Jeremiah 5:6
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.
Therefore
This word connects the judgment described in this verse to the preceding context. In the Hebrew text, the word is "לָכֵן" (lakhen), which serves as a bridge from the people's sins to the consequences they will face. It emphasizes the certainty and inevitability of God's judgment due to Israel's persistent disobedience.

a lion from the forest
The lion, "אַרְיֵה" (aryeh) in Hebrew, symbolizes strength and ferocity. In the ancient Near East, lions were feared predators, often used metaphorically in Scripture to represent powerful enemies or divine judgment. The forest, or "יַעַר" (ya'ar), suggests a place of danger and unpredictability, highlighting the threat that will come upon the people.

will attack them
The Hebrew verb "יַכֵּם" (yakem) conveys a sense of aggression and violence. This action is not random but a direct consequence of the people's actions. It underscores the theme of divine retribution that runs throughout the prophetic literature.

a wolf from the desert
Wolves, "זְאֵב" (ze'ev) in Hebrew, are known for their cunning and pack mentality. The desert, or "עֲרָבוֹת" (aravot), represents a barren, inhospitable environment. This imagery suggests a relentless and strategic assault on the people, further illustrating the severity of their punishment.

will ravage them
The verb "יְשָׁדֵד" (yeshoded) implies destruction and plundering. It paints a picture of devastation, where nothing is left untouched. This reflects the comprehensive nature of the judgment that will befall the nation due to their sins.

a leopard will lie in wait
Leopards, "נָמֵר" (namer) in Hebrew, are known for their stealth and patience. The phrase "lie in wait" suggests a calculated and inevitable attack. This imagery conveys the idea that the consequences of sin are unavoidable and will strike when least expected.

near their cities
Cities, "עָרֵיהֶם" (areihem), were centers of security and civilization. The fact that danger lurks near these places of refuge indicates that no place is safe from the impending judgment. It serves as a warning that sin affects all aspects of life, even those areas considered secure.

Everyone who ventures out
This phrase highlights the universality of the threat. No one is exempt from the consequences of sin. It serves as a sobering reminder of the pervasive nature of disobedience and its impact on the community.

will be torn to pieces
The Hebrew "יִטָּרֵף" (yittaref) conveys a violent and brutal end. This graphic imagery underscores the seriousness of the judgment and the severity of the people's sins. It is a call to repentance and a return to righteousness.

because their transgressions are many
Transgressions, "פִּשְׁעֵיהֶם" (pishehem), refer to willful acts of rebellion against God. The multitude of these acts highlights the depth of the people's disobedience. It serves as a reminder of the importance of faithfulness and obedience to God's commands.

their apostasies are numerous
Apostasies, "מְשֻׁבוֹתֵיהֶם" (meshuvotehem), indicate a turning away from faith. The repetition of the idea of abundance ("many" and "numerous") emphasizes the extent of the people's unfaithfulness. It is a call to recognize the gravity of abandoning one's covenant with God and the need for sincere repentance.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jeremiah
A prophet called by God to deliver messages of warning and hope to the people of Judah. His ministry spanned the reigns of several kings and was marked by themes of judgment and restoration.

2. Judah
The southern kingdom of Israel, which was facing imminent judgment due to its persistent sin and rebellion against God.

3. Lion, Wolf, Leopard
Symbolic representations of the impending judgment and destruction that would come upon Judah due to their sins. These animals are used metaphorically to describe the ferocity and inevitability of the coming punishment.

4. Transgressions and Apostasies
The sins and acts of turning away from God that characterized the people of Judah, leading to their judgment.

5. The Forest and the Desert
These locations symbolize the natural habitats of the animals mentioned, emphasizing the unexpected and varied nature of the threats facing Judah.
Teaching Points
The Consequences of Sin
Sin has real and severe consequences. Just as the people of Judah faced destruction due to their transgressions, we too must be aware that sin leads to spiritual and sometimes physical ruin.

God's Justice is Inevitable
The imagery of the lion, wolf, and leopard underscores the certainty of God's judgment. We must live in a way that honors God, knowing that His justice will prevail.

Repentance is Key
The numerous apostasies of Judah highlight the need for genuine repentance. Turning back to God is essential to avoid the consequences of sin.

Vigilance Against Spiritual Dangers
Just as the animals lay in wait, spiritual dangers can be subtle and unexpected. We must remain vigilant and grounded in God's Word to avoid falling into sin.

God's Mercy and Hope
While this passage focuses on judgment, the broader context of Jeremiah includes promises of restoration. God's ultimate desire is for His people to return to Him and experience His mercy.
Bible Study Questions
1. What are the specific transgressions and apostasies mentioned in Jeremiah 5, and how do they relate to the challenges we face today?

2. How does the imagery of the lion, wolf, and leopard help us understand the nature of God's judgment?

3. In what ways can we remain vigilant against spiritual dangers in our own lives?

4. How do the themes of judgment and mercy in Jeremiah 5 reflect the overall message of the Gospel?

5. What steps can we take to ensure that we are living in a way that honors God and avoids the consequences of sin?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Hosea 13:7-8
Similar imagery of God using wild animals as instruments of judgment against Israel for their unfaithfulness.

Isaiah 5:29
Describes the roar of a lion as a metaphor for the coming judgment, highlighting the power and inevitability of God's justice.

Ezekiel 22:25
Speaks of a conspiracy of prophets like a roaring lion, emphasizing the destructive nature of false leadership and sin.
A Hero is a Real ManGreat ThoughtsJeremiah 5:1-9
A ManJ. R. Mitford Mitchell, D. D.Jeremiah 5:1-9
A ManJ. S. Drummond.Jeremiah 5:1-9
A Man; Or, the Divine Ideal UnrealisedHomilistJeremiah 5:1-9
Godly Men the Preservative of SocietyJames Hamilton, D. D.Jeremiah 5:1-9
Make Yourself a ManJeremiah 5:1-9
ManlinessH. F. Henderson, M. A.Jeremiah 5:1-9
Right Kind of MenG. Brooks.Jeremiah 5:1-9
The Courage of the True ProphetDean Farrar.Jeremiah 5:1-9
The Sinfulness of JerusalemW. Reading, M. A.Jeremiah 5:1-9
The Value of One True Man to the StateJ. S. Drummond.Jeremiah 5:1-9
True ManhoodH. Allon, D. D.Jeremiah 5:1-9
Wanted -- a ManM. C. Peters.Jeremiah 5:1-9
Chastisement Thwarted by Universal StubbornnessD. Young Jeremiah 5:3-6
Decided UngodlinessJeremiah 5:3-8
Fruitless ChastisementW. F. Adeney, M. A.Jeremiah 5:3-8
God's Chastisements Designed for Man's ConversionPresident Davies.Jeremiah 5:3-8
Refusal to ReturnJeremiah 5:3-8
The Ignorance of the Poor and the Insolence of the GreatJob Orton, D. D.Jeremiah 5:3-8
TruthfulnessJeremiah 5:3-8
Unsanctified AfflictionG. Brooks.Jeremiah 5:3-8
Unsanctified AfflictionD. Moore, M. A.Jeremiah 5:3-8
People
Jacob, Jeremiah
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Apostasies, Attack, Backsliding, Backslidings, Beasts, Cities, Death, Desert, Deserts, Destroy, Evenings, Forest, Goes, Increase, Increased, Kill, Leopard, Lie, Lion, Lurketh, Mighty, Multiplied, Numerous, Pieces, Ravage, Rebellion, Sins, Slay, Smitten, Spoil, Tear, Thence, Torn, Towns, Transgressions, Venture, Wait, Waste, Watch, Watcheth, Watching, Wherefore, Wolf, Woods, Wrongdoing
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Jeremiah 5:6

     4448   forests
     5977   waiting

Jeremiah 5:4-6

     8710   atheism

Jeremiah 5:5-7

     8705   apostasy, in OT

Library
A Question for the Beginning
'What will ye do in the end?'--JER. v. 31. I find that I preached to the young from this text just thirty years since--nearly a generation ago. How few of my then congregation are here to-night! how changed they and I are! and how much nearer the close we have drifted! How many of the young men and women of that evening have gone to meet the end, and how many of them have wrecked their lives because they would not face and answer this question! Ah, dear young friends, if I could bring some of the
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Storming the Battlements
Jerusalem had sinned against God; she had rebelled against the most High, had set up for herself false gods, and bowed before them; and when God threatened her with chastisement, she built around herself strong battlements and bastions. She said "I am safe and secure. What though Jehovah hath gone away, I will trust in the gods of nations. Though the Temple is cast down, yet we will rely upon these bulwarks and strong fortifications that we have erected." "Ah!" says God, "Jerusalem, I will punish
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 1: 1855

God's Barriers against Man's Sin
I am slowly rallying. My great struggle now is with weakness. I feel as if my frail bark had weathered a heavy storm which has made every timber creak. Do not attribute this illness to my having laboured too hard for my Master. For his dear sake, I would that I may yet be able to labour more. Such toils as might be hardly noticed in the ramp for the service of one's country, would excite astonishment in the church for the service of our God. And now, I entreat you for love's sake to continue in prayer
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 4: 1858

Tithing
"Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in Mine house, and prove Me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it" (Mal. 3:10). Down deep in the heart of every Christian there is undoubtedly the conviction that he ought to tithe. There is an uneasy feeling that this is a duty which has been neglected, or, if you prefer it, a privilege that has not been
Arthur W. Pink—Tithing

How those who Fear Scourges and those who Contemn them are to be Admonished.
(Admonition 14.) Differently to be admonished are those who fear scourges, and on that account live innocently, and those who have grown so hard in wickedness as not to be corrected even by scourges. For those who fear scourges are to be told by no means to desire temporal goods as being of great account, seeing that bad men also have them, and by no means to shun present evils as intolerable, seeing they are not ignorant how for the most part good men also are touched by them. They are to be admonished
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

The Purpose in the Coming of Jesus.
God Spelling Himself out in Jesus: change in the original language--bother in spelling Jesus out--sticklers for the old forms--Jesus' new spelling of old words. Jesus is God following us up: God heart-broken--man's native air--bad choice affected man's will--the wrong lane--God following us up. The Early Eden Picture, Genesis 1:26-31. 2:7-25: unfallen man--like God--the breath of God in man--a spirit, infinite, eternal--love--holy--wise--sovereign over creation, Psalm 8:5-8--in his own will--summary--God's
S. D. Gordon—Quiet Talks about Jesus

Purposes of God.
In discussing this subject I shall endeavor to show, I. What I understand by the purposes of God. Purposes, in this discussion, I shall use as synonymous with design, intention. The purposes of God must be ultimate and proximate. That is, God has and must have an ultimate end. He must purpose to accomplish something by his works and providence, which he regards as a good in itself, or as valuable to himself, and to being in general. This I call his ultimate end. That God has such an end or purpose,
Charles Grandison Finney—Systematic Theology

"And Hereby we do Know that we Know Him, if we Keep his Commandments. "
1 John ii. 3.--"And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments." This age pretends to much knowledge beyond former ages, knowledge, I say, not only in other natural arts and sciences, but especially in religion. Whether there be any great advancement in other knowledge, and improvement of that which was, to a further extent and clearness, I cannot judge, but I believe there is not much of it in this nation, nor do we so much pretend to it. But, we talk of the enlargements of
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Covenanting According to the Purposes of God.
Since every revealed purpose of God, implying that obedience to his law will be given, is a demand of that obedience, the announcement of his Covenant, as in his sovereignty decreed, claims, not less effectively than an explicit law, the fulfilment of its duties. A representation of a system of things pre-determined in order that the obligations of the Covenant might be discharged; various exhibitions of the Covenant as ordained; and a description of the children of the Covenant as predestinated
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire
THE FALL OF NINEVEH AND THE RISE OF THE CHALDAEAN AND MEDIAN EMPIRES--THE XXVIth EGYPTIAN DYNASTY: CYAXARES, ALYATTES, AND NEBUCHADREZZAR. The legendary history of the kings of Media and the first contact of the Medes with the Assyrians: the alleged Iranian migrations of the Avesta--Media-proper, its fauna and flora; Phraortes and the beginning of the Median empire--Persia proper and the Persians; conquest of Persia by the Medes--The last monuments of Assur-bani-pal: the library of Kouyunjik--Phraortes
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 8

"If So be that the Spirit of God Dwell in You. Now if any Man have not the Spirit of Christ, He is None of His. "
Rom. viii. 9.--"If so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." "But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth?" 2 Chron. vi. 18. It was the wonder of one of the wisest of men, and indeed, considering his infinite highness above the height of heavens, his immense and incomprehensible greatness, that the heaven of heavens cannot contain him, and then the baseness, emptiness, and worthlessness of man, it may be a wonder to the
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Covenanting Enforced by the Grant of Covenant Signs and Seals.
To declare emphatically that the people of God are a covenant people, various signs were in sovereignty vouchsafed. The lights in the firmament of heaven were appointed to be for signs, affording direction to the mariner, the husbandman, and others. Miracles wrought on memorable occasions, were constituted signs or tokens of God's universal government. The gracious grant of covenant signs was made in order to proclaim the truth of the existence of God's covenant with his people, to urge the performance
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

The Acceptable Sacrifice;
OR, THE EXCELLENCY OF A BROKEN HEART: SHOWING THE NATURE, SIGNS, AND PROPER EFFECTS OF A CONTRITE SPIRIT. BEING THE LAST WORKS OF THAT EMINENT PREACHER AND FAITHFUL MINISTER OF JESUS CHRIST, MR. JOHN BUNYAN, OF BEDFORD. WITH A PREFACE PREFIXED THEREUNTO BY AN EMINENT MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL IN LONDON. London: Sold by George Larkin, at the Two Swans without Bishopgates, 1692. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. The very excellent preface to this treatise, written by George Cokayn, will inform the reader of
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Of the Nature of Regeneration, and Particularly of the Change it Produces in Men's Apprehensions.
2 COR. v. 17. 2 COR. v. 17. If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away, behold all things are become new. THE knowledge of our true state in religion, is at once a matter of so great importance, and so great difficulty that, in order to obtain it, it is necessary we should have line upon line and precept upon precept. The plain discourse, which you before heard, was intended to lead you into it; and I question not but I then said enough to convince many, that they were
Philip Doddridge—Practical Discourses on Regeneration

Jeremiah
The interest of the book of Jeremiah is unique. On the one hand, it is our most reliable and elaborate source for the long period of history which it covers; on the other, it presents us with prophecy in its most intensely human phase, manifesting itself through a strangely attractive personality that was subject to like doubts and passions with ourselves. At his call, in 626 B.C., he was young and inexperienced, i. 6, so that he cannot have been born earlier than 650. The political and religious
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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