Jeremiah 6

King James Version

Full text for Jeremiah Chapter 6

1¶ O ye children of Benjamin, gather yourselves to flee out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and set up a sign of fire in Bethhaccerem: for evil appeareth out of the north, and great destruction.

2I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate [woman].

3The shepherds with their flocks shall come unto her; they shall pitch [their] tents against her round about; they shall feed every one in his place.

4Prepare ye war against her; arise, and let us go up at noon. Woe unto us! for the day goeth away, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out.

5Arise, and let us go by night, and let us destroy her palaces.

6For thus hath the LORD of hosts said, Hew ye down trees, and cast a mount against Jerusalem: this [is] the city to be visited; she [is] wholly oppression in the midst of her.

7As a fountain casteth out her waters, so she casteth out her wickedness: violence and spoil is heard in her; before me continually [is] grief and wounds.

8Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest my soul depart from thee; lest I make thee desolate, a land not inhabited.

9¶ Thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall throughly glean the remnant of Israel as a vine: turn back thine hand as a grapegatherer into the baskets.

10To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their ear [is] uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the LORD is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it.

11Therefore I am full of the fury of the LORD; I am weary with holding in: I will pour it out upon the children abroad, and upon the assembly of young men together: for even the husband with the wife shall be taken, the aged with [him that is] full of days.

12And their houses shall be turned unto others, [with their] fields and wives together: for I will stretch out my hand upon the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD.

13For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one [is] given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.

14They have healed also the hurt [of the daughter] of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when [there is] no peace.

15Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time [that] I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.

16Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where [is] the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk [therein].

17Also I set watchmen over you, [saying], Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.

18¶ Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what [is] among them.

19Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, [even] the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.

20To what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt offerings [are] not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto me.

21Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will lay stumblingblocks before this people, and the fathers and the sons together shall fall upon them; the neighbour and his friend shall perish.

22Thus saith the LORD, Behold, a people cometh from the north country, and a great nation shall be raised from the sides of the earth.

23They shall lay hold on bow and spear; they [are] cruel, and have no mercy; their voice roareth like the sea; and they ride upon horses, set in array as men for war against thee, O daughter of Zion.

24We have heard the fame thereof: our hands wax feeble: anguish hath taken hold of us, [and] pain, as of a woman in travail.

25Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy [and] fear [is] on every side.

26O daughter of my people, gird [thee] with sackcloth, and wallow thyself in ashes: make thee mourning, [as for] an only son, most bitter lamentation: for the spoiler shall suddenly come upon us.

27I have set thee [for] a tower [and] a fortress among my people, that thou mayest know and try their way.

28They [are] all grievous revolters, walking with slanders: [they are] brass and iron; they [are] all corrupters.

29The bellows are burned, the lead is consumed of the fire; the founder melteth in vain: for the wicked are not plucked away.

30Reprobate silver shall [men] call them, because the LORD hath rejected them.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Jeremiah warns the children of Benjamin to flee Jerusalem, as a great destruction from the north is imminent due to the city's pervasive wickedness. The Lord declares Jerusalem to be full of oppression, violence, and covetousness, and its people refuse to heed His warnings or walk in the ancient paths. Consequently, God's wrath will be poured out, and a cruel northern army will lay siege to the city, leading to its desolation.

Medium Summary

The prophet Jeremiah issues a dire warning to Jerusalem, urging the children of Benjamin to flee and prepare for an invasion from the north, which brings great destruction. The Lord describes Jerusalem as a city wholly given to oppression, casting out wickedness like a fountain, with violence and grief continually before Him. Despite divine instruction and the setting of watchmen, the people refuse to hearken, their ears being "uncircumcised" and the word of the Lord a reproach to them. From the least to the greatest, they are given to covetousness and deal falsely, with prophets offering false assurances of peace. Therefore, the Lord, full of fury, declares He will bring stumblingblocks and a cruel nation from the north to execute judgment. Their houses, fields, and wives shall be taken, and they shall be cast down for their unashamed abominations.

Long Summary

Jeremiah begins by commanding the children of Benjamin to flee Jerusalem, blowing the trumpet in Tekoa and setting up a fire signal in Bethhaccerem, for a great destruction approaches from the north. The Lord likens Jerusalem, the daughter of Zion, to a delicate woman against whom shepherds with their flocks, representing invading armies, will pitch their tents and prepare for war, even by night to destroy her palaces. God declares Jerusalem to be a city wholly given to oppression, casting out wickedness, violence, and spoil like a fountain, causing Him continual grief and wounds. He warns Jerusalem to be instructed, lest His soul depart from her, making her desolate and uninhabited. The Lord laments that the people's ears are "uncircumcised," making them unable to hearken to His word, which they find a reproach. Consequently, God is full of fury and weary of holding it in, purposing to pour it out upon all, from children to the aged, turning their possessions over to others. This judgment stems from pervasive covetousness and falsehood among all, from the least to the greatest, including prophets and priests who offer superficial healing with false declarations of peace. The people show no shame for their abominations and refuse to seek the "old paths" for rest, nor will they hearken to the watchmen. Therefore, the Lord calls upon the nations and the earth to witness the evil He will bring upon this people, the fruit of their own thoughts, because they have rejected His words and law. Their religious rituals, such as incense from Sheba and burnt offerings, are unacceptable and not sweet to Him. A cruel and merciless nation from the north, arrayed for war, is coming, whose fame causes anguish and feeble hands. The people are advised to mourn deeply, as for an only son, for the spoiler will suddenly come. The Lord has set Jeremiah as a tower to test their way, but they are found to be grievous revolters, like brass and iron, all corrupters. The refining process is in vain, for the wicked are not separated, leading to their ultimate designation as "reprobate silver" whom the Lord has rejected.

Core Concepts

  • Imminent Invasion from the NorthThe chapter repeatedly warns of a destructive army approaching Jerusalem from the north, urging the people to flee and prepare for siege. This enemy is described as cruel and merciless, coming to lay waste to the land.
  • Jerusalem's Deep-Seated CorruptionThe city is described as "wholly oppression," casting out wickedness like a fountain, marked by violence, covetousness, and false dealings from all its inhabitants, including prophets and priests. This pervasive sin is the root cause of God's judgment.
  • Rejection of Divine CounselThe people are characterized by "uncircumcised ears" and a refusal to hearken to the Lord's word, rejecting both the "old paths" for rest and the warnings of watchmen. Their deliberate disobedience seals their fate.
  • False Prophecy and Superficial HealingProphets are condemned for declaring "Peace, peace; when there is no peace," offering a slight and ineffective remedy for the deep spiritual wounds of the people. This false assurance prevents true repentance and exacerbates their condition.
  • God's Weariness and Impending WrathThe Lord expresses being "full of the fury" and "weary with holding in," indicating that His patience has run out, leading to an inevitable outpouring of judgment. This divine wrath will manifest through the invading army and the desolation of the land.
  • Spiritual Unrefinability ("Reprobate Silver")The people are likened to metal that cannot be refined, with the founder melting in vain, ultimately being called "reprobate silver" whom the Lord has rejected. This signifies their incorrigible wickedness and God's final abandonment of them.