Jeremiah 2:21
New International Version
I had planted you like a choice vine of sound and reliable stock. How then did you turn against me into a corrupt, wild vine?

New Living Translation
But I was the one who planted you, choosing a vine of the purest stock—the very best. How did you grow into this corrupt wild vine?

English Standard Version
Yet I planted you a choice vine, wholly of pure seed. How then have you turned degenerate and become a wild vine?

Berean Standard Bible
I had planted you like a choice vine from the very best seed. How could you turn yourself before Me into a rotten, wild vine?

King James Bible
Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?

New King James Version
Yet I had planted you a noble vine, a seed of highest quality. How then have you turned before Me Into the degenerate plant of an alien vine?

New American Standard Bible
“Yet I planted you as a choice vine, A completely faithful seed. How then have you turned yourself before Me Into the degenerate shoots of a foreign vine?

NASB 1995
“Yet I planted you a choice vine, A completely faithful seed. How then have you turned yourself before Me Into the degenerate shoots of a foreign vine?

NASB 1977
“Yet I planted you a choice vine, A completely faithful seed. How then have you turned yourself before Me Into the degenerate shoots of a foreign vine?

Legacy Standard Bible
Yet I planted you a choice vine, A completely true seed. How then have you turned yourself before Me Into the degenerate shoots of a foreign vine?

Amplified Bible
“Yet I had planted you [O house of Israel as] a choice vine, A completely faithful seed. How then have you turned against Me Into degenerate shoots of a foreign and wild vine [alien to Me]?

Christian Standard Bible
I planted you, a choice vine from the very best seed. How then could you turn into a degenerate, foreign vine?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I planted you, a choice vine from the very best seed. How then could you turn into a degenerate, foreign vine?

American Standard Version
Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate branches of a foreign vine unto me?

Contemporary English Version
You were a choice grapevine, but you have become a wild, useless vine.

English Revised Version
Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I planted you like a choice grapevine from the very best seed. Now you have turned against me and have become a wild vine.

Good News Translation
I planted you like a choice vine from the very best seed. But look what you have become! You are like a rotten, worthless vine.

International Standard Version
I planted you myself as a choice vine, from the very best seed. How did you turn against me into a degenerate and foreign vine?

Majority Standard Bible
I had planted you like a choice vine from the very best seed. How could you turn yourself before Me into a rotten, wild vine?

NET Bible
I planted you in the land like a special vine of the very best stock. Why in the world have you turned into something like a wild vine that produces rotten, foul-smelling grapes?

New Heart English Bible
Yet I had planted you a noble vine, wholly a right seed. How then have you turned into the degenerate branches of a foreign vine to me?

Webster's Bible Translation
Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine to me?

World English Bible
Yet I had planted you a noble vine, a pure and faithful seed. How then have you turned into the degenerate branches of a foreign vine to me?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And I planted you [as] a choice vine, wholly of true seed, "" And how have you been turned "" Into the degenerate shoots of a strange vine to Me?

Young's Literal Translation
And I planted thee a choice vine, wholly a true seed, And how hast thou been turned to Me, To the degenerate shoots of a strange vine?

Smith's Literal Translation
And I planted thee a vine of purple grapes, wholly a true seed: and how didst thou turn to me the removings of a strange vine?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Yet I planted thee a chosen vineyard, all true seed: how then art thou turned unto me into that which is good for nothing, O strange vineyard?

Catholic Public Domain Version
Yet I planted you as an elect vineyard, with only true seed. Then how have you been turned away from me, toward that which is depraved, O strange vineyard?

New American Bible
But I had planted you as a choice vine, all pedigreed stock; How could you turn out so obnoxious to me, a spurious vine?

New Revised Standard Version
Yet I planted you as a choice vine, from the purest stock. How then did you turn degenerate and become a wild vine?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Yet I had planted you a good vine, wholly a right seed; why then have you turned against me and have become degenerate like a plant of a strange vine?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And I planted you a vine shoot of every seed of truth, and how were you turned against me, and you rebelled as an abnormal vine?
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, Wholly a right seed; How then art thou turned into the degenerate plant Of a strange vine unto Me?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Yet I planted thee a fruitful vine, entirely of the right sort: how art thou a strange vine turned to bitterness!

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Consequences of Israel's Sin
20“For long ago you broke your yoke and tore off your chains, saying, ‘I will not serve!’ Indeed, on every high hill and under every green tree you lay down as a prostitute. 21I had planted you like a choice vine from the very best seed. How could you turn yourself before Me into a rotten, wild vine? 22Although you wash with lye and use an abundance of soap, the stain of your guilt is still before Me,” declares the Lord GOD.…

Cross References
Isaiah 5:1-7
I will sing for my beloved a song of his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill. / He dug it up and cleared the stones and planted the finest vines. He built a watchtower in the middle and dug out a winepress as well. He waited for the vineyard to yield good grapes, but the fruit it produced was sour! / “And now, O dwellers of Jerusalem and men of Judah, I exhort you to judge between Me and My vineyard. ...

Ezekiel 15:1-8
Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, / “Son of man, how does the wood of the vine surpass any other branch among the trees in the forest? / Can wood be taken from it to make something useful? Or can one make from it a peg on which to hang utensils? ...

Matthew 21:33-41
Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it, and built a tower. Then he rented it out to some tenants and went away on a journey. / When the harvest time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his share of the fruit. / But the tenants seized his servants. They beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. ...

Hosea 10:1
Israel was a luxuriant vine, yielding fruit for himself. The more his fruit increased, the more he increased the altars. The better his land produced, the better he made the sacred pillars.

John 15:1-8
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the keeper of the vineyard. / He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful. / You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ...

Psalm 80:8-16
You uprooted a vine from Egypt; You drove out the nations and transplanted it. / You cleared the ground for it, and it took root and filled the land. / The mountains were covered by its shade, and the mighty cedars with its branches. ...

Isaiah 27:2-6
In that day: “Sing about a fruitful vineyard. / I, the LORD, am its keeper; I water it continually. I guard it night and day so no one can disturb it; / I am not angry. If only thorns and briers confronted Me, I would march and trample them, I would burn them to the ground. ...

Romans 11:17-24
Now if some branches have been broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others to share in the nourishment of the olive root, / do not boast over those branches. If you do, remember this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. / You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” ...

Deuteronomy 32:32-33
But their vine is from the vine of Sodom and from the fields of Gomorrah. Their grapes are poisonous; their clusters are bitter. / Their wine is the venom of serpents, the deadly poison of cobras.

Mark 12:1-9
Then Jesus began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a wine vat, and built a watchtower. Then he rented it out to some tenants and went away on a journey. / At harvest time, he sent a servant to the tenants to collect his share of the fruit of the vineyard. / But they seized the servant, beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. ...

Luke 20:9-16
Then He proceeded to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, rented it out to some tenants, and went away for a long time. / At harvest time, he sent a servant to the tenants to collect his share of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat the servant and sent him away empty-handed. / So he sent another servant, but they beat him and treated him shamefully, sending him away empty-handed. ...

Hosea 9:10
I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness. I saw your fathers as the firstfruits of the fig tree in its first season. But they went to Baal-peor, and consecrated themselves to Shame; so they became as detestable as the thing they loved.

Isaiah 1:21-23
See how the faithful city has become a harlot! She once was full of justice; righteousness resided within her, but now only murderers! / Your silver has become dross; your fine wine is diluted with water. / Your rulers are rebels, friends of thieves. They all love bribes and chasing after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless, and the plea of the widow never comes before them.

Ezekiel 19:10-14
Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard, planted by the water; it was fruitful and full of branches because of the abundant waters. / It had strong branches, fit for a ruler’s scepter. It towered high above the thick branches, conspicuous for its height and for its dense foliage. / But it was uprooted in fury, cast down to the ground, and the east wind dried up its fruit. Its strong branches were stripped off and they withered; the fire consumed them. ...

Micah 7:1-4
Woe is me! For I am like one gathering summer fruit at the gleaning of the vineyard; there is no cluster to eat, no early fig that I crave. / The godly man has perished from the earth; there is no one upright among men. They all lie in wait for blood; they hunt one another with a net. / Both hands are skilled at evil; the prince and the judge demand a bribe. When the powerful utters his evil desire, they all conspire together. ...


Treasury of Scripture

Yet I had planted you a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then are you turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine to me?

yet I

Exodus 15:17
Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established.

Psalm 44:2
How thou didst drive out the heathen with thy hand, and plantedst them; how thou didst afflict the people, and cast them out.

Psalm 80:8
Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it.

wholly

Genesis 18:19
For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

Genesis 26:3-5
Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father; …

Genesis 32:28
And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

into the degenerate

Deuteronomy 32:32
For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah: their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter:

Isaiah 1:21
How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.

Isaiah 5:4
What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?

Jump to Previous
Branches Branching Changed Choice Completely Faithful Foreign Noble Plant Planted Pure Reliable Right Seed Shoots Sound Stock Strange True. Turn Turned Vine Way Wholly Wild
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Branches Branching Changed Choice Completely Faithful Foreign Noble Plant Planted Pure Reliable Right Seed Shoots Sound Stock Strange True. Turn Turned Vine Way Wholly Wild
Jeremiah 2
1. God having shown his former kindness,
5. expostulates with the people on their causeless and unexampled revolt
14. They are the causes of their own calamities
18. The sins and idolatries of Judah
35. Her confidence is rejected.














I had planted you
The imagery of planting is deeply rooted in the agricultural context of ancient Israel, where vineyards were a common sight. The Hebrew word for "planted" (נָטַע, nata) conveys intentionality and care. God, as the divine gardener, deliberately chose and nurtured Israel, symbolizing His covenant relationship with them. This act of planting signifies God's sovereign choice and His desire for Israel to flourish under His guidance.

like a choice vine
The phrase "choice vine" (שֹׂרֵק, soreq) refers to a high-quality vine known for producing excellent fruit. In the ancient Near East, a choice vine was a symbol of prosperity and blessing. By comparing Israel to a choice vine, God emphasizes the potential and value He saw in His people. This metaphor underscores the expectation that Israel would yield good fruit, reflecting God's holiness and righteousness.

from the very best seed
The "very best seed" (זֶרַע אֱמֶת, zera emet) indicates purity and truth. The seed represents the foundational truths and promises given to Israel through the patriarchs and the Law. This seed was intended to produce a nation that embodied God's truth and justice. The use of "best" highlights the divine origin and the perfect nature of what God had sown into Israel's identity and mission.

How then could you turn yourself
The phrase "turn yourself" (תִּהְפְכִי, tihapki) suggests a deliberate action of change or transformation. This turning away is not a passive occurrence but an active choice by Israel to deviate from their intended purpose. It reflects a moral and spiritual decline, a conscious decision to abandon the path set by God. This turning is a betrayal of the covenant relationship, highlighting human agency and responsibility.

before Me
The presence of "before Me" (לְפָנַי, lefanai) indicates that Israel's actions were done in the sight of God, who is omnipresent and omniscient. This phrase underscores the personal nature of the offense, as it is not merely a violation of law but a direct affront to God Himself. It serves as a reminder of God's intimate involvement in the lives of His people and His awareness of their actions.

into a corrupt, wild vine
The transformation into a "corrupt, wild vine" (סוּרֵי גֶפֶן נָכְרִיָּה, surei gefen nokhriyah) signifies a degeneration from the intended state of holiness and purity. A wild vine, in contrast to a cultivated one, produces inferior fruit and is often associated with chaos and disorder. The term "corrupt" (סוּרֵי, surei) implies moral decay and unfaithfulness. This imagery starkly contrasts with the initial planting of a choice vine, illustrating the tragic fall from grace and the consequences of forsaking God's ways.

(21) A noble vine.--Literally, a Sorek vine. Elsewhere rendered choice or choicest (Genesis 49:11; Isaiah 5:2). The word "Sorek" points primarily to the dark purple of the grape, and then to the valley of Sorek, between Ascalon and Gaza (Judges 16:4).

Wholly a right seed.--Literally, a seed of truth, parallel with the "good seed" in the Parable of the Tares. Here, however, as in Isaiah 5:1-7, which Jeremiah seems to have in his mind, stress is laid not on the mingling of the evil with the good, but on the degeneration which had changed the character of that which God had planted.

Art thou turned . . .?--Better, hast thou changed thyself . . .?

Plant.--Better, branches. . . .

Verse 21. - A noble vine. Jeremiah means the choicest kind of Oriental vine, called sorek (from the dark-red color of its grapes), and mentioned again in Isaiah 5:2. The figure of the vine is one endeared to us by its association especially with our Lord; it was endeared to the Jews by the annual festivities of the vintage. The sacred writers are never afraid of its palling on the ear by repetition (comp. Jeremiah 5:10; Jeremiah 6:9; Jeremiah 12:10; Isaiah 5:1-7; Isaiah 27:2, 3; Ezekiel 17:6; Psalm 80:8-16). A right seed; i.e. a vine-shoot of the genuine sort. "Seed" for "shoot," as in Isaiah 17:11 (scrap. ver. 10). The degenerate plant; rather, degenerate shoots (if at least the text is right).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
I
וְאָֽנֹכִי֙ (wə·’ā·nō·ḵî)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 595: I

had planted you
נְטַעְתִּ֣יךְ (nə·ṭa‘·tîḵ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular | second person feminine singular
Strong's 5193: To strike in, fix, to plant

like a choice
כֻּלֹּ֖ה (kul·lōh)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

vine
שֹׂרֵ֔ק (śō·rêq)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8321: (choice species of) the vine

from the very best
אֱמֶ֑ת (’ĕ·meṯ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 571: Stability, certainty, truth, trustworthiness

seed.
זֶ֣רַע (ze·ra‘)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2233: Seed, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity

How
וְאֵיךְ֙ (wə·’êḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Interjection
Strong's 349: How?, how!, where

could you turn yourself
נֶהְפַּ֣כְתְּ (neh·paḵt)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - second person feminine singular
Strong's 2015: To turn about, over, to change, overturn, return, pervert

before me,
לִ֔י (lî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's Hebrew

into a rotten
סוּרֵ֖י (sū·rê)
Adjective - masculine plural construct
Strong's 5494: Turned off, deteriorated

wild
נָכְרִיָּֽה׃ (nā·ḵə·rî·yāh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 5237: Foreign, alien

vine?
הַגֶּ֥פֶן (hag·ge·p̄en)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 1612: A vine, the grape


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 2:21 Yet I had planted you a noble (Jer.)
Jeremiah 2:20
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