Jeremias 9:6

6 usury upon usury, and deceit upon deceit: they would not know me, saith the Lord.

Jeremias 9:6 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 9:6

Thine habitation is in the midst of deceit
In the midst of a people of deceit, as Kimchi and Ben Molech. These are the words of the Lord to the prophet, showing what a people he dwelt among, and had to do with; how cautiously and prudently he should act; how little they were to be trusted to and depended upon; and what little hope there was of bringing them to true repentance, since there was so much deceit and hypocrisy among them. The Targum interprets the words not of the habitation of the prophet, but of the people, thus,

``they sit in the house of their own congregation, and talk of their iniquities deceitfully;''

and so Jarchi,

``while they are sitting they devise deceitful devices.''

Through deceit they refuse to know me, saith the Lord:
or, "because of deceit" ^F20; hypocrisy being a reigning and governing sin in them; they liked not the true knowledge of God, and refused to worship him according to the revelation of his will.

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FOOTNOTES:

F20 (hmrmb) "ob dolum", Schmidt.

Jeremias 9:6 In-Context

4 Beware ye each of his neighbour, and trust ye not in your brethren: for every one will surely supplant, and every friend will walk craftily.

5 Every one will mock his friend; they will not speak truth: their tongue has learned to speak falsehoods; they have committed iniquity, they ceased not, so as to return.

6 usury upon usury, and deceit upon deceit: they would not know me, saith the Lord.

7 Therefore thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will try them with fire, and prove them; for I will do because of the wickedness of the daughter of my people.

8 Their tongue is a wounding arrow; the words of their mouth are deceitful: speaks peaceably to his neighbour, but in himself retains enmity.