Jeremiah 9:7

7 Therefore, this is what the Lord of Hosts says: I am about to refine them and test them, for what else can I do because of My dear^[a] people?^[b]

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 Each one betrays his friend; no one tells the truth. They have taught their tongues to speak lies; they wear themselves out doing wrong.

6 You live in [a world] of deception. In [their] deception they refuse to know Me. [This is] the Lord's declaration.

7 Therefore, this is what the Lord of Hosts says: I am about to refine them and test them, for what else can I do because of My dear people?

8 Their tongues are deadly arrows- they speak deception. With his mouth a man speaks peaceably with his friend, but inwardly he sets up an ambush.

9 Should I not punish them for these things? [This is]*The bracketed text has been added for clarity. the Lord's declaration. Should I not take My revenge against a nation such as this?

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit of the daughter of My
• [b]. LXX, Tg read because of their evils