Jeremiah 32:35: Why would God claim ignorance of child sacrifices if other passages suggest He is omniscient and aware of every human action?

I. Background and Historical Context

Child sacrifice in the ancient Near East was a grave practice often associated with the worship of false gods such as Molech (cf. Jeremiah 32:35: “They built the high places of Baal … to sacrifice their sons and daughters to Molech…”). Archaeological findings at sites like Carthage suggest that child sacrifices were performed to secure favor from deities. In the region around Jerusalem, the Valley of Ben-Hinnom (also called Gehenna) became notorious for such rituals (2 Chronicles 28:3, 33:6).

The book of Jeremiah addresses the rampant idolatry leading up to the Babylonian invasion, portraying how the people of Judah embraced practices forbidden by God. Leviticus 18:21 forbids child sacrifice explicitly: “You must not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molech.” God’s commands stand in stark contrast to the pagan rituals that Judah had tragically adopted.

II. The Verse in Question—Jeremiah 32:35

Jeremiah 32:35 reads: “…though I had never commanded them—nor had it even entered My mind that they should commit such abominations….” Some may wonder why God would say such a thing when, elsewhere in Scripture, His omniscience is affirmed beyond question (e.g., Psalm 139:1–4).

In other biblical passages, God’s intimate knowledge of human actions is clear. For example, Psalm 139:2 states: “You know when I sit and when I rise; You understand my thoughts from afar.” Likewise, Isaiah 46:9–10 shows God declaring “the end from the beginning,” emphasizing His complete foreknowledge.

III. The Language of “Never Entered My Mind”

1. Figurative or Idiomatic Expression

When Jeremiah 32:35 says, “Nor had it even entered My mind,” the phrase is a Hebrew idiom emphasizing God’s moral indignation and total disapproval of child sacrifice. In biblical literature, similar expressions occur to highlight God’s outrage at abhorrent practices (cf. Jeremiah 7:31). It underscores how drastically such actions deviate from His holy character.

2. Divine Condemnation

By saying it “never entered My mind,” God underscores that child sacrifice opposes every aspect of His moral law and nature. He neither commanded it, suggested it, nor sanctioned it in any capacity. The statement stands rhetorically to show that, from God’s perspective, such an atrocious act is inconceivable within His perfect will.

3. Contrast to Pagan Idolatry

Ancient worshipers of Molech believed they needed to appease deities by offering children. God’s people entered into covenant with Him and were never meant to adopt these practices. God’s “ignorance” in Jeremiah 32:35 is a forceful rebuke—He is effectively saying that such sin has no place in His design for humanity.

IV. The Omniscience of God

1. Biblical Declarations of Omniscience

Scripture frequently proclaims God’s infinite knowledge. Job 28:24 states: “For He looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.” Similarly, 1 John 3:20 affirms that God “knows all things.”

2. God’s Knowledge and Human Responsibility

Although God knows all events—past, present, and future—He allows moral agents to choose their actions. His omniscience does not diminish humankind’s accountability or the gravity of their sin. Rather, it highlights the depth of God’s patience and the seriousness of transgression.

V. Reconciling Jeremiah 32:35 with Divine Knowledge

1. Emphasis on Moral Repudiation

The phrase “nor had it even entered My mind” does not deny God’s foreknowledge; instead, it conveys how foreign child sacrifice is to His decrees. Similar language appears in Jeremiah 19:5 to stress God’s revulsion: “something I never commanded or spoke of, nor did it ever enter My mind.”

2. Prophetic and Poetic Language

Old Testament prophetic books often use strong, evocative language. Jeremiah’s role included exposing the stark contrast between God’s holy standard and the people’s sin. By using expressions akin to “never entered My mind,” he powerfully conveys how deeply this practice violates God’s heart.

3. Harmonizing with the Whole of Scripture

When comparing Jeremiah 32:35 to passages establishing God’s omniscience, the coherence of Scripture remains firm. The statement is best understood as rhetorical—demonstrating God’s moral shock at Judah’s sin—rather than literal ignorance.

VI. Practical and Theological Insights

1. God's Character and Human Sin

This passage underscores how God’s character remains utterly opposed to evil. Although He knows what will happen, He still defines some acts as beyond the pale of His will. This teaching warns believers against drifting into cultural norms that compromise God’s commands.

2. Free Will and Divine Justice

Even though God possesses perfect knowledge, He does not coerce moral decisions. His statements of “It never entered My mind” reflect not a lack of foresight, but a moral protest. Individuals are thus responsible for their wrongdoing.

3. Confidence in Scripture

Despite difficult passages, archaeological data, textual criticism, ancient manuscripts, and internal doctrinal harmony continue to verify the Bible’s reliability. In the case of Jeremiah 32:35, the language aligns with other biblical instances where God uses strong expressions to communicate His total revulsion at sin.

VII. Conclusion

Jeremiah 32:35 should be read in light of the broader biblical witness that firmly establishes God’s omniscience. The phrase “nor had it even entered My mind” employs poetic and prophetic language to convey God’s absolute denunciation of child sacrifice. It proves that this abhorrent act was never prescribed or desired by Him, in stark contrast to His nature and law.

From Genesis through Revelation, Scripture presents a consistent revelation of a God who knows all things perfectly, yet holds humanity accountable. Far from indicating ignorance, Jeremiah 32:35 highlights how deeply child sacrifice offends the holiness of God. Even though He is aware of every human action, He articulates His moral outrage by showing this practice is something so evil that, in His righteousness, He never willed it nor sanctioned it—and by that same righteous standard, He ultimately judges such sin.