King James Version
What Does Jeremiah 5:26 Mean?
“For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men. they lay: or, they pry as fowlers lie in wait”
Context
24
Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.
25
Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you.
26
For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men. they lay: or, they pry as fowlers lie in wait
27
As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich. cage: or, coop
28
They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge.
Commentary
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers(26) **They lay wait.**—Literally, *he lieth in wait *(used of the leopard in Hosea 13:7), *as in the crouching down of fowlers: they have set the snare. *The indefinite singular in the first clause brings before us the picture of isolated guilt, the plural that of confederate evil.
Charles John Ellicott (1819–1905). Public Domain.
Historical Context
This verse is found in the book of Jeremiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.
Theological Significance
Jeremiah 5:26 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.
Cross-References
Verses related to Jeremiah 5:26
Cross-references from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge