King James Version

Jeremiah 2:8

The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.

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Hebrew

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הַכֹּהֲנִ֗יםhakohanimthe priestכֹּהֵןdefinite article, noun, common, masculine, plural, absolute — “the priest”, the ordinary formH3548literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman)chief ruler, [idiom] own, priest, prince, principal officer.לֹ֤אlono , -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…אָֽמְרוּ֙amervsayאָמַרverb, qal, perfect, 3rd person, common, plural — “say”, a completed actionH559to 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…אַיֵּ֣הayehwhereאַיֵּהparticle, interrogative — “where”H346where?where.יְהוָ֔הyehvahJehovahיְהֹוָהnoun, proper name — “Jehovah”H3068Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodJehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה).וְתֹפְשֵׂ֤יvetofeseand catchתָּפַשׂconjunction, verb, qal, participle, construct — “and catch”, a verb used as a describing wordH8610to manipulate, i.e. seize; chiefly to capture, wield, specifically, to overlay; figuratively, to use unwarrantablycatch, handle, (lay, take) hold (on, over), stop, [idiom] surely, surprise, take.הַתּוֹרָה֙hatorahthe lawתּוֹרָהdefinite article, noun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “the law”, the ordinary formH8451a precept or statute, especially the Decalogue or Pentateuchlaw.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…יְדָע֔וּנִיyedauniknowיָדַעverb, qal, perfect, 3rd person, common, plural, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “know”, a completed actionH3045to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.)acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware, (un-) awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, [idiom] could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to) discern, discover, endued with…וְהָרֹעִ֖יםveharoimand the companionרָעָהconjunction, definite article, verb, qal, participle, absolute — “and the companion”, a verb used as a describing wordH7462to tend a flock; i.e. pasture it; intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively); generally to rule; by extension, to associate with (as a friend)[idiom] break, companion, keep company with, devour, eat up, evil entreat, feed, use as a friend, make friendship with, herdman, keep (sheep) (-er), pastor, [phrase] shearing house, shepherd, wander, waste.פָּ֣שְׁעוּpashevoffendפָּשַׁעverb, qal, perfect, 3rd person, common, plural — “offend”, a completed actionH6586to break away (from just authority), i.e. trespass, apostatize, quarreloffend, rebel, revolt, transgress(-ion, -or).בִ֑יviinבִ֑יpreposition, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “in”inוְהַנְּבִיאִים֙vehanviimand the prophetנָבִיאconjunction, definite article, noun, common, masculine, plural, absolute — “and the prophet”, the ordinary formH5030a prophet or (generally) inspired manprophecy, that prophesy, prophet.נִבְּא֣וּnibvprophesyנָבָאverb, niphal, perfect, 3rd person, common, plural — “prophesy”, a completed actionH5012to prophesy, i.e. speak (or sing) by inspiration (in prediction or simple discourse)prophesy(-ing), make self a prophet.בַבַּ֔עַלvabaalin Baalבַּעַלpreposition, with the article, noun, proper name — “in Baal”H1168Baal, a Phoenician deityBaal, (plural) Baalim.וְאַחֲרֵ֥יveachareand afterאַחַרconjunction, preposition — “and after”H310properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)after (that, -ward), again, at, away from, back (from, -side), behind, beside, by, follow (after, -ing), forasmuch, from, hereafter, hinder end, [phrase] out (over) live, [phrase] persecute, posterity, pursuing, remnant, seeing, since, the…לֹֽאlono , -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…יוֹעִ֖לוּyoilvprofitיַעַלverb, hiphil, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, plural — “profit”, an unfinished actionH3276properly, to ascend; figuratively, to be valuable (objectively; useful, subjectively; benefited)[idiom] at all, set forward, can do good, (be, have) profit, (able).הָלָֽכוּhalakhvwalkהָלַךְverb, qal, perfect, 3rd person, common, plural — “walk”, a completed actionH1980to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)(all) along, apace, behave (self), come, (on) continually, be conversant, depart, [phrase] be eased, enter, exercise (self), [phrase] follow, forth, forward, get, go (about, abroad, along, away, forward, on, out, up and down), [phrase] gre…

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

The priests said not: 'Where is the LORD?' And they that handle the law knew Me not, and the rulers transgressed against Me; the prophets also prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

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

American Standard Version (1901)

The priests said not, Where is Jehovah? and they that handle the law knew me not: the rulers also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.

Young’s Literal Translation

The priests have not said, 'Where [is] Jehovah?' And those handling the law have not known Me. And the shepherds transgressed against Me, And the prophets have prophesied by Baal, And after those who profit not have gone.

World English Bible

The priests didn’t say, ‘Where is Yahweh?’ and those who handle the law didn’t know me. The rulers also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal and followed things that do not profit.

Darby Translation

The priests said not, Where is Jehovah? and they that handled the law knew me not; and the shepherds transgressed against me; and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after [things that] do not profit.

Douay-Rheims

The priests did not say: Where is the Lord? and they that held the law knew me not, and the pastors transgressed against me: and the prophets prophesied in Baal, and followed idols.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

The priests said not, Where is the Lord? and they that held by the law knew me not: the shepherds also sinned against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and went after that which profited not.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Οἱ ἱερεῖς οὐκ εἶπαν, ποῦ ἐστι Κύριος; καὶ οἱ ἀντεχόμενοι τοῦ νόμου, οὐκ ἠπίσταντό με, καὶ οἱ ποιμένες ἠσέβουν εἰς ἐμὲ, καὶ οἱ προφῆται ἐπροφήτευον τῇ Βάαλ, καὶ ὀπίσω ἀνωφελοῦς ἐπορεύθησαν.