Jeremiah 5:27

5:27 Like a cage filled with the birds that have been caught, ¹ 

their houses are filled with the gains of their fraud and deceit. ² 

That is how they have gotten so rich and powerful. ³ 

Jeremiah 6:12

6:12 Their houses will be turned over to others

as will their fields and their wives.

For I will unleash my power ⁴ 

against those who live in this land,”

says the Lord.

[5:27]  ¹ tn The words, “that have been caught” are not in the text but are implicit in the comparison.

[5:27]  ² tn Heb “are filled with deceit.” The translation assumes a figure of speech of cause for effect (metonymy). Compare the same word in the same figure in Zeph 1:9.

[5:27]  ³ tn Heb “therefore they have gotten great and rich.”

[6:12]  ⁴ 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).