Jeremiah 6:10-12

6:10 I answered,

“Who would listen

if I spoke to them and warned them?

Their ears are so closed

that they cannot hear!

Indeed, what the Lord says is offensive to them.

They do not like it at all.

6:11 I am as full of anger as you are, Lord,

I am tired of trying to hold it in.”

The Lord answered,

“Vent it, then, on the children who play in the street

and on the young men who are gathered together.

Husbands and wives are to be included,

as well as the old and those who are advanced in years.

6:12 Their houses will be turned over to others

as will their fields and their wives.

For I will unleash my power 10 

against those who live in this land,”

says the Lord.


tn These words are not in the text but are supplied in the translation for clarity.

tn Or “To whom shall I speak? To whom shall I give warning? Who will listen?” Heb “Unto whom shall I speak and give warning that they may listen?”

tn Heb “are uncircumcised.”

tn Heb “Behold!”

tn Heb “They do not take pleasure in it.”

tn Heb “I am full of the wrath of the Lord.”

tn These words are not in the text but are implicit from the words that follow. They are supplied in the translation for clarity.

tn Heb “Pour it out.”

tn Heb “are to be captured.”

11 tn Heb “I will reach out my hand.” This figure involves both comparing God to a person (anthropomorphism) and substitution (metonymy) where hand is put for the actions or exertions of the hand. 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).