Jeremiah 9:9

9 Whether I shall not visit on these things, saith the Lord, either shall not my soul take vengeance on such a folk? (Shall I not punish them for these things, saith the Lord, or shall not my soul take vengeance upon such a nation?)

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 the Lord of hosts saith these things, Lo! I shall well (them) together, and I shall prove them; for why what other thing shall I do from the face of the daughter of my people? (for what else shall I do with my people?)

8 The tongue of them is an arrow wounding, and [it] spake guile; in his mouth he speaketh peace with his friend, and privily he setteth treasons to him. (Their tongue is like a wounding arrow, and it spoke deceitfully; yea, he speaketh peace to his friend with his mouth, but privately he setteth treasons for him.)

9 Whether I shall not visit on these things, saith the Lord, either shall not my soul take vengeance on such a folk? (Shall I not punish them for these things, saith the Lord, or shall not my soul take vengeance upon such a nation?)

10 On hills I shall take weeping and mourning, and wailing on the fair things of desert, for they be burnt [up]; for no man is passing forth, and they heard not the voice of him that wieldeth; from a bird of the air unto [the] sheep, they passed over, and went away. (I shall take up weeping and mourning for the hills, and wailing for the beautiful things of the desert, for they be dried up; for no one is passing forth, and they did not hear the sound of the cattle; yea, from a bird of the air unto the sheep, they passed over it, and went away.)

11 And I shall give Jerusalem into heaps of gravel, and into dens of dragons; and I shall give the cities of Judah into desolation, for there is no dweller. (And I shall make Jerusalem into heaps of dirt, and into the dens of dragons, or of jackals; and I shall bring the cities of Judah into desolation, for there shall be no inhabitants there.)