The Meaning of Jeremiah 2:11 Explained

Jeremiah 2:11

KJV: Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.

YLT: Hath a nation changed gods? (And they are no gods!) And My people hath changed its honour For that which doth not profit.

Darby: Hath a nation changed its gods? and they are no gods; but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.

ASV: Hath a nation changed its gods, which yet are no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Hath a nation  changed  [their] gods,  which [are] yet no gods?  but my people  have changed  their glory  for [that which] doth not profit. 

What does Jeremiah 2:11 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Jeremiah 2

1  God having shown his former kindness,
5  expostulates with the people on their causeless and unexampled revolt
14  They are the causes of their own calamities
18  The sins and idolatries of Judah
35  Her confidence is rejected

What do the individual words in Jeremiah 2:11 mean?

Has changed a nation [its] gods and they [are] not gods but My people have changed their Glory for not [what] does profit
הַהֵימִ֥יר גּוֹי֙ אֱלֹהִ֔ים וְהֵ֖מָּה לֹ֣א ؟ אֱלֹהִ֑ים וְעַמִּ֛י הֵמִ֥יר כְּבוֹד֖וֹ בְּל֥וֹא יוֹעִֽיל

הַהֵימִ֥יר  Has  changed 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מוּר 
Sense: to change, exchange.
גּוֹי֙  a  nation 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: גֹּוי 
Sense: nation, people.
אֱלֹהִ֔ים  [its]  gods 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
וְהֵ֖מָּה  and  they  [are] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, third person masculine plural
Root: הֵם 
Sense: they, these, the same, who.
؟ אֱלֹהִ֑ים  gods 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
וְעַמִּ֛י  but  My  people 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
הֵמִ֥יר  have  changed 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מוּר 
Sense: to change, exchange.
כְּבוֹד֖וֹ  their  Glory 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: כָּבֹוד  
Sense: glory, honour, glorious, abundance.
בְּל֥וֹא  for  not 
Parse: Preposition-b, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: בְּלֹוי  
Sense: worn out things, rags.
יוֹעִֽיל  [what]  does  profit 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָעַל  
Sense: (Hiphil) to gain, profit, benefit, avail.