Jeremiah 5:8

Authorized King James Version

They were as fed horses in the morning: every one neighed after his neighbour's wife.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
סוּסִ֥ים
horses
a horse (as leaping)
#2
מְיֻזָּנִ֖ים
They were as fed
perhaps properly, to be plump, i.e., (transitively) to nourish
#3
מַשְׁכִּ֣ים
in the morning
to roam (through lust)
#4
הָי֑וּ
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
#5
אִ֛ישׁ
every one
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
#6
אֶל
near, with or among; often in general, to
#7
אֵ֥שֶׁת
wife
a woman
#8
רֵעֵ֖הוּ
after his neighbour's
an associate (more or less close)
#9
יִצְהָֽלוּ׃
neighed
to gleam, i.e., (figuratively) be cheerful

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the political and social structures of the biblical period. The author writes to address believers seeking to understand God's will and purposes, making the emphasis on salvation particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection

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