Jeremiah 5:6 kjv
Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, and a wolf of the evenings shall spoil them, a leopard shall watch over their cities: every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces: because their transgressions are many, and their backslidings are increased.
Jeremiah 5:6 nkjv
Therefore a lion from the forest shall slay them, A wolf of the deserts shall destroy them; A leopard will watch over their cities. Everyone who goes out from there shall be torn in pieces, Because their transgressions are many; Their backslidings have increased.
Jeremiah 5:6 niv
Therefore a lion from the forest will attack them, a wolf from the desert will ravage them, a leopard will lie in wait near their towns to tear to pieces any who venture out, for their rebellion is great and their backslidings many.
Jeremiah 5:6 esv
Therefore a lion from the forest shall strike them down; a wolf from the desert shall devastate them. A leopard is watching their cities; everyone who goes out of them shall be torn in pieces, because their transgressions are many, their apostasies are great.
Jeremiah 5:6 nlt
So now a lion from the forest will attack them;
a wolf from the desert will pounce on them.
A leopard will lurk near their towns,
tearing apart any who dare to venture out.
For their rebellion is great,
and their sins are many.
Jeremiah 5 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jer 5:6 | "...its lions shall come forth, every destroyer of nations shall stalk the land." | Jer 5:6 (Primary) |
| Jer 5:7 | "How can I forgive you? Your children have forsaken me and sworn by gods that are no gods." | Jer 5:7 (Reason for judgment) |
| Jer 8:16 | "The snorting of their horses was heard from Dan; the whole land trembled at the sound of the neighing of his mighty stallions; for they have come and devoured the land and all that is in it, the city and those who dwell in it." | Jer 8:16 (Imagery of conquest) |
| Jer 4:7 | "The lion has come up from the thicket, and the destroyer of nations has set out. He has gone forth from his place to make your land a desolation..." | Jer 4:7 (Parallel prophecy) |
| Isa 5:29 | "Their roaring is like the roaring of a lion; they roar mightily; they growl and seize their prey, and carry it off, and no one delivers." | Isa 5:29 (Lion imagery of attackers) |
| Hos 11:10 | "They shall go after the Lord; he will roar like a lion; indeed, he will roar, and his children shall come trembling from the west." | Hos 11:10 (God's fierce action) |
| Nah 2:11-12 | "Where is the lion's den, the place where the young lions lived, where the lion and the lioness went, and the lion cub, and no one made them afraid? The lion, the lioness, and the lion's cub with none to make them afraid!" | Nah 2:11-12 (Conquest by mighty power) |
| Joel 1:6 | "My land has been invaded by a host of enemies; my land is devoured by them; my land is trampled and consumed, for there is no one to stop them." | Joel 1:6 (Devastation) |
| Joel 2:2 | "a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness! Like blackness is spread upon the mountains a great and powerful people..." | Joel 2:2 (Invading force description) |
| Joel 2:11 | "The Lord utters his voice before his army, for his camp is exceedingly great; he is a mighty executor of his word. For the day of the Lord is great and very terrifying; who can endure it?" | Joel 2:11 (God's power in judgment) |
| Ps 7:2 | "lest they tear me apart like a lion, ripping me to pieces, with no one to rescue me." | Ps 7:2 (Threat of destruction) |
| Prov 28:15 | "As a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a poor people..." | Prov 28:15 (Wicked rulers/powers) |
| Acts 1:18 | "And this man (Judas) was accused of doing wrong with the reward of his wickedness. Now this down payment he purchased a field with the blood of the victims..." | Acts 1:18 (Figurative connection to treachery's consequences) |
| Luke 11:20 | "but if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you." | Luke 11:20 (Divine power at work) |
| Ezek 19:3 | "He became a young lion, and he learned to catch his prey; he devoured men." | Ezek 19:3 (Young lion imagery for destructive power) |
| Jer 2:15 | "The lions have roared against him; they have growled and made his land a desolation; his cities are burned and are empty of inhabitants." | Jer 2:15 (Lion imagery linked to destruction) |
| Jer 6:22-23 | "Thus says the Lord: Behold, an army is coming from the north country; a great nation is stirring from the ends of the earth. They are armed with bow and spear; they are cruel and have no mercy..." | Jer 6:22-23 (Describing the attacking force) |
| Isa 38:13 | "I waited and longed for morning, but like a lion he has broken all my bones..." | Isa 38:13 (Suffering intense oppression) |
| Job 10:16 | "I lift up my head; you toss me about and roar over me; you return with might against me." | Job 10:16 (God's oppressive power described) |
| 2 Tim 4:17 | "But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be proclaimed and all the nations might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth." | 2 Tim 4:17 (Deliverance from destructive power) |
Jeremiah 5 verses
Jeremiah 5 6 Meaning
Jeremiah 5:6 speaks of an inescapable divine judgment. The lions, symbols of power and destructiveness, represent the forces that will devour Jerusalem. Their presence signifies a widespread and unceasing threat, reflecting the thoroughness of God's impending punishment due to the people's rampant sin and rebellion. The text highlights that this destruction will not be localized but will spread, affecting all of Jerusalem.
Jeremiah 5 6 Context
Jeremiah 5:6 is part of a larger prophecy denouncing the sins of Judah, particularly Jerusalem. The preceding verses (Jeremiah 5:1-5) depict God searching Jerusalem for anyone just or truthful, but finding none. The leadership is described as blind and corrupt, and the people have become obstinately sinful. This lack of righteousness leads directly into verse 6, where God pronounces judgment through a powerful metaphor. The immediate context emphasizes Jerusalem's unrepentant state, making the judgment described as inevitable and comprehensive. Historically, this prophecy would have resonated during a period of significant political instability for Judah, leading up to Babylonian exile.
Jeremiah 5 6 Word Analysis
- כִּי (ki): "For" or "because." This introduces the reason or explanation for the pronouncement of judgment.
- מֵאַיִן (me'ayin): "From where?" or "Whence?". Indicates the source of the impending threat, suggesting it will come from an unexpected or far-off place.
- תָּבֹאנָה (tavo'na): "They shall come." The feminine plural verb, referring to the female "consequences" or "woes" from sin, or indirectly to a feminine noun for destruction. It indicates the arrival of the destructive forces.
- אַרְיֵה (aryeh): "Lion." A powerful and common biblical symbol for predatory power, strength, fierceness, and royal authority, often used here to represent conquerors or instruments of judgment.
- תִּפְרָץ (tifrotz): "Shall break out" or "shall surge forth." This verb conveys a sudden, forceful, and unrestrained movement, like a predator attacking.
- וּמֵאֲרָצֹות (u-me'arotzot): "And from the lands." Connecting the origin of the threat to multiple geographic locations, emphasizing the wide reach of the coming devastation.
- גֹּואֵל (go'el): "Destroyer" or "devourer." This noun signifies one who consumes, ruins, or brings to an end, highlighting the destructive nature of the coming judgment.
- נָתִישׁ (natish): "Devastator," "breaker," or "spoiler." Another powerful term emphasizing the ruin and desolation that will be brought upon the land. This word often implies destruction through trampling or breaking down.
- לֶאֱכֹל (le'ekol): "To eat" or "to devour." Indicates a complete consumption or obliteration.
- אֶת־ (et): The direct object marker.
- הָאָרֶץ (ha'aretz): "The land." Referring specifically to the land of Judah or Israel.
- וּמְלֹאָהּ (u-melo'ah): "And its fullness." Encompassing everything within the land—its produce, its inhabitants, and all that constitutes its richness and life.
- עָרֶיהָ (areyha): "Its cities." Highlighting that the urban centers, the places of habitation and strength, will also be targeted.
- מִי־ (mi): "Who?" An interrogative pronoun, setting up a rhetorical question about who can stand against or escape this judgment.
- יָשִׁיב (yashiv): "Will restore," "will turn back," or "will return." Here, it means to turn back or to ward off the impending destruction.
- אֹתָם (otam): "Them." Referring to the destructive forces or the devastation itself.
Group Analysis:The phrase "lion... shall break out" (אַ֤רְיֵה֙ תִּפְר֔וֹץ) vividly portrays the sudden and violent nature of the judgment, comparing it to a powerful beast of prey unleashed. The parallel terms "destroyer of nations" (גֹּואֵ֣ל נָתִ֖ישׁ) and the accompanying "to devour the land and its fullness" (לֶאֱכֹ֥ל אֶת־הָאָ֛רֶץ וּמְלֹאָ֖הּ) underscore the pervasive and absolute nature of the destruction awaiting Jerusalem, emphasizing that no part of the land or its provisions will be spared from the onslaught of these judgment-bearing forces, be they foreign armies or a manifestation of divine wrath.
Jeremiah 5 6 Bonus Section
The imagery of a "lion" as a force of destruction or divine judgment is consistent throughout Scripture. It can represent powerful invaders like Assyria and Babylon, but also God's own righteous anger and power unleashed against sin. This verse can be seen as a preview of the broader prophetic theme of judgment, which finds its ultimate expression in the consequences of Judah's persistent rebellion. The "lion" not only devours but also leaves tracks, symbolizing that the evidence and consequences of judgment will be evident. The question of "who will turn them back?" reflects a plea or a challenge, highlighting the severity and hopelessness of their situation apart from repentance, which they have refused. This signifies that the judgment is not arbitrary but a consequence of their own choices, as further elaborated in the preceding verses.
Jeremiah 5 6 Commentary
Jeremiah 5:6 is a stark declaration of God's imminent judgment upon Judah and Jerusalem due to their pervasive sin. The prophet uses the imagery of a lion breaking out of its den, a metaphor that vividly portrays the ferocity and unstoppable nature of the coming devastation. This "lion" represents powerful conquering armies, such as the Babylonians, who will descend upon the land with overwhelming force. The phrase "destroyer of nations" further emphasizes that these forces are instruments of God's justice, empowered to bring ruin upon sinful societies. The warning is clear: the entire land, including its cities and everything within it, will be devoured, leaving nothing untouched. The rhetorical question posed in verse 6, "Who will turn them back?" underscores the futility of any human effort to prevent this divinely ordained judgment. This passage highlights the serious consequences of turning away from God and the inevitability of His justice when faced with unrepentant sin.