Jeremiah 9:7

7 Therefore thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Behold, I will melt them, and try them; for how else could I do for the daughter of 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 And they act deceitfully every one with his neighbour, and speak not the truth: they teach their tongue to speak falsehood, they weary themselves with perverse dealing.

6 Thy habitation is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know me, saith Jehovah.

7 Therefore thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Behold, I will melt them, and try them; for how else could I do for the daughter of my people?

8 Their tongue is a murderous arrow; it speaketh deceit. [A man] speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth, but in his heart he layeth his ambush.

9 Shall I not visit them for these [things]? saith Jehovah; shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?