Focused Passage

Jeremiah 5:14-17

Search Jerusalem: No Truth, No Justice, and No Fear of the LORD

The chapter moves from a citywide search for one just and truthful person, to the exposure of stubborn rebellion among poor and great alike, to the announcement of enemy judgment, to charges of unbelief and false prophecy, to creation-based rebuke for lacking fear of the LORD, and finally to social injustice, leadership corruption, and the terrifying fact that the people love it so.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

14 Therefore this is what the LORD God of Hosts says: “Because you have spoken this word, I will make My words a fire in your mouth and this people the wood it consumes.

15 Behold, I am bringing a distant nation against you, O house of Israel,” declares the LORD. “It is an established nation, an ancient nation, a nation whose language you do not know and whose speech you do not understand.

16 Their quivers are like open graves; they are all mighty men.

17 They will devour your harvest and food; they will consume your sons and daughters; they will eat up your flocks and herds; they will feed on your vines and fig trees. With the sword they will destroy the fortified cities in which you trust.”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 14

Cross-references

Jeremiah 1:9 Classic cross-references Jeremiah 23:29 Classic cross-references Revelation 11:5 Classic cross-references Hosea 6:5 Classic cross-references 2 Kings 1:10 Classic cross-references

Original words

Therefore לָכֵ֗ן H3651 Adverb this is what כֹּֽה־ H3541 Adverb the LORD יְהוָה֙ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular God אֱלֹהֵ֣י H430 Noun - masculine plural construct of Hosts צְבָא֔וֹת H6635 Noun - common plural says אָמַ֤ר H559 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Because יַ֚עַן H3282 Adverb you have spoken דַּבֶּרְכֶ֔ם H1696 Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | second person masculine plural - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker this הַזֶּ֑ה H2088 Article | Pronoun - masculine singular . . . הִנְנִ֣י H2005 Interjection | first person common singular word הַדָּבָ֖ר H1697 Article | Noun - masculine singular I will make נֹתֵן֩ H5414 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular My words דְּבָרַ֨י H1697 Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular a fire לְאֵ֗שׁ H784 Preposition-l | Noun - common singular in your mouth בְּפִ֜יךָ H6310 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular and this הַזֶּ֛ה H2088 Article | Pronoun - masculine singular people וְהָעָ֥ם H5971 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular the wood עֵצִ֖ים H6086 Noun - masculine plural it consumes וַאֲכָלָֽתַם׃ H398 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine plural

Verse 15

Cross-references

1 Corinthians 14:21 Classic cross-references Isaiah 28:11 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 28:49 Classic cross-references Jeremiah 4:16 Classic cross-references Isaiah 33:19 Classic cross-references

Original words

Behold הִנְנִ֣י H2005 Interjection | first person common singular I am bringing מֵבִיא֩ H935 Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular a distant מִמֶּרְחָ֛ק H4801 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular nation גּ֧וֹי H1471 Noun - masculine singular against you עֲלֵיכֶ֨ם H5921 Preposition | second person masculine plural O house בֵּ֥ית H1004 Noun - masculine singular construct of Israel יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular declares נְאֻם־ H5002 Noun - masculine singular construct the LORD יְהֹוָ֑ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular It ה֗וּא H1931 Pronoun - third person masculine singular is an established אֵיתָ֣ן H386 Adjective - masculine singular nation גּ֣וֹי׀ H1471 Noun - masculine singular an ancient מֵעוֹלָם֙ H5769 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular . . . ה֔וּא H1931 Pronoun - third person masculine singular nation גּ֤וֹי H1471 Noun - masculine singular a nation גּ֚וֹי H1471 Noun - masculine singular whose language לְשֹׁנ֔וֹ H3956 Noun - common singular construct | third person masculine singular you do not לֹא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle know תֵדַ֣ע H3045 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular and whose speech מַה־ H4100 Interrogative . . . יְדַבֵּֽר׃ H1696 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular you do not וְלֹ֥א H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle understand תִשְׁמַ֖ע H8085 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular

Verse 16

Cross-references

Isaiah 5:28 Classic cross-references Psalms 5:9 Classic cross-references Romans 3:13 Classic cross-references

Original words

Their quivers אַשְׁפָּת֖וֹ H827 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular are like open פָּת֑וּחַ H6605 Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular graves כְּקֶ֣בֶר H6913 Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular they are all כֻּלָּ֖ם H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural mighty men גִּבּוֹרִֽים׃ H1368 Adjective - masculine plural

Verse 17

Cross-references

Habakkuk 3:17 Classic cross-references Leviticus 26:16 Classic cross-references Isaiah 62:8 Classic cross-references Judges 6:6 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 28:33 Classic cross-references

Original words

They will devour וְאָכַ֨ל H398 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular your harvest קְצִֽירְךָ֜ H7105 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular and food וְלַחְמֶ֗ךָ H3899 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular they will consume יֹאכְלוּ֙ H398 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural your sons בָּנֶ֣יךָ H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular and daughters וּבְנוֹתֶ֔יךָ H1323 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine singular they will eat up יֹאכַ֤ל H398 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular your flocks צֹאנְךָ֙ H6629 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular and herds וּבְקָרֶ֔ךָ H1241 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular they will feed on יֹאכַ֥ל H398 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular your vines גַּפְנְךָ֖ H1612 Noun - common singular construct | second person masculine singular and fig trees וּתְאֵנָתֶ֑ךָ H8384 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular With the sword בֶּחָֽרֶב׃ H2719 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular they will destroy יְרֹשֵׁ֞שׁ H7567 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular the fortified מִבְצָרֶ֗יךָ H4013 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular cities עָרֵ֣י H5892 Noun - feminine plural construct in which אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Pronoun - relative you אַתָּ֛ה H859 Pronoun - second person masculine singular trust בּוֹטֵ֥חַ H982 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular . . . בָּהֵ֖נָּה Preposition-b | Pronoun - third person feminine plural

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