Jeremiah 7:31 meaning

In the context of a nation increasingly desperate for divine favor, the people of Judah turned to idolatry, most appallingly represented by their practice of child sacrifice in the Valley of Hinnom, also known as Tophet. This dreadful act involved burning their sons and daughters as offerings to the pagan god Molech. This was a profound violation of God’s commands and reflected a stark moral depravity that had tainted the very heart of their society. The starkness of this sin, described in Jeremiah 7:31, emphasizes the rejection of God's values and a willingness to abandon their children for false gods.

God vehemently rebukes such practices, declaring that he had never commanded them, nor would it ever have entered His heart to condone such horrific acts. This highlights a significant theme in scripture: the contrast between divine revelation and human depravity. The sacrifice of children is not merely a historical aberration but serves as a potent metaphor for modern issues surrounding the sanctity of life and the moral choices societies make today.