Jeremiah 5:20 kjv
Declare this in the house of Jacob, and publish it in Judah, saying,
Jeremiah 5:20 nkjv
"Declare this in the house of Jacob And proclaim it in Judah, saying,
Jeremiah 5:20 niv
"Announce this to the descendants of Jacob and proclaim it in Judah:
Jeremiah 5:20 esv
Declare this in the house of Jacob; proclaim it in Judah:
Jeremiah 5:20 nlt
"Make this announcement to Israel,
and say this to Judah:
Jeremiah 5 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 58:1 | "Cry aloud; do not hold back; lift up your voice like a trumpet... declare to my people their transgression, to the house of Jacob their sins." | Similar command to declare sins to Jacob. |
| Eze 33:7 | "So you, son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me." | Prophet's duty to warn God's people. |
| Jer 4:5 | "Declare in Judah, and proclaim in Jerusalem, 'Blow the trumpet in the land!'" | Similar public proclamation of warning. |
| Jon 3:2 | "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you." | Divine command for urgent, public message. |
| Acts 20:27 | "For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God." | Apostolic example of faithful declaration. |
| Mic 1:5 | "Is not Jacob's transgression, and the sins of the house of Israel?" | Identifying Jacob/Israel with their sins. |
| Isa 2:5 | "O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD." | A call to action for the house of Jacob. |
| Hos 5:1 | "Hear this, O priests! Pay attention, O house of Israel! Give ear, O house of the king! For the judgment is for you..." | Specific targeting of different groups in Israel for judgment. |
| Rom 9:6 | "But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel..." | Not all literal descendants are true Israel. |
| Jer 11:7-8 | "For I solemnly warned your fathers... warning persistently, saying, Obey my voice... But they did not obey..." | God's persistent warnings often rejected. |
| Amos 3:1-2 | "Hear this word that the LORD has spoken against you, O people of Israel... 'therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.'" | Covenant implies greater responsibility and judgment. |
| Zeph 3:8 | "Therefore wait for me, declares the LORD, for the day when I rise up to seize the prey. For my decision is to gather nations..." | Imminent divine judgment is coming. |
| Mal 3:5 | "Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers..." | Specific sins warranting judgment. |
| Rom 1:18 | "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men..." | God's wrath against human unrighteousness. |
| Heb 12:25 | "See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven." | Seriousness of ignoring divine warnings. |
| Deut 18:18 | "I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him." | Prophet's role as God's spokesperson. |
| Jer 1:7 | "But the LORD said to me, 'Do not say, "I am only a youth"; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak.'" | Jeremiah's specific calling to speak God's word. |
| Jer 23:28 | "Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let him who has my word speak my word faithfully." | Speaking God's word faithfully is paramount. |
| Isa 6:9-10 | "And he said, 'Go, and say to this people: "Keep on hearing, but do not understand..."'" | Divine message met with spiritual deafness. |
| Jer 6:10 | "To whom shall I speak and give warning, that they may hear? Behold, their ears are uncircumcised, they cannot listen..." | Judah's unwillingness to hear God's word. |
| Jer 3:12 | "Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, 'Return, faithless Israel,' declares the LORD. 'I will not look on you in anger...'" | An example of a message of call to repentance. |
| Matt 10:27 | "What I tell you in the dark, proclaim on the housetops." | Command for public proclamation in NT. |
Jeremiah 5 verses
Jeremiah 5 20 Meaning
Jeremiah 5:20 is a direct divine command delivered to the prophet, instructing him to issue a clear and public proclamation to the people of Judah, specifically to the covenant community identified as the "house of Jacob." This verse serves as an introduction to a crucial message that follows, detailing the people's spiritual blindness, deep-seated rebellion, and the impending consequences from the Lord. It signifies the gravity and urgency of the message God is about to deliver to His unfaithful people, demanding their immediate and undivided attention.
Jeremiah 5 20 Context
Jeremiah 5:20 falls within a larger discourse (chapters 4-6) where Jeremiah lays out the intense charges against Judah and announces the impending judgment through a foreign invader (Babylon). Chapter 5 specifically details the widespread moral corruption and spiritual apostasy of the people, from the highest levels of society to the lowest. The Lord sought even one righteous person (v. 1), but found none, demonstrating the depth of their depravity.
The historical context is that of Judah on the brink of exile. Jeremiah prophesied from approximately 627 BC to 585 BC, during a period when the kingdom of Judah cycled through moments of revival (under Josiah) and intense backsliding (under Jehoiakim and Zedekiah). The people had broken their covenant with God through idolatry, social injustice, and a superficial religiosity, relying on the temple and their status as God's chosen people as a false security blanket. Verse 20 introduces a renewed and sharpened appeal to these people, emphasizing that despite their covenant status (House of Jacob, Judah), God will not overlook their continued rebellion. This verse serves as a preamble, intensifying the tone and preparing the audience for the direct accusations and warnings that follow concerning their spiritual dullness (v. 21) and the dire consequences of their sin (vv. 22-31).
Jeremiah 5 20 Word analysis
Declare (הַגִּידוּ - haggidu): This is a Piel imperative verb from the root נָגַד (nagad), meaning "to make known," "report," or "announce." The Piel stem emphasizes a strong, decisive, and public declaration, not a private whisper. It conveys urgency and the unambiguous nature of the message. The command suggests that the truth is evident and must be brought to light before everyone.
this (zot): This pronoun points to the immediately following message, found in the subsequent verses (Jer 5:21 onwards), which addresses the spiritual blindness, the failure to fear the Lord, and the general moral decay of the nation. It highlights the specific and undeniable content of the accusation and warning.
in the house of Jacob (b'vet Ya'akov): "House of Jacob" is a traditional biblical designation for the entire nation of Israel, descended from the patriarch Jacob. In Jeremiah's time, it primarily referred to the surviving Southern Kingdom of Judah, the last remnant of the covenant people. It highlights their foundational covenant identity and heritage, contrasting with their current behavior. This appellation serves as a reminder of their special relationship with God and the responsibilities that come with it.
and proclaim it (וְהַשְׁמִיעוּ - vehashmi'u): This is a Hifil imperative verb from the root שָׁמַע (shama'), meaning "to hear" or "to cause to hear." The Hifil stem makes it a causative command, instructing the prophet to make others hear—to broadcast the message loudly and publicly. It signifies that the message should be delivered in such a way that it is inescapable and undeniable, meant to penetrate even the spiritually deaf.
in Judah (b'Yehudah): This specifies the primary geopolitical and ethno-religious target audience. Judah was the Southern Kingdom, comprising the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and some Levites, centered in Jerusalem. While "house of Jacob" connects to their ancient identity, "Judah" grounds the message in their current socio-political reality and imminent threat.
saying (le'mor): This introduces the direct speech that immediately follows this verse. It is a common formula in prophetic literature, marking the transition from the command to prophesy to the content of the prophecy itself. It signals that what follows are the exact words God intends for Judah to hear.
"Declare this... and proclaim it...": The use of two strong verbs ("declare" and "proclaim") reinforces the imperative nature and the widespread, public diffusion intended for the message. This repetition underscores the urgency and importance of getting God's message out unequivocally to every corner of Judah, ensuring no one could claim ignorance.
"in the house of Jacob, and... in Judah": This pairing specifies both their covenantal identity and their contemporary national reality. It ensures the message is aimed at them both as God's chosen people with a rich history and as the present political entity facing a crisis. It speaks to both their spiritual and political understanding.
Jeremiah 5 20 Bonus section
- Prophetic Authority and Commission: This verse emphasizes that the prophet Jeremiah is not speaking his own words but conveying a direct divine command. His authority derives entirely from God's instruction to "declare this" and "proclaim it," making the message immutable and binding.
- God's Reluctance for Judgment: Although a message of impending judgment, the command to publicly declare it is an act of divine mercy, allowing a final opportunity for the people to hear and perhaps respond with repentance before the full force of the promised consequences. God repeatedly sent prophets (Jer 25:4) not out of desire for destruction but a desire for His people's return.
- The Weight of Covenant Identity: Addressing them as "house of Jacob" and "Judah" serves as a profound reminder that their privileged identity and history came with corresponding responsibilities to the God who chose them. Their apostasy was a betrayal of this unique relationship, making their sin particularly grievous in God's eyes (Amos 3:2).
Jeremiah 5 20 Commentary
Jeremiah 5:20 is a powerful prophetic instruction that underlines the divine communication strategy in times of crisis: explicit, unambiguous declaration. God is not speaking in riddles or whispers to His chosen people but demanding a loud and public proclamation of their transgressions and the resulting judgment. The use of "house of Jacob" reminds them of their sacred heritage, a heritage they have utterly failed to uphold, while "Judah" zeroes in on the specific physical realm facing impending disaster. This command is steeped in a context of covenant relationship: because they are God's people, the expectation for faithfulness is higher, and the judgment for infidelity is more severe. This verse prepares the audience for a message that is meant to shock them out of their complacency, challenging their assumption that God's grace negates His justice. It is a direct polemic against their comfortable delusion that their covenant status provided unconditional immunity from judgment. The emphasis on proclaiming rather than gently suggesting highlights God's resolve and the gravity of their spiritual state. It also exemplifies the difficult, yet faithful, role of the prophet, who must speak unpopular truths precisely because they are God's truth, intending to prompt repentance even at the eleventh hour.