Jeremiah 5:6

Judgment

⁴ Then I said, “They are only the poor; they have played the fool, for they do not know the way of the LORD, the justice of their God.

⁵ I will go to the powerful and speak to them. Surely they know the way of the LORD, the justice of their God.” But they too, with one accord, had broken the yoke and torn off the chains.

Therefore a lion from the forest will strike them down, a wolf from the desert will ravage them. A leopard will lie in wait near their cities, and everyone who ventures out will be torn to pieces. For their rebellious acts are many, and their unfaithful deeds are numerous.

⁷ “Why should I forgive you? Your children have forsaken Me and sworn by gods that are not gods. I satisfied their needs, yet they committed adultery and assembled at the houses of prostitutes.

⁸ They are well-fed, lusty stallions, each neighing after his neighbor’s wife.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: Therefore a lion from the forest will strike them down, a wolf from the desert will ravage them. A leopard will lie in wait near their cities, and everyone who ventures out will be torn to pieces. For their rebellious acts are many, and their unfaithful deeds are numerous.
KJV: Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, and a wolf of the evenings shall spoil them, a leopard shall watch over their cities: every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces: because their transgressions are many, and their backslidings are increased.
WEB: Therefore a lion out of the forest will kill them. A wolf of the evenings will destroy them. A leopard will watch against their cities. Everyone who goes out there will be torn in pieces, because their transgressions are many and their backsliding has increased.
ASV: Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, a wolf of the evenings shall destroy them, a leopard shall watch against their cities; every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces; because their transgressions are many, [and] their backslidings are increased.
DARBY: Therefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, a wolf of the evenings shall waste them; the leopard lurketh against their cities, every one that goeth out thence is torn in pieces: for their transgressions are multiplied, their backslidings are increased.
BLB: Therefore a lion will strike them down from the forest, a wolf of the desert plains will ravage them; a leopard is keeping watch over their cities—therefore all going out from them will be torn apart, because their transgressions are many, and their backslidings are numerous!

ÅB: Derfor skal løven fra skogen slå dem, ulven fra villmarkene ødelegge dem; leoparden lurer utenfor deres byer, hver den som går ut av dem, skal bli revet i stykker; for mange er deres overtredelser, tallrike deres frafall.
OTB: Derfor vil en løve fra skogen drepe dem, en ulv fra ørkenen vil herje dem, en leopard vokter deres byer. Alle som våger seg ut vil bli revet i stykker, for deres overtredelser er mange, deres frafall tallrike.
B1930: Derfor skal løven fra skogen slå dem, ulven fra villmarkene ødelegge dem; leoparden lurer utenfor deres byer, hver den som går ut av dem, skal bli revet i stykker; for mange er deres overtredelser, tallrike deres frafall.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Jeremiah 4:7
A lion has gone up from his thicket, and a destroyer of nations has set out. He has left his lair to lay waste your land. Your cities will be reduced to ruins and lie uninhabited.
Read in context
Habakkuk 1:8
Their horses are swifter than leopards, fiercer than wolves of the night. Their horsemen charge ahead, and their cavalry comes from afar. They fly like a vulture, swooping down to devour.
Read in context
Ezekiel 22:27
Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey, shedding blood, and destroying lives for dishonest gain.
Read in context
Zephaniah 3:3
Her princes are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves, leaving nothing for the morning.
Read in context
Revelation 13:2
The beast I saw was like a leopard, with the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.
Read in context
Jeremiah 2:17
Have you not brought this on yourself by forsaking the LORD your God when He led you in the way?
Read in context
Jeremiah 2:15
The young lions have roared at him; they have growled with a loud voice. They have laid waste his land; his cities lie in ruins, without inhabitant.
Read in context
Ezekiel 14:16–21
then as surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, even if these three men were in it, they could not deliver their own sons or daughters. They alone would be delivered, but the land would be desolate.
Read in context