17 Heb “The priests … the ones who grasp my law … the shepherds … the prophets … they …”
18 See the study note on .
19 Heb “those who handle my law.” The reference is likely to the priests and Levites who were responsible for teaching the law (so Jer 18:18; cf. Deut 33:10). According to Jer 8:8 it could possibly refer to the scribes who copied the law.
20 Or “were not committed to me.” The Hebrew verb rendered “know” refers to more than mere intellectual knowledge. It carries also the ideas of emotional and volitional commitment as well intimacy. See for example its use in contexts like Hos 4:1; 6:6.
21 Heb “by Baal.”
22 Heb “and they followed after those things [the word is plural] which do not profit.” The poetic structure of the verse, four lines in which a distinct subject appears at the beginning followed by a fifth line beginning with a prepositional phrase and no distinct subject, argues that this line is climactic and refers to all four classes enumerated in the preceding lines. See W. L. Holladay, Jeremiah (Hermeneia), 1:. There may be a play or pun in the Hebrew text on the name for the god Baal (בַּעַל, ba’al) and the verb “cannot help you” (Heb “do not profit”) which is spelled יַעַל (ya’al).

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

The priests did not say, ‘Where is the Lord?’

Those who handle the law did not know me;

the shepherds transgressed against me;

the prophets prophesied by Baal

and went after things that do not profit.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

The priests did not ask,

‘Where is the Lord?’

Those who deal with the law did not know me;

the leaders rebelled against me.

The prophets prophesied by Baal,

following worthless idols.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

The priests quit asking, “Where is the Lord?”

The experts in the law no longer knew me,

and the rulers rebelled against me.

The prophets prophesied by Baal

and followed useless idols.

NLTNew Living Translation

The priests did not ask,

‘Where is the Lord?’

Those who taught my word ignored me,

the rulers turned against me,

and the prophets spoke in the name of Baal,

wasting their time on worthless idols.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

The priests did not say, ‘Where is Yahweh?’

and those who handle the law did not know me,

and the shepherds have rebelled against me,

and the prophets prophesied by Baal,

and they went after things which do not profit.

The priests said not, Where is the Lord? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.

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Jeremiah 2:8

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