Jeremiah 3:24
New International Version
From our youth shameful gods have consumed the fruits of our ancestors’ labor— their flocks and herds, their sons and daughters.

New Living Translation
From childhood we have watched as everything our ancestors worked for— their flocks and herds, their sons and daughters— was squandered on a delusion.

English Standard Version
“But from our youth the shameful thing has devoured all for which our fathers labored, their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters.

Berean Standard Bible
From our youth, that shameful god has consumed what our fathers have worked for—their flocks and herds, their sons and daughters.

Berean Literal Bible
And the shame has devoured the labor of our fathers from our youth—their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters.

King James Bible
For shame hath devoured the labour of our fathers from our youth; their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters.

New King James Version
For shame has devoured The labor of our fathers from our youth— Their flocks and their herds, Their sons and their daughters.

New American Standard Bible
“But the shame has consumed the product of our fathers’ labor since our youth—their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters.

NASB 1995
“But the shameful thing has consumed the labor of our fathers since our youth, their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters.

NASB 1977
“But the shameful thing has consumed the labor of our fathers since our youth, their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters.

Legacy Standard Bible
“But the shameful thing has devoured the labor of our fathers since our youth, their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters.

Amplified Bible
“But the shameful act [of idolatry] has consumed the labor of our fathers since our youth—their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters.

Berean Annotated Bible
From our youth, that shameful god has consumed what our fathers have worked for—their flocks and herds, their sons and daughters.

Christian Standard Bible
From the time of our youth the shameful one has consumed what our ancestors have worked for — their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
From the time of our youth the shameful one has consumed what our fathers have worked for— their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters.

American Standard Version
But the shameful thing hath devoured the labor of our fathers from our youth, their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters.

Contemporary English Version
Since the days of our ancestors when our nation was young, that shameful god Baal has taken our crops and livestock, our sons and daughters.

English Revised Version
But the shameful thing hath devoured the labour of our fathers from our youth; their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Ever since we were young, the shameful worship [of Baal] has taken everything our ancestors worked for, their flocks and herds, their sons and daughters.

Good News Translation
But the worship of Baal, the god of shame, has made us lose flocks and herds, sons and daughters--everything that our ancestors have worked for since ancient times.

International Standard Version
Since our youth the false gods have consumed the products of our ancestors' hard work, their sheep and their cattle, their sons and their daughters.

NET Bible
From earliest times our worship of that shameful god, Baal, has taken away all that our ancestors worked for. It has taken away our flocks and our herds, and even our sons and daughters.

New Heart English Bible
But the shameful thing has devoured the labor of our fathers from our youth, their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters.

Webster's Bible Translation
For shame hath devoured the labor of our fathers from our youth; their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters.
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
From our youth, that shameful god has consumed what our fathers have worked for—their flocks and herds, their sons and daughters.

World English Bible
But the shameful thing has devoured the labor of our fathers from our youth, their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the shameful thing has devoured "" The labor of our fathers from our youth, "" Their flock and their herd, "" Their sons and their daughters.

Berean Literal Bible
And the shame has devoured the labor of our fathers from our youth—their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters.

Young's Literal Translation
And the shameful thing hath devoured The labour of our fathers from our youth, Their flock and their herd, Their sons and their daughters.

Smith's Literal Translation
And shame consumed the labor of our fathers from our youth; their sheep and their herd, their sons and their daughters.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Confusion hath devoured the labor of our fathers from our youth, their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Confusion has devoured the labor of our fathers, from our youth, with their flocks and their herds, with their sons and their daughters.

New American Bible
The shameful thing has devoured our ancestors’ worth from our youth, Their sheep and cattle, their sons and daughters.

New Revised Standard Version
“But from our youth the shameful thing has devoured all for which our ancestors had labored, their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For shame has devoured the labor of our fathers from their childhood, their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And shame consumed the labor of our fathers from their youth, and their sheep and their oxen and their sons and their daughters
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
But the shameful thing hath devoured The labour of our fathers from our youth; Their flocks and their herds, Their sons and their daughters.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
But shame has consumed the labours of our fathers from our youth; their sheep and their calves, and their sons and their daughters.

Additional Translations ...



Context
Invitation to Repentance
23Surely deception comes from the hills, and commotion from the mountains. Surely the salvation of Israel is in the LORD our God. 24From our youth, that shameful god has consumed what our fathers have worked for— their flocks and herds, their sons and daughters. 25Let us lie down in our shame; let our disgrace cover us. We have sinned against the LORD our God, both we and our fathers; from our youth even to this day we have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God.”…

Cross References
From our youth,

Jeremiah 22:21
I warned you when you were secure. You said, ‘I will not listen.’ This has been your way from youth, that you have not obeyed My voice.

Deuteronomy 9:24
You have been rebelling against the LORD since the day I came to know you.

Ezekiel 20:8
But they rebelled against Me and refused to listen. None of them cast away the abominations before their eyes, and they did not forsake the idols of Egypt. So I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and vent My anger against them in the land of Egypt.
that shameful god

Hosea 9:10
I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness. I saw your fathers as the firstfruits of the fig tree in its first season. But they went to Baal-peor, and consecrated themselves to Shame; so they became as detestable as the thing they loved.

Jeremiah 11:13
Your gods are indeed as numerous as your cities, O Judah; the altars of shame you have set up—the altars to burn incense to Baal—are as many as the streets of Jerusalem.’

Isaiah 42:17
But those who trust in idols and say to molten images, ‘You are our gods!’ will be turned back in utter shame.
has consumed what our fathers have worked for—

Jeremiah 5:17
They will devour your harvest and food; they will consume your sons and daughters; they will eat up your flocks and herds; they will feed on your vines and fig trees. With the sword they will destroy the fortified cities in which you trust.”

Deuteronomy 28:33
A people you do not know will eat the produce of your land and of all your toil. All your days you will be oppressed and crushed.

Isaiah 1:7
Your land is desolate; your cities are burned with fire. Foreigners devour your fields before you—a desolation demolished by strangers.
their flocks and herds,

Deuteronomy 28:31
Your ox will be slaughtered before your eyes, but you will not eat any of it. Your donkey will be taken away and not returned to you. Your flock will be given to your enemies, and no one will save you.

Psalm 78:48
He abandoned their cattle to the hail and their livestock to bolts of lightning.

Deuteronomy 28:51
They will eat the offspring of your livestock and the produce of your land until you are destroyed. They will leave you no grain or new wine or oil, no calves of your herds or lambs of your flocks, until they have caused you to perish.
their sons and daughters.

Deuteronomy 28:32
Your sons and daughters will be given to another nation, while your eyes grow weary looking for them day after day, with no power in your hand.

Psalm 106:37-38
They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons. / They shed innocent blood—the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was polluted with blood.

Ezekiel 16:20-21
You even took the sons and daughters you bore to Me and sacrificed them as food to idols. Was your prostitution not enough? / You slaughtered My children and delivered them up through the fire to idols.
Deuteronomy 28:64-68
Then the LORD will scatter you among all the nations, from one end of the earth to the other, and there you will worship other gods, gods of wood and stone, which neither you nor your fathers have known. / Among those nations you will find no repose, not even a resting place for the sole of your foot. There the LORD will give you a trembling heart, failing eyes, and a despairing soul. / So your life will hang in doubt before you, and you will be afraid night and day, never certain of survival. …


Treasury of Scripture

For shame has devoured the labor of our fathers from our youth; their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters.

Jeremiah 11:13
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.

Ezekiel 16:61,63
Then thou shalt remember thy ways, and be ashamed, when thou shalt receive thy sisters, thine elder and thy younger: and I will give them unto thee for daughters, but not by thy covenant…

Hosea 2:8
For she did not know that I gave her corn, and wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold, which they prepared for Baal.

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Jeremiah 3
1. God's great mercy to Judah the polluted land
6. Judah is worse than Israel
12. The promises of the gospel to the penitent
20. Israel reproved, and called by God, makes a solemn confession of their sins












From our youth,

Israel acknowledges that unfaithfulness to the Lord had marked the nation for generations. The worship of foreign gods became embedded in family and national life, passing from fathers to children.

Jer 22:21 I warned you when you were secure. You said,…
Deu 9:24 You have been rebelling against the LORD…
Ezk 20:8 But they rebelled against Me and refused to listen…

that shameful god

“The shameful god” refers to Baal and the other idols Israel embraced. These false gods promised fertility, security, and prosperity, but they brought only disgrace and ruin.

Hos 9:10 I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness…
Jer 11:13 Your gods are indeed as numerous as your cities…
Isa 42:17 But those who trust in idols and say to molten images,…

has consumed what our fathers have worked for—

The nation’s idolatry squandered the wealth and blessing gained through generations of labor. Its rebellion also brought God’s judgment, leaving the land vulnerable to loss and devastation.

Jer 5:17 They will devour your harvest and food; they will eat up……
Deu 28:33 A people you do not know will eat the produce of your land…
Isa 1:7 Your land is desolate; your cities are burned with fire.…

their flocks and herds,

These represented the livelihood and provision of an agricultural people. Their loss meant hunger, poverty, and the collapse of household stability.

Deu 28:31 Your ox will be slaughtered before your eyes,…
Psa 78:48 He abandoned their cattle to the hail and their livestock…
Deu 28:51 They will eat the offspring of your livestock…

their sons and daughters.

The consequences reached beyond possessions to the next generation. Children suffered through national judgment, spiritual corruption, and, in some pagan practices, even sacrifice to false gods.

Deu 28:32 Your sons and daughters will be given to another nation…
Psa 106:37-38 They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons.…
Ezk 16:20-21 You even took the sons and daughters you bore to Me…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jeremiah
A major prophet in the Old Testament, known for his messages of warning and hope to the people of Judah.

2. Judah
The southern kingdom of Israel, often warned by prophets like Jeremiah about their idolatry and disobedience to God.

3. Shameful god
Refers to the idols and false gods that the people of Judah worshipped, leading them away from the true God.

4. Fathers
The ancestors of the people of Judah, who had worked hard to provide for their families and maintain their heritage.

5. Flocks and Herds
Represents the wealth and livelihood of the people, which were squandered due to idolatry.
Teaching Points
The Consequences of Idolatry
Idolatry leads to the loss of what is valuable, both materially and spiritually. It consumes resources and relationships, leaving emptiness.

Generational Impact
The choices of one generation affect the next. The idolatry of the fathers led to the suffering of their children, emphasizing the importance of godly legacy.

True Worship
Worship should be directed to God alone. Anything that takes His place in our lives becomes a "shameful god" that leads us away from His blessings.

Repentance and Restoration
God calls His people to turn away from idols and return to Him. Repentance is the first step towards restoration and reclaiming what has been lost.

Guarding Against Modern Idols
In today's world, idols may not be physical statues but can be anything that takes priority over God, such as money, power, or personal desires.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Jeremiah 3:24?

2. How can we identify modern "shame" that consumes our "youth's labor" today?

3. What idols today might cause us to waste our resources like in Jeremiah 3:24?

4. How does Jeremiah 3:24 connect with the First Commandment in Exodus 20:3?

5. In what ways can we redirect our efforts to serve God instead of idols?

6. How can acknowledging past mistakes help us grow in our faith journey?

7. How does Jeremiah 3:24 reflect on the consequences of idolatry in ancient Israel?

8. What historical events might have influenced the message in Jeremiah 3:24?

9. How does Jeremiah 3:24 challenge modern views on materialism and spiritual fulfillment?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Jeremiah 3?


(24) Shame.--The Hebrew noun has the article, "the shame," and is the word constantly used as the interchangeable synonym for Baal, as in Jerubbaal and Jerubbesheth (Judges 6:32; 2Samuel 11:21), Mephibosheth and Merib-baal (2Samuel 4:4; 1Chronicles 8:34). The words point accordingly to the prodigal waste of victims, possibly of human life also, in the worship of Baal and that of Molech, which in the prophet's mind was identified with it, and which had brought with it nothing but a lasting shame. This also forms part of the confession of the repentant people (comp. Jeremiah 11:13).

Verse 24. - For shame; rather, and the Shame (i.e. the Baal). The words Bosheth ("Shame") and Baal are frequently interchanged; so again in Jeremiah 11:13 (comp. Hosea 9:10). So, too, Jerubbesheth stands for Jerubbaal (2 Samuel 11:21; comp. Judges 6:32); Ishbosheth for Eshbaal (2 Samuel 2:8; comp. 1 Chronicles 8:33). Hath devoured the labor of our fathers, etc.; a condensed way of saying that Baal-worship has brought the judgments' of God upon us,, our flocks, and herds, and all the other labor (or rather "wealth;' i.e. fruit of labor) of our fathers, being destroyed as the punishment of our sins (comp. Deuteronomy 28:30-32). Another view is that the "devouring" had to do with the sacrifices, but it is improbable that the sacrificial worship of Baal bad developed to such a portentous extent, and the former explanation is in itself more suitable to the context.

Jeremiah 3:24 is a heartfelt acknowledgment that lifelong devotion to idols has devastated Judah’s history, economy, and families. From the earliest days, the “shameful god” of Baal consumed resources, livestock, and even children, proving idols are thieves of life and blessing. The verse calls readers to see the tangible, generational ruin that follows turning from the LORD and to return to the only God who gives and preserves life.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
From our youth,
מִנְּעוּרֵ֑ינוּ (min·nə·‘ū·rê·nū)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural
Strong's 5271: Youth, the state, the persons

that shameful [god]
וְהַבֹּ֗שֶׁת (wə·hab·bō·šeṯ)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1322: Shame, shameful thing

has consumed
אָֽכְלָ֛ה (’ā·ḵə·lāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 398: To eat

what our fathers
אֲבוֹתֵ֖ינוּ (’ă·ḇō·w·ṯê·nū)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural
Strong's 1: Father

have worked for—
יְגִ֥יעַ (yə·ḡî·a‘)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3018: Toil, a work, produce, property

their flocks
צֹאנָם֙ (ṣō·nām)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 6629: Small cattle, sheep and goats, flock

and herds,
בְּקָרָ֔ם (bə·qā·rām)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1241: Beef cattle, ox, a herd

their sons
בְּנֵיהֶ֖ם (bə·nê·hem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1121: A son

and daughters.
בְּנוֹתֵיהֶֽם׃ (bə·nō·w·ṯê·hem)
Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1323: A daughter


Additonal Resources
Jeremiah 3:24 Blue Letter Bible
Jeremiah 3:24 Bible Gateway
Jeremiah 3:24 Bible.com

Jeremiah 3:24 NIV
Jeremiah 3:24 NLT
Jeremiah 3:24 ESV
Jeremiah 3:24 NASB
Jeremiah 3:24 KJV

Jeremiah 3:24 Study Bible
Jeremiah 3:24 Biblia Paralela
Jeremiah 3:24 Chinese Bible
Jeremiah 3:24 French Bible
Jeremiah 3:24 Catholic Bible

OT Prophets: Jeremiah 3:24 But the shameful thing has devoured (Jer.)

Jeremiah 3:23
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