Jeremiah 6:27

27 "Jeremiah, I have made you like a worker who tests metal, and my people are like the ore. You must observe their ways and test them.

Jeremiah 6:27 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 6:27

I have set thee for a tower
Or "in" one ^F4; in a watch tower, to look about and observe the actions of the people, their sins and transgressions, and reprove them for them; as well as to descry the enemy, and give notice of danger; see ( Habakkuk 2:1 ) or, "for a trier"; since the word used comes from one which signifies to "try" metals, as gold and silver; and the rather this may be thought to be the meaning here, since the verb is made use of in this sense in the text; and the metaphor is carried on in the following words; though the word is used for towers in ( Isaiah 23:13 ) ( 32:14 ) and may well enough be understood of a watchtower, agreeably with the office of the prophet; who is here addressed as a watchman, and was one to the house of Israel: and as the faithful discharge of his work required courage, as well as diligence and faithfulness, it follows, and for a fortress among my people;
not to defend them, but himself against them; or he was to consider himself as so under the divine protection, that he was as a fortress or strong tower, impregnable, and not to be dismayed and terrified with their calumnies and threatenings; see ( Jeremiah 1:18 ) : that thou mayest know and try their way;
their course and manner of life, whether good or bad; which he would be able to do, being in his watch tower, and in the discharge of his duty; for the ministry of a good man is as a touchstone, by which the principles and practices of men are tried and known; for if it is heard and attended to with pleasure, it shows that the principles and practices of men are good; but if despised and rejected, the contrary is evident, see ( 1 John 4:5 1 John 4:6 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F4 (Nwxb) "in exploratoria specula", Junius & Tremellius.

Jeremiah 6:27 In-Context

25 Don't go out into the fields or walk down the roads, because the enemy has swords. There is terror on every side.

26 My people, put on rough cloth and roll in the ashes to show how sad you are. Cry loudly for those who are dead, as if your only son were dead, because the destroyer will soon come against us.

27 "Jeremiah, I have made you like a worker who tests metal, and my people are like the ore. You must observe their ways and test them.

28 All my people have turned against me and are stubborn. They go around telling lies about others. They are like bronze and iron that became covered with rust. They all act dishonestly.

29 The fire is fanned to make it hotter, but the lead does not melt. The pure metal does not come out; the evil is not removed from my people.