Jeremiah 5
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A high resolution scan of the Aleppo Codex showing theBook of Jeremiah (the sixth book in Nevi'im).
Book	Book of Jeremiah
Hebrew Bible part	Nevi'im
Order in the Hebrew part	6
Category	Latter Prophets
Christian Bible part	Old Testament
Order in the Christian part	24

Jeremiah 5 is the fifthchapter of theBook of Jeremiah in theHebrew Bible or theOld Testament of theChristianBible. This book contains prophecies attributed to theprophetJeremiah, and is one of theBooks of the Prophets. Chapters2 to6 contain the earliest preaching of Jeremiah on the apostasy ofIsrael.^[1] This chapter is sub-titled "The Justice of God’s Judgment" in theNew King James Version.

The original text of this chapter, as with the rest of theBook of Jeremiah, was written inHebrew language. Since the division of the Bible intochapters and verses in the late medieval period, this chapter is divided into 31 verses.

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter inHebrew are of theMasoretic Text tradition, which includes theCodex Cairensis (895),the Petersburg Codex of the Prophets (916),Aleppo Codex (10th century),Codex Leningradensis (1008).^[2]

There is also a translation intoKoine Greek known as theSeptuagint, made in the last few centuries BCE. Extant ancient manuscripts of theSeptuagint version includeCodex Vaticanus (B;${\displaystyle \mathfrak{G}}$^B; 4th century),Codex Sinaiticus (S;BHK:${\displaystyle \mathfrak{G}}$^S; 4th century),Codex Alexandrinus (A;${\displaystyle \mathfrak{G}}$^A; 5th century) andCodex Marchalianus (Q;${\displaystyle \mathfrak{G}}$^Q; 6th century).^[3] Among theChester Beatty Papyri (BHK:${\displaystyle \mathfrak{G}}$^Beatty) are the fragments of Jeremiah (Rahlfs 966; Chester Beatty Library (CBL) BP VIII), dated from the late second century or early third century AD, containing Jeremiah 4:30–5:1; 5:9–13; 5:13–14; 5:23–24.^[4][5]

Theparashah sections listed here are based on theAleppo Codex.^[6] Jeremiah 5 is a part of theThird prophecy (Jeremiah 3:6-6:30) in the section ofProphecies of Destruction (Jeremiah 1-25). {P}: openparashah; {S}: closedparashah.

{S} 5:1-9 {S} 5:10-13 {S} 5:14-19 {P} 5:20-29 {S} 5:30-31 [6:1-5 {P}]

A. W. Streane in theCambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges organises this chapter as follows:

• Jeremiah 5:1-9: Even one righteous man would procure forgiveness. But moral obliquity and obstinacy in sin are universal among the enlightened no less than the ignorant. Retribution cannot but be the result.
• Jeremiah 5:10-19: The people have refused to credit the forecasts of the true prophets. Therefore, shall city and country alike be laid waste by a mighty nation of unknown tongue. Israel has chosen to serve foreign gods at home. Now she shall be compelled to serve foreign masters in exile.
• Jeremiah 5:20-29: They fear not Jehovah, who is absolute in His control of nature's forces, whether beneficent or destructive. By craft, like that of the fowler, who fills his cage with trapped birds, rich men lay up wealth at the expense of the needy and the orphan. Divine vengeance must ensue.
• Jeremiah 5:30-31: Prophets teach falsely, and support priestly rule. The people welcome this state of things. What shall the end be?^[7]

Run ye to and fro through the streets ofJerusalem,

and see now, and know,

and seek in the broad places thereof,

if ye can find a man,

if there be any that executeth judgment,

that seeketh the truth;

and I will pardon it.^[8]

"Run to and fro" is fitting for Jeremiah as a youth (Jeremiah 1:6) but other translations do not maintain this emphasis:“Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem (New International Version),Walk up and down the streets of Jerusalem (New Century Version). TheGreek philosopherDiogenes similarly is said to have strolled about the city ofAthens in full daylight with alantern, "looking for an honest man".^[9]

And though they say, The LORD liveth; surely they swear falsely^[10]

The reading is "...therefore they swear falsely" in the Masoretic Text^[7] and theLexham English Bible.^[11]

Lo, I will bring a nation upon you from far,

O house of Israel, saith the Lord:

it is a mighty nation, it is an ancient nation,

a nation whose language thou knowest not,

neither understandest what they say.^[12]

The prophets prophesy falsely,

And the priests rule by their own power;

And My people love to have it so.

But what will you do in the end?^[13]

Arhetorical question; alternatively,"But when the end comes, what will you do?" (New Jerusalem Bible).^[14]Greek:εις τα μετά ταύτα,eis ta meta tauta, literally "in the [times] after these things".^[15]

The prophetIsaiah also asks his hearers:

What will you do in the day of punishment,

And in the desolation which will come from afar?

To whom will you flee for help?^[16]

• Israel
• Jacob
• Judah
• Jerusalem
• RelatedBible parts:Isaiah 9,Jeremiah 4

• Würthwein, Ernst (1995).The Text of the Old Testament. Translated by Rhodes, Erroll F. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans.ISBN 0-8028-0788-7. RetrievedJanuary 26, 2019.

• Jeremiah 5 in Hebrew with Parallel English

• Jeremiah 5 English Translation with Parallel Latin Vulgate

• Book of Jeremiah chapters

• Articles with short description
• Short description matches Wikidata
• Articles containing Greek-language text