Jeremiah 5:29 kjv
Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?
Jeremiah 5:29 nkjv
Shall I not punish them for these things?' says the LORD. 'Shall I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?'
Jeremiah 5:29 niv
Should I not punish them for this?" declares the LORD. "Should I not avenge myself on such a nation as this?
Jeremiah 5:29 esv
Shall I not punish them for these things? declares the LORD, and shall I not avenge myself on a nation such as this?"
Jeremiah 5:29 nlt
Should I not punish them for this?" says the LORD.
"Should I not avenge myself against such a nation?
Jeremiah 5 29 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 1:4-6 | Ah, sinful nation, a people loaded with iniquity... from the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it. | Israel's pervasive sin |
| Mic 3:1-4 | Is it not for you to know justice?... Who hate good and love evil; who tear the skin from My people... God will not answer them. | Leaders' injustice and judgment |
| Eze 22:1-16 | Son of man, will you judge the bloodthirsty city? ... a city that sheds blood... her iniquity is in her midst. | Jerusalem's manifold abominations |
| Hos 4:1-3 | There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land. There is only cursing, lying, murder... | General moral decay, lack of knowledge of God |
| Amo 2:6 | For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they sell the righteous for silver. | Social injustice triggering judgment |
| Hab 1:2-4 | How long, LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save? | Prophet's lament over unchecked injustice |
| Psa 7:11 | God is a righteous judge, And a God who has indignation every day. | God's constant indignation at wickedness |
| Psa 58:10-11 | The righteous will rejoice when he sees vengeance done... "Surely there is a reward for the righteous; Surely there is a God who judges on earth." | Justice and judgment are sure |
| Jer 22:3 | Thus says the LORD: 'Execute justice and righteousness, and deliver the plundered out of the hand of the oppressor.' | Command for justice, unheeded |
| Jer 9:24 | ...let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness... | God's character defined by justice and righteousness |
| Zep 1:4-6 | "I will stretch out My hand against Judah... And those who have turned back from following the LORD, And have not sought the LORD." | Judgment upon Judah for idolatry and apostasy |
| Lam 2:1-2 | How the Lord has covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud... He has hurled from heaven to earth the splendor of Israel. | Realization of the deserved judgment (after the fact) |
| Gen 18:25 | "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?" | God's absolute justice (Abraham's plea) |
| 2 Ki 21:10-15 | "Because Manasseh king of Judah has done these abominations... therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel..." | Past reasons for judgment, similar to Judah's present state |
| Psa 94:3 | How long, O LORD, how long shall the wicked exult? | Divine response to unchecked wickedness |
| Rom 1:18 | For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. | God's universal wrath against ungodliness |
| Rom 12:19 | Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” | God's prerogative to avenge |
| Heb 10:30-31 | For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine; I will repay." And again, "The Lord will judge His people." It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. | Fearful prospect of divine judgment |
| Rev 19:1-2 | "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for true and righteous are His judgments... he has judged the great prostitute." | God's righteous judgment vindicated in the end times |
| 2 Pet 2:9 | then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, | God's discerning justice |
| Matt 23:37-38 | "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem... Behold, your house is left to you desolate." | Christ's lament over Jerusalem's unrepentance, leading to desolation |
| 1 Pet 4:17 | For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God... | Judgment begins with God's people |
Jeremiah 5 verses
Jeremiah 5 29 Meaning
Jeremiah 5:29 serves as a potent rhetorical question from God, expressing the absolute certainty and necessity of divine judgment upon the nation of Judah. It summarizes the profound moral decay, widespread injustice, and deliberate spiritual rebellion detailed throughout the chapter, particularly their oppression of the vulnerable and their denial of God's authority. The verse highlights God's unwavering commitment to justice and His intention to punish such a morally bankrupt people, indicating that His patience has reached its limit and retribution is inevitable.
Jeremiah 5 29 Context
Jeremiah 5 is a grim indictment against Judah's widespread corruption, functioning as a prophetic justification for the impending Babylonian invasion. Jeremiah describes a land where truth is absent (v.1), from the lowest classes to the highest, all denying the Lord (v.3-5) and committing adultery and rampant social injustice (v.7-8). They practice deceit (v.26), ignore the rights of the fatherless and oppressed (v.28), and even the prophets and priests rule by their own authority, while the people love it so (v.30-31). The verses immediately preceding 5:29 paint a vivid picture of wealthy individuals growing fat from deceit, setting snares, becoming rich through wickedness, and particularly failing to uphold justice for the needy (v.26-28). It's this specific catalogue of systematic societal injustice, coupled with spiritual apostasy, that prompts God's rhetorical questions in verse 29, signifying that such persistent, flagrant sin can no longer go unpunished by a righteous God.
Jeremiah 5 29 Word analysis
הַעַל-אֵלֶּה לֹא אֶפְקֹד בָּם (Ha-ʿal-ʾelleh lōʾ ʾep̄qōd bām?) - "Shall I not punish them for these things?"
- הַעַל (Ha-ʿal) - "Shall I upon...?" The interrogative ha- (shall/will) combined with the preposition ʿal (upon/concerning) creates a forceful rhetorical question, anticipating an undeniable affirmative answer. It challenges the hearer to deny the justice of what follows.
- אֵלֶּה (ʾelleh) - "these things." This term points back to the specific and detailed litany of sins and injustices outlined in the preceding verses (5:1-28), making the judgment concrete and justified by specific transgressions, not abstract sin.
- לֹא (lōʾ) - "not." The negation amplifies the rhetorical force, implying a direct challenge.
- אֶפְקֹד (ʾep̄qōd) - "I will visit/punish." From the root pāqad, which carries a broad range of meanings: to visit, appoint, command, muster, count. In this context, it primarily signifies "to visit with judgment," to intervene authoritatively for inspection and retribution. It suggests divine oversight leading to consequences. This term indicates a personal, direct, and authoritative action by God.
- בָּם (bām) - "among them / on them." Referring to the inhabitants of Judah.
נְאֻם-יְהוָה (nəʾūm-YHWH) - "declares the LORD."
- נְאֻם (nəʾūm) - "oracle / utterance / declaration." This technical term almost always introduces a divine utterance. It stamps the preceding rhetorical question and the following one with ultimate divine authority and irrevocability. It underscores that these are not merely the prophet's words but God's absolute decree.
- יְהוָה (YHWH) - "the LORD." The sacred personal name of the covenant God of Israel. Its use here reminds the audience that the one speaking is their covenant Lord, who has made promises but also expects covenant fidelity and justice. This judgment comes from the one who revealed Himself to Moses.
וְאִם בְּגּוֹי אֲשֶׁר-כָּזֶה לֹא תִּתְנַקֵּם נַפְשִׁי (wəʾim bəḡōy ʾăšer-kāzeh lōʾ titnaqqēm nap̄shī?) - "And shall I not avenge Myself on a nation such as this?"
- וְאִם (wəʾim) - "and if / and truly." This conjunction introduces a second, parallel rhetorical question, intensifying the divine resolve.
- בְּגּוֹי (bəḡōy) - "on a nation." This refers to Judah as a "nation," emphasizing its collective identity and responsibility for the widespread sin. It frames the judgment as collective against the corporate body.
- אֲשֶׁר-כָּזֶה (ʾăšer-kāzeh) - "such as this." Again, pointing to the detailed description of their unique and deplorable state of wickedness. The "such as this" highlights the qualitative extent of their sin, suggesting it crosses a critical line.
- לֹא (lōʾ) - "not." Negation, similar to the first clause.
- תִּתְנַקֵּם (titnaqqēm) - "will My soul take vengeance/avenge itself." From the root nāqam, meaning "to avenge, take vengeance." This is often a righteous, redemptive act to correct injustice and uphold divine honor, not arbitrary spite. It conveys the concept of rightful retribution, restoring cosmic balance.
- נַפְשִׁי (nap̄shī) - "My soul / My Self." The Hebrew nephesh here functions as an intensive pronoun, referring to God's very being or person. It implies that their sins are a deep personal offense against God's nature and character, not just a breach of law. God's holiness, justice, and character demand this response.
Word-groups analysis:
- "Shall I not punish them for these things... and shall I not avenge Myself on a nation such as this?" This parallelism uses two strong rhetorical questions to underscore the certainty and righteousness of God's impending judgment. It moves from general punishment for specific "things" to the more personal and definitive act of "avenging Myself" on the entire "nation" defined by those "things." The questions demand a universal affirmation that such a nation indeed deserves judgment.
Jeremiah 5 29 Bonus section
The anthropomorphic language "My Self" or "My soul" (nap̄shī) in Jeremiah 5:29 is significant. It portrays God as personally aggrieved by Judah's betrayal and injustice. It's not a detached judgment from a cosmic rule-keeper, but an deeply felt reaction from the very heart of their covenant Lord, who sees His own character and authority blasphemed and violated. This emphasis personalizes divine wrath, highlighting that Judah's systemic sin fundamentally wounds God's holy nature. Furthermore, the use of rhetorical questions functions as an appeal to universal human morality; even humans would deem such a nation deserving of punishment, implicitly demonstrating the incontrovertible righteousness of God's decision.
Jeremiah 5 29 Commentary
Jeremiah 5:29 is a pivotal summation of divine indignation. Through these two forceful rhetorical questions, God decisively declares that He cannot and will not overlook the deep moral corruption and rampant social injustice permeating Judah. The repetition and intensification from "punish them for these things" to "avenge Myself on a nation such as this" underscore the personal offense taken by God at their deliberate unrighteousness. It signifies a point of no return for their rebellion; divine patience has been exhausted, and judgment, as an inevitable act of righteous governance, must ensue to uphold the very character and moral order established by God Himself. This verse asserts the theological truth that persistent sin will always evoke divine retribution.