Definition: Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Jeremiah 3:13. It’s a really powerful and important part of understanding Jeremiah’s message about God’s judgment and repentance. Here's an explanation in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: This verse is saying that Jeremiah is pointing out that the people have been really bad – they’ve messed up badly – and they’ve strayed from following God’s rules. He’s calling them out to acknowledge this wrong doing. Let's unpack it piece by piece: “Jeremiah 3:13” : This is the verse itself – a specific passage from the book of Jeremiah. “Only acknowledge thine iniquity…” : "Iniquity" means “sin” or “fault.” This part means only recognize that they have committed sins. It's not just acknowledging they might be wrong; it’s saying they have done bad things. "...that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God..." : This is a direct accusation – Jeremiah is saying they’ve broken God's laws and rules. “Transgressed” means to violate or disobey something sacred. "...and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree…” : This is where it gets more vivid. "Scattered your ways" means they’ve become confused, lost, and disconnected from God’s guidance. “Under every green tree” paints a picture of widespread disobedience – they're everywhere, failing to follow God's path. It suggests a lack of direction and moral compass. "...ye have not obeyed my voice…” : This is the final, most important part. “Obeyed” means to listen to and follow God’s instructions. Jeremiah is saying they haven’t listened to Him! They haven't been following His guidance or commands. So, putting it all together: Jeremiah is telling the people that they have repeatedly broken God's rules and are lost. He's emphasizing that they've turned away from following his instructions and are wandering aimlessly. The Overall Message: This verse is a call to repentance – a plea for them to turn back to God, repent of their sins, and return to the path he has laid out for them. It’s a warning about the consequences of disobedience. In essence, Jeremiah is saying that the people need to stop being bad and start following God's will. --- Do you want me to: Explain this verse in more detail with examples? Connect it to a specific biblical story or event?