The big picture
Jeremiah 6 opens in verse 1 with “O ye children of Benjamin, gather yourselves to flee out of the midst of Jerusalem, and…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 15 with “Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all…”, and closes in verse 30 with “Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the LORD hath rejected them.” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, people, daughter, fall, hear. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Jeremiah · King James Version · 30Jeremiah 6:1-8
1–8: O ye children of Benjamin, gather yourselves to flee out of the midst of…
Jeremiah 6:1–8 opens with “O ye children of Benjamin, gather yourselves to flee out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow the…” and reaches “Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest my soul depart from thee; lest I make thee desolate, a…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jeremiah 6 develops its own movement around LORD, people, daughter, fall, hear, with particular weight carried by Jerusalem, arise, casteth.
Context that brings the passage to life
“O ye children of Benjamin, gather yourselves to flee out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and…” Naming Benjamin and Beth keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“The shepherds with their flocks shall come unto her; they shall pitch their tents against her round about; they shall…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“Arise, and let us go by night, and let us destroy her palaces.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Jeremiah 6:1-8
King James Version1O ye children of Benjamin, gather yourselves to flee out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and set up a sign of fire in Beth-haccerem: for evil appeareth out of the north, and great destruction.
2I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate woman.
3The shepherds with their flocks shall come unto her; they shall pitch their tents against her round about; they shall feed every one in his place.
4Prepare ye war against her; arise, and let us go up at noon. Woe unto us! for the day goeth away, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out.
5Arise, and let us go by night, and let us destroy her palaces.
6For 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.
7As a fountain casteth out her waters, so she casteth out her wickedness: violence and spoil is heard in her; before me continually is grief and wounds.
8Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest my soul depart from thee; lest I make thee desolate, a land not inhabited.
Jeremiah 6:9-16
9–16: Thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall throughly glean the remnant of…
Jeremiah 6:9–16 opens with “Thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall throughly glean the remnant of Israel as a vine: turn…” and reaches “Thus saith the LORD , Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jeremiah 6 develops its own movement around LORD, people, daughter, fall, hear, with particular weight carried by LORD, peace, ashamed.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 2 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall throughly glean the remnant of Israel as a vine: turn back thine hand as a…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“Therefore I am full of the fury of the LORD ; I am weary with holding in: I will pour it out upon the children abroad…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
“For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
Jeremiah 6:9-16
King James Version9Thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall throughly glean the remnant of Israel as a vine: turn back thine hand as a grapegatherer into the baskets.
10To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the LORD is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it.
11Therefore I am full of the fury of the LORD ; I am weary with holding in: I will pour it out upon the children abroad, and upon the assembly of young men together: for even the husband with the wife shall be taken, the aged with him that is full of days.
12And their houses shall be turned unto others, with their fields and wives together: for I will stretch out my hand upon the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD .
13For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.
14They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.
15Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD .
16Thus saith the LORD , Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.
Jeremiah 6:17-24
17–24: Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the…
Jeremiah 6:17–24 opens with “Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We…” and reaches “We have heard the fame thereof: our hands wax feeble: anguish hath taken hold of us, and pain…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jeremiah 6 develops its own movement around LORD, people, daughter, fall, hear, with particular weight carried by people, cometh, country.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.” Naming Also and Hearken keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not…” Naming Hear keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Jeremiah 6:17-24
King James Version17Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.
18Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them.
19Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.
20To what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto me.
21Therefore thus saith the LORD , Behold, I will lay stumblingblocks before this people, and the fathers and the sons together shall fall upon them; the neighbour and his friend shall perish.
22Thus saith the LORD , Behold, a people cometh from the north country, and a great nation shall be raised from the sides of the earth.
23They 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.
24We have heard the fame thereof: our hands wax feeble: anguish hath taken hold of us, and pain, as of a woman in travail.
Jeremiah 6:25-30
25–30: Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the…
Jeremiah 6:25–30 opens with “Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy and fear is on…” and reaches “Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the LORD hath rejected them.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jeremiah 6 develops its own movement around LORD, people, daughter, fall, hear, with particular weight carried by people, ashes, bellows.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy and fear is on every side.” The line’s distinctive content terms include enemy, fear, field. Its relationship to verses 26 shows what work it does in this passage.
Jeremiah 6:25-30
King James Version25Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy and fear is on every side.
26O daughter of my people, gird thee with sackcloth, and wallow thyself in ashes: make thee mourning, as for an only son, most bitter lamentation: for the spoiler shall suddenly come upon us.
27I have set thee for a tower and a fortress among my people, that thou mayest know and try their way.
28They are all grievous revolters, walking with slanders: they are brass and iron; they are all corrupters.
29The bellows are burned, the lead is consumed of the fire; the founder melteth in vain: for the wicked are not plucked away.
30Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the LORD hath rejected them.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Jeremiah 6:1 begins with “O ye children of Benjamin, gather yourselves to flee out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and set up a sign of fire in…”
Where the chapter turns
Jeremiah 6:15 forms a natural hinge: “Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them…”
The final note
Jeremiah 6:30 leaves the reader with “Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the LORD hath rejected them.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, people, daughter, fall, hear, hearken help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What repeated description explains the judgment?
The earth is corrupt and filled with violence, especially in verses 11-13.
What does obedience look like here?
Detailed preparation, gathering provisions and constructing what God commands.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.