Bible/Jeremiah/6

Jeremiah 6:17

6:16 Thus 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.
Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.

KJV

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I set watchmen over you, saying, ‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’ But they said, ‘We will not listen!’

Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.

Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Listen to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not listen. ¶

6:18 Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them.

What does Jeremiah 6:17 mean?

Jeremiah 6:17 is a verse in the book of Jeremiah, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include קוּם (qûwm), צָפָה (tsâphâh), קָשַׁב (qâshab). It connects to 35 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

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Also
I
setקוּםqûwm/koom/H6965to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
watchmenצָפָהtsâphâh/tsaw-faw'/H6822properly, to lean forward, i.e. to peer into the distance; by implication, to observe, await
over
you,
saying,
Hearkenקָשַׁבqâshab/kaw-shab'/H7181to prick up the ears, i.e. hearken
to
the
soundקוֹלqôwl/kole/H6963a voice or sound
of
the
trumpet.שׁוֹפָרshôwphâr/sho-far'/H7782a cornet (as giving a clear sound) or curved horn
But
they
said,אָמַרʼâmar/aw-mar'/H559to say (used with great latitude)
We
will
not
hearken.קָשַׁבqâshab/kaw-shab'/H7181to prick up the ears, i.e. hearken

Commentary on Jeremiah 6:17

HENRY_FULL · Jeremiah 6:17
"x-p" Solomon having shown the vanity of studies, pleasures, and business, and made it to appear that happiness is not to be found in the schools of the learned, nor in the gardens of Epicurus, nor upon the exchange, he proceeds, in this chapter, further to prove his doctrine, and the inference he had drawn from it, That therefore we should cheerfully content ourselves with, and make use of, what God has given us, by showing, I. The mutability of all human affairs, ver. 1-10 . II. The immutability of the divine counsels concerning them and the unsearchableness of those counsels, ver. 11-15 . III. The vanity of worldly honour and power, which are abused for the support of oppression and persecution if men be not governed by the fear of God in the use of them, ver. 16 . For a check to proud oppressors, and to show them their vanity, he reminds them, 1. That they will be called to account for it in the other world, ver. 17 . 2. That their condition, in reference to this world (for of that he speaks), is no better than that of the beasts, ver. 18-21 . And therefore he concludes that it is our wisdom to make use of what power we have for our own comfort, and not to oppress others with it.

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Genesis 17:21

But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.

Genesis 21:1

And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken.

Genesis 21:2

For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.

Genesis 47:29

And the time drew nigh that Israel must die: and he called his son Joseph, and said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; bury me not, I pray thee, in Egypt:

Numbers 20:24

Aaron shall be gathered unto his people: for he shall not enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel, because ye rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah. word: Heb. mouth

Numbers 27:12

And the LORD said unto Moses, Get thee up into this mount Abarim, and see the land which I have given unto the children of Israel.

Deuteronomy 3:23

And I besought the LORD at that time, saying,

Deuteronomy 34:5

So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.

1 Samuel 2:5

They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.

1 Kings 13:22 Kings 4:16Job 7:1Job 14:5Job 14:14Psalms 52:5Isaiah 5:2Isaiah 38:1Isaiah 38:5Isaiah 54:1Jeremiah 1:10Jeremiah 18:7Jeremiah 45:4Matthew 13:28Matthew 13:29Matthew 13:41Matthew 15:13Luke 1:13Luke 1:20Luke 1:36John 7:30John 16:21Acts 7:17Acts 7:20Galatians 4:4Hebrews 9:27

Topics

ImpenitenceTrumpet

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Jeremiah 6:17.

Exodus 36:6

And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing.

Genesis 21:16

And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept.

Genesis 27:43

Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; and arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran;

Genesis 45:16

And the fame thereof was heard in Pharaoh's house, saying, Joseph's brethren are come: and it pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants. pleased: Heb. was good in the eyes of Pharaoh

Jeremiah 4:19

My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; my heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war. my very: Heb. the walls of my heart

Frequently asked questions

What does Jeremiah 6:17 say?

Jeremiah 6:17 (King James Version) reads: "Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken."

Is Jeremiah 6:17 in the Old or New Testament?

Jeremiah 6:17 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Jeremiah.

Reflect

As you read Jeremiah 6:17, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

Plan a sermon or study on Jeremiah 6:17
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