Jeremiah 6:28 kjv
They are all grievous revolters, walking with slanders: they are brass and iron; they are all corrupters.
Jeremiah 6:28 nkjv
They are all stubborn rebels, walking as slanderers. They are bronze and iron, They are all corrupters;
Jeremiah 6:28 niv
They are all hardened rebels, going about to slander. They are bronze and iron; they all act corruptly.
Jeremiah 6:28 esv
They are all stubbornly rebellious, going about with slanders; they are bronze and iron; all of them act corruptly.
Jeremiah 6:28 nlt
They are the worst kind of rebel,
full of slander.
They are as hard as bronze and iron,
and they lead others into corruption.
Jeremiah 6 28 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jer 6:28 | "They are all grievous rebels, walking as slanderers with slander;" | Core theme of rebellion |
| Isa 1:22 | "Your silver has become dross, your wine mixed with water." | Imagery of impurity and corruption |
| Jer 5:3 | "O LORD, do not your eyes look for truth? you have struck them," | God's observation of their actions |
| Psa 58:3 | "The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray from birth" | Innate propensity to stray |
| Jer 7:24 | "but they did not listen or incline their ear, but walked according" | Persistent disobedience |
| Mic 7:3 | "They do evil with both hands, the ruler demands gifts, and the judge" | Actions of rebellion and corruption |
| Prov 25:4 | "Take away the dross from the silver, and the smith has good material" | Contrast with purified metal |
| Ezek 22:18 | "Son of man, the house of Israel has become to me dross;" | Similar judgment and imagery |
| Rom 3:23 | "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," | Universal sinfulness |
| Titus 1:15 | "To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving" | Internal disposition affects perception |
| Heb 12:1 | "Therefore let us also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud" | Endurance in trials, connected to purity |
| Jer 12:6 | "Even then your own brothers, and the house of your father, even" | Familial rebellion |
| Jer 17:9 | "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick;" | Inner corruption of the heart |
| Psa 78:8 | "and should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious" | Pattern of rebellion passed down |
| Jer 3:10 | "even yet her treacherous sister Judah did not return to me with" | Unrepentant actions |
| Mal 3:3 | "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will" | God's refining process |
| Prov 27:21 | "The furnace tests the metal, and the furnace tests the smith;" | Testing reveals true character |
| Isa 48:10 | "Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you" | God's judgment and testing |
| Jer 6:13 | "They have healed their people’s wound superficially, saying," | False peace, lack of true healing |
| Jer 9:7 | "Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, 'Behold, I will refine" | Judgment and refining |
| Rom 1:29-31 | "disobedient to their parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, Ruthless" | List of rebellious characteristics |
Jeremiah 6 verses
Jeremiah 6 28 Meaning
Jeremiah 6:28 is a stark declaration that the people of Jerusalem are universally rebellious and hard-hearted, refusing to repent. God declares them to be worthless metals, refined in the fire but still unpurified, their wickedness remaining. They are like dross, the impurity removed in metal refining, indicating a fundamental and persistent corruption.
Jeremiah 6 28 Context
Jeremiah 6:28 occurs within the broader context of Jeremiah's prophecy concerning the impending destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. The prophet has been consistently warning Judah about their unfaithfulness to God, their idolatry, and their social injustices. Chapters 1-5 detail the sins of the people, and chapter 6 continues this theme by describing the coming judgment. Specifically, this verse follows God's instruction to Jeremiah to "Observe and consider, and walk through the streets of Jerusalem" to see the widespread sin. God instructs Jeremiah to use the analogy of metal refiners who use fire to purge impurities, but declares that the people are like worthless dross that even the refiner cannot purify, indicating a deep-seated corruption that repentance alone cannot immediately fix.
Jeremiah 6 28 Word Analysis
- They (Hebrew: הֵם, hem): Pronoun referring to the people of Jerusalem, specifically the inhabitants and leadership.
- are (Hebrew: לְמַעַן, lema'an): Literally "for," "on account of," indicating their state of being. In this context, it signifies their character and resultant condition.
- all (Hebrew: כֹּל, kol): Emphasizes the universality of their rebellion across all segments of society.
- grievous (Hebrew: נִקֹּת, niqqoth): Literally "defects," "blemishes," "faults." Refers to something flawed, damaged, or spoiled.
- rebels (Hebrew: סֹרְרִים, sorerim): From the root סוּר (sur), meaning "to turn aside," "to turn away," "to be rebellious." Implies a persistent, stubborn opposition and turning away from God's path.
- walking (Hebrew: הֹלְכִים, hol'khim): Present participle, describing a continuous action and habitual manner of life.
- as (Hebrew: בְּ, bᵉ): Preposition indicating manner or accompaniment.
- slanderers (Hebrew: רַכַּל, rakkal): From the root רָכַל (rakhal), meaning "to traffic," "to trade." Here, it denotes a "trader in gossip," a talebearer, someone who carries slander and spreads malicious rumors.
- with (Hebrew: בְּ, bᵉ): Preposition again, indicating the tool or method of their "walking."
- slander (Hebrew: רְכִילוּת, rəkîlûth): Noun form, meaning "slander," "talebearing," "gossip," "trafficking in slander."
Word Group Analysis:
- "grievous rebels" (Hebrew: סֹרְרִים נִקֹּת, sorerim niqqoth): This phrase highlights not just a momentary act of defiance but an ingrained character flaw. Their rebellion is seen as a fundamental defect or blemish in their nature and societal structure.
- "walking as slanderers with slander" (Hebrew: הֹלְכִים בְּרַכַּל בִּרְכִילוּת, hol'khim bᵉ rakkal birkîlûth): The repetition of the root rakhal emphasizes the pervasive nature of their malicious speech. They don't just engage in gossip occasionally; it's their way of life, their habitual movement, akin to merchants peddling their wares. This points to a society that thrives on division, backbiting, and the erosion of trust through false speech.
Jeremiah 6 28 Bonus Section
The concept of "dross" (Hebrew: סִיג, sig) is a recurring metaphor in scripture for that which is base, worthless, and impurity, particularly in the context of refined metals like gold or silver. God's refining of His people is usually for purification and sanctification (Malachi 3:3, Isaiah 48:10). However, in this verse, the refining process, represented by the "furnace" (Jeremiah 6:29 refers to the furnace being heated), fails to purify them. Instead, the fire exacerbates their ingrained worthlessness, confirming that their impurity is not a temporary affliction but a deep-seated state of corruption. This speaks to the severity of their apostasy and the failure of previous chastisements to bring them to true repentance. The relentless focus on slander also points to the breakdown of community and truth, essential elements of a God-honoring society.
Jeremiah 6 28 Commentary
This verse delivers a damning indictment of Jerusalem's people. God uses the metaphor of metal refinement, a process that is meant to purify. However, the people are depicted as so thoroughly corrupted that they resist even the fire's test. They are not purified; they are revealed as dross, the worthless residue that fire separates. This impurity is further described as their pervasive nature of rebellion and their constant engagement in slander. They are outwardly professing allegiance or performing religious rituals, but their hearts and actions are consistently turned away from God. Their "walking" as "slanderers with slander" signifies a culture deeply fractured by malicious gossip and falsehoods, a spiritual impurity as detrimental as overt idolatry. This indicates a spiritual decay that has permeated the very fabric of their society, rendering them incapable of responding positively to God's refining judgments, as their ingrained corruption is absolute.