Jeremiah 5 9

Jeremiah 5:9 kjv

Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD: and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?

Jeremiah 5:9 nkjv

Shall I not punish them for these things?" says the LORD. "And shall I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?

Jeremiah 5:9 niv

Should I not punish them for this?" declares the LORD. "Should I not avenge myself on such a nation as this?

Jeremiah 5:9 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 5:9 nlt

Should I not punish them for this?" says the LORD.
"Should I not avenge myself against such a nation?

Jeremiah 5 verses

Jeremiah 5 9 Meaning

Jeremiah 5:9 states God’s rhetorical question regarding His justice toward Judah for their pervasive unfaithfulness and rebellion: "Shall I not punish them for these things?" declares the Lord. "And shall I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?" This emphatic query conveys a resounding affirmation, signaling God's inescapable and righteous judgment upon His people for their profound idolatry, immorality, and stubborn refusal to repent. It underscores His divine sovereignty and the certainty of His holy wrath against sin, specifically against a people who, despite their covenant relationship, had deeply defiled themselves.

Jeremiah 5 9 Context

Jeremiah 5:9 is embedded within a searing indictment of Judah and Jerusalem's deep-seated apostasy, delivered by the prophet Jeremiah just prior to the Babylonian exile. Chapter 5 begins with God's challenge to "search the streets of Jerusalem" to find a single person who practices justice and seeks truth, implying that none can be found (Jer 5:1). Both the poor and the rich, those who should know God's law, have broken His yoke and snapped His bonds (Jer 5:4-5). Their hearts are stubbornly rebellious, eyes refusing to see, and ears refusing to hear (Jer 5:21). The people are characterized by idolatry, adultery, social injustice (oppressing the orphan and foreigner), and greed (Jer 5:7-8, 26-28). Even the prophets and priests lead the people astray, teaching lies (Jer 5:30-31). This pervasive sinfulness has brought Judah to a point where divine judgment is not only merited but unavoidable. The rhetorical questions in Jeremiah 5:9 are God's divine reasoning and resolute declaration that He must act. He cannot, in His holiness and justice, overlook such profound and widespread wickedness within His covenant people. It stands as a polemic against any belief that God, by virtue of their covenant, would ignore their egregious sins or not bring about the threatened consequences of the Mosaic Law (Deut 28).

Jeremiah 5 9 Word analysis

• הַעַל־אֵלֶּה (ha-al-’elleh) – "For these things" or "Because of these things."

  • הַ (ha): The interrogative particle, turning the statement into a question.
  • עַל־אֵלֶּה (al-’elleh): "Upon/for these (things)." Refers directly to the extensive list of sins detailed in the preceding verses of Jeremiah chapter 5—idolatry, adultery, deceit, social injustice, and covenant breaking. Significance: It explicitly connects the impending judgment to specific actions of the people, demonstrating God’s just cause for retribution.

• לֹא־אֶפְקָד־בָּם (lo’-’eqod-bam) – "Shall I not punish them?" (or literally, "Not will I visit among them?")

  • לֹא (lo): The negative particle "not."
  • אֶפְקָד (efqod): From the root פָּקַד (paqad), meaning "to visit," "to inspect," "to muster," "to appoint." When God "visits," it can be for blessing or for judgment, depending on the context. Here, given the preceding context, it carries the strong connotation of "visiting with consequences," specifically judgment or punishment. Significance: Paqad implies God's deliberate, active engagement and thorough accountability, not a casual or oversight reaction. His punishment is not arbitrary but a consequence of His prior observation and determination.
  • בָּם (bam): "In them" or "among them," referring to the people of Judah. Significance: The judgment is specifically directed at and applied to the people.

• וְאִם־בְּגוֹי (wə-’im-bə-goy) – "And on such a nation" (literally, "and if among a nation").

  • וְאִם (wə-’im): "And if," which functions here as "and surely," intensifying the second rhetorical question.
  • בְּגוֹי (bə-goy): "In/among a nation."
  • גּוֹי (goy): The common Hebrew word for "nation," often used for Gentile nations. Here, its application to Judah is significant and somewhat ironic or demeaning. Significance: It suggests that Judah, despite being God's chosen people, has acted no differently from godless, pagan nations in their rebellion, thus deserving a similar fate. They have forfeited their special status through their conduct.

• כָּזֶה (ka-zeh) – "as this."

  • כָּזֶה (ka-zeh): "Like this" or "as this one." Refers to the morally corrupt and apostate character of Judah described previously. Significance: It emphasizes the unique and severe degree of their wickedness, which makes the impending judgment uniquely justified and unavoidable.

• לֹא תִּתְנַקֵּם נַפְשִׁי (lo’ titnaqqem nafshi) – "Shall My soul not avenge itself?"

  • לֹא (lo): The negative particle "not."
  • תִּתְנַקֵּם (titnaqqem): From the root נָקַם (naqam), "to avenge," "to take vengeance." This is the Niphal stem (reflexive), "avenge itself" or "be avenged." Significance: This is God’s personal, righteous indignation. It is not human vindictiveness, but the just response of a holy God whose covenant faithfulness has been utterly spurned and whose honor has been greatly affronted by His own people. God's vengeance here is tied to justice and covenant fidelity.
  • נַפְשִׁי (nafshi): "My soul" or "My very being." This is an anthropomorphic expression, signifying the Lord's profound and deeply felt commitment to righteousness and His determination to execute justice. Significance: It implies the full and personal engagement of God’s being in the act of judgment; His character necessitates this response.

Word Group Analysis:

• "הַעַל־אֵלֶּה לֹא־אֶפְקָד־בָּם נְאֻם־יְהוָה" ("For these things shall I not punish them?" declares the Lord): This first rhetorical question functions as a solemn, divine pronouncement of intent. The inclusion of ne’um YHWH ("declares the Lord") lends immense weight and authority to the statement, confirming it as an irrefutable divine decree from the Covenant God, YHWH. The sins mentioned earlier must be addressed.

• "וְאִם־בְּגוֹי כָּזֶה לֹא תִּתְנַקֵּם נַפְשִׁי" ("And on such a nation as this, shall My soul not avenge itself?"): The second question powerfully reinforces the first, deepening the emotional and personal investment God has in the matter. By referring to Judah as "such a nation as this," God implicitly places them among the worst of the nations regarding their conduct, emphasizing how far they have fallen. "My soul avenging itself" points to God's inherent nature of righteousness that demands a response to such profound apostasy and insult to His holiness. This vengeance is an act of His just being, upholding cosmic order and His covenant.

Jeremiah 5 9 Bonus section

The rhetorical questions in Jeremiah 5:9 serve a crucial didactic purpose for both the original audience and believers throughout history. They are not asked out of ignorance, but to impress upon the listener the absolute certainty and justification of God's coming judgment. There is no escaping the answer: Yes, God must and will punish them. This echoes the broader biblical theme that sin, especially within a covenant relationship, incurs severe consequences because it fundamentally assaults the character of a holy God. This verse also provides a theological anchor for understanding God's actions later in the book of Jeremiah and in the historical exile, validating the divine righteousness in allowing Babylon to destroy Jerusalem. It reinforces the truth that God’s justice is an unchanging aspect of His nature, demanding a response to human iniquity whether in ancient Israel or in the New Covenant church (e.g., judgment beginning with the household of God, 1 Pet 4:17).

Jeremiah 5 9 Commentary

Jeremiah 5:9 encapsulates the core message of divine accountability. Through two powerful rhetorical questions, God communicates an absolute necessity for judgment upon Judah. The depth of their moral corruption, idolatry, and pervasive injustice has reached a point where God, by His very nature as a righteous and holy being, must intervene. His "visitation" (פָּקַד, paqad) is not merely an observation but an active and consequential one, bringing forth deserved punishment. Furthermore, His "avenging" (נָקַם, naqam) is a vindication of His own covenant honor, demonstrating that He is not indifferent to their profound rebellion against His law and His name. This verse challenges any false sense of security derived from their status as God's chosen people, making it clear that special privilege does not negate the consequences of blatant and unrepentant sin. The very fact that they are called "such a nation as this" underscores how completely they have departed from their divine calling, aligning themselves spiritually with the pagan nations surrounding them, thereby meriting a similar just recompense. The divine anger here is not a loss of control, but a perfectly controlled, necessary expression of divine justice in the face of grave injustice and persistent faithlessness.