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 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 6:6 | Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Cut her down; her trees and her fortress; | Strong connection: Judgment |
| Isaiah 5:1-7 | God's judgment on the vineyard of Israel | Strong connection: Judgment |
| Jeremiah 1:15-16 | Nations will come from the north against Judah | Strong connection: Invasion |
| Jeremiah 21:3-7 | God's decree of destruction upon Jerusalem and its inhabitants | Strong connection: Destruction |
| Jeremiah 39:1-10 | The fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians | Strong connection: Fulfillment |
| 2 Kings 25:1-12 | The conquest and destruction of Jerusalem | Strong connection: Fulfillment |
| Lamentations 2:1-10 | Jerusalem's desolate state after judgment | Strong connection: Result |
| Micah 3:9-12 | Condemnation of leaders for injustice leading to destruction | Strong connection: Cause |
| Psalms 74:5-6 | Enemies destroying the temple with axes | Echoes: Destruction |
| Isaiah 14:24-27 | God's plan against Assyria | Echoes: Divine plan |
| Amos 3:9-11 | Judgment coming upon Samaria for its sin | Echoes: Judgment on sin |
| Luke 13:34-35 | Jesus mourns over Jerusalem and prophesies its destruction | Echoes: Prophetic sorrow |
| Matthew 24:1-2 | Jesus foretells the destruction of the temple | Echoes: Temple's fate |
| Zechariah 7:11-14 | People refused to listen, so God rejected them | Echoes: Rejection of God's word |
| Jeremiah 7:29-34 | God's pronouncements of judgment on the inhabitants of Jerusalem | Related: Divine judgment |
| Jeremiah 17:1-4 | Judah's sin written on their hearts leads to destruction | Related: Cause of judgment |
| Isaiah 29:1-7 | Judgment on Ariel (Jerusalem) | Related: Judgment on Jerusalem |
| Isaiah 37:21-35 | God's deliverance of Jerusalem from Assyria, showing His power to protect | Contrast: God's power |
| 1 Samuel 15:22-23 | Obedience is better than sacrifice, disobedience is like rebellion | Principle: Obedience |
| Psalm 50:16-20 | God's rebuke to the wicked who do not heed His words | Principle: Rejection of God's word |
Jeremiah 6 verses
Jeremiah 6 6 Meaning
The verse describes a declaration by Jehovah God to destroy Jerusalem and its inhabitants because of their pervasive sin and rejection of His word. It signifies a divine judgment that will be swift and devastating.
Jeremiah 6 6 Context
Jeremiah chapter 6 addresses the impending destruction of Jerusalem by a northern enemy, understood to be the Babylonians. The prophet is tasked by God to deliver a severe message of judgment due to the pervasive sins of the people of Judah and its leaders. These sins include idolatry, false prophecy, social injustice, and a hardened heart against God's warnings. The inhabitants of Jerusalem are warned to flee, but their ingrained disobedience and reliance on a false sense of security render their efforts futile. This verse is part of a larger prophetic oracle condemning the city's corruption and proclaiming its inevitable ruin as a consequence of their unfaithfulness to God.
Jeremiah 6 6 Word Analysis
- Thus (כֹּה - koh): This particle indicates the speaker or the manner of speech, signifying "so," "thus," or "in this way."
- says (אָמַר - amar): A common Hebrew verb meaning "to say," "to speak," or "to declare." Here, it signifies God's authoritative pronouncement.
- the LORD (יְהוָה - Yahweh): The covenant name of God, emphasizing His faithfulness and power as revealed to Moses.
- of hosts (צְבָאוֹת - tsebha'oth): Translates to "of hosts" or "of armies." It refers to God as the commander of all heavenly armies, highlighting His supreme authority and power in executing judgment.
- Cut her down (גָּדְעָה - gad'a): An imperative verb from the root גָּדַע (gada), meaning "to cut off," "to hew down," or "to fell." It carries a strong sense of destruction, like felling a tree.
- trees (עָצִים - etsim): Plural of עֵץ (ets), meaning "tree." In this context, it refers to the fruitfulness and resources of the city, now subject to destruction.
- and (וְ - we): A conjunctive particle, linking words or clauses.
- her fortress (מְצָרִים - metzarim): Plural of מְצָר (metzar), meaning "wall," "fortification," or "bulwark." It refers to the defensive structures of the city, which will prove insufficient against God's judgment.
Word Group Analysis:
- "Cut her down; her trees and her fortress;": This powerful imagery depicts a complete and utter dismantling. Like a tree felled at its base, Jerusalem's defenses ("fortress") and its very lifeblood or productivity ("trees," often symbolic of people or prosperity) are to be systematically removed or destroyed. The imperative mood conveys the immediacy and certainty of the command.
Jeremiah 6 6 Bonus Section
The imagery of felling trees can also be seen in the broader context of judgment upon nations that oppose God or His people. It underscores that even the most fortified cities and perceived strengths are vulnerable when God decrees destruction. The utter completeness of the judgment signified here can be contrasted with instances where God relented from judgment upon repentance, highlighting that continued unrepentance hardens the path to destruction. The mention of "hosts" associated with Yahweh (Yahweh of hosts) serves to remind the audience that the ultimate power behind this destruction is not merely an earthly army, but the Sovereign Lord of all power.
Jeremiah 6 6 Commentary
This verse is a stark and severe pronouncement of God's judgment upon Jerusalem. The prophet Jeremiah, acting as God's messenger, is commanded to articulate a decree of destruction. The "cutting down" signifies a violent and complete eradication, not merely a partial dismantling. The inclusion of "her trees" suggests the destruction of resources and possibly the inhabitants, while "her fortress" indicates the failure of human defenses against divine wrath. This reflects a fundamental principle of the Old Testament covenant: obedience brings blessing, while disobedience and rebellion lead to severe consequences. Jerusalem, despite being God's chosen city, would not be spared because of its persistent sin and disregard for divine warnings, ultimately fulfilled in the Babylonian conquest.