Jeremiah 2:23 — Meaning and Application

Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?

For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, {yet} thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord GOD.

How canst thou say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: {thou art} a swift dromedary traversing her ways; {thou art...: or, O swift dromedary}

A wild ass used to the wilderness, {that} snuffeth up the wind at her pleasure; in her occasion who can turn her away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her. {A wild...: or, O wild ass, etc} {used: Heb. taught} {her pleasure: Heb. the desire of her heart} {turn...: or, reverse it?}

Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst: but thou saidst, There is no hope: no; for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go. {There...: or, Is the case desperate?}