Jeremiah 6 1

Jeremiah 6:1 kjv

O ye children of Benjamin, gather yourselves to flee out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and set up a sign of fire in Bethhaccerem: for evil appeareth out of the north, and great destruction.

Jeremiah 6:1 nkjv

"O you children of Benjamin, Gather yourselves to flee from the midst of Jerusalem! Blow the trumpet in Tekoa, And set up a signal-fire in Beth Haccerem; For disaster appears out of the north, And great destruction.

Jeremiah 6:1 niv

"Flee for safety, people of Benjamin! Flee from Jerusalem! Sound the trumpet in Tekoa! Raise the signal over Beth Hakkerem! For disaster looms out of the north, even terrible destruction.

Jeremiah 6:1 esv

Flee for safety, O people of Benjamin, from the midst of Jerusalem! Blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and raise a signal on Beth-haccherem, for disaster looms out of the north, and great destruction.

Jeremiah 6:1 nlt

"Run for your lives, you people of Benjamin!
Get out of Jerusalem!
Sound the alarm in Tekoa!
Send up a signal at Beth-hakkerem!
A powerful army is coming from the north,
coming with disaster and destruction.

Jeremiah 6 verses

Jeremiah 6 1 Meaning

Jeremiah 6:1 is a direct and urgent prophetic command, a desperate call to the people of Benjamin, specifically those in and around Jerusalem, to flee immediately. The command is amplified by military warning signals – the blowing of a trumpet in Tekoa and the raising of a signal flag or fire in Beth Haccerem. This urgent evacuation is necessary because a severe calamity, a great destruction, is rapidly approaching from the north, referring to the imminent invasion by a foreign enemy, historically Babylon. The verse encapsulates a moment of critical divine warning preceding judgment.

Jeremiah 6 1 Context

Jeremiah chapter 6 continues the dire warnings and prophecies of judgment delivered to Judah, particularly Jerusalem. Chapters 1-6 primarily focus on Jerusalem's impending doom due to idolatry, social injustice, and spiritual adultery. Chapter 6 specifically describes the approaching siege of Jerusalem and the subsequent devastation, using vivid imagery of military invasion and divine wrath. The people are warned that their sins have become so egregious that God, though merciful, must execute justice. The chapter highlights their spiritual deafness and stubborn refusal to repent, rendering their sacrifices meaningless. Verse 1 is the opening of a lamentable war song, a desperate last call before the storm breaks, setting the tone for the brutal realities of invasion that follow. Historically, Judah was caught between powerful empires (Egypt and Babylon), and the "enemy from the north" explicitly refers to the Neo-Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar, which eventually destroyed Jerusalem in 586 BC. This prophecy reflects the geopolitical realities and God's use of earthly powers as instruments of judgment.

Jeremiah 6 1 Word analysis

• Flee (נוּס, nus): Hebrew verb meaning "to flee," "escape," "take flight." It conveys extreme urgency and the imperative for swift action to avoid imminent danger. Not a suggestion, but a command of survival.
• for safety (מִבְּתוֹךְ, mi-betok / "from the midst of"): This phrase emphasizes escaping from a dangerous situation or location. The original phrasing connects directly with the command to flee from the midst of Jerusalem, meaning out of the center of danger.
• you people of Benjamin (בְּנֵי בִנְיָמִן, beney Binyamin): Literally "sons of Benjamin." The tribe of Benjamin encompassed the territory where Jerusalem was located. This is a direct address to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and its surrounding region, highlighting their direct exposure to the coming judgment.
• from the midst of Jerusalem (מִירוּשָׁלַ͏ִם, mî-Yərûšālaim): Specifies the city itself as the focal point of the danger and the starting point for flight. Jerusalem, despite its holy status, is the place from which they must flee due to its spiritual corruption.
• Blow the trumpet (תִּקְעוּ שׁוֹפָר, tiqe'u shofar): An urgent command to sound the shofar (ram's horn or ceremonial trumpet), which was primarily used as a war alarm, a signal for gathering, or to announce divine judgment (e.g., Ex 19:16; Judg 3:27; Joel 2:1). Its blast signals an impending attack or a grave event.
• in Tekoa (בִּתְקוֹעַ, bi-Teqoaʿ): A town about 10 miles south of Jerusalem, located on high ground, suitable for relaying warnings visible over a significant distance. Its mention indicates the widespread nature of the warning and the strategic military context.
• and raise a signal (וּשְׂאוּ מַשְׂאֵת, uśe'u mas'ēt): Literally, "and lift up a signal." Mas'et refers to a raised banner, standard, or most likely, a fire or smoke signal from a beacon (Jer 6:1 parallels Isa 30:17 and Judg 20:38-40 regarding smoke signals in war). This provides a visual warning in conjunction with the auditory trumpet blast.
• on Beth Haccerem (עַל־בֵּית הַכֶּרֶם, ʿal Bêt ha-Kerem): "House of the Vineyard," likely another high elevation point for signals, possibly east of Jerusalem, overlooking the Jordan Valley. The dual locations (Tekoa and Beth Haccerem) imply a systematic effort to alert the entire region.
• for disaster looms (כִּי־רָעָה נִשְׁקְפָה, kî raʿāh nišqepâh): "For evil (calamity/disaster) has looked out/is seen." Ra'ah (evil/disaster) denotes profound distress and suffering. Nishqepah means "to look forth" or "gaze down upon," vividly portraying the calamity as an impending presence, already peering over the horizon, about to descend.
• out of the north (מִצָּפוֹן, mi-tzafon): The specific direction of the coming invasion. In prophetic literature, this consistently points to the Babylonian Empire or a similar formidable enemy designated by God (Jer 1:13-15; 4:6; 25:9).
• and great destruction (וְשֶׁבֶר גָּדוֹל, ve-shever gadol): Literally, "and a great breaking/shattering." Shever signifies ruin, crushing, or breaking, conveying comprehensive devastation and the complete collapse of society or infrastructure. The adjective gadol (great) amplifies the extent of the catastrophe.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• Flee for safety, you people of Benjamin, from the midst of Jerusalem!: This group forms the direct imperative to escape. It's a localized command targeting a specific geographical and tribal group intimately linked with the capital city. The urgency is paramount.
• Blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and raise a signal on Beth Haccerem,: These two clauses represent the universal warning system. One auditory, one visual, covering the wider region and leaving no room for misunderstanding the approaching danger. They are military signals for wartime.
• for disaster looms out of the north, and great destruction: This concluding phrase provides the terrifying rationale for the warnings and commands to flee. It identifies the nature of the threat (disaster, destruction) and its source (the north), making the warning clear, specific, and terrifyingly certain. The "great destruction" emphasizes the absolute severity.

Jeremiah 6 1 Bonus section

The choice of Tekoa and Beth Haccerem for sounding alarms reveals a strategic geographical understanding common in ancient warfare. Tekoa, a town south of Jerusalem and on a hill, provided an excellent vantage point for surveying the desert wilderness and routes leading to the capital. Amos, a prophet, also hailed from Tekoa, perhaps indicating its role as a place for prophetic utterances and warnings. Beth Haccerem (modern Ain Karim, though debated) would likely have been on a ridge to the west or east of Jerusalem, providing complementary lines of sight. This comprehensive system of auditory and visual alarms illustrates not just an urgent warning but a clear indication that an organized attack strategy by the enemy was expected, necessitating a comprehensive regional warning network. Furthermore, the explicit targeting of "you people of Benjamin" indicates that Jerusalem itself, located in Benjamin's territory, was the epicenter of the judgment, making no part of the holy city immune.

Jeremiah 6 1 Commentary

Jeremiah 6:1 is a desperate divine last call, a vivid prophetic tableau illustrating the immediacy and certainty of judgment upon Judah. It is not merely a political or military warning but a profound spiritual indictment. The command to "flee" implies that even God's chosen city, Jerusalem, offers no protection against His righteous wrath when its people are steeped in unrepentant sin. The dual use of trumpet and signal highlights the undeniable nature of the warning—God is making sure every person has every opportunity to grasp the severity of what is coming. The reference to Benjamin is significant as this tribe, closely tied to Jerusalem and often rebellious (Judges 20), is now being warned. "Out of the north" becomes a chilling, recurring motif in Jeremiah, signifying Babylon as God's instrument of judgment, making it clear that this disaster is neither random nor avoidable. The verse sets the stage for the graphic depiction of a siege and ultimate destruction that follows in the rest of the chapter, painting a picture of overwhelming, inescapable ruin for a people who stubbornly refused to turn back to God despite repeated calls to repentance. It’s a tragic testament to the consequences of persistent disobedience and hardened hearts.