6 Wherefore a lion H738 out of the forest H3293 shall slay H5221 them, and a wolf H2061 of the evenings H6160 shall spoil H7703 them, a leopard H5246 shall watch H8245 over their cities: H5892 every one that goeth out H3318 thence shall H2007 be torn in pieces: H2963 because their transgressions H6588 are many, H7231 and their backslidings H4878 are increased. H6105
Where is the dwelling H4583 of the lions, H738 and the feedingplace H4829 of the young lions, H3715 where the lion, H738 even the old lion, H3833 walked, H1980 and the lion's H738 whelp, H1482 and none made them afraid? H2729 The lion H738 did tear in pieces H2963 enough H1767 for his whelps, H1484 and strangled H2614 for his lionesses, H3833 and filled H4390 his holes H2356 with prey, H2964 and his dens H4585 with ravin. H2966
Woe H1945 unto you that desire H183 the day H3117 of the LORD! H3068 to what end H4100 is it for you? the day H3117 of the LORD H3068 is darkness, H2822 and not light. H216 As if a man H376 did flee H5127 from H6440 a lion, H738 and a bear H1677 met H6293 him; or went H935 into the house, H1004 and leaned H5564 his hand H3027 on the wall, H7023 and a serpent H5175 bit H5391 him.
Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: H7826 as a leopard H5246 by the way H1870 will I observe H7789 them: I will meet H6298 them as a bear H1677 that is bereaved H7909 of her whelps, and will rend H7167 the caul H5458 of their heart, H3820 and there will I devour H398 them like a lion: H3833 the wild H7704 beast H2416 shall tear H1234 them.
Though these three H7969 men H582 were in it, H8432 as I live, H2416 saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD, H3069 they shall deliver H5337 neither sons H1121 nor daughters; H1323 they only shall be delivered, H5337 but the land H776 shall be desolate. H8077 Or if I bring H935 a sword H2719 upon that land, H776 and say, H559 Sword, H2719 go through H5674 the land; H776 so that I cut off H3772 man H120 and beast H929 from it: Though these three H7969 men H582 were in it, H8432 as I live, H2416 saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD, H3069 they shall deliver H5337 neither sons H1121 nor daughters, H1323 but they only shall be delivered H5337 themselves. Or if I send H7971 a pestilence H1698 into that land, H776 and pour out H8210 my fury H2534 upon it in blood, H1818 to cut off H3772 from it man H120 and beast: H929 Though Noah, H5146 Daniel, H1840 and Job, H347 were in it, H8432 as I live, H2416 saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD, H3069 they shall deliver H5337 neither son H1121 nor H518 daughter; H1323 they shall but deliver H5337 their own souls H5315 by their righteousness. H6666 For thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 How much more when I send H7971 my four H702 sore H7451 judgments H8201 upon Jerusalem, H3389 the sword, H2719 and the famine, H7458 and the noisome H7451 beast, H2416 and the pestilence, H1698 to cut off H3772 from it man H120 and beast? H929
And it shall come to pass, when thou shalt shew H5046 this people H5971 all these words, H1697 and they shall say H559 unto thee, Wherefore hath the LORD H3068 pronounced H1696 all this great H1419 evil H7451 against us? or what is our iniquity? H5771 or what is our sin H2403 that we have committed H2398 against the LORD H3068 our God? H430 Then shalt thou say H559 unto them, Because your fathers H1 have forsaken H5800 me, saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 and have walked H3212 after H310 other H312 gods, H430 and have served H5647 them, and have worshipped H7812 them, and have forsaken H5800 me, and have not kept H8104 my law; H8451 And ye have done H6213 worse H7489 than your fathers; H1 for, behold, H2009 ye walk H1980 every one H376 after H310 the imagination H8307 of his evil H7451 heart, H3820 that they may not hearken H8085 unto me:
Who is the wise H2450 man, H376 that may understand H995 this? and who is he to whom the mouth H6310 of the LORD H3068 hath spoken, H1696 that he may declare H5046 it, for what the land H776 perisheth H6 and is burned up H3341 like a wilderness, H4057 that none passeth through? H5674 And the LORD H3068 saith, H559 Because they have forsaken H5800 my law H8451 which I set H5414 before H6440 them, and have not obeyed H8085 my voice, H6963 neither walked H1980 therein; But have walked H3212 after H310 the imagination H8307 of their own heart, H3820 and after H310 Baalim, H1168 which their fathers H1 taught H3925 them:
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Keil & Delitzsch Commentary » Commentary on Jeremiah 5
Commentary on Jeremiah 5 Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
The Causes which Called Down the Judgment Pronounced: The Total Corruption of the People. - Chr. B. Mich. has excellently summed up thus the contents of this chapter: Deus judicia sua, quae cap. IV praedixerat, justificat ostendens, se quamvis invitum, tamen non aliter posse quam punire Judaeos propter praefractam ipsorum malitiam . The train of thought in this chapter is the following: God would pardon if there were to be found in Jerusalem but one who practised righteousness and strove to keep good faith; but high and low have forsaken God and His law, and serve the false gods. This the Lord must punish (Jeremiah 5:1-9). Judah, like Israel, disowns the Lord, and despises the words of His prophets; therefore the Lord must affirm His word by deeds of judgment (Jeremiah 5:10-18). Because they serve the gods of strangers, He will throw them into bondage to strange peoples, that they may learn to fear Him as the Almighty God and Lord of the world, who withholds His benefits from them because their sins keep them far from Him (Jeremiah 5:19-25); for wickedness and crime have acquired a frightful predominance (Jeremiah 5:26-31).
Jeremiah 5:1-2
By reason of the universal godlessness and moral corruption the Lord cannot pardon. - Jeremiah 5:1. "Range through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek upon her thoroughfares, if ye find any, if any doth judgment, seeketh after faithfulness, and I will pardon her. Jeremiah 5:2. And if they say, 'As Jahveh liveth,' then in this they swear falsely. Jeremiah 5:3. Jahveh, are not Thine yes upon faithfulness? Thou smitest them, an they are not pained; thou consumest them, they will take no correction; they make their face harder than rock, they will not turn. Jeremiah 5:4. And I thought, It is but the baser sort, they are foolish; for they know not the way of Jahveh, the judgment of their God. Jeremiah 5:5. I will get me then to the great, and will speak with them, for they know the way of Jahveh, the judgment of their God; yet together have they broken the yoke, burst the bonds. Jeremiah 5:6. Therefore a lion out of the wood smiteth them, a wolf of the deserts spoileth them, a leopard lieth in wait against their cities: every one that goeth out thence is torn in pieces; because many are their transgressions, many their backslidings. Jeremiah 5:7. Wherefore should I pardon thee? thy sons have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods. I caused them to sear, but they committed adultery, and crowd into the house of the harlot. Jeremiah 5:8. Like well-fed horses, they are roaming about; each neigheth after the other's wife. Jeremiah 5:9. Shall I not punish this? saith Jahveh; or shall not my soul be avenged on such a people as this?"