Jeremiah 5:9

KJV

Shall I not visit for these [things]? saith the LORD: and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?

KJV (with Strong's)

Shall I not visit {H6485} for these things? saith {H5002} the LORD {H3068}: and shall not my soul {H5315} be avenged {H5358} on such a nation {H1471} as this?

Complete Jewish Bible

Should I not punish for this?" asks ADONAI. "Should I not be avenged on a nation like this?"

Berean Standard Bible

Should I not punish them for these things?” declares the LORD. “Should I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?

American Standard Version

Shall I not visit for these things? saith Jehovah; and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 5:9 presents a profound rhetorical question from the LORD, underscoring the absolute certainty and divine necessity of judgment against Judah for its pervasive unfaithfulness and deep-seated sin. It declares God's unwavering commitment to justice, asserting that He will indeed "visit" His people with punitive consequences and that His very "soul" will be "avenged" upon a nation that has so thoroughly rebelled against Him. This verse highlights the profound gravity of Judah's apostasy and the inevitable, righteous consequences that must follow, serving as a climactic declaration of divine resolve in the face of widespread moral decay.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 5 forms a scathing and comprehensive indictment of Judah's widespread corruption, serving as a powerful and sorrowful prelude to the impending Babylonian exile. The chapter meticulously details a society utterly devoid of righteousness, where truth has vanished from the streets, despite God's earnest search for even one righteous person ([Jeremiah 5:1](/jeremiah/5-1 "Jeremiah 5:1 - Searching for Righteousness")). It exposes the systemic injustice, particularly how the wicked prosper and oppress the poor and needy ([Jeremiah 5:28](/jeremiah/5-28 "Jeremiah 5:28 - The Wicked Prosper and Oppress")). Even those entrusted with spiritual leadership—the prophets and priests—are complicit in the deception, prophesying falsely and ruling by their own authority ([Jeremiah 5:31](/jeremiah/5-31 "Jeremiah 5:31 - False Prophets and Priests")). God's lament throughout the chapter reveals His deep grief over His people's broken covenant, their refusal to acknowledge His authority ([Jeremiah 5:5](/jeremiah/5-5 "Jeremiah 5:5 - Judah's Broken Covenant")), and their blatant idolatry, exchanging His glory for worthless idols and engaging in spiritual adultery ([Jeremiah 5:7](/jeremiah/5-7 "Jeremiah 5:7 - Idolatry and Adultery")). Verse 9, with its potent double rhetorical question, serves as a climactic declaration of divine resolve and righteous indignation, a direct and inevitable response to the catalogue of grievous sins detailed in the preceding verses, signaling unequivocally that the time for a divine reckoning has arrived.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Jeremiah's prophetic ministry spanned a tumultuous period in Judah's history, primarily from the reign of King Josiah (c. 640-609 BC) through the final fall of Jerusalem and the subsequent Babylonian exile in 586 BC. This era was characterized by a brief spiritual revival under Josiah, quickly overshadowed by a rapid relapse into deep apostasy under subsequent kings like Jehoiakim and Zedekiah. Geopolitically, Judah was precariously positioned between the rising imperial power of Babylon and the declining influence of Assyria and Egypt. Despite repeated, urgent warnings from prophets like Jeremiah, the people, including their political and religious leaders, clung to syncretistic worship practices, rampant social injustice, and a false sense of security derived from the presence of the Temple in Jerusalem (often referred to as "the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD" in [Jeremiah 7:4](/jeremiah/7-4 "Jeremiah 7:4 - False Security in the Temple")). Their fundamental covenant relationship with Yahweh, established at Mount Sinai, was systematically violated by their widespread idolatry, moral depravity, and unrighteous living. This persistent infidelity inevitably led to the divine judgment of exile, a consequence explicitly outlined in the Mosaic Law for covenant disobedience ([Deuteronomy 28:15-68](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Curses for Disobedience")). Jeremiah 5:9 encapsulates God's righteous response to this profound and sustained betrayal.
* **Key Themes:** Jeremiah 5:9 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes prevalent in the book of Jeremiah and the broader prophetic literature. Foremost among these is the theme of **Divine Justice**, asserting God's immutable righteous character which necessitates accountability for sin and covenant infidelity. It highlights the severe **Consequences of Sin**, demonstrating that persistent and unrepentant rebellion against God inevitably leads to profound divine judgment, a principle echoed throughout Scripture, as seen in the spiritual law of sowing and reaping described in [Galatians 6:7](/galatians/6-7 "Galatians 6:7 - Sowing and Reaping"). The verse also emphasizes **God's Sovereignty and Wrath**, portraying Him not as an indifferent or passive deity, but as an active, holy, and just God whose "soul" is righteously provoked by profound betrayal, spiritual adultery, and moral corruption. Furthermore, while a direct declaration of judgment, this verse implicitly serves as a **Warning and Call to Repentance**, reinforcing the urgent need for Judah to turn back to God before the full, devastating measure of His wrath is unleashed. This urgent call for repentance is a central and recurring message throughout Jeremiah's entire prophetic ministry, often juxtaposed with the inevitability of judgment if repentance is withheld, as seen in [Jeremiah 3:12-14](/jeremiah/3-12-14 "Jeremiah 3:12-14 - Call to Repentance").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **visit (Hebrew, _pâqad'_):** H6485. This verb carries a broad semantic range, meaning "to visit," "to oversee," "to muster," or "to appoint." However, in contexts of divine interaction with human sin, as seen here, it predominantly takes on the connotation of visiting for inspection, reckoning, or punishment. It signifies God's active intervention to call to account and execute judgment, implying a divine audit of human actions that leads to consequences, often severe. It is not a casual call but a purposeful, decisive act of divine governance.
* **soul (Hebrew, _nephesh'_):** H5315. While frequently translated "soul," _nephesh_ in this context refers to the very essence of God's being, His inner self, His life-force, or His person. When God declares "my soul shall be avenged," it is not an anthropomorphic expression of petty human vindictiveness but rather a profound declaration of His righteous indignation and the depth of His commitment to upholding His holy standards and covenant. It speaks to the totality of His being, His deepest affections and moral nature, being invested in the act of judgment against unrighteousness.
* **avenged (Hebrew, _nâqam'_):** H5358. This primitive root means "to grudge," "to avenge," or "to punish." In the context of divine action, _nâqam_ signifies righteous retribution or vindication. It is fundamentally distinct from human revenge, which is often driven by malice or personal injury. Instead, it describes God bringing just consequences upon those who defy His holiness and covenant, thereby vindicating His own character, restoring moral order, and demonstrating the inviolability of His justice. It is a necessary act to rectify profound moral imbalance.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Shall I not visit for these [things]?":** This opening phrase is a powerful rhetorical question, designed not to elicit an answer but to affirm the undeniable certainty and necessity of God's impending action. The phrase "these [things]" serves as a direct reference to the litany of grievous sins detailed throughout Jeremiah 5—widespread idolatry, pervasive deceit, systemic injustice, and the blatant breaking of God's covenant with His people. God's "visitation" here is unequivocally punitive, indicating His imminent and decisive intervention to hold Judah accountable for their persistent rebellion and profound moral decay. It implies a divine reckoning that cannot be avoided.
* **"saith the LORD:":** This declarative phrase, using the Hebrew _nᵉʼum_ (H5002) and Yahweh (_Yᵉhôvâh_, H3068), underscores the divine authority, absolute truthfulness, and unwavering resolve behind the pronouncement. It is not a human opinion, a prophetic conjecture, or a mere warning, but a direct, authoritative utterance from Yahweh, the self-existent, covenant-keeping God of Israel. This affirmation lends absolute certainty, gravity, and finality to both the preceding and following statements, emphasizing that this judgment is a sovereign decree from the supreme ruler of all creation.
* **"and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?":** This second rhetorical question powerfully reinforces the first, intensifying the certainty of judgment. The phrase "my soul" (H5315, _nephesh_) emphasizes the depth of God's personal commitment, His righteous indignation, and the profound offense taken by His very being at Judah's sin. "Avenged" (H5358, _nâqam_) signifies righteous retribution, not capricious vengeance, highlighting that God's response is just and deserved. The phrase "such a nation as this" (H1471, _gôwy_) serves to highlight the extreme degree of Judah's apostasy, corruption, and moral degradation, implying that their wickedness has reached a level that justly and necessarily demands divine intervention and punishment. God's perfect justice demands that such profound and persistent betrayal not go unaddressed, lest His holiness be compromised.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 5:9 employs several potent **literary devices** to convey its message with maximum impact and theological weight. The most prominent and impactful is the **Rhetorical Question**, repeated twice ("Shall I not visit...?" and "shall not my soul be avenged...?"). These questions are not posed to elicit information or invite debate but to emphasize the absolute certainty, inevitability, and divine necessity of God's judgment. They create a profound sense of dramatic tension and underscore the unwavering divine resolve, implying that the only possible answer is an emphatic "Yes!" Another significant device is **Anthropomorphism**, vividly seen in "my soul be avenged." While God is spirit and does not possess a physical "soul" in the human sense, this expression attributes human-like emotional depth, personal resolve, and profound indignation to God. This makes His commitment to justice relatable and profoundly impactful, conveying that God's very being is affronted by Judah's sin and that His response is deeply personal, righteous, and just. The phrase "such a nation as this" also functions as a form of **Hyperbole** or intense emphasis, highlighting the extreme and pervasive degree of Judah's depravity and thereby justifying the severity and certainty of the impending divine judgment.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 5:9 stands as a stark and sobering reminder of God's unchanging character: He is both infinitely merciful and perfectly just. While His patience is long and His grace abundant, His holiness demands that sin be addressed and that His moral order be upheld, especially when it involves a covenant people who have repeatedly spurned His grace and defied His commands. This verse underscores the foundational biblical truth that God is not indifferent to human rebellion or moral decay; His justice is an active and essential attribute that ensures accountability for all unrighteousness. It highlights the profound seriousness of sin, not merely as a transgression of rules, but as a direct affront to the very "soul" of God, provoking His righteous wrath and indignation. This divine response is never capricious or vindictive, but always a necessary act to uphold His perfect moral order, vindicate His holy name, and demonstrate the inevitable consequences of rejecting His supreme lordship. The judgment promised here serves as an enduring warning for all generations, affirming that God will ultimately "visit" all unrighteousness, whether in individuals, communities, or nations, ensuring that justice prevails.

* [Deuteronomy 32:35](/deuteronomy/32-35 "Deuteronomy 32:35 - Vengeance is Mine, and Recompense")
* [Psalm 7:11](/psalm/7-11 "Psalm 7:11 - God is a Righteous Judge")
* [Nahum 1:2-3](/nahum/1-2-3 "Nahum 1:2-3 - The LORD is a Jealous and Avenging God")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 5:9, though originally addressed to ancient Judah in a specific historical context, resonates with timeless and universal truths that demand our earnest reflection and practical application today. It compels us to confront the profound reality of God's unwavering holiness, His perfect justice, and His active involvement in the affairs of humanity. In a contemporary world that often downplays the seriousness of sin, dismisses moral absolutes, or presumes upon divine mercy without repentance, this verse serves as a powerful and necessary corrective. It reminds us that God is not mocked, and that His righteous character necessitates a decisive response to persistent unrighteousness. This passage challenges us to engage in honest self-examination of our own lives and the societies we inhabit, asking if our individual actions, collective attitudes, and cultural norms truly align with God's righteous standards. Are we, like Judah, provoking His displeasure through subtle or overt idolatry (whether of material possessions, power, comfort, or self), systemic injustice, or spiritual apathy? The "visitation" and "avenging" spoken of here are not arbitrary acts of wrath, but righteous and necessary responses to persistent rebellion and covenant breaking. Therefore, this verse calls us to genuine and heartfelt repentance, urging us to turn decisively from our sin and to embrace the boundless mercy and transformative grace that God always offers to those who humble themselves before Him. It reminds us that true security, lasting peace, and ultimate flourishing lie not in false confidence, worldly alliances, or human ingenuity, but solely in a right, submissive, and loving relationship with the sovereign LORD.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what specific ways might I, or the community I am a part of, be presuming upon God's abundant mercy while neglecting His clear call to righteousness and justice?**
* **How does a deeper understanding of God's "soul being avenged" (His righteous indignation) profoundly deepen my appreciation for His absolute holiness and the true seriousness of sin?**
* **What particular areas of my personal life, or aspects of my nation's culture and policies, need to be brought into radical alignment with God's revealed standards to avoid His "visitation" of judgment?**
* **How does the sobering certainty of divine judgment, as declared in this verse, serve as a powerful motivation for me to live a life of greater repentance, active obedience, and unwavering faith?**

### FAQ
**Does God truly "avenge" Himself, or is this just a human way of describing His justice?**

Answer: The language of God "avenging" His soul in Jeremiah 5:9, using the Hebrew word _nâqam_ (H5358), is indeed a powerful **anthropomorphism**. It is crucial to understand that this does not imply God acts out of petty human vindictiveness, spite, or emotional revenge. Instead, it profoundly describes His righteous and holy response to profound and persistent sin. God's "avenging" is the execution of just consequences, a necessary act to uphold His perfect moral order, vindicate His own holy character, and demonstrate that He is indeed the sovereign Judge over all creation. It signifies that He will not tolerate unrighteousness indefinitely but will bring about a righteous reckoning for those who defiantly disregard His covenant and commands. This understanding is consistent with other passages that speak of God's righteous wrath and judgment, such as [Romans 1:18](/romans/1-18 "Romans 1:18 - God's Wrath Against Ungodliness") which declares God's wrath against all ungodliness and unrighteousness, and [Hebrews 10:30](/hebrews/10-30 "Hebrews 10:30 - Vengeance Belongs to the Lord") which affirms that "Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord."

**What does "visit for these things" mean in the context of divine judgment?**

Answer: The Hebrew word for "visit" here is _pâqad_ (H6485), and its precise meaning is highly dependent on its specific context. While it can indeed mean to visit with favor or blessing (for example, God visiting Sarah with the promise of a child in [Genesis 21:1](/genesis/21-1 "Genesis 21:1 - The Birth of Isaac")), in Jeremiah 5:9, it carries a strong and unmistakable connotation of visiting for inspection, reckoning, or specifically, for punishment. It implies a divine audit where God calls to account the actions of individuals or nations and executes judgment based on His findings. "These things" refers directly to the specific and egregious sins detailed earlier in Jeremiah 5, such as Judah's rampant idolatry, pervasive deceit, systemic injustice, and their fundamental breaking of the covenant. Therefore, God's "visitation" in this context is His active and decisive intervention to bring about the deserved consequences for their unfaithfulness, signifying a period of divine discipline or judgment, often manifested through external means like invasion and exile, as was tragically the case with the Babylonian conquest.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 5:9, with its stark declaration of God's righteous "visitation" and His "soul being avenged" upon a sinful nation, finds its ultimate fulfillment and profound resolution in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. The judgment that ancient Judah faced for its pervasive unrighteousness and covenant infidelity foreshadows the universal judgment that all humanity deserves for its rebellion against a holy and just God ([Romans 3:23](/romans/3-23 "Romans 3:23 - All Have Sinned and Fall Short")). However, the glorious news of the Gospel is that God, in His infinite love, perfect wisdom, and boundless mercy, provided a way for His justice to be perfectly satisfied without condemning those who believe. On the cross, Jesus Christ, the spotless Lamb of God ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), willingly became the recipient of the divine "visitation" of judgment and the object of God's righteous wrath against sin. He bore the full, crushing weight of the "avenging" that humanity deserved, experiencing the profound separation and punishment for our rebellion against a holy God ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")). Through His perfect, atoning sacrifice, God's justice was not merely appeased but perfectly upheld and fully satisfied, allowing Him to be both perfectly just and simultaneously the gracious justifier of all who place their faith in Jesus ([Romans 3:25-26](/romans/3-25-26 "Romans 3:25-26 - God's Righteousness Through Faith")). Thus, while Jeremiah 5:9 warns of inescapable judgment for unrepentant sin, it also implicitly points to the only and ultimate escape from that judgment: genuine repentance and saving faith in the One who took the "visitation" upon Himself, thereby offering eternal life, reconciliation, and peace with a holy God ([John 5:24](/john/5-24 "John 5:24 - Hearing His Word and Believing")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Jeremiah 9:9

Shall I not visit them for these [things]? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?

Jeremiah 5:29

Shall I not visit for these [things]? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?

Ezekiel 5:13

Thus shall mine anger be accomplished, and I will cause my fury to rest upon them, and I will be comforted: and they shall know that I the LORD have spoken [it] in my zeal, when I have accomplished my fury in them.

Ezekiel 5:15

So it shall be a reproach and a taunt, an instruction and an astonishment unto the nations that [are] round about thee, when I shall execute judgments in thee in anger and in fury and in furious rebukes. I the LORD have spoken [it].

Deuteronomy 32:43

Rejoice, O ye nations, [with] his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, [and] to his people.

Leviticus 26:25

And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall avenge the quarrel of [my] covenant: and when ye are gathered together within your cities, I will send the pestilence among you; and ye shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy.

Jeremiah 23:2

Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD.