Jeremiah 6 13

Jeremiah 6:13 kjv

For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.

Jeremiah 6:13 nkjv

"Because from the least of them even to the greatest of them, Everyone is given to covetousness; And from the prophet even to the priest, Everyone deals falsely.

Jeremiah 6:13 niv

"From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit.

Jeremiah 6:13 esv

"For from the least to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for unjust gain; and from prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely.

Jeremiah 6:13 nlt

"From the least to the greatest,
their lives are ruled by greed.
From prophets to priests,
they are all frauds.

Jeremiah 6 verses

Jeremiah 6 13 Meaning

The verse speaks of prophets, priests, and people who have all become dishonest, engaging in greed and deceit, leading to a state of utter brokenness. Their actions have damaged the nation.

Jeremiah 6 13 Context

Jeremiah 6:13 is part of a larger prophecy of judgment against Judah. The preceding verses (6:6-8) describe the brutal siege of Jerusalem by an invading enemy. This verse explains the internal decay that made Judah vulnerable to such an attack: the spiritual and moral corruption of its leaders and people. The prophets offered false hope, the priests perverted justice, and all were consumed by greed, a perversion of the Mosaic Law that demanded fairness and care for the vulnerable. This internal rot was the underlying cause of the impending national catastrophe.

Jeremiah 6 13 Word Analysis

• "For": Indicates a reason or explanation for the preceding statements of judgment.
• "from": Signifies origin or commencement.
• "the least": Refers to the lowest in rank or status within society.
• "to": Connects two points, showing the extent of coverage.
• "the greatest": Refers to the highest in rank or status.
• "of them": Possessive, belonging to the group previously mentioned.
• "even": An intensifier, emphasizing the comprehensiveness of the statement.
• "all": Denotes entirety, leaving no exception.
• "are": The verb "to be," indicating a state or condition.
• "greedy": A strong Hebrew word (בָּצַע - batsa'), signifying to cut off, grasp, or covet gain unjustly. It implies an insatiable desire for profit, often through illicit means.
• "for": Introduces the object or reason for the greed.
• "gain": Refers to profit or advantage, specifically ill-gotten. The Hebrew term here (מַצִּע - matsi' from יעץ - ya'ats) can also imply a treacherous counsel or deliberate planning for profit, linking deception with acquisition.
• "and": Conjunction, joining clauses or ideas.
• "also": Adds another similar item or point.
• "prophet": One who speaks for God. The verse highlights their perversion of this role.
• "lies": Falsehoods, untruths. In this context, it refers to preaching a false message, denying the coming judgment, or offering reassurance based on corrupt motives.
• "the priest": A minister of religion, responsible for teaching and mediation. Their role is shown as corrupted.
• "his people": Belonging to the priest.
• "rule": To have dominion or authority. Here, it indicates their control over the people, which they misuse.
• "in their": Possessive, referring to the priests' ownership or influence.
• "my people": Refers to the nation of Israel, God’s covenant people, whom the leaders are exploiting.
• "this": Points to the immediate group or nation being discussed.

Word-Group Analysis

• "from the least... to the greatest... all are greedy": This phrase emphasizes the pervasive and systemic nature of the corruption. It wasn't confined to a few individuals but had infected the entire social and religious structure, from the lowest citizen to the highest leader. This comprehensive societal decay is a hallmark of apostasy.
• "prophet... prophet": The repetition of "prophet" (נָבִיא - navi) suggests a deliberate misrepresentation of their divine calling. They claimed to be speaking for God but were in fact perverting His message.
• "lies": The prophets proclaimed falsehoods, not because they were ignorant, but likely because they were compensated for doing so ("for hire"). This aligns with other prophetic warnings about prophets seeking personal gain (Micah 3:11).
• "priest... rule": This highlights the abuse of religious authority. Priests, who were meant to guide and teach the Law, instead exercised their influence selfishly, managing religious affairs and potentially temple revenues for personal benefit.
• "my people": The phrase underscores the deep betrayal. Those entrusted with caring for God's flock were instead preying upon them for personal profit.

Jeremiah 6 13 Bonus Section

The concept of "greedy for gain" (בָּצַע - batsa') is crucial here. It speaks to a profit-driven mentality that overrides justice and truth. In the Old Testament, batsa' is consistently condemned and associated with violence, oppression, and breaking God's law. It corrupts leadership, distorts judgment, and ultimately leads to destruction. The prophets often condemned those who built their houses on injustice and their upper rooms on fraud (Jer 22:13). This verse reflects a broad societal sickness where ethical and spiritual responsibilities are sacrificed on the altar of personal profit. It’s a warning against any system, religious or secular, where leaders are more motivated by self-interest than by the welfare of those they serve or the integrity of their calling. This theme resonates strongly in the New Testament, particularly in Jesus' condemnation of the Pharisees (Matthew 23:25-26) and the Apostle Paul's warnings against greed (1 Timothy 6:10; Ephesians 5:3).

Jeremiah 6 13 Commentary

Jeremiah 6:13 paints a grim picture of national spiritual bankruptcy. The prophets, meant to be God's voice of truth and warning, have succumbed to deceit for personal enrichment. Likewise, the priests, tasked with upholding divine law and mediating between God and people, have also embraced dishonesty, ruling over the flock with avarice. This pervasive greed and lying, infecting all levels of society, from the commoner ("least") to the elite ("greatest"), indicates a profound moral decay. It is this internal corruption, this spiritual rot, that truly weakens Judah and invites divine judgment, making them vulnerable to the external threat of invasion. The passage directly attributes the coming judgment to their unfaithfulness and sin. This isn't just about individual sins, but a systemic failure of leadership and a societal embrace of deceit.