Jeremiah 15:6
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Jeremiah 15:6
6 Thou hast forsaken me, saith the LORD, thou art gone backward: therefore will I stretch out my hand against thee, and destroy thee; I am weary with repenting.
Chapter Context
Jeremiah 15 is a prophetic oracle chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of truth, righteousness, redemption. Written during the final years of Judah and early exile (c. 627-580 BCE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Prophesied during Judah's final years as Babylon became the dominant power.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-21: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it illustrates divine judgment and mercy in response to human actions. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Jeremiah and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Jeremiah 15:6
6 Thou hast forsaken me, saith the LORD, thou art gone backward: therefore will I stretch out my hand against thee, and destroy thee; I am weary with repenting.
Analysis
This verse expresses divine exhaustion: 'Thou hast forsaken me, saith the LORD, thou art gone backward: therefore will I stretch out my hand against thee, and destroy thee; I am weary with repenting.' 'Forsaken me' (natash, נָטַשׁ) indicates abandonment; 'gone backward' (achar, אָחוֹר) describes retreat from relationship. God's response: 'stretch out my hand' (natah yad) for destruction. The stunning phrase 'I am weary with repenting' (nil'ethi hinachem, נִלְאֵיתִי הִנָּחֵם) indicates divine exhaustion with relenting from judgment. God has repeatedly held back punishment, but patience has ended. The divine reluctance to judge, expressed throughout prophetic literature, finally yields to exhausted necessity.
Historical Context
God's 'repenting' (nacham) of judgment appears throughout Israel's history—after the golden calf (Exodus 32:14), at Nineveh (Jonah 3:10), with David (2 Samuel 24:16). But Judah's persistent rebellion exhausted divine patience. The anthropomorphic language ('weary with repenting') expresses how human unfaithfulness tests even God's longsuffering. By Jeremiah's time, the accumulated centuries of rebellion exceeded what divine patience would further tolerate.
Reflection
- What does God's 'weariness with repenting' reveal about the limits of divine patience?
- How does this verse balance God's reluctance to judge with His determination to act?
Word Studies
- Repent: שׁוּב / נָחַם (Shuv / Nacham) H5162 - To turn back, relent
Cross-References
- References Lord: Jeremiah 2:17, 6:11, Isaiah 1:4, Ezekiel 25:7
- Parallel theme: Jeremiah 1:16, 6:19, 7:24, Hosea 11:7, Zephaniah 1:4, Zechariah 7:11