Jeremiah 5:26

26 “Among my people are wicked men who lie in wait for victims like a hunter hiding in a blind. They continually set traps to catch people.

Jeremiah 5:26 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 5:26

For among my people are found wicked men
Not a few only, but in general they appeared to be so, upon an inquiry into their character and conduct; for otherwise it would not have been so difficult to find a good man among them, as is suggested ( Jeremiah 5:1 ) , they lay wait as he that setteth snares;
or, "they look about" ^F3; that is, as Kimchi interprets it, every man looks in the ways, to see if a man passed by, that he might rob him of what he had; as a man that lays snares, or sets a trap to catch birds in: or, "everyone looks out, when they that lay snares rest" ^F4; and so they are more diligent and constant in catching men than such persons are in catching birds: they set a trap;
or "dig a pit, or ditch" ^F5; for men to fall in; see ( Psalms 7:15 ) : they catch men;
and rob them of their substance; or by their ill examples and counsels draw them into sin, and so into ruin; or circumvent them in trade and business.

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FOOTNOTES:

F3 (rwvy) "aspicit", Vatablus, i. e. "quisque eorum", Piscator; "aspicient", Pagninus.
F4 (Myvwqy Kvk rwvy) "contemplatur quisque, cum quiescunt aucupes", De Dieu; so Ben Melech; "et cum resident aucupes", Piscator, Gataker; "sit quiet and unmoved, that they may not frighten the birds by any noise, watching and expecting when they would get into the net"; so Gussetius.
F5 (tyxvm wbyuh) "fodiunt foveas", Tigurine version.

Jeremiah 5:26 In-Context

24 They do not say from the heart, ‘Let us live in awe of the LORD our God, for he gives us rain each spring and fall, assuring us of a harvest when the time is right.’

25 Your wickedness has deprived you of these wonderful blessings. Your sin has robbed you of all these good things.

26 “Among my people are wicked men who lie in wait for victims like a hunter hiding in a blind. They continually set traps to catch people.

27 Like a cage filled with birds, their homes are filled with evil plots. And now they are great and rich.

28 They are fat and sleek, and there is no limit to their wicked deeds. They refuse to provide justice to orphans and deny the rights of the poor.