Jeremiah 6:13-17

13 "For ¹from the least of them even to the greatest of them, Everyone is ²greedy for gain, And from the prophet even to the priest Everyone deals falsely.

14 "They have ³healed the brokenness of My people superficially, Saying, 'Peace, peace,' But there is no peace.

15 "Were they ⁴ashamed because of the abomination they have done? They were not even ashamed at all; They did not even know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; At the time that I punish them, They shall be cast down," says the LORD.

16 Thus says the LORD, "Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ⁵ancient paths, Where the good way is, and walk in it; And ⁶you will find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it.'

17 "And I set ⁷watchmen over you, saying, 'Listen to the sound of the trumpet!' But they said, 'We will not listen.'

Jeremiah 6:13-17 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 6

This chapter is of the same argument with the former; and contains two things in it, the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians, and the causes of it, which are intermixedly handled in it; a lively description is made of the notice of the approach of the enemy by blowing of trumpets and firing of beacons, Jer 6:1, and of the siege of the city, by pitching tents around it, casting up a mount against it, and scaling its walls at noon and by night, Jer 6:2-6, and this destruction is illustrated by the simile of gleaning of grapes, Jer 6:9, and amplified by the universality of it, with respect to persons and things; it reaching to persons of every age, and in every state, as old men, young men, and children, husbands and wives, and to all sorts of possessions, houses and fields, Jer 6:11,12,21, a description is given of the instruments of it, the Chaldeans, Jer 6:22,23 and it is aggravated by the anxiety, distress, and sorrow, the Jews would be in on account of it, Jer 6:24-26, the causes of it are in general the great aboundings of sin and wickedness in the midst of them, illustrated by a fountain casting out its waters, Jer 6:6,7, in particular, their neglect and contempt of the word of the Lord, Jer 6:10, the sin of covetousness, which prevailed among all sorts of people, high and low, in civil or religious life, Jer 6:13, the unfaithfulness of the prophets to the people, declaring peace, when there was none, Jer 6:14, their impenitence and hardness, Jer 6:15, their disregard to all instructions and warnings, Jer 6:16,17, their rejection of the law, and the precepts of it, Jer 6:18,19, their hypocritical sacrifices, Jer 6:20, and the chapter is concluded with an address to the prophet, setting forth his character and office, and the end of it, Jer 6:27 and his testimony concerning the people, showing their obstinacy and stubbornness, illustrated by a simile of refining metal in a furnace without success, Jer 6:28-30.

Cross References

• 1. Jeremiah 8:10
• 2. Isaiah 56:11; Isaiah 57:17; Jeremiah 8:10; Jeremiah 22:17
• 3. Jeremiah 8:11; Ezekiel 13:10
• 4. Jeremiah 3:3; Jeremiah 8:12
• 5. Isaiah 8:20; Jeremiah 12:16; Jeremiah 18:15; Jeremiah 31:21; Malachi 4:4; Luke 16:29
• 6. Matthew 11:29
• 7. Isaiah 21:11; Isaiah 58:1; Jeremiah 25:4; Ezekiel 3:17; Habakkuk 2:1

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "makes lies"