Jeremiah 6:18

KJV

¶ Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what [is] among them.

KJV (with Strong's)

Therefore hear {H8085}, ye nations {H1471}, and know {H3045}, O congregation {H5712}, what is among them.

Complete Jewish Bible

So hear, you nations; know, you assembly, what there is against them.

Berean Standard Bible

Therefore hear, O nations, and learn, O congregations, what will happen to them.

American Standard Version

Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 6:18 delivers a profound divine summons, articulated through the prophet, compelling both the surrounding Gentile nations and the covenant community of Israel (Judah) to bear witness to and deeply comprehend the pervasive spiritual and moral corruption that has infiltrated God's chosen people. This verse underscores God's unwavering commitment to justice and accountability, revealing that His impending judgment, though severe, is a righteous and public response to persistent disobedience, intended to be observed and understood by all as a testament to His sovereign character.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically positioned within a section of Jeremiah (chapters 6-10) that intensifies the prophet's pronouncements of impending judgment against Jerusalem and Judah. Following earlier warnings and lamentations regarding the people's pervasive apostasy and their refusal to heed divine instruction, chapter 6 specifically details the coming invasion by a formidable northern foe and the profound reasons for this divine chastisement. The call to "hear, ye nations" and "know, O congregation" in verse 18 immediately precedes a vivid description of the devastating judgment that is about to befall Judah, emphasizing the public, undeniable, and divinely orchestrated nature of God's righteous indignation. It serves as a solemn prelude to the subsequent laments and further condemnations, highlighting the inescapable consequences of their deep-seated rebellion and false security.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Jeremiah prophesied during a tumultuous and pivotal period in Judah's history, spanning the reigns of several kings leading up to the catastrophic Babylonian exile. The nation had a long and tragic history of covenant unfaithfulness, oscillating between brief periods of revival and prolonged eras of deep idolatry and social injustice. By Jeremiah's time, the spiritual and moral decay was profound, permeating all strata of society, from corrupt priests and false prophets to the common people. The looming threat of the Neo-Babylonian Empire was not merely a geopolitical force but God's divinely appointed instrument of judgment, a reality Jeremiah consistently proclaimed despite widespread rejection and persecution. Culturally, the idea of God calling other nations to witness His dealings with His covenant people was a recurring motif in Israelite prophecy; it served to validate His absolute sovereignty over all peoples and to provide a stark, universal lesson for both Israel and the surrounding world regarding the dire consequences of defying the one true God.
* **Key Themes:** Jeremiah 6:18 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes woven throughout the book. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Divine Judgment and Accountability**, demonstrating that God holds His covenant people to an even higher standard, and their persistent sin will inevitably lead to severe consequences, as vividly portrayed in the warnings of impending destruction and exile (e.g., God's declaration to cast them out of His sight, just as He did with Ephraim, in [Jeremiah 7:15](/jeremiah/7-15 "Jeremiah 7:15 - Expulsion from God's Presence")). Secondly, the verse highlights the theme of **Universal Witness and God's Sovereignty**, as God calls both insiders and outsiders to observe His righteous dealings, thereby asserting His supreme authority over all nations and His universal principles of justice. This public display of judgment serves as a profound testimony to His holy character. Finally, the pointed phrase "what is among them" directly addresses the pervasive **Internal Corruption and Spiritual Blindness** within Judah, emphasizing that their downfall was not merely due to external threats but primarily to their deep-seated spiritual sickness and their stubborn refusal to return to the "ancient paths" of righteousness and true rest, as lamented earlier in [Jeremiah 6:16](/jeremiah/6-16 "Jeremiah 6:16 - The Ancient Paths").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **hear (Hebrew, _shâmaʻ'_):** This primitive root signifies far more than mere auditory perception; it implies intelligent, attentive hearing, often carrying the strong implication of understanding, heeding, and ultimately, obedience. In the context of a divine command, especially one so solemn, it bears the weighty expectation of a summons to listen, internalize, and respond. For the nations, it is a call to perceive and acknowledge God's actions; for Judah, it is a desperate, final plea for them to truly listen and obey before judgment falls.
* **nations (Hebrew, _gôwy'_):** This term, often translated as "Gentiles" or "heathen," specifically refers to foreign, non-Israelite peoples. Their explicit inclusion in this divine summons is profoundly significant, indicating that God's impending judgment upon Judah is not a private, internal matter but a public spectacle, intended to demonstrate His justice, sovereignty, and moral order to the wider world. It suggests that even those outside the immediate covenant are expected to recognize the righteousness and divine origin of God's actions.
* **know (Hebrew, _yâdaʻ'_):** This broad and rich Hebrew root encompasses a wide spectrum of meanings, ranging from simple acquaintance to deep, experiential, and intimate understanding. It implies not just intellectual apprehension of facts but a profound recognition, acknowledgment, and conviction that leads to a transformed perspective. For both the nations and the congregation, it is a demand to truly grasp the reality of Judah's spiritual condition and the dire divine implications thereof, compelling a response of recognition and perhaps even fear.
* **congregation (Hebrew, _ʻêdâh'_):** This feminine noun refers to a stated assemblage or community, specifically denoting the covenant assembly or community of Israel. Its use here is particularly poignant, emphasizing that God's own chosen people, who were meant to be a light and witness to the nations, are themselves called to acknowledge their internal corruption. This highlights the profound irony and tragedy of their spiritual state—they, who should know God best and embody His truth, are now called to "know" what is truly "among them," revealing their deep-seated unfaithfulness.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Therefore hear, ye nations":** This opening clause functions as a solemn, universal summons, establishing the public nature of the impending divine act. The "Therefore" explicitly links back to the preceding declarations of Judah's pervasive sin and the inevitable, righteous judgment. God, through His prophet Jeremiah, calls upon the Gentile nations—the non-covenant peoples—to pay close and discerning attention to what is about to unfold in Judah. This public declaration elevates the impending judgment from a mere political or historical event to a profound divine object lesson for all humanity, showcasing God's absolute justice and His sovereign rule over all the earth.
* **"and know, O congregation":** Following the call to the nations, God directly addresses His own people, the "congregation" of Israel. This parallel summons emphasizes that Judah, too, must "know"—not just intellectually assent to, but experientially and repentantly grasp—the truth of their dire spiritual condition. It is a piercing call for radical self-awareness and accountability, urging them to recognize the profound depth of their rebellion, the righteousness of God's response, and the inescapable consequences of their unfaithfulness to the covenant.
* **"what [is] among them":** This concluding phrase points directly to the core issue and the catalyst for divine judgment: the pervasive sin, deep-seated idolatry, systemic injustice, and profound spiritual decay that had taken root and flourished within the very heart of Judahite society. It refers to the moral corruption, the syncretistic worship, the blatant rejection of God's law, and the hypocrisy that characterized their national and individual lives. The judgment is not arbitrary or capricious but a direct, just, and necessary consequence of "what is among them"—their persistent, unrepentant, and flagrant wickedness.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 6:18 masterfully employs several powerful literary devices to convey its urgent and weighty message. **Apostrophe** is prominently featured as the prophet directly addresses both the distant "nations" and the immediate "congregation," creating a dramatic sense of a universal courtroom where God's judgment is publicly declared and witnessed by all. This direct address lends an urgent, authoritative, and deeply personal tone to the divine message. The verse also functions as a quintessential **Prophetic Oracle**, a divinely inspired utterance conveying God's will and future actions, characterized by its authoritative tone, direct address, and declarative nature. Furthermore, there is a strong **Witness Motif** at play; God calls both external and internal parties (nations and congregation) to observe, understand, and bear testimony to His dealings with Judah, thereby transforming the impending judgment into a public demonstration of His character, justice, and sovereignty. This motif profoundly underscores the didactic purpose of the judgment, intended to teach all who observe it about the immutable consequences of rebellion against the holy God.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 6:18 profoundly articulates God's character as a righteous and holy judge who demands unwavering accountability, not only from the world but especially from His covenant people. It highlights the immutable theological principle that divine judgment is never arbitrary but is always a just and necessary response to persistent sin and unrepentant rebellion, even when it involves His chosen nation. The explicit call for both "nations" and "congregation" to "know" emphasizes the universal visibility and didactic purpose of God's justice. It underscores the profound truth that God's dealings with Israel serve as a powerful object lesson for all humanity, demonstrating His absolute sovereignty over history and His unwavering commitment to His moral law. This verse challenges any notion of automatic divine favor or unconditional protection apart from faithfulness, asserting that covenant privilege comes with profound responsibility and an even greater standard of accountability.

* [Deuteronomy 4:6](/deuteronomy/4-6 "Deuteronomy 4:6 - Israel as a Wise and Understanding Nation")
* [Psalm 9:16](/psalms/9-16 "Psalm 9:16 - The Lord is Known by His Justice")
* [Ezekiel 5:8](/ezekiel/5-8 "Ezekiel 5:8 - God's Judgment Among the Nations")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 6:18 stands as a timeless and convicting mirror for individuals and communities of faith in every generation. It compels us to move beyond superficial religiosity, outward conformity, or a false sense of security based on past blessings, and to genuinely examine "what is among us"—the hidden sins, the subtle compromises with worldly values, the insidious complacency, and the spiritual lukewarmness that can subtly erode our faithfulness and undermine our witness. Just as Judah's internal corruption led to public judgment and national devastation, our unaddressed sins, both personal and corporate, can hinder our effectiveness, mar our testimony, and invite God's loving but firm corrective discipline. This verse calls us to a radical honesty about our true spiritual state, urging us to humble ourselves, confess our sins, repent wholeheartedly, and return with renewed commitment to the "old paths" of God's truth, righteousness, and wholehearted devotion. It serves as a stark reminder that our walk with God is not a private affair but has profound implications that are observed by a watching world, making our integrity and faithfulness paramount for the sake of God's holy name and the advancement of His kingdom.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what specific areas of my personal life, or within our church community, might there be "what is among us" (unconfessed sin, compromise, complacency) that needs to be brought before God for repentance and cleansing?**
* **How does the idea of God calling "nations" to witness His judgment on Judah challenge my contemporary understanding of God's justice, His sovereignty over global events, and the public nature of His dealings with His people today?**
* **What practical, tangible steps can I take this week to ensure that my life, and our community, increasingly reflects genuine obedience, radical faithfulness, and a vibrant pursuit of righteousness, rather than spiritual apathy or self-deception?**

### FAQ
**Why did God call both "nations" and "congregation" to hear and know?**

Answer: God called both "nations" (Gentiles) and "congregation" (Israel) to hear and know for several crucial and interconnected reasons. For the nations, it was a public, undeniable demonstration of His absolute sovereignty and unyielding justice, revealing that He is the God of all the earth and that even His chosen people are not exempt from righteous judgment when they persist in sin and rebellion. This served as a powerful object lesson for the surrounding peoples, warning them and affirming God's moral governance of the world. For the congregation of Israel, it was a direct, inescapable summons to acknowledge their own profound spiritual corruption and the righteous basis for the impending judgment. It underscored their unique covenant responsibility and their catastrophic failure to live up to it, urging them to truly "know" the depth of their rebellion and the devastating consequences of rejecting God's repeated warnings and gracious invitations to repentance (see God's lament over their refusal to obey His voice in [Jeremiah 7:23-26](/jeremiah/7-23 "Jeremiah 7:23-26 - The Call to Obedience and Disobedience")).

**What does "what is among them" specifically refer to in the context of Judah?**

Answer: "What is among them" refers to the pervasive and deeply entrenched spiritual and moral decay that had infiltrated every aspect of Judahite society, from the highest leadership to the common people. This included widespread and blatant idolatry, where the worship of foreign gods alongside or even instead of Yahweh was rampant (e.g., the shocking practice of making cakes for the Queen of Heaven in [Jeremiah 7:18](/jeremiah/7-18 "Jeremiah 7:18 - Worship of the Queen of Heaven")). It also encompassed systemic social injustice, the oppression of the vulnerable, rampant dishonesty, and a general, contemptuous disregard for God's holy law. Furthermore, it included the dangerous influence of false prophets who proclaimed "peace, peace, when there is no peace" (as lamented in [Jeremiah 6:14](/jeremiah/6-14 "Jeremiah 6:14 - False Peace Proclaimed")), which lulled the people into a perilous complacency, preventing true repentance and a return to God. It was this deep-seated internal corruption, rather than merely external threats, that sealed their fate and necessitated God's severe judgment.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 6:18, with its solemn declaration of judgment against Judah's internal corruption and its call for universal witness, finds its ultimate and profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. While the verse speaks of God's righteous judgment against sin, it powerfully foreshadows the greater, vicarious judgment that would fall upon the "Lamb of God" who takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")). Jesus, the perfect and sinless Son of God, bore the full weight of God's wrath against the very "what is among them"—the collective sin and corruption of all humanity—on the cross, thereby making a way for forgiveness, reconciliation, and eternal life. Furthermore, the call for "nations" to hear and "congregation" to know points prophetically to the universal scope of Christ's redemptive work and the global reach of the Gospel. Through His sacrificial death and glorious resurrection, the good news is now proclaimed to "all nations" ([Matthew 28:19](/matthew/28-19 "Matthew 28:19 - The Great Commission")), inviting both Jew and Gentile to "know" Him not primarily as a judge, but as Savior and Lord. The historical judgment on Judah served as a shadow of the ultimate judgment that awaits all who reject Christ ([John 3:18](/john/3-18 "John 3:18 - Judgment for Unbelief")), while for believers, it profoundly underscores the immeasurable grace by which we are spared from the just consequences of our own "what is among us," through faith in Him who fulfilled all righteousness and bore our judgment, offering us new life and a transformed heart.

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

Isaiah 5:3

And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard.

Jeremiah 31:10

¶ Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare [it] in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd [doth] his flock.

Psalms 50:4

He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people.

Psalms 50:6

And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God [is] judge himself. Selah.

Jeremiah 4:10

Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! surely thou hast greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall have peace; whereas the sword reacheth unto the soul.

Deuteronomy 29:24

Even all nations shall say, Wherefore hath the LORD done thus unto this land? what [meaneth] the heat of this great anger?

Deuteronomy 29:28

And the LORD rooted them out of their land in anger, and in wrath, and in great indignation, and cast them into another land, as [it is] this day.