Jeremiah Chapter 17 verse 2 Holy Bible
whilst their children remember their altars and their Asherim by the green trees upon the high hills.
read chapter 17 in ASV
Their altars and their wood pillars under every branching tree, on the high hills and the mountains in the field.
read chapter 17 in BBE
whilst their children remember their altars and their Asherahs, by the green trees, upon the high hills.
read chapter 17 in DARBY
Whilst their children remember their altars and their groves by the green trees upon the high hills.
read chapter 17 in KJV
read chapter 17 in WBT
while their children remember their altars and their Asherim by the green trees on the high hills.
read chapter 17 in WEB
As their sons remember their altars and their shrines, By the green tree, by the high hills.
read chapter 17 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 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.
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(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."
