Yirmiyahu 7 | "This is the Temple of the Lord, The Temple of the Lord, The Temple of the Lord"

This prophecy is one of the most well-known in the book of Yirmiyahu. The prophet is commanded to deliver this message at the entrance to the Temple. At the opening of the prophecy, Yirmiyahu calls upon the people to repent. His words are directed against the false prophets: “Do not rely upon words of false assurance that say: ‘This is the Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord’” (7:4). The false prophets claim that the Temple cannot be destroyed — therefore, they say, there is no need to repent in order to remain safe in Jerusalem. Yirmiyahu, opposing them, conditions the people’s continued presence in the city upon their repentance and moral reform: “For, if you indeed rectify your ways and your deeds, if you indeed perform justice between a man and his fellow… then I shall allow you to dwell in this place” (7:5-7).

From the prophet’s words of rebuke, we see the people's mindset: “Will you steal, murder, fornicate, swear falsely, offer sacrifices to Baal, and pursue other gods that you have not known, then come and stand before Me in this House, which is called by My name, and say, ‘We are saved,’ so that you might continue to commit all of these abominations? Has this House that is called by My name become a den of robbers in your eyes? I myself have observed this, declares the Lord” (7:9-11; quoted in full due to its fundamental significance). The people believe that they can sin in every possible way — both between man and his fellow and between man and God, committing even the gravest offenses — and then come to the Temple, atone for their sins, and be saved. Yirmiyahu’s response to this notion is clear and sharp: “Has this House that is called by My name become a den of robbers?!”

Yirmiyahu provides a precedent demonstrating that the Temple can be destroyed — the Tabernacle in Shilo: “But go now to My place which was in Shilo, where I first made a dwelling for My name. Observe what I did to it on account of the wickedness of My people Israel” (7:12). The Tabernacle in Shilo was destroyed due to the people's sins, and likewise, the Temple can be destroyed. How might the people respond to this claim? Examining a passage in Tehillim may offer a possible answer: “He abandoned the Sanctuary of Shilo, the tent where He dwelled among humanity… Yet He rejected the tent of Yosef and did not choose the tribe of Efrayim; He chose the tribe of Yehuda, Mount Zion that He loves” (Tehillim 78:60-68). Perhaps the people argue: Indeed, Shilo was destroyed — but that was because God rejected the tribe of Efrayim. Since then, He has chosen the tribe of Yehuda and the house of David — a permanent choice — as the place of His divine presence forever. Therefore, even though Shilo was destroyed, Jerusalem will not be. We can add that during Yirmiyahu’s time, the kingdom of Israel had already been exiled, reinforcing the people's belief that God had abandoned Efrayim and chosen Yehuda. To completely dispel any such assumption, Yirmiyahu emphasizes that the decree of exile hovers over Yehuda just as it did over Efrayim: “And I will cast you from My presence just as I cast away all of your brothers, all the seed of Efrayim” (7:15).

For a more in-depth analysis of this chapter, see the attached insights by Rav David Sabato.