Jeremiah 10:17
Gather up thy wares out of the land, O inhabitant of the fortress.
Original Language Analysis
אִסְפִּ֥י
Gather up
H622
אִסְפִּ֥י
Gather up
Strong's:
H622
Word #:
1 of 5
to gather for any purpose; hence, to receive, take away, i.e., remove (destroy, leave behind, put up, restore, etc.)
Cross References
Jeremiah 6:1O ye children of Benjamin, gather yourselves to flee out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and set up a sign of fire in Beth-haccerem: for evil appeareth out of the north, and great destruction.Matthew 24:15When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)Micah 2:10Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest: because it is polluted, it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction.Jeremiah 21:13Behold, I am against thee, O inhabitant of the valley, and rock of the plain, saith the LORD; which say, Who shall come down against us? or who shall enter into our habitations?
Historical Context
Jerusalem's inhabitants trusted the city's fortifications, especially after Hezekiah's deliverance from Assyria (701 BC). The subsequent generations assumed similar divine protection. Jeremiah warns that no fortress withstands divine judgment—better to prepare for departure than trust walls against God's decree.
Questions for Reflection
- What false security do people place in 'fortresses'—physical, financial, institutional—that cannot withstand divine judgment?
- How does the command to pack possessions challenge false confidence in human protections?
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Analysis & Commentary
This verse warns of coming judgment: 'Gather up thy wares out of the land, O inhabitant of the fortress.' The Hebrew imagery is of packing belongings for deportation. 'Inhabitant of the fortress' (yosheveth bammatsor) addresses those in fortified Jerusalem, trusting walls for safety. 'Fortress' provides illusion of security—but packing becomes necessary when God brings judgment. This verse transitions from the idol polemic back to immediate prophetic warning about Babylon's approach.