Jeremiah 5:9

9 Because of these [things] shall I not punish?" {declares} Yahweh, "and on a nation who [is] like this, shall I not take revenge?

Jeremiah 5:9 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 5:9

Shall I not visit for these things? saith the Lord
For such adulteries and lasciviousness, and that in a way of punishment. The Targum adds,

``to bring evil upon them;''

the evil of punishment for the evil of sin: and shall not my soul be avenged upon such a nation as this?
which cannot delight in sin, but hates it; and therefore must punish for it; vindictive and punitive justice is essential to God; as sin is contrary to his nature, it is agreeable to it to punish for it; he cannot but do it; and he does avenge all sin, either on the sinner himself, or on his surety.

Jeremiah 5:9 In-Context

7 "{How} can I forgive you? Your children have forsaken me, and they have sworn by [those who are] not gods. But I fed them to the full, and they committed adultery, and flocked [to] the house of a prostitute.

8 They were well-fed lusty horses, they neighed each to the wife of his neighbor.

9 Because of these [things] shall I not punish?" {declares} Yahweh, "and on a nation who [is] like this, shall I not take revenge?

10 Go up through her vineyards and destroy, but you must not make complete destruction. Remove her branches, for they [are] not to Yahweh.

11 For the house of Israel and the house of Judah have dealt utterly treacherously with me," {declares} Yahweh.

Footnotes

• [a] Literally "a declaration of"