Jeremiah 9:7

7 Therefore, the LORD of heavenly forces proclaims: I'm going to refine and test them, for what else can I do with my people?

Jeremiah 9:7 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 9:7

Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts
Because of this deceit and hypocrisy, and lying: behold, I will melt them, and try them:
as the refiner does his gold and silver, by putting them into the fire of afflictions, and thereby remove their dross and corruption from them. So the Targum,

``behold, I will bring distress upon them, and melt them, and try them.''

For how shall I do for the daughter of my people?
the sense is, what could be done otherwise or better? what was more fit or proper to be done, than to melt and try them, and purge away their sin, "from the face of the daughter of my people", as the words may be rendered? The Septuagint version is, "what shall I do from the face of the wickedness of my people?" and so the Targum,

``what shall I do from before the sins of the congregation of my people?''

that is, by way of resentment of them, and in order to remove them.

Jeremiah 9:7 In-Context

5 One cheats the other; no one tells the truth; they train themselves to lie; they wear themselves out by doing wrong.

6 You live in a world of deceit, and in their deceit they refuse to know me, declares the LORD.

7 Therefore, the LORD of heavenly forces proclaims: I'm going to refine and test them, for what else can I do with my people?

8 Their tongue is a lethal arrow; their words are deceitful. They wish their neighbors well, but in their hearts plot their ruin.

9 Shouldn't I punish them for this? declares the LORD; shouldn't I avenge such a nation?