Surely deception comes from the hillsIn the context of ancient Israel, the "hills" often refer to the high places where idolatrous worship occurred. These locations were frequently used for pagan rituals and sacrifices, which led the Israelites away from the worship of Yahweh. The deception mentioned here highlights the false security and spiritual adultery that came from engaging in these practices. This phrase serves as a warning against the allure of idolatry, which promises much but delivers only spiritual emptiness and separation from God. The hills symbolize the false gods and the misleading promises they offer, contrasting with the true security found in the Lord.
and commotion from the mountains
The "commotion" from the mountains can be understood as the tumult and chaos resulting from idol worship and the political instability it brought. Mountains, like hills, were often sites of idol worship, and the noise or commotion could refer to the frenzied activities associated with these practices. Historically, the worship of foreign gods often led to moral and social disorder, as well as divine judgment. This phrase underscores the futility and disorder that come from turning away from God, as opposed to the peace and order found in obedience to Him.
Surely the salvation of Israel is in the LORD our God
This statement is a declaration of faith and a call to repentance. It contrasts the false hopes placed in idols with the true hope found in the Lord. The salvation of Israel is not in the deceptive practices of idolatry but in returning to the covenant relationship with God. This phrase echoes the central message of the prophets: that deliverance and restoration come only through Yahweh. It also points forward to the ultimate salvation through Jesus Christ, who fulfills the promises made to Israel. The emphasis on "our God" reinforces the personal and communal relationship that Israel is called to have with the Lord, highlighting the covenantal faithfulness of God despite Israel's unfaithfulness.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
JeremiahA major prophet in the Old Testament, known for his messages of warning and hope to the people of Judah. He is often called the "weeping prophet" due to his deep sorrow over the spiritual state of his people.
2.
IsraelRefers to the Northern Kingdom, which had fallen into idolatry and was eventually conquered by Assyria. In this context, it represents the people of God who have strayed from Him.
3.
The Hills and MountainsThese are symbolic of the high places where idolatrous worship occurred. The Israelites often turned to these locations for false worship, seeking help from idols rather than God.
4.
The LORD our GodThe covenant name of God, Yahweh, emphasizing His relationship with Israel as their true source of salvation and deliverance.
5.
IdolatryThe event and practice of worshiping false gods, which was prevalent in Israel and Judah, leading to their downfall and exile.
Teaching Points
The Deception of IdolatryIdolatry promises security and fulfillment but ultimately leads to deception and emptiness. Believers must be vigilant against modern forms of idolatry, such as materialism or self-reliance.
True Salvation Comes from God AloneSalvation and deliverance are found only in the LORD. Believers are called to trust in God rather than in worldly solutions or false gods.
Repentance and Return to GodLike Israel, believers are invited to repent and return to God, acknowledging Him as their sole source of hope and salvation.
The Futility of False WorshipWorshiping anything other than God is futile and leads to spiritual commotion and unrest. True peace is found in worshiping God alone.
God’s Faithfulness to His CovenantDespite Israel's unfaithfulness, God remains faithful to His covenant promises. Believers can trust in His steadfast love and commitment.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Jeremiah 3:23?
2.How does Jeremiah 3:23 emphasize the futility of false gods for salvation?
3.What does "salvation is only from the LORD" teach about God's exclusivity?
4.How can Jeremiah 3:23 deepen our understanding of God's role in redemption?
5.Connect Jeremiah 3:23 with New Testament teachings on salvation through Christ.
6.How can we apply the truth of Jeremiah 3:23 in daily decision-making?
7.What does Jeremiah 3:23 reveal about the futility of idol worship?
8.How does Jeremiah 3:23 challenge the belief in false gods?
9.What historical context influenced the message of Jeremiah 3:23?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Jeremiah 3?
11.What does 'Twisting Scriptures to Their Own Destruction' mean?
12.What will happen to the righteous and the wicked?
13.Jeremiah 23:21-22: Why would God allow false prophets to speak in His name if He disapproves of their messages?
14.Jeremiah 14:13-16: If God is omniscient and just, why allow false prophets to deceive so many without immediate correction?What Does Jeremiah 3:23 Mean
Surely deception comes from the hills• In Jeremiah’s day “the hills” were the favored sites for pagan shrines (Jeremiah 2:20;Hosea 4:13;2 Kings 17:10).
• People climbed those heights expecting help, but God labels the whole enterprise “deception.” It looked spiritual, yet it was empty (Isaiah 44:19–20).
• Idol worship promised rain, crops, and security; instead it delivered bondage, just asPsalm 115:8 warns that those who make idols “will become like them.”
• The verse reminds us that any trust placed outside the Lord—whether in rituals, government, wealth, or self—will prove false (Psalm 20:7;Jeremiah 17:5).
and commotion from the mountains• “Commotion” pictures the noisy frenzy of idol processions, loud chants, and frantic sacrifices (1 Kings 18:26–29;Isaiah 57:5–7).
• Spiritual substitutes stir emotion but give no peace; they leave the soul unsettled (Isaiah 57:20–21).
• The mountains once echoed with Israel’s covenant ceremonies (Deuteronomy 27:12-13). Now they resound with confusion—evidence of how far the nation has drifted (Jeremiah 7:31).
• False worship multiplies activity without producing fruit, echoing Paul’s description of “noisy gongs” devoid of love (1 Corinthians 13:1).
Surely the salvation of Israel is in the LORD our God• The verse pivots from emptiness to certainty. “Surely” announces rock-solid confidence: real deliverance rests “in the LORD our God” alone (Psalm 62:1-2;Jonah 2:9).
• Salvation here is both national and personal—rescue from looming judgment (Jeremiah 3:12;Isaiah 45:17) and restoration to covenant blessing (Jeremiah 31:33).
• God’s exclusive claim echoes throughout Scripture: “Salvation belongs to the LORD” (Psalm 3:8) and, ultimately, “there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
• The contrast is stark:
– Hills and mountains: human religion, deceptive noise, shattered hopes.
– The LORD: faithful Creator, covenant-keeper, unshakable Savior.
summaryJeremiah 3:23 exposes the futility of every man-made substitute for God. High places promise much yet deceive; frenzied worship generates only commotion. In vivid counterpoint, the prophet declares that genuine, lasting salvation is found solely in the LORD. The verse calls every reader to turn from hollow hills and rest in the sure deliverance of Israel’s Redeemer.
(23)
Truly in vain . . .--The italics show the difficulty of the verse, and represent an attempt to get over it. According to the senses given to the word translated "multitude" we get,
in vain(literally,
as a lie)
from the hills is the revelry(as in
Amos 5:23), or
the wealth,or
the multitude, of the mountains.The first gives the best meaning, and expresses the confession of the repentant Israelites that their wild ritual on the high places had brought them loss and not gain.
Verse 23. -
Truly in vain, etc. An obscure and (if corruption exists anywhere) corrupt passage, which, however, it is hopeless to attempt to emend, as the corruption consists partly in wrong letters, partly in omitted letters or words (or both); and, moreover, the text employed by the Septuagint appears to have presented the same difficulty. The latter point is especially noteworthy. It is far from proving that the traditional text is correct; what it does suggest is that the writings of the prophets were at first written down in a very insecure manner. The rendering of the Authorized Version is substantially that of Hitzig, who explains "the multitude of [the] mountains," as meaning "the multitude of gods worshipped on the mountains" -too forced an expression for so simple a context. It seems most natural to suppose (with Ewald, Graf, and Keil), a contrast between the wild, noisy cultus of idolatrous religions, and the quiet spiritual worship inculcated by the prophets. Compare by way of illustration, the loud and ostentatious demonstrations of Baal's ritual in
1 Kings 18, with the sober, serious attitude of Elijah in the same chapter. The word rendered in the Authorized Version "multitude" has a still more obvious and original meaning, viz. "tumult;" and probably the Targum is not far from the true sense in rendering, "In vain have we worshipped upon the hills and not for profit have we raised a tumult on the mountains."
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
Surelyאָכֵ֥ן(’ā·ḵên)Adverb
Strong's 403:Firmly, surely, butdeceptionלַשֶּׁ֛קֶר(laš·še·qer)Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8267:Deception, disappointment, falsehood[comes from] the hills,מִגְּבָע֖וֹת(mig·gə·ḇā·‘ō·wṯ)Preposition-m | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 1389:A hillockcommotionהָמ֣וֹן(hā·mō·wn)Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1995:A noise, tumult, crowd, disquietude, wealthfrom the mountains,הָרִ֑ים(hā·rîm)Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 2022:Mountain, hill, hill countrybut surelyאָכֵן֙(’ā·ḵên)Adverb
Strong's 403:Firmly, surely, butthe salvationתְּשׁוּעַ֖ת(tə·šū·‘aṯ)Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 8668:Deliverance, salvationof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃(yiś·rā·’êl)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478:Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his descis in the LORDבַּיהֹוָ֣ה(Yah·weh)Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068:LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israelour God.אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ(’ĕ·lō·hê·nū)Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural
Strong's 430:gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative
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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 3:23 Truly in vain is the help that (Jer.) 
