Read & explore together
Jerusalem’s Final Warning
Jeremiah 6:1–21 is an urgent prophetic warning to Jerusalem. It announces approaching destruction, explains the city’s guilt, shows repeated refusal to listen, and says offerings cannot make up for rejecting Yahweh’s word.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
In this passage, danger comes from the north against Jerusalem. Yahweh says the city is full of oppression, wickedness, violence, false dealing, and rejected instruction. The message remains prophecy and teaching, calling attention to judgement, refused warning, and worship that is not accepted.
Jeremiah 6:1–21Main takeaway
Jeremiah 6 teaches that rejecting Yahweh’s word, correction, and true way leads to judgement, and outward worship cannot replace listening.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Alarm and invasionThe passage opens with urgent signals to flee, blow a trumpet, and raise a sign. Evil and great destruction are said to come from the north.
Explanation
The passage opens with urgent signals to flee, blow a trumpet, and raise a sign. Evil and great destruction are said to come from the north. Jerusalem, called the daughter of Zion, is pictured as surrounded by attackers who camp around her and press the battle onward.
02The city’s guiltYahweh says Jerusalem is to be visited because oppression fills it. Its wickedness is compared to water continually coming from a well.
Explanation
Yahweh says Jerusalem is to be visited because oppression fills it. Its wickedness is compared to water continually coming from a well. Violence, destruction, sickness, and wounds are before him. Even so, Jerusalem is told to accept instruction before becoming desolate and uninhabited.
03Judgement across the communityThe warning describes a thorough gleaning, like grapes gathered again from a vine. Yahweh’s wrath reaches through the community, including children, young men, married people, and the aged.
Explanation
The warning describes a thorough gleaning, like grapes gathered again from a vine. Yahweh’s wrath reaches through the community, including children, young men, married people, and the aged. Houses and fields will pass to others when Yahweh stretches out his hand against the inhabitants.
04Refusing truth and correctionFrom least to greatest, the people are given to covetousness, and even prophet and priest deal falsely.
Explanation
From least to greatest, the people are given to covetousness, and even prophet and priest deal falsely. They say, “Peace, peace!” when there is no peace. When Yahweh points to the good way and sets watchmen, the people answer that they will not walk or listen.
05Rejected word, rejected worshipNations and earth are called to hear. The coming evil is the fruit of this people’s thoughts because they have not listened to Yahweh’s words and have rejected his law.
Explanation
Nations and earth are called to hear. The coming evil is the fruit of this people’s thoughts because they have not listened to Yahweh’s words and have rejected his law. Therefore costly offerings do not please him, and stumbling blocks are set before the people.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01How does the start of the passage create a sense of urgent danger?
Notice the commands to flee, blow the trumpet, raise a signal, and the repeated language of attack from the north.
02What reasons does Yahweh give for visiting Jerusalem in judgement?
List the words the passage uses for the city’s condition, including oppression, wickedness, violence, false dealing, and rejection of his word and law.
03Why are the sacrifices not acceptable in this passage?
The text links unacceptable offerings with refusing the good way, refusing the trumpet warning, and rejecting Yahweh’s words and law.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Jeremiah 6:1–21
1“Flee for safety, you children of Benjamin, out of the middle of Jerusalem! Blow the trumpet in Tekoa and raise up a signal on Beth Haccherem, for evil looks out from the north with a great destruction.
2I will cut off the beautiful and delicate one, the daughter of Zion.
3Shepherds with their flocks will come to her. They will pitch their tents against her all around. They will feed everyone in his place.”
4“Prepare war against her! Arise! Let’s go up at noon. Woe to us! For the day declines, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out.
5Arise! Let’s go up by night, and let’s destroy her palaces.”
6For Yahweh of Armies said, “Cut down trees, and cast up a mound against Jerusalem. This is the city to be visited. She is filled with oppression within herself.
7As a well produces its waters, so she produces her wickedness. Violence and destruction is heard in her. Sickness and wounds are continually before me.
8Be instructed, Jerusalem, lest my soul be alienated from you, lest I make you a desolation, an uninhabited land.”
9Yahweh of Armies says, “They will thoroughly glean the remnant of Israel like a vine. Turn again your hand as a grape gatherer into the baskets.”
10To whom should I speak and testify, that they may hear? Behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they can’t listen. Behold, Yahweh’s word has become a reproach to them. They have no delight in it.
11Therefore I am full of Yahweh’s wrath. I am weary with holding it in. “Pour it out on the children in the street, and on the assembly of young men together; for even the husband with the wife will be taken, the aged with him who is full of days.
12Their houses will be turned to others, their fields and their wives together; for I will stretch out my hand on the inhabitants of the land, says Yahweh.”
13“For from their least even to their greatest, everyone is given to covetousness. From the prophet even to the priest, everyone deals falsely.
14They have healed also the hurt of my people superficially, saying, ‘Peace, peace!’ when there is no peace.
15Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush. Therefore they will fall among those who fall. When I visit them, they will be cast down,” says Yahweh.
16Yahweh says, “Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, ‘Where is the good way?’ and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
17I set watchmen over you, saying, ‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’ But they said, ‘We will not listen!’
18Therefore hear, you nations, and know, congregation, what is among them.
19Hear, earth! Behold, I will bring evil on this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not listened to my words; and as for my law, they have rejected it.
20To what purpose does frankincense from Sheba come to me, and the sweet cane from a far country? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable, and your sacrifices are not pleasing to me.”
21Therefore Yahweh says, “Behold, I will lay stumbling blocks before this people. The fathers and the sons together will stumble against them. The neighbor and his friend will perish.”