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Jeremiah 9

26 verses

TL;DR

Jeremiah 9 is a lament over Israel’s moral decay and divine judgment, warning of impending destruction due to their unfaithfulness and urging repentance.

Summary

Jeremiah 9 opens with a lament that speaks of a desire for tears over the slain of the people of Israel. The prophet condemns the nation’s corruption, describing them as adulterers, liars, and treacherous, and warns that even neighbors and brothers will betray one another. He declares that God will “melt” the people and bring suffering: mountains weeping, cities desolate, and the land burned like wilderness. The chapter calls out the people’s abandonment of God’s law, their idolatry toward Baalim, and their unholy hearts. Jeremiah urges the people to seek repentance, warning that God will scatter them among the heathen, give them wormwood and bitter water, and punish the uncircumcised—both literal and spiritual. The prophet concludes with a call to humility, reminding that only those who truly understand and love God will be honored, not the wise, mighty, or rich.

Outline
  1. 1. Lament and description of moral decay
  2. 2. Pronouncement of divine judgment and punishment
  3. 3. Call to repentance and warning of future exile
Themes
Moral corruption and its consequencesDivine judgment versus human prideCall to repentance and humility
Keywords
lamentjudgmentdeceitadulteryidolatrycircumcisionuncircumcisedIsraelJerusalemwilderness
People
Jeremiahthe LORD
Places
JerusalemZionWildernessMountainsJudah
Things
wormwoodwater of gallsworddeceitadulterycircumcision
Key Verses
  • Jeremiah 9:8: Illustrates the violence of God’s judgment and the certainty of its execution
  • Jeremiah 9:13: Attributes the nation’s downfall to forsaking God’s law
  • Jeremiah 9:15-16: Describes the bitterness and exile that will follow unfaithfulness
  • Jeremiah 9:24: Emphasizes the value of understanding God over worldly power
  • Jeremiah 9:26: Highlights the symbolic use of circumcision as spiritual fidelity
Questions
  • What does Jeremiah mean by describing the people as "adulterers" and "treacherous men"?
  • How does the imagery of wormwood and bitter water convey God’s judgment?
  • In what ways does the chapter call for humility and what practical steps might that involve?
  • What significance does the contrast between the wise, mighty, and rich versus those who understand God hold?
  • How does the theme of unfaithfulness to God’s law relate to modern believers?
Sentiment

negative
The chapter expresses sorrow, condemnation, and warning of impending judgment.