What is the meaning of Jeremiah 6?

Answer 1

Jeremiah: 1. 6:11, Jeremiah was full of fury...... 2. 6:12, God threatens to punish the men by taking away all of their property, including their wives, and giving them to others. 3. 6:20, "Your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto me." Then why did he waste the first nine chapters of Leviticus on instructions for animal sacrifices?

4. 6:22-23, God will send soldiers from the north that will kill everyone and have no mercy. More killing. In summation; Jeremiah 6 is all about going to war and killing mercilessly..

If we read the context, which would include the whole chapter, as well as the setting in the History of Israel, we find the following.

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 Bethhaccerem: for evil appeareth out of the north, and great destruction.

Thus, firstly,God is giving them fair warning of the coming judgment to be executed by the Babylonians. From the wider context we know that God sent numerous warnings through His prophets previous to this. Men such as Isaiah, Jeremiah himself, etc. Also, by this time the apostate Northern kingdom had been destroyed by the Assyrians, as evidence of the consequences of, and seriousness of willful disobedience. On top of all this they had God's written words which clearly stated both His requirements and the consequences that would follow upon disobedience.

The following verses give some of the many reasons for God's judgment outlined in Jeremiah 6. Not only was their behavior corrupt but they also refused to listen to the many warnings given by the prophets, including the urgent pleadings of Jeremiah who has been called the weeping prophet because of his compassion and desire to see repentance that the forthcoming disaster could be averted.

Thus we see that the judgment of God was not at all arbitrary or vindictive but was in effect chosen by those who refused to listen. The pleadings of the prophet not only show God's willingness to warn and call but they also reveal clearly the utter stubbornness of those who should have known better. This is a terribly sad thing, that God's own people would reject Him and choose instead the 'tender mercies' of the Babylonians.

== == 6 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. 7 As 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. 8 Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest my soul depart from thee; lest I make thee desolate, a land not inhabited.

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. 17Also 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.

Answer 2

Jeremiah 6 talks about warning Judah of impending destruction due to their disobedience and idolatry. It urges them to repent and turn back to God before it's too late. The chapter emphasizes the consequences of their actions and the need for genuine repentance.