Jeremiah 6:2 kjv
I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate woman.
Jeremiah 6:2 nkjv
I have likened the daughter of Zion To a lovely and delicate woman.
Jeremiah 6:2 niv
I will destroy Daughter Zion, so beautiful and delicate.
Jeremiah 6:2 esv
The lovely and delicately bred I will destroy, the daughter of Zion.
Jeremiah 6:2 nlt
O Jerusalem, you are my beautiful and delicate daughter ?
but I will destroy you!
Jeremiah 6 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 1:8 | The daughter of Zion is left like a booth in a vineyard... | Personification of Jerusalem as desolate. |
| Isa 47:1 | ...come down and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon; sit on the ground without a throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans; for you shall no more be called tender and delicate. | Similar description of a "delicate" nation facing judgment. |
| Jer 4:6 | "Raise the signal toward Zion, Flee for safety, stay not, for I am bringing disaster from the north..." | Impending disaster on Jerusalem from the north. |
| Jer 6:1 | Flee for safety, O children of Benjamin, from the midst of Jerusalem!... | Call to flee Jerusalem due to approaching enemy. |
| Jer 7:4 | Do not trust in these deceptive words: 'This is the temple of the Lord...'" | Judah's false security in physical structures. |
| Jer 13:20 | Lift up your eyes and see those who come from the north. Where is the flock that was given you...? | Invasion from the north, a lost flock. |
| Jer 14:17 | You shall say to them this word: 'Let my eyes stream with tears night and day, and let them not cease, for the virgin daughter of my people is shattered...' | Lament over the shattering of the people. |
| Jer 25:9 | "I will send for all the tribes of the north...and for Nebuchadnezzar...and I will bring them against this land..." | God's use of foreign nations as instruments of judgment. |
| Jer 26:6 | then I will make this house like Shiloh, and make this city a curse for all the nations of the earth.'" | Destruction of the temple and city like Shiloh. |
| Lam 1:1 | How lonely sits the city that was full of people! How like a widow has she become, she who was great among the nations! | Lament over desolate Jerusalem, once full. |
| Lam 2:13 | What can I say for you? To what compare you, O daughter of Jerusalem?... | Despair over the unparalleled destruction of Jerusalem. |
| Hos 4:5 | Your mother I will destroy. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. | Divine destruction on unfaithful Israel/mother. |
| Hos 8:14 | For Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces... and I will send a fire upon his cities... | God's destruction upon prosperous, faithless Israel. |
| Eze 16:14-15 | And your renown went forth among the nations because of your beauty... But you trusted in your beauty and played the whore... | Beauty leading to spiritual unfaithfulness. |
| Eze 24:21 | 'Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the pride of your power, the delight of your eyes... | Destruction of the revered sanctuary, pride of Judah. |
| Amo 6:1-6 | "Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and to those who feel secure on the mountain of Samaria..." | Judgment for those living in complacent luxury. |
| Zeph 1:13 | Their wealth shall be plunder, and their houses a desolation... | Desolation and plunder as judgment for sin. |
| Luke 19:43-44 | "...the days will come upon you, when your enemies will build an embankment around you and will encircle you and hem you in on every side... they will not leave one stone upon another..." | Jesus prophesies Jerusalem's future destruction. |
| Heb 12:29 | For our God is a consuming fire. | God's character as holy judge. |
| Rom 2:4 | Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? | God's patience misused, leading to harder judgment. |
| Rev 18:7-8 | As she glorified herself and lived in luxury, so give her a like measure of torment and mourning, since in her heart she says, 'I sit as a queen...and I will never see mourning.'" | Luxury and pride preceding ultimate judgment (Babylon). |
Jeremiah 6 verses
Jeremiah 6 2 Meaning
Jeremiah 6:2 declares God's impending judgment upon Jerusalem, poetically referred to as "the daughter of Zion." It portrays the city as a "beautiful and delicate" entity, highlighting its inherent appeal, comfort, and perhaps its self-perceived invulnerability. Despite this, the verse powerfully announces God's decision to "destroy" or "cut off" this cherished place. The verse establishes a poignant contrast between Jerusalem's privileged state and its unavoidable, divinely orchestrated devastation, signaling the severity of her sin and God's righteous wrath.
Jeremiah 6 2 Context
Jeremiah chapter 6 serves as a severe warning to Judah about the impending invasion and siege of Jerusalem by an enemy from the north. God commands His people to flee and prepare for an assault, using vivid military imagery. The chapter paints a picture of intense suffering, with the sound of the trumpet announcing war and the land being made desolate. Jeremiah laments the deep moral decay, the greed, injustice, and false prophecy that permeate Judah, indicating their hardened hearts and their refusal to repent. In this context, verse 2 directly introduces the fate of "the daughter of Zion" as the prime target of this divine judgment, emphasizing that even a beautiful and cherished city will face complete destruction because of its persistent unfaithfulness to God.
Jeremiah 6 2 Word analysis
- יְפַת (yᵊp̄at): Beautiful, Comely. Derived from the root `yāfeh` (H3303), signifying physical attractiveness or pleasing aesthetics. Here, it attributes an intrinsic beauty or charm to Jerusalem/Judah. The term’s significance lies in its stark contrast with the impending destruction, underscoring the tragedy and the severity of a sin that nullifies even divine appreciation for outward form.
- הַנָּוֶה (han-nāveh): The Dwelling / Pasture / Habitat. From `nāweh` (H5116), typically denoting a pleasant dwelling, abode, or pasturage. In conjunction with `yᵊp̄at`, some early interpretations suggested "beautiful pasturage." However, in modern scholarly readings and in parallel with "delicate woman," it most likely functions as an intensifier of "beautiful" or as a characteristic of the "daughter of Zion," describing her as a splendid or secure habitation, or as inherently lovely. It contributes to the imagery of Jerusalem as a once-cherished and secure place.
- וְהַמְּעֻנָּגָה (wəham-mᵊ‘unnaḡāh): And the Delicate, the Pampered One. From the root `‘anaḡ` (H6026), meaning to be soft, live luxuriously, or to be brought up delicately. This word speaks to Jerusalem’s comfort, ease, and possibly her moral laxity due to excessive luxury and a lack of hardship. It portrays the city as unprepared for the coming suffering, having grown complacent in its perceived security and prosperity. This description emphasizes the shocking contrast between its past pampered state and its imminent devastation.
- דְּמֵיתִי (dᵊmêtî): I have Likened / I will Destroy. This is the critically ambiguous word.
- Interpretation 1 (from `dāmâh` I - H1819, "to be like, resemble"): "I have likened/compared." If chosen, God is first comparing the daughter of Zion to a beautiful, delicate woman before delivering judgment. This highlights God’s past affection and the tragedy of what has been lost.
- Interpretation 2 (from `dāmâh` II - H1820, "to cease, be cut off, destroyed"): "I will destroy/cut off." Given the overwhelming context of judgment, siege, and desolation in Jeremiah 6, this interpretation is widely preferred by modern scholarship. It emphasizes God's direct and decisive action in bringing an end to Judah's prosperity and secure existence. This portrays a direct divine decree of an unescapable fate.
- בַּת צִיּוֹן (bat tsîyôn): Daughter of Zion. A frequent personification in biblical prophecy for Jerusalem or the people of Judah. "Zion" refers to the fortified hill within Jerusalem, symbolically representing the entire city and its inhabitants, often also carrying spiritual connotations as God’s dwelling place. The term "daughter" evokes a sense of intimacy, cherished status, and vulnerability. Its usage here makes the prophecy more personal and poignant, transforming the judgment from an abstract political event into the suffering of a once-beloved child figure.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- יְפַת הַנָּוֶה וְהַמְּעֻנָּגָה (yᵊp̄at han-nāveh wəham-mᵊ‘unnaḡāh) - "The beautiful dwelling and the delicate one" / "The comely and delicate one." This combined phrase paints a comprehensive picture of Jerusalem’s state before its fall. It signifies not just external attractiveness but also internal luxury, ease, and perhaps complacency. This imagery establishes a vivid contrast, magnifying the impending sorrow: a people accustomed to splendor and softness is about to face utter ruin and extreme hardship, directly correlating to their spiritual unfaithfulness.
- בַּת צִיּוֹן (bat tsîyôn) - "daughter of Zion." This enduring metaphor brings together Jerusalem's identity, its sacred status as God's chosen dwelling, and its personified humanity. It highlights the deeply relational aspect of God's judgment – it is not against a foreign enemy but against a beloved entity that has broken its covenantal vows. The specificity of the title emphasizes that even such a deeply symbolic and cherished figure cannot escape divine justice.
Jeremiah 6 2 Bonus section
The concept of "daughter of Zion" is more than a poetic device; it carries profound covenantal significance. Throughout the Old Testament, God speaks of Israel and Jerusalem with intimate familial language, as a wife (Jer 3:20, Hos 2:2), a bride (Isa 62:5), or a cherished daughter. This personal language intensifies the tragedy of their unfaithfulness, presenting the judgment as a disciplinary act within a broken family relationship, not merely a political or military consequence. The prophet's task, particularly here in Jeremiah, is to convey God's heartbroken justice to a people who have leveraged their privileged status into a false sense of security, ignoring the very covenant that afforded them that privilege. The phrase “daughter of Zion” simultaneously highlights her previous favored status and her current perilous position under divine wrath.
Jeremiah 6 2 Commentary
Jeremiah 6:2 powerfully distills God’s impending judgment upon Jerusalem into a single, somber declaration. The description of Jerusalem as "beautiful and delicate" "daughter of Zion" establishes a deep pathos. "Beautiful" suggests a city outwardly splendid, possibly secure in its defenses, or even possessing an inherent grace from its divine establishment. "Delicate" speaks to a life of ease and luxury, a people perhaps spiritually complacent and unprepared for hardship. Yet, this cherished city, the very heart of Judah, is unequivocally targeted by God's decree: "I will destroy." This isn't an arbitrary act but a direct consequence of Judah's deep-seated rebellion, highlighted throughout Jeremiah's prophecies—idolatry, social injustice, and a hardened refusal to heed divine warnings. The verse sets the tragic stage for the detailed prophecies of siege, famine, and desolation that follow, reinforcing that no amount of outward prestige or past divine favor can exempt a persistently disobedient people from the righteous and severe judgment of a holy God.