Jeremiah 5

“Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye…” Naming Jerusalem and Run keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And though they say, The LORD liveth; surely they swear falsely.” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“O LORD , are not thine eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Therefore I said, Surely these are poor; they are foolish: for they know not the way of the LORD , nor the judgment of…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“I will get me unto the great men, and will speak unto them; for they have known the way of the LORD , and the judgment…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, and a wolf of the evenings shall spoil them, a leopard shall watch…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“How shall I pardon thee for this? thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“They were as fed horses in the morning: every one neighed after his neighbour’s wife.” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD : and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Go ye up upon her walls, and destroy; but make not a full end: take away her battlements; for they are not the LORD’s…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“For the house of Israel and the house of Judah have dealt very treacherously against me, saith the LORD .” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“They have belied the LORD , and said, It is not he; neither shall evil come upon us; neither shall we see sword nor…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the prophets shall become wind, and the word is not in them: thus shall it be done unto them.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Lo, I will bring a nation upon you from far, O house of Israel, saith the LORD : it is a mighty nation, it is an…” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Their quiver is as an open sepulchre, they are all mighty men.” Naming Their keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And they shall eat up thine harvest, and thy bread, which thy sons and thy daughters should eat: they shall eat up thy…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Nevertheless in those days, saith the LORD , I will not make a full end with you.” Naming Nevertheless keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And it shall come to pass, when ye shall say, Wherefore doeth the LORD our God all these things unto us? then shalt…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Declare this in the house of Jacob, and publish it in Judah, saying,” Naming Declare and Jacob keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear…” Naming Hear keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Fear ye not me? saith the LORD : will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone.” The line’s distinctive content terms include gone, heart, people. Its relationship to verses 22 and 24 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you.” Naming Your keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich.” The line’s distinctive content terms include full, become, birds. Its relationship to verses 26 and 28 shows what work it does in this passage.

“They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the…” The line’s distinctive content terms include cause, judge, deeds. Its relationship to verses 27 and 29 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD : shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land;” The line’s distinctive content terms include committed, horrible, land. Its relationship to verses 29 and 31 shows what work it does in this passage.

“The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.