Jeremiah 9:9

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

Jeremiah 9:9 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 9:9

Shall I not visit them for these things? saith the Lord
The Targum adds,

``to bring evil upon them.''

Shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?
the Targum is,

``or of a people whose works are such, shall I not take vengeance according to my pleasure?''

(See Gill on Jeremiah 5:9).

Jeremiah 9:9 In-Context

7 Therefore, thus says Yahweh of hosts: "Look, I [am] about to refine them, and I will test them, for what else can I do, because of the {presence} of the daughter of my people?

8 Their tongue [is] a murderous arrow, it speaks deceit. With his mouth he speaks peace with his neighbor, but in his inner parts he sets up his ambush.

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

10 For the mountains I lift up weeping and wailing, and for [the] pastures of [the] desert a lament, because they are laid waste so that no man passes through. And [the] sounds of cattle are not heard, from [the] birds of heaven to [the] animals they have fled, they are gone.

11 And I will make Jerusalem as heaps [of ruins], a lair of jackals, and the towns of Judah I will make a desolation, {without inhabitants}.

Footnotes

• [a] Literally "a declaration of"