Jeremiah 9:6

6 Heaping oppression upon oppression, and deceit upon deceit, ¹they refuse to know me, declares the LORD.

Jeremiah 9:6 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 9:6

Thine habitation is in the midst of deceit
In the midst of a people of deceit, as Kimchi and Ben Molech. These are the words of the Lord to the prophet, showing what a people he dwelt among, and had to do with; how cautiously and prudently he should act; how little they were to be trusted to and depended upon; and what little hope there was of bringing them to true repentance, since there was so much deceit and hypocrisy among them. The Targum interprets the words not of the habitation of the prophet, but of the people, thus,

``they sit in the house of their own congregation, and talk of their iniquities deceitfully;''

and so Jarchi,

``while they are sitting they devise deceitful devices.''

Through deceit they refuse to know me, saith the Lord:
or, "because of deceit" ^F20; hypocrisy being a reigning and governing sin in them; they liked not the true knowledge of God, and refused to worship him according to the revelation of his will.

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FOOTNOTES:

F20 (hmrmb) "ob dolum", Schmidt.

Jeremiah 9:6 In-Context

4 Let everyone beware of his neighbor, and put no trust in any brother, for every brother is a deceiver, and every neighbor goes about as a slanderer.

5 Everyone deceives his neighbor, and no one speaks the truth; they have taught their tongue to speak lies; they weary themselves committing iniquity.

6 Heaping oppression upon oppression, and deceit upon deceit, they refuse to know me, declares the LORD.

7 Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts: "Behold, I will refine them and test them, for what else can I do, because of my people?

8 Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaks deceitfully; with his mouth each speaks peace to his neighbor, but in his heart he plans an ambush for him.

Cross References

• 1. Jeremiah 8:5