Jeremiah 10:17

¶ Gather up thy wares out of the land, O inhabitant of the fortress.

Gather up {H622} thy wares {H3666} out of the land {H776}, O inhabitant {H3427} of the fortress {H4692}.

You who are living under the siege, gather your belongings off the ground,

Gather up your belongings from this land, you who live under siege.

Gather up thy wares out of the land, O thou that abidest in the siege.

Jeremiah 10:17 delivers a stark and urgent warning to the people of Judah, particularly those residing in Jerusalem, signaling the imminent arrival of divine judgment and forced displacement. The command to "gather up thy wares out of the land" serves as a direct instruction to prepare for exile, indicating a complete disruption of their lives and security.

Context

This verse immediately follows a powerful theological declaration (Jeremiah 10:1-16) where the prophet Jeremiah vividly contrasts the futility and powerlessness of pagan idols with the incomparable greatness and sovereignty of the true God, the Creator of all things. The people of Judah had fallen into widespread idolatry, adopting the customs of the nations around them. Therefore, verse 17 marks a pivotal shift from theological teaching to a direct, practical warning of the impending consequences of their unfaithfulness. It anticipates the devastating Babylonian captivity that would soon befall them, as prophesied elsewhere in Jeremiah (e.g., Jeremiah 25:9).

Key Themes

  • Impending Judgment and Exile: The most direct message is the certainty of a coming catastrophe that will force the inhabitants out of their homeland. The "wares" or possessions represent everything they hold dear, which they must now prepare to abandon or carry into an uncertain future.
  • Consequences of Disobedience and Idolatry: This judgment is a direct result of Judah's spiritual rebellion and their abandonment of the Lord for false gods. The warnings given in the Mosaic Law regarding covenant curses for disobedience were now being fulfilled.
  • Loss of False Security: The phrase "O inhabitant of the fortress" refers to Jerusalem, which was considered a strong, impenetrable city. This command shatters any illusion of security derived from physical fortifications, highlighting that no human stronghold can withstand God's judgment.
  • Divine Sovereignty: Despite the human agents of destruction (Babylon), the underlying message is that God Himself is orchestrating these events as a righteous judge, demonstrating His ultimate control over nations and history (Isaiah 45:7).

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "wares" (מִתְחַרְתֵּךְ - mitḥartēḵ) refers to merchandise, trading goods, or possessions. It implies that the people should quickly gather what little they can carry, as if preparing for a hurried flight. The term for "fortress" (מִצַּר - miṣṣar), while translated as such in KJV, can also convey the idea of being "under siege" or "in distress," further emphasizing the dire situation of the people who once felt secure within their fortified city.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 10:17 serves as a timeless reminder about the transient nature of material possessions and the importance of spiritual preparedness. It calls believers to:

  • Heed Divine Warnings: Just as Judah was warned, we are called to listen to God's word and repent from anything that separates us from Him.
  • Prioritize Spiritual Over Material: The verse underscores that physical security and accumulated wealth are temporary. True security is found in a right relationship with God, not in earthly possessions or strongholds.
  • Recognize God's Justice: It reminds us that God is just and that unrepented sin and rebellion against Him will eventually lead to consequences, though His ultimate desire is for repentance and restoration.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Ezekiel 12:3

    Therefore, thou son of man, prepare thee stuff for removing, and remove by day in their sight; and thou shalt remove from thy place to another place in their sight: it may be they will consider, though they [be] a rebellious house.

  • Ezekiel 12:12

    And the prince that [is] among them shall bear upon [his] shoulder in the twilight, and shall go forth: they shall dig through the wall to carry out thereby: he shall cover his face, that he see not the ground with [his] eyes.

  • Jeremiah 6:1

    ¶ O ye children of Benjamin, gather yourselves to flee out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and set up a sign of fire in Bethhaccerem: for evil appeareth out of the north, and great destruction.

  • Matthew 24:15

    When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

  • Micah 2:10

    Arise ye, and depart; for this [is] not [your] rest: because it is polluted, it shall destroy [you], even with a sore destruction.

  • Jeremiah 21:13

    Behold, I [am] against thee, O inhabitant of the valley, [and] rock of the plain, saith the LORD; which say, Who shall come down against us? or who shall enter into our habitations?

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