Jeremiah 6:8
Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest my soul depart from thee; lest I make thee desolate, a land not inhabited.
Original Language Analysis
הִוָּסְרִי֙
Be thou instructed
H3256
הִוָּסְרִי֙
Be thou instructed
Strong's:
H3256
Word #:
1 of 12
to chastise, literally (with blows) or figuratively (with words); hence, to instruct
יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם
O Jerusalem
H3389
יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם
O Jerusalem
Strong's:
H3389
Word #:
2 of 12
jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine
פֶּן
H6435
פֶּן
Strong's:
H6435
Word #:
3 of 12
properly, removal; used only (in the construction) adverb as conjunction, lest
תֵּקַ֥ע
depart
H3363
תֵּקַ֥ע
depart
Strong's:
H3363
Word #:
4 of 12
properly, to sever oneself, i.e., (by implication) to be dislocated; figuratively, to abandon; causatively, to impale (and thus allow to drop to piece
נַפְשִׁ֖י
lest my soul
H5315
נַפְשִׁ֖י
lest my soul
Strong's:
H5315
Word #:
5 of 12
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
מִמֵּ֑ךְ
H4480
מִמֵּ֑ךְ
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
6 of 12
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
פֶּן
H6435
פֶּן
Strong's:
H6435
Word #:
7 of 12
properly, removal; used only (in the construction) adverb as conjunction, lest
אֲשִׂימֵ֣ךְ
from thee lest I make
H7760
אֲשִׂימֵ֣ךְ
from thee lest I make
Strong's:
H7760
Word #:
8 of 12
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
Cross References
Ezekiel 23:18So she discovered her whoredoms, and discovered her nakedness: then my mind was alienated from her, like as my mind was alienated from her sister.Hosea 9:12Though they bring up their children, yet will I bereave them, that there shall not be a man left: yea, woe also to them when I depart from them!Jeremiah 17:23But they obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive instruction.Psalms 50:17Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee.Jeremiah 32:33And they have turned unto me the back, and not the face: though I taught them, rising up early and teaching them, yet they have not hearkened to receive instruction.Zephaniah 3:7I said, Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive instruction; so their dwelling should not be cut off, howsoever I punished them: but they rose early, and corrupted all their doings.
Historical Context
Jeremiah's prophetic ministry spanned the final decades before Jerusalem's fall, repeatedly calling for repentance. This warning represents God's persistent efforts to turn Judah from destruction through prophetic witness.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's warning 'be thou instructed' demonstrate His mercy even in the midst of threatened judgment?
- What does it mean for God's presence to depart from a people or place?
- How should we respond when God's warnings become increasingly urgent and severe?
Analysis & Commentary
Despite the severe condemnation, God offers a final warning: 'Be thou instructed' (Hebrew 'yasar'—disciplined, corrected). This demonstrates divine patience, giving opportunity for repentance even as judgment approaches. The threat 'lest my soul depart from thee' uses anthropomorphic language to describe God withdrawing His covenant presence. The consequences are stark: desolation and abandonment ('a land not inhabited'). This verse encapsulates the Reformed understanding of God's character: He is both just in judgment and merciful in warning, delighting more in repentance than destruction (Ezekiel 33:11).