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 |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 6:2 | "I will liken Zion to a lovely and delicate woman, whose daughters will I lead into captivity." | Direct statement of Zion's fate |
| Isaiah 1:8 | "And the daughter of Zion is left as a booth in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city." | Zion's desolation |
| Isaiah 3:16-17 | "Moreover the Lord says, 'Because the daughters of Zion are haughty and walk with outstretched necks and wanton eyes, walking and prancing with their feet..." | Judgment due to sin |
| Jeremiah 4:31 | "For I hear a voice like the voice of a woman in labor, a cry like the cry of her who brings forth her first child, the cry of the daughter of Zion..." | Lament and travail |
| Jeremiah 22:23 | "‘Dwell in Lebanon, and lodge among the cedars, as you set your heart to pronounce sentence, as a woman in labor when her time comes to be delivered." | Israel's suffering |
| Lamentations 1:14 | "It is the Lord who has afflicted me through the cloud of his displeasure. He has trampled my youths underfoot." | Divine affliction |
| Lamentations 2:1 | "How the Lord has covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in his anger! He has thrown down from heaven the splendor of Israel;" | God's anger against Zion |
| Lamentations 2:10 | "The elders of the daughter of Zion sit on the ground and keep silence; they throw dust on their heads and gird themselves with sackcloth..." | Mourning and submission |
| Ezekiel 16:13 | "‘And you became known for your beauty because of my splendor which I had put upon you,’ declares the Lord God." | God's adornment of Zion |
| Ezekiel 16:30 | "‘What a wretched creature you are! How you long for a male spirit! You painted yourself in gaudy colors, you adorned yourself with jewels..." | Zion's corrupt ways |
| Hosea 10:11 | "Ephraim is a well-trained heifer that loves to thresh, but I will lay a yoke on her own beautiful neck. I will drive Ephraim; Judah will plow; Jacob will break his clods." | Subjugation of Israel |
| Micah 4:13 | "‘Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion, for I will make your horn of iron, and I will make your hoofs of bronze; you shall beat in pieces many peoples..." | Future restoration |
| Zephaniah 3:14 | "Sing for joy, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!" | Call for rejoicing |
| Matthew 21:5 | "Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you; humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt the foal of a donkey.’" | Fulfillment of prophecy |
| Luke 19:38 | "Saying, ‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!’" | Jesus' entry into Jerusalem |
| John 12:13 | "took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!’" | Recognition of Messiah |
| Revelation 18:7 | "As much as she glorified herself and lived wantonly, so much torment and mourning give her. For she says in her heart, ‘I sit as a queen, I am no widow, and I shall never see mourning.’" | Babylon's pride and fall |
| Genesis 49:22 | "Joseph is a fruitful bough, a fruitful bough by a spring; his branches run over the wall." | Blessing upon Joseph |
| Song of Solomon 4:1 | "Behold, you are beautiful, my love! Behold, you are beautiful! You have dove's eyes behind your veil. Your hair is like a flock of goats leaping down the slopes of Gilead." | Beauty of the beloved |
| Psalm 50:2 | "Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God has shone." | Zion's divine glory |
Jeremiah 6 verses
Jeremiah 6 2 Meaning
Jeremiah 6:2 depicts Zion (Jerusalem) as a beautiful and pleasant pastureland that is to be desolated. It signifies the impending judgment upon Jerusalem, contrasting its former beauty with the coming destruction by an invading army. The imagery suggests a peaceful place being violently overrun, highlighting the severity of the coming divine wrath.
Jeremiah 6 2 Context
This verse is part of Jeremiah's prophecies of judgment against Judah and Jerusalem due to their pervasive sin and apostasy. Chapter 6, in particular, is a direct address to Jerusalem, using strong imagery to convey the inevitability and severity of God's wrath. The northern kingdom of Israel had already fallen, and Judah was next. Jeremiah's message was often met with resistance, as the people clung to false hopes and corrupted religious practices. This verse sets the stage for the description of the invading Babylonian army, portrayed as an unstoppable force from the north. The prophet employs agricultural imagery, common in the region, to illustrate the complete devastation that was coming upon the "daughter of Zion."
Jeremiah 6 2 Word Analysis
- “I” (אני - ani): First-person singular pronoun. Emphasizes God's direct involvement and pronouncement of judgment.
- “will liken” (אמשל - emshel): From the root משל (mashal), meaning to rule, compare, or liken. Here, it signifies God's intent to portray or compare Jerusalem to something specific for illustrative purposes.
- “Zion” (ציון - Tsiyon): Refers to Jerusalem, particularly the hill where the Temple stood, symbolizing the covenant people and their religious center. It is used here to personify the city and its inhabitants.
- “to” (אל - el): A preposition indicating direction or to whom something is likened.
- “a habitation” (נוה - noveh): Means dwelling place, habitation, pasture, or sheepfold. It evokes an image of a peaceful, settled, and well-kept place, a pasture.
- “fair” (יפה - yafah): Beautiful, comely, pleasing. Describes the pleasant appearance or quality of the habitation.
- “and” (ו - ve): Conjunction connecting the descriptors.
- “delicate” (מדוֹרָה - meduroh): This word is often translated as "delicate," "delicately." It suggests tenderness, gracefulness, and a condition of being carefully tended or brought up. In some interpretations, it can imply a pampered or perhaps even spoiled nature, contributing to the ease with which it can be overcome.
- “woman” (אישָּׁה - ishshah): A female human. The comparison personifies Zion as a woman.
- “whose” (אשר - asher): Relative pronoun.
- “daughters” (בּנות - benot): Female offspring or inhabitants, referring to the women of Jerusalem and their noble households.
- “will I bring” (הבאתי - havata): Future tense, meaning "I will bring" or "I will cause to come." Denotes active and forceful transportation.
- “into” (בּאחרי – ba’acharai): Literally, "after me," implying following in procession or being led away as captives.
- “captivity” (שׁבי - shabi): Refers to capture, exile, or being taken prisoner.
Word Group Analysis
- "Zion to a lovely and delicate woman": This phrase personifies Jerusalem. "Habitation" (noah) and "fair and delicate" (yafah umduruh) paint a picture of Zion not just as a city, but as a cherished, well-cared-for place, like a beautiful pastureland tended by a gentle shepherd or a refined woman. The combination evokes an image of pastoral beauty and refined grace, highlighting what was about to be lost.
- "whose daughters will I bring into captivity": This phrase starkly contrasts the beauty with the harsh reality of the coming judgment. The "daughters" are those who dwell in or are associated with Zion, specifically its female inhabitants, representing its vulnerable populace and potentially its proud leadership. The verb "bring" (havata) is active and forceful, signifying that their capture will be an inevitable consequence of God's decree. "Into captivity" (shabi) means they will be taken as prisoners, experiencing the humiliation and suffering of war.
Jeremiah 6 2 Bonus Section
The choice of imagery—comparing Zion to a beautiful pastureland tended by a delicate woman whose daughters are then captured—is multifaceted. It speaks to Zion's former beauty and desirability, as well as its vulnerability. Culturally, pastoral scenes were common in Israel and represented peace, prosperity, and divine blessing. The personification of cities, particularly as women, is a common prophetic trope, allowing for a more emotive and relatable portrayal of judgment and restoration. The phrase "daughters of Zion" (בנות ציון - benot Tsiyon) appears frequently in prophetic literature, often associated with pride, luxury, and subsequent judgment. The deliberate contrast between the "fair and delicate" aspect and the violent capture highlights the extent of the judgment. It emphasizes that even beauty and gentleness cannot avert God's righteous wrath when people persistently disobey. This imagery anticipates the fulfillment of prophecies, like those in the New Testament, where Jesus is also proclaimed as the King coming to Zion (Matt 21:5), but here, the context is severe condemnation leading to exile.
Jeremiah 6 2 Commentary
Jeremiah 6:2 functions as a potent oracle of judgment, vividly portraying the impending destruction of Jerusalem. God compares Zion, the cherished seat of His presence, to a beautiful, gentle woman, symbolizing its former prosperity and pleasantness. However, this image is immediately followed by the chilling declaration that her daughters—the inhabitants, particularly the women of the city—will be led away as captives. This signifies the utter desolation and humiliation awaiting Jerusalem. The tenderness of the "delicate woman" makes the invasion and subsequent captivity all the more tragic, emphasizing the completeness of God's judgment for Judah's transgressions. The invaders are depicted as ruthless, overwhelming forces, completely disregarding the beauty and sanctity of the city, akin to ravaging a peaceful pasture or abducting precious individuals from a beloved home. This verse serves as a precursor to detailed descriptions of siege warfare and exile found later in the chapter, underscoring the gravity of sin and the reality of divine discipline.