Jeremias 9:7

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.

Jeremias 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.

Jeremias 9:7 In-Context

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.

9 Shall I not visit for these things? saith the Lord: and shall not my soul be avenged on such a people as this?