King James Version

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.

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Hebrew

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כִּ֣יkiassuredכִּיconjunction — “assured”H3588(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexedand, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + til…מֵעוֹלָ֞םmeolamfrom alwayעוֹלָםpreposition, noun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “from alway”, the ordinary formH5769properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e. (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial (especially with prepositional prefix) alwaysalway(-s), ancient (time), any more, continuance, eternal, (for, (n-)) ever(-lasting, -more, of old), lasting, long (time), (of) old (time), perpetual, at any time, (beginning of the) world ([phrase] without end). Compare H5331 (נֶצַח), H5…שָׁבַ֣רְתִּיshavartibreakשָׁבַרverb, qal, perfect, 1st person, common, singular — “break”, a completed actionH7665to burst (literally or figuratively)break (down, off, in pieces, up), broken (-hearted), bring to the birth, crush, destroy, hurt, quench, [idiom] quite, tear, view (by mistake for H7663 (שָׂבַר)).עֻלֵּ֗ךְulekheyokeעֹלnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct, suffix, pronominal, 2nd person, feminine, singular — “yoke”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH5923a yoke (as imposed on the neck), literally or figurativelyyoke.נִתַּ֨קְתִּי֙nitaqtibreakנָתַקverb, piel, perfect, 1st person, common, singular — “break”, a completed actionH5423to tear offbreak (off), burst, draw (away), lift up, pluck (away, off), pull (out), root out.מוֹסְרֹתַ֔יִךְmoserotayikhbandמוֹסֵרnoun, common, both genders, plural, construct, suffix, pronominal, 2nd person, feminine, singular — “band”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH4147properly, chastisement, i.e. (by implication) a halter; figuratively, restraintband, bond.וַתֹּאמְרִ֖יvatomriand sayאָמַרconjunction, verb, qal, sequential imperfect, 2nd person, feminine, singular — “and say”, the next action in the storyH559to say (used with great latitude)answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [id…לֹ֣אlono , -r,לֹאparticle, negative — “no , -r,”H3808not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles[idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as trul…אעבדvdkeep in bondageעָבַדverb, qal, imperfect, 1st person, common, singular — “keep in bondage”, an unfinished actionH5647to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc.[idiom] be, keep in bondage, be bondmen, bond-service, compel, do, dress, ear, execute, [phrase] husbandman, keep, labour(-ing man, bring to pass, (cause to, make to) serve(-ing, self), (be, become) servant(-s), do (use) service, till(-er)…אֶעֱב֑וֹרeevoralienateעָבַרverb, qal, imperfect, 1st person, common, singular — “alienate”, an unfinished actionH5674to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in copulation)alienate, alter, [idiom] at all, beyond, bring (over, through), carry over, (over-) come (on, over), conduct (over), convey over, current, deliver, do away, enter, escape, fail, gender, get over, (make) go (away, beyond, by, forth, his way…כִּ֣יkiassuredכִּיconjunction — “assured”H3588(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexedand, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + til…עַֽלalaboveעַלpreposition — “above”H5921above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applicationsabove, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of,…כָּלkalallכֹּלnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “all”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH3605properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-) thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever).גִּבְעָ֞הgivahhillגִּבְעָהnoun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “hill”, the ordinary formH1389a hillockhill, little hill.גְּבֹהָ֗הgevohahhaughtyגָּבֹהַּadjective, adjective, feminine, singular, absolute — “haughty”, the ordinary formH1364elevated (or elated), powerful, arroganthaughty, height, high(-er), lofty, proud, [idiom] exceeding proudly.וְתַ֨חַת֙vetachatand withתַּחַתconjunction, preposition — “and with”H8478the bottom (as depressed); only adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix underneath), in lieu of, etc.as, beneath, [idiom] flat, in(-stead), (same) place (where...is), room, for...sake, stead of, under, [idiom] unto, [idiom] when...was mine, whereas, (where-) fore, with.כָּלkalallכֹּלnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “all”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH3605properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-) thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever).עֵ֣ץetstreeעֵץnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “tree”, the ordinary formH6086a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks)[phrase] carpenter, gallows, helve, [phrase] pine, plank, staff, stalk, stick, stock, timber, tree, wood.רַעֲנָ֔ןraanangreenרַעֲנָןadjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “green”, the ordinary formH7488verdant; by analogy, new; figuratively, prosperousgreen, flourishing.אַ֖תְּattheeאַתָּהpronoun, personal, 2nd person, feminine, singular — “thee”H859thou and thee, or (plural) ye and youthee, thou, ye, you.צֹעָ֥הtsoahcaptive exileצָעָהverb, qal, participle, absolute — “captive exile”, a verb used as a describing wordH6808to tip over (for the purpose of spilling or pouring out), i.e. (figuratively) depopulate; by implication, to imprison or conquer; (reflexive) to lie down (for coitus)captive exile, travelling, (cause to) wander(-er).זֹנָֽהzonahcommit fornicationזָנָהverb, qal, participle, absolute — “commit fornication”, a verb used as a describing wordH2181to commit adultery (usually of the female, and less often of simple fornication, rarely of involuntary ravishment); figuratively, to commit idolatry (the Jewish people being regarded as the spouse of Jehovah)(cause to) commit fornication, [idiom] continually, [idiom] great, (be an, play the) harlot, (cause to be, play the) whore, (commit, fall to) whoredom, (cause to) go a-whoring, whorish.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands, and thou saidst: 'I will not transgress'; upon every high hill and under every leafy tree thou didst recline, playing the harlot.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bonds; and thou saidst, I will not serve; for upon every high hill and under every green tree thou didst bow thyself, playing the harlot.

Young’s Literal Translation

For from of old thou hast broken thy yoke, Drawn away thy bands, and sayest, 'I do not serve,' For, on every high height, and under every green tree, Thou art wandering — a harlot.

World English Bible

“For long ago I broke off your yoke, and burst your bonds. You said, ‘I will not serve;’ for on every high hill and under every green tree you bowed yourself, playing the prostitute.

Darby Translation

For of old thou hast broken thy yoke, [and] burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not serve. For upon every high hill, and under every green tree, thou bowest down, playing the harlot.

Douay-Rheims

Of old time thou hast broken my yoke, thou hast burst my bands, and thou saidst: I will not serve. For on every high hill, and under every green tree thou didst prostitute thyself.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands, and thou saidst: 'I will not transgress'; upon every high hill and under every leafy tree thou didst recline, playing the harlot.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

For of old thou hast broken thy yoke, and plucked asunder thy bands; and thou hast said, I will not serve thee, but will go upon every high hill, and under every shady tree, there will I indulge in my fornication.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Ὅτι ἀπʼ αἰῶνος συνέτριψας τὸν ζυγόν σου, καὶ διέσπασας τοὺς δεσμούς σου, καὶ εἶπας, οὐ δουλεύσω σοι ἀλλὰ πορεύσομαι ἐπὶ πάντα βουνὸν ὑψηλὸν, καὶ ὑποκάτω παντὸς ξύλου κατασκίου, ἐκεῖ διαχυθήσομαι ἐν τῇ πορνείᾳ μου.