Jeremiah 6 6

Jeremiah 6:6 kjv

For thus hath the LORD of hosts said, Hew ye down trees, and cast a mount against Jerusalem: this is the city to be visited; she is wholly oppression in the midst of her.

Jeremiah 6:6 nkjv

For thus has the LORD of hosts said: "Cut down trees, And build a mound against Jerusalem. This is the city to be punished. She is full of oppression in her midst.

Jeremiah 6:6 niv

This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Cut down the trees and build siege ramps against Jerusalem. This city must be punished; it is filled with oppression.

Jeremiah 6:6 esv

For thus says the LORD of hosts: "Cut down her trees; cast up a siege mound against Jerusalem. This is the city that must be punished; there is nothing but oppression within her.

Jeremiah 6:6 nlt

This is what the LORD of Heaven's Armies says:
"Cut down the trees for battering rams.
Build siege ramps against the walls of Jerusalem.
This is the city to be punished,
for she is wicked through and through.

Jeremiah 6 verses

Jeremiah 6 6 Meaning

Jeremiah 6:6 reveals God's divine command for Jerusalem's impending judgment. Through the prophet, the LORD of hosts declares that foreign armies are to cut down the surrounding trees to build a siege ramp against the city. This destructive military action is not random but a direct, deliberate punishment decreed by God. The reason for this severe judgment is unequivocally stated: Jerusalem, intended to be a holy city, has become utterly consumed by widespread oppression and injustice within its own society.

Jeremiah 6 6 Context

Jeremiah 6 finds the prophet delivering a powerful message of impending doom to Jerusalem and Judah. The chapter is marked by vivid imagery of an invading army, referred to as coming from the north, and a clear declaration of God's wrath due to the nation's spiritual and moral decay. Prior to verse 6, the chapter outlines the severity of the coming attack (v. 1-5), comparing Jerusalem to a "pleasant pasture" where shepherds pitch tents – a metaphor for invaders setting up camp to destroy. The people have been warned to flee. This verse directly follows descriptions of military movements, specifically linking God's judgment to the tactical execution of a siege. It is part of a longer prophetic discourse emphasizing that despite their trust in the Temple and their status as God's chosen, their rampant sin has sealed their fate. Historically, this prophecy points to the Babylonian invasions and the eventual destruction of Jerusalem in the early 6th century BCE, which served as a divine punishment for the widespread idolatry, social injustice, and rejection of God's commands prevalent in Judah. The message here is stark: God is not merely allowing this destruction; He is actively orchestrating it as a just recompense for their internal corruption.

Jeremiah 6 6 Word analysis

• For thus has the LORD of hosts said:
  • "LORD of hosts" (יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת, YHWH Tseva'ot): This title for God emphasizes His sovereign authority over all celestial and earthly armies, highlighting His power and ability to command nations. In this context, it underscores that the impending military action against Jerusalem is not a mere human endeavor but a divinely ordained, powerful decree.
  • Significance: It reinforces the ultimate authority behind the command, signifying that the judgment is from the Almighty, not a chance occurrence.
• "Cut down her trees; cast up a siege mound against Jerusalem."
  • "Cut down" (כִּרְתוּ, kir'tu): An imperative verb, a direct command. It indicates that the invaders are not acting on their own impulse but under divine instruction, performing an act of deforestation to enable the siege.
  • "her trees" (עֵצָהּ, etzah): Refers to the trees surrounding Jerusalem. Trees were essential resources and also offered some natural cover. Cutting them down signifies the total exploitation of the land for its destruction, removing any natural advantage. This acts as both a tactical necessity for the siege and a symbolic act of desolation.
  • "cast up" (שִׁפְכוּ, shifkhu): Also an imperative verb, literally "pour out" or "empty." In a military context, it refers to heaping up earth, timber, and debris to construct a rampart.
  • "siege mound" (סֹלְלָה, solelah): A military embankment or ramp, typically made of earth, timber, and rubble, built to allow attackers to gain access to the top of a city's walls or to operate siege engines. It represents an essential, highly destructive, and patient siege tactic aimed at overwhelming fortifications.
  • Significance of the phrase: This phrase meticulously outlines the invaders' military strategy, revealing it to be God's precise instruction for the city's downfall. It's a vivid picture of the coming, inescapable destruction, showing how the natural environment itself will be used as a tool for judgment.
• "This is the city to be punished; she is full of oppression in her midst."
  • "to be punished" (פָּקֹד, paqod or פָּקוּד, paqud from פָקַד, paqad): The root verb paqad means "to visit, inspect, count, or attend to." In this context, it takes on the meaning of "visiting in judgment" or "holding accountable," leading to punishment. It emphasizes that this is a deserved and divinely administered reckoning.
  • "full" (כֻלָּהּ, kullah): Adverbial, meaning "all of it" or "completely." It highlights the pervasive and total nature of the city's corruption; it wasn't just isolated pockets of sin but saturated throughout its entire fabric.
  • "oppression" (עָשׁוֹק, ashoq): This significant term refers to active, violent injustice, exploitation, and defrauding of the vulnerable (poor, widows, orphans). It speaks of taking advantage of others through power or legal manipulation. This was a grave violation of the Mosaic Law and the very character of God.
  • "in her midst" (קִרְבָּהּ, qirbah): Literally "in her inward parts" or "within her." It denotes that the oppression originated from and permeated the internal life of the city, not from external forces. This sin was homegrown and deeply embedded among its people and institutions.
  • Significance of the phrase: This powerful declaration explicitly links the military catastrophe directly to Jerusalem's moral condition. The internal, pervasive sin of oppression is the primary, explicit justification for God's severe and unavoidable judgment. It signifies a profound betrayal of the covenant and the social justice principles central to Israel's identity.

Jeremiah 6 6 Bonus section

The phrase "LORD of hosts" (YHWH Tseva'ot) in Jeremiah often serves as a stern reminder of God's overwhelming power, not merely as a protector but also as the executor of judgment. For Jerusalem, the city once known as the "city of God" and chosen by Him, to be actively commanded by YHWH Sabaoth to be attacked signifies the ultimate reversal of fortunes and the depth of its transgression. It challenges the false security many felt, believing God would never allow His dwelling place to be destroyed. This concept profoundly shocked the original audience, who relied on Jerusalem's sacred status for their safety. The act of God ordering a pagan army to destroy His own city also emphasizes His supreme authority over all nations, even those outside the covenant, using them as instruments of His righteous indignation. The "trees" would also likely have included significant or sacred trees in the area, whose removal would not only be practical for warfare but also symbolic of the stripping away of Judah's blessings and beauty.

Jeremiah 6 6 Commentary

Jeremiah 6:6 is a pivotal verse, clearly stating God's sovereign command for the destruction of Jerusalem and providing the definitive reason for it. The declaration "Thus has the LORD of hosts said" leaves no doubt that the impending siege by the Babylonians is a divine initiative, not merely a historical accident. The imagery of cutting down trees and casting up a siege mound paints a grim picture of tactical execution, where even natural resources are repurposed for the city's demise, signaling utter devastation. What makes this judgment so significant is its explicit justification: "This is the city to be punished; she is full of oppression in her midst." This indictment highlights that Jerusalem's external woes stem directly from its internal moral corruption. The city, meant to be a beacon of justice and righteousness, had instead become saturated with exploitation and injustice against the vulnerable within its own society. God's holiness demands accountability for such widespread ethical failure, proving that rituals and religious structures without true justice are ultimately meaningless in His eyes. The verse encapsulates a universal principle: internal sin, particularly social injustice, leads to inevitable judgment from a righteous God.