Jeremiah 6:3-13

3 ad eam venient pastores et greges eorum fixerunt in ea tentoria in circuitu pascet unusquisque eos qui sub manu sua sunt
4 sanctificate super eam bellum consurgite et ascendamus in meridie vae nobis quia declinavit dies quia longiores factae sunt umbrae vesperi
5 surgite et ascendamus in nocte et dissipemus domos eius
6 quia haec dicit Dominus exercituum caedite lignum eius et fundite circa Hierusalem aggerem haec est civitas visitationis omnis calumnia in medio eius
7 sicut frigidam facit cisterna aquam suam sic frigidam fecit malitiam suam iniquitas et vastitas audietur in ea coram me semper infirmitas et plaga
8 erudire Hierusalem ne forte recedat anima mea a te ne forte ponam te desertam terram inhabitabilem
9 haec dicit Dominus exercituum usque ad racemum colligent quasi in vinea reliquias Israhel converte manum tuam quasi vindemiator ad cartallum
10 cui loquar et quem contestabor ut audiant ecce incircumcisae aures eorum et audire non possunt ecce verbum Domini factum est eis in obprobrium et non suscipient illud
11 idcirco furore Domini plenus sum laboravi sustinens effunde super parvulum foris et super concilium iuvenum simul vir enim cum muliere capietur senex cum pleno dierum
12 et transibunt domus eorum ad alteros agri et uxores pariter quia extendam manum meam super habitantes terram dicit Dominus
13 a minore quippe usque ad maiorem omnes avaritiae student et a propheta usque ad sacerdotem cuncti faciunt dolum

Jeremiah 6:3-13 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.

The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.