King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 6:25 Mean?

“Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy and fear is on every side.”

Context

They shall lay hold on bow and spear; they are cruel, and have no mercy; their voice roareth like the sea; and they ride upon horses, set in array as men for war against thee, O daughter of Zion.

We have heard the fame thereof: our hands wax feeble: anguish hath taken hold of us, and pain, as of a woman in travail.

Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy and fear is on every side.

O daughter of my people, gird thee with sackcloth, and wallow thyself in ashes: make thee mourning, as for an only son, most bitter lamentation: for the spoiler shall suddenly come upon us.

I have set thee for a tower and a fortress among my people, that thou mayest know and try their way.

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Topics in This Verse

Fear & Courage

Commentary

Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(25) **The field.**—*i.e., the open country. *To pass beyond the walls of the beleaguered city would be full of danger. The warning has its parallel in Matthew 24:17-18. In the same chapter we find also an echo of the prophet’s reference to the pangs of childbirth (Matthew 24:8). **Fear is on every side.**—The words are more notable than they seem. They impressed themselves on the prophet’s mind, and became to him as a watchword. So, in Jeremiah 20:3, he gives them as a name (*Magor-missabib*) to Pashur, and apparently (as in Jeremiah 20:10) it was used as a cry of derision against himself.

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 6:25 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.