Jeremiah 6:9-12
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
9 Thus says the Lord of hosts:
Glean[a] thoroughly as a vine
the remnant of Israel;
like a grape gatherer, pass your hand again
over its branches.(A)
10 To whom shall I speak and give warning,
that they may hear?
See, their ears are closed;[b]
they cannot listen.
The word of the Lord is to them an object of scorn;
they take no pleasure in it.(B)
11 But I am full of the wrath of the Lord;
I am weary of holding it in.
Pour it out on the children in the street
and on the gatherings of young men as well;
both husband and wife shall be taken,
the elderly and those full of days.(C)
12 Their houses shall be turned over to others,
their fields and wives together;
for I will stretch out my hand
against the inhabitants of the land,
says the Lord.(D)
Jeremiah 6:9-12
New English Translation
9 This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies[a] said to me:[b]
“Those who remain in Israel will be
like the grapes thoroughly gleaned[c] from a vine.
So go over them again, as though you were a grape harvester
passing your hand over the branches one last time.”[d]
10 I answered,[e]
“Who would listen
if I spoke to them and warned them?[f]
Their ears are so closed[g]
that they cannot hear!
Indeed,[h] the Lord’s message is offensive to them.
They do not like it at all.[i]
11 I am as full of anger as you are, Lord,[j]
I am tired of trying to hold it in.”
The Lord answered,[k]
“Vent it, then,[l] on the children who play in the street
and on the young men who are gathered together.
Husbands and wives are to be included,[m]
as well as the old and those who are advanced in years.
12 Their houses will be turned over to others
as will their fields and their wives.
For I will unleash my power[n]
against those who live in this land,”
says the Lord.
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 6:9 tn Heb “Yahweh of Armies.”sn For an explanation of the significance of this title see the study note on 2:19.
- Jeremiah 6:9 tn The words “to me” are not in the text but are supplied in the translation for clarity.
- Jeremiah 6:9 tn Heb “They will thoroughly glean those who are left in Israel like a vine.” That is, they will be carried off by judgment. It is not necessary to read the verb forms here the way some English versions and commentaries do: as two imperatives, or as an infinitive absolute followed by an imperative. “Glean” is an example of a third plural verb used impersonally and translated as a passive (cf. GKC 460 §144.g).
- Jeremiah 6:9 tn Heb “Pass your hand back over the branches like a grape harvester.” The translation is intended to clarify the metaphor that Jeremiah should try to rescue some from the coming destruction.
- Jeremiah 6:10 tn These words are not in the text but are supplied in the translation for clarity.
- Jeremiah 6:10 tn Heb “To whom shall I speak and give warning that they may listen?”
- Jeremiah 6:10 tn Heb “are uncircumcised.”
- Jeremiah 6:10 tn Heb “Behold!”
- Jeremiah 6:10 tn Heb “They do not take pleasure in it.”
- Jeremiah 6:11 tn Heb “I am full of the wrath of the Lord.”
- Jeremiah 6:11 tn These words are not in the text but are implicit from the words that follow. They are supplied in the translation for clarity.
- Jeremiah 6:11 tn Heb “Pour it out.”
- Jeremiah 6:11 tn Heb “are to be captured.”
- Jeremiah 6:12 tn Heb “I will reach out my hand.” This figure involves both comparing God to a person (anthropomorphism) and substituting the hand for its actions or exertions (metonymy). A common use of “hand” is for the exertion of power or strength (cf. BDB 290 s.v. יָד 2 and 289-90 s.v. יָד 1.e(2); cf. Deut 34:12; Ps 78:42; Jer 16:21).
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