The Meaning of Jeremiah 11:13 Explained

Jeremiah 11:13

KJV: For according to the number of thy cities were thy gods, O Judah; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem have ye set up altars to that shameful thing, even altars to burn incense unto Baal.

YLT: For -- the number of thy cities have been thy gods, O Judah, And -- the number of the streets of Jerusalem Ye have placed altars to a shameful thing, Altars to make perfume to Baal.

Darby: For as the number of thy cities, are thy gods, O Judah; and as the number of the streets of Jerusalem, have ye set up altars to the Shame, altars to burn incense unto Baal.

ASV: For according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem have ye set up altars to the shameful thing, even altars to burn incense unto Baal.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For [according to] the number  of thy cities  were thy gods,  O Judah;  and [according to] the number  of the streets  of Jerusalem  have ye set up  altars  to [that] shameful thing,  [even] altars  to burn incense  unto Baal. 

What does Jeremiah 11:13 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The Judahites had worshipped multitudes of idols, described hyperbolically, as numbering as many as Jerusalem"s streets and Judah"s cities (cf. Jeremiah 11:6; Jeremiah 2:28).

Context Summary

Jeremiah 11:1-20 - The Penalty Of A Broken Covenant
This and the following two chapters belong to the earlier ministry of Jeremiah, when he still dwelt in his native home of Anathoth. The prophet refers to the covenant which had been lately renewed by Josiah, 2 Kings 22:1-20 and 2 Kings 23:1-37, and quotes largely from the book of Deuteronomy, which had been recently read in the hearing of the people. To that covenant the prophet reverently gives his endorsement, Jeremiah 11:5. His amen reminds us of Him who is God's Amen, and in whom all the promises of God are ratified forever, 2 Corinthians 1:20. Shall we not learn, like our Lord in Matthew 11:26, to look into the Father's face and say, "Even so?" We must do so, that one day we may join with the redeemed in crying, "Amen, Hallelujah," Revelation 19:4.
The repeated relapses of Israel into idolatry were in part due to the licentious rites associated with such worship. The people were seduced from their allegiance to Jehovah by the fascination of passion; and herein we are reminded of the many times that we have been beguiled into sinful thoughts and imaginings, in spite of God's earnest solicitations and protestation, "rising early and protesting." As long as the soul is wedded to its evil ways, it is impervious to the entrance of God's light and love. "There is a sin unto death," says the Apostle, "I do not say that he shall pray for it," a saying which is closely akin to the solemn prohibition of Jeremiah 11:14, "Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them." [source]

Chapter Summary: Jeremiah 11

1  Jeremiah proclaims God's covenant;
8  rebukes the peoples' disobeying thereof;
11  prophesies evils to come upon them;
18  and upon the men of Anathoth, for conspiring to kill him

What do the individual words in Jeremiah 11:13 mean?

For [according to] the number of your cities were your gods Judah and [according to] the number of the streets of Jerusalem you have set up altars to [that] shameful thing altars to burn incense to Baal -
כִּ֚י מִסְפַּ֣ר עָרֶ֔יךָ הָי֥וּ אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ יְהוּדָ֑ה וּמִסְפַּ֞ר חֻצ֣וֹת יְרוּשָׁלִַ֗ם שַׂמְתֶּ֤ם מִזְבְּחוֹת֙ לַבֹּ֔שֶׁת מִזְבְּח֖וֹת לְקַטֵּ֥ר לַבָּֽעַל ס

מִסְפַּ֣ר  [according  to]  the  number 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מִסְפָּר  
Sense: number, tale.
עָרֶ֔יךָ  of  your  cities 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: עִיר 
Sense: excitement, anguish.
אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ  your  gods 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
יְהוּדָ֑ה  Judah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְהוּדָה  
Sense: the son of Jacob by Leah.
וּמִסְפַּ֞ר  and  [according  to]  the  number 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מִסְפָּר  
Sense: number, tale.
חֻצ֣וֹת  of  the  streets 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: חוּץ  
Sense: outside, outward, street, the outside.
יְרוּשָׁלִַ֗ם  of  Jerusalem 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: יְרוּשָׁלַםִ  
Sense: the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split.
שַׂמְתֶּ֤ם  you  have  set  up 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: שׂוּמָה 
Sense: to put, place, set, appoint, make.
מִזְבְּחוֹת֙  altars 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: מִזְבֵּחַ  
Sense: altar.
לַבֹּ֔שֶׁת  to  [that]  shameful  thing 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: בֹּשֶׁת  
Sense: shame.
מִזְבְּח֖וֹת  altars 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: מִזְבֵּחַ  
Sense: altar.
לְקַטֵּ֥ר  to  burn  incense 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct
Root: מֻקְטָר 
Sense: .
לַבָּֽעַל  to  Baal 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: בַּעַל  
Sense: supreme male divinity of the Phoenicians or Canaanites.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation