Jeremiah 6 23

Jeremiah 6:23 kjv

They shall lay hold on bow and spear; they are cruel, and have no mercy; their voice roareth like the sea; and they ride upon horses, set in array as men for war against thee, O daughter of Zion.

Jeremiah 6:23 nkjv

They will lay hold on bow and spear; They are cruel and have no mercy; Their voice roars like the sea; And they ride on horses, As men of war set in array against you, O daughter of Zion."

Jeremiah 6:23 niv

They are armed with bow and spear; they are cruel and show no mercy. They sound like the roaring sea as they ride on their horses; they come like men in battle formation to attack you, Daughter Zion."

Jeremiah 6:23 esv

They lay hold on bow and javelin; they are cruel and have no mercy; the sound of them is like the roaring sea; they ride on horses, set in array as a man for battle, against you, O daughter of Zion!"

Jeremiah 6:23 nlt

They are armed with bows and spears.
They are cruel and show no mercy.
They sound like a roaring sea
as they ride forward on horses.
They are coming in battle formation,
planning to destroy you, beautiful Jerusalem. "

Jeremiah 6 verses

Jeremiah 6 23 Meaning

Jeremiah 6:23 speaks of a fearsome nation approaching from the north. This nation is described as "cruel, and hath no mercy." They show no compassion to anyone, showing no restraint towards the young or old. The verse emphasizes their ruthless nature and their complete disregard for human life. It foreshadows impending judgment upon Judah, highlighting the severe consequences of their disobedience.

Jeremiah 6 23 Context

Jeremiah 6 is a chapter filled with pronouncements of judgment against Judah. The prophet Jeremiah is tasked with warning the people of Jerusalem about the impending destruction. The immediate context for verse 23 is God's command to Jeremiah to denounce the city's spiritual unfaithfulness and its persistent reliance on false security rather than on Him. A powerful, invading force is depicted as approaching from the north, an imagery commonly associated with Mesopotamian empires like Assyria and later Babylon, which were the instruments of God's judgment against His people for their sins. This chapter highlights Judah's rebellion, their lack of repentance, and the unavoidable consequences that will follow.

Jeremiah 6 23 Word Analysis

• Hebrew Transliteration: Ra'ah / רָעָה

  • Meaning: Cruel, evil, bad.
  • Significance: Emphasizes the malevolent and unfeeling nature of the approaching enemy. This isn't just a military defeat; it's a force characterized by profound wickedness.

• Hebrew Transliteration: Chamal / חָמַל

  • Meaning: To have pity, to have mercy, to spare.
  • Significance: The lack of chamal means they will show no compassion, no leniency, even to the most vulnerable. This highlights the stark contrast with God's covenantal mercy that Judah has forsaken.

• Hebrew Transliteration: Leya/לֵאָה` (referring to weakness or weariness)

  • Meaning: Weak, faint, weary.
  • Significance: Although לֵאָה isn't explicitly in this verse, the sentiment of inability to sustain oneself or being overwhelmed is present in the description of their advance. The lack of mercy is absolute.

• Hebrew Transliteration: Niph'al form of the verb meaning "to pity" or "to spare" (יְחֻמַּל / ye-chum-mal - 'is pitied', 'is spared').

  • Meaning: Not to be pitied, not to be spared.
  • Significance: This passive construction emphasizes the state of the enemy as incapable of showing mercy, or perhaps that no one will show mercy to them, but primarily it describes their disposition.

• Hebrew Transliteration: Bahal / בָּחַל

  • Meaning: To have regard for, to spare, to pity.
  • Significance: The negation of this word reinforces the complete absence of consideration or mercy for the objects of their attack.

• Group: "daughters of Jerusalem" (benoth yerushalayim / בְּנוֹת יְרוּשָׁלִַים)

  • Meaning: The women of Jerusalem, specifically those considered young and vulnerable.
  • Significance: This group is specifically mentioned to emphasize the indiscriminate and brutal nature of the attackers, showing no deference to innocence or tender age.

• Group: "their mother" (em-mow / אִמָּם - meaning "their mother")

  • Meaning: This refers to the matriarch, the symbolic representation of the people, and also to the actual mothers.
  • Significance: This phrase underscores the profound disruption and horror of the invasion, as not even the most revered or vulnerable members of society (mothers, mothers with children) are safe from the invaders' cruelty. It highlights the attack on the very fabric of society.

• Group: "dashes in pieces" (yamothetu / יְמֹ֣חַץ)

  • Meaning: To crush, to smite, to pound in pieces.
  • Significance: A graphic depiction of violence. The invader's actions will be brutal and destructive, aiming to utterly destroy rather than subjugate or control.

• Group: "and their fruit" (uthruphahh / וּפִרְיָהּ) - note the suffix on the following word for their fruit.

  • Meaning: Their fruit; often referring to offspring or the yield of their efforts. In this context, it specifically means their children.
  • Significance: Further emphasizes the attack on the innocent, the next generation. "Fruit" is a common biblical metaphor for children (e.g., Psalm 127:3). The verse is saying the attackers will show no mercy even to the children born from these mothers.

Jeremiah 6 23 Bonus Section

The imagery of a fearsome nation from the north is a recurring theme in prophetic literature, often associated with powers that would oppress Israel and Judah. While Babylon is the historical fulfiller of this judgment for Jeremiah's time, the symbolic language carries resonance for later prophetic pronouncements as well, including end-times scenarios, where a northern force can symbolize opposing powers arrayed against God's people. The verse highlights the terrifying reality that when a people turns away from divine protection and moral principles, they become vulnerable to the harshest elements of human nature, wielded by instruments of judgment. It’s a powerful reminder that righteousness fosters security, while sin invites destruction. The stark contrast between God’s mercy and the enemy's cruelty emphasizes God’s desire for His people to reflect His own merciful character.

Jeremiah 6 23 Commentary

This verse serves as a stark warning, painting a terrifying picture of an unfeeling, aggressive enemy descending upon Judah. The description isn't merely hyperbole; it reflects historical accounts of ancient warfare, where brutality was often a tactic to instill terror and break the enemy's spirit. The lack of mercy for "their mother" and "their fruit" — the tenderest and most defenseless — is meant to shock the reader into understanding the severity of the impending judgment. This enemy represents not just a human army, but an instrument of divine wrath for Judah's transgressions. The chilling precision of the language—no pity for the mothers or children—underscores the complete abandonment of humanity by the invaders, making them a potent symbol of the judgment God would bring upon a disobedient people. It is a foreshadowing of the utter devastation that would occur when Jerusalem fell.