Jeremiah 5:9

9 Shall I not punish them for these things? says the LORD; and shall I not avenge myself on a nation such as this?

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 pardon you? Your children have forsaken me, and have sworn by those who are no gods. When I fed them to the full, they committed adultery and trooped to the houses of harlots.

8 They were well-fed lusty stallions, each neighing for his neighbor's wife.

9 Shall I not punish them for these things? says the LORD; and shall I not avenge myself on a nation such as this?

10 "Go up through her vine-rows and destroy, but make not a full end; strip away her branches, for they are not the LORD's.

11 For the house of Israel and the house of Judah have been utterly faithless to me, says the LORD.