Keraia
Jeremiah 7

Jeremiah 7:31

The Valley of Slaughter · Jeremiah 7:30–34
Read Jeremiah 7

Translations

Modern
They have built the high places of Topheth in the Valley of Ben-hinnom so they could burn their sons and daughters in the fire—something I never commanded, nor did it even enter My mind.
Traditional
And they have built the high places of Tophet, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my heart.
Literal
And they have built the high places of Topheth, which is in the Valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire—which I did not command, and it did not come into My heart!
Latin
…et ædificaverunt excelsa Topheth, quæ est in valle filii Ennom, ut incenderent filios suos et filias suas igni, quæ non præcepi, nec cogitavi in corde meo.

Original

Hebrew
English
They have built the high places of Topheth in the Valley of Ben-hinnom so they could burn their sons and daughters in the fire—something I never commanded, nor did it even enter My mind.

Notes

Jeremiah 7:30–34

The valley of Ben-Hinnom started on the west side of Jerusalem and continued around the south side. This narrow, steep valley opened into the Kidron Valley and served as the city's garbage dump and graveyard. The bodies of the poor, whether murdered or dead from disease, were dumped there. Child sacrifice, a practice completely abhorrent to the Lord (see 2 Chronicles 28:3; 33:6), also took place there. The valley was known as Topheth (2 Kings 23:10; Isaiah 30:33), possibly referring to ritual drums (Hebrew top) or sacrificial fires (tap) used there.

In the New Testament, it is called Gehenna, and Jesus compared hell to the fire that burned continuously in that valley (see study note on Matthew 5:29). Soon, it would be known as the Valley of Slaughter because the siege and destruction of Jerusalem, which lasted from 588 to 586 BC, would fill the valley with the bodies of the slain.

Jeremiah 7:30–8:3

This message announced death for the people of Judah. It came true with the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC.

Theme notes and profiles

Manasseh

Events

Places

Topheth: Site of pagan child sacrifice, south of Jerusalem

Glossary

Baal (Idol) Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (Old Testament) Book of Jeremiah Gehenna Hell High Place Jeremiah (Person) Manasseh (Person) Temple Topheth

Topics

Backsliders: Backsliding of Israel Child Sacrifice Condescension of God: Expostulates with Backsliding Israel High Places: Signify a Place of Idolatrous Worship High Places: Tophet Hinnom: Children offered in Sacrifice In Human Sacrifice Idolatry: Wicked Practices of Human Sacrifices Impenitence: General Scriptures Concerning Molech: Children Sacrificed To Offerings: Human Sacrifices: Israelites Prophecies Concerning Israel: Prophecies Concerning of War and Other Judgments The Burnt offering of Human Victims Execrated Tophet: Jewish Children Passed Through the Fire to the God Molech In