Jeremiah 6:8

8 "¹Be warned, O Jerusalem, Or ²I shall be alienated from you, And make you a desolation, A land not inhabited."

Jeremiah 6:8 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 6:8

And be thou instructed, O Jerusalem
Or "corrected" ^F19; receive discipline or instructions by chastisements and corrections, return by repentance, that the evils threatened may not come: this shows the affection of the Lord to his people, notwithstanding all their sins; that their amendment, and not their destruction, were pleasing to him; that it was with reluctance he was about to visit them in the manner threatened; and that even now it was not too late, provided they were instructed and reformed; but, if not, they must expect what follows: lest my soul depart from thee;
his Shechinah, or divine Presence, and all the tokens of his love, favour, and good will. The Targum interprets it of the Word of the Lord,

``lest my Word cast thee off;''

see ( Romans 11:1 ) , or, "lest my soul pluck itself from thee"; or "be plucked" ^F20, and separated from thee: the phrase denotes an utter separation, a forcible one, joined with the utmost abhorrence and detestation. In ( Ezekiel 23:18 ) , it is rendered, "my mind was alienated"; it denotes disunion and disaffection. Lest I make thee desolate, a land not inhabited;
the Targum adds, by way of illustration,

``as the land of Sodom;''

so that not a man should dwell in it; see ( Jeremiah 4:25 Jeremiah 4:27 Jeremiah 4:29 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F19 (yrowh) "cape disciplinam", Vatablus; "admitte disciplinam", Cocceius; "castigationem", Schmidt.
F20 (Kmm yvpn eqt Np) "ut non luxetur, [vel] avellatur anima mea a te", Vatablus, Junius & Tremellius, Schmidt.

Jeremiah 6:8 In-Context

6 For thus says the LORD of hosts, "Cut down her trees And cast up a siege against Jerusalem. This is the city to be punished, In whose midst there is only oppression.

7 "As a well keeps its waters fresh, So she keeps fresh her wickedness. Violence and destruction are heard in her; Sickness and wounds are ever before Me.

8 "Be warned, O Jerusalem, Or I shall be alienated from you, And make you a desolation, A land not inhabited."

9 Thus says the LORD of hosts, "They will thoroughly glean as the vine the remnant of Israel; Pass your hand again like a grape gatherer Over the branches."

10 To whom shall I speak and give warning That they may hear? Behold, their ears are closed And they cannot listen. Behold, the word of the LORD has become a reproach to them; They have no delight in it.

Cross References

• 1. Jeremiah 7:28; Jeremiah 17:23
• 2. Ezekiel 23:18; Hosea 9:12

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "my soul"