Jeremiah 23:10For the land is full of adulterers; for because of swearing the land mourns; the pastures of the wilderness are dried up. Their course is evil, and their might is not right;
The setting
Judean countryside, ~605 BC. The once-green pastures are cracked earth. Wells are dry. Jeremiah sees environmental collapse as connected to spiritual adultery. This is modern-day West Bank, Palestine.
The emotion here: mourning for his dying homeland
The original word
na'aph (נָאַף) — covenant breaking, both marital and spiritual unfaithfulness
Why it matters
Archaeological evidence shows severe drought in Judah during Jeremiah's ministry, confirming his environmental observations
Read with care
What most readers miss in Jeremiah 23:10
The 'swearing' isn't profanity - it's false oath-taking, breaking vows made before God
Common misconceptionModern readers separate environmental issues from spiritual issues, but Scripture sees them as deeply connected - the land itself suffers when people break covenant with God.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Jeremiah 23:10
Bible Genome reading
Jeremiah 23:10 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Jeremiah 23:10 comes from the book of Jeremiah, written during the Divided Kingdom period. These words are attributed to Jeremiah. The dominant emotion in this verse is grieving, with a comfort power of 20% and a tone that is lamenting. It belongs to the psalm genre of biblical literature. Key themes include moral decay, spiritual adultery, consequences. Notable phrases: land is full of adulterers; land mourns.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same grieving
“By the sweat of your face will you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For you are dust, and to dust you…”
— Genesis 3:19
“Jesus wept.”
— John 11:35
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?”
— Psalms 22:1
“They divide my garments among them. They cast lots for my clothing.”
— Psalms 22:18
“for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;”
— Romans 3:23
Your reflection
What does Jeremiah 23:10 mean to you, today?
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