asherah poles; they actively remember them, indicating that these idolatrous practices are a significant part of their lives. This remembrance is a stark contrast to the biblical call to remember the deeds of the Lord and His commandments. It underscores the importance of what we choose to remember and pass on to future generations.

their altars
Altars in ancient Israel were places of worship and sacrifice. The use of "their" indicates ownership and personal involvement in these idolatrous practices. The altars mentioned here are not dedicated to Yahweh but to false gods, representing a direct violation of the first commandment. Historically, altars were central to religious life, and their misuse signifies a profound spiritual decline. This serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining purity in worship and devotion to God alone.

and Asherah poles
Asherah poles were wooden symbols associated with the Canaanite goddess Asherah, often set up near altars. The presence of these poles indicates the syncretism that plagued Israel, where the worship of Yahweh was mixed with pagan practices. The Hebrew word for Asherah (אֲשֵׁרָה) is linked to fertility and nature worship, which were common in Canaanite religion. This highlights the temptation to conform to surrounding cultures and the need for steadfastness in faith.

by the green trees
The phrase "by the green trees" suggests a setting that is lush and appealing, often associated with fertility and life. In the ancient Near East, sacred groves and trees were common sites for idol worship. The use of natural settings for these practices indicates a distortion of God's creation, using what was meant for good to serve false gods. This serves as a caution against allowing the beauty of creation to become an object of worship rather than a means to glorify the Creator.

and on the high hills
High places were often chosen for worship because they were closer to the heavens, symbolizing a connection to the divine. However, in Israel's history, these high places became centers of idolatry. The Hebrew term for "high hills" (בָּמוֹת, bamot) often refers to these illicit worship sites. This highlights the danger of seeking spiritual experiences outside of God's ordained means and the importance of worshiping God according to His revealed will.

(2) Whilst their children remember . . .--If we take "children" as referring to age, there may be a reference to the way in which the horrors of Molech worship were burnt in upon the minds of boys who were present at such a spectacle, so as never to be forgotten, but the general sense in which we speak of the "children" of Israel or Judah seems sufficient. The thought expressed is that every locality that could be used for idolatrous worship made them "remember" that worship, and set about reproducing it. By some interpreters the clause is rendered, as they remember their children so do they their altars and their groves; i.e., their idols are as dear to them as their offspring. The former construction is, however, the more natural, and is best supported by the versions.

Groves.--i.e., as throughout the Old Testament, when connected with idolatry, the wooden columns that were the symbols of the Ph?nician goddess Asherah, possibly the same as Astarte (Exodus 34:13; Deuteronomy 16:21; 1Kings 14:23). The "green trees" suggested the thought of this worship--for the Asherah, though not a grove, was generally connected with one--as the "high hills" did that of the altars. Commonly the worship is described as "under every green tree." Here a different preposition is used, "on the green trees," connecting them with the verb "remember."

Verse 2. - Whilst their children remember, etc. The connection of this with the preceding verse is rather obscure. Probably it is intended as an exemplification of the "sin of Judah," the inveterateness of which is shown by their thoughts spontaneously turning to the altars and symbols of the false gods whenever they are near a leafy tree or a high hill (probably "under the green trees" is the right reading; comp. 1 Kings 14:23; so Targum). To make "their sons" the accusative (with Hitzig and Keil), rendering, "As they remember their children, [even so they remember their altars]," seems unnatural; why should "children" and "altars" be associated in idea? Groves; rather, idols of Asherah, the Canaanitish goddess.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Even their children
בְּנֵיהֶם֙ (bə·nê·hem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1121: A son

remember
כִּזְכֹּ֤ר (kiz·kōr)
Preposition-k | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 2142: To mark, to remember, to mention, to be male

their altars
מִזְבְּחוֹתָ֔ם (miz·bə·ḥō·w·ṯām)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 4196: An altar

and Asherah poles,
וַאֲשֵׁרֵיהֶ֖ם (wa·’ă·šê·rê·hem)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 842: A Phoenician goddess, also an image of the same

by
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the green
רַֽעֲנָ֑ן (ra·‘ă·nān)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7488: Verdant, new, prosperous

trees,
עֵ֣ץ (‘êṣ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6086: Tree, trees, wood

on
עַ֖ל (‘al)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the high
הַגְּבֹהֽוֹת׃ (hag·gə·ḇō·hō·wṯ)
Article | Adjective - feminine plural
Strong's 1364: Elevated, powerful, arrogant

hills.
גְּבָע֥וֹת (gə·ḇā·‘ō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 1389: A hillock


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 17:2 While their children remember their altars (Jer.)
Jeremiah 17:1
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