Definition: O my mountain in the field, I will give thy substance [and] all thy treasures to the spoil, [and] thy high places for sin, throughout all thy borders.
Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Jeremiah 17:3. It’s a pretty dramatic and intense statement about God’s judgment. Here's what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: God is saying that He will completely destroy and ruin something – specifically, the land and everything on it – because of its sin. He’s essentially saying, “You’re a problem, and you’ll be eliminated.” Let's unpack it piece by piece: “Jeremiah 17:3” : This is the specific verse we’re focusing on. It’s from the Book of Jeremiah, which was written during a time of great crisis in Israel. “O my mountain in the field…” : This refers to the land itself – the soil, the fields, and everything growing there. It's emphasizing that this isn’t just about one specific place; it’s everything . “…I will give thy substance [and] all thy treasures to the spoil, [and] thy high places for sin…” : This is the core of the verse. Let's break down the words: “Give thy substance” : This means to completely destroy or ruin something – not just a little bit, but utterly. It’s like taking everything valuable away. “all thy treasures” : This refers to wealth, possessions, resources, and anything that makes this place prosperous. Think of it as all the good things the land has. “…to the spoil” : This is a harsh word – it means to be tossed aside or used as something worthless. It’s like letting everything go to waste. “thy high places for sin…” : This refers to the areas where people have been sinful and are causing trouble. It's about the land being marked by wrongdoing. Overall Meaning – A Warning The verse is a warning from God to the land itself. It’s saying that if the land continues to be plagued with sin, it will be completely destroyed and become barren. It’s a strong statement of divine judgment. Important Context: This passage was part of a larger message from Jeremiah about the impending destruction of Israel. He was urging them to repent (turn away from their sins) before it was too late. --- Do you want me to: Explain another part of this verse? Connect it to a specific event in biblical history? Discuss the significance of Jeremiah’s message in general?