Jeremiah 6:21

KJV

Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will lay stumblingblocks before this people, and the fathers and the sons together shall fall upon them; the neighbour and his friend shall perish.

KJV (with Strong's)

Therefore thus saith {H559} the LORD {H3068}, Behold, I will lay {H5414} stumblingblocks {H4383} before this people {H5971}, and the fathers {H1} and the sons {H1121} together {H3162} shall fall {H3782} upon them; the neighbour {H7934} and his friend {H7453} shall perish {H6}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Therefore thus says ADONAI: "I will put obstacles in the way of this people that they will stumble over fathers and sons, neighbors and friends, all will perish together."

Berean Standard Bible

Therefore this is what the LORD says: “I will lay stumbling blocks before this people; fathers and sons alike will be staggered; friends and neighbors will perish.”

American Standard Version

Therefore thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will lay stumbling-blocks before this people; and the fathers and the sons together shall stumble against them; the neighbor and his friend shall perish.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 6:21 delivers a solemn divine pronouncement of impending judgment upon the unrepentant people of Judah. The LORD declares His active role in orchestrating their downfall by placing "stumblingblocks" before them, ensuring that the calamity will be comprehensive and indiscriminate, affecting all generations and social bonds, leading to widespread perishing. This verse underscores God's righteous wrath against persistent disobedience and His sovereign control over the consequences of a nation's rebellion.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 6 is a chapter saturated with prophetic warnings and laments concerning Jerusalem's impending destruction. Preceding verses vividly portray the city as besieged, with enemies approaching from the north, and describe the people's stubborn refusal to heed God's warnings or repent of their sins. For instance, [Jeremiah 6:10](/jeremiah/6-10 "Jeremiah 6:10 - Judah's Refusal to Hear God's Word") explicitly states their ears are uncircumcised, and they cannot listen to the word of the LORD. The immediate verses leading up to 6:21 speak of the LORD's intention to bring disaster upon them, a "great destruction" that will cause terror and lamentation. Verse 21, therefore, functions as a direct declaration of the LORD's active participation in this judgment, detailing its severity and scope, following the pronouncements of their incurable wound and unfaithfulness. It emphasizes that this is not a random misfortune but a divinely ordained consequence.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Jeremiah prophesied during a tumultuous period in Judah's history, spanning the reigns of several kings from Josiah to Zedekiah, leading up to the Babylonian exile (c. 627-586 BC). The people of Judah had largely abandoned the covenant with Yahweh, engaging in widespread idolatry, social injustice, and moral corruption, despite repeated warnings from prophets like Jeremiah. The "stumblingblocks" mentioned in the verse would likely manifest as the invading armies of Babylon, famine, disease, and internal societal collapse—all divinely orchestrated consequences for their covenant unfaithfulness. The cultural expectation of familial and communal solidarity ("fathers and sons," "neighbour and friend") is dramatically overturned by the prophecy, emphasizing the total breakdown of society under divine judgment, where no relationship offers refuge from the impending disaster. This highlights the severity of God's response to their prolonged rebellion.

* **Key Themes:** Jeremiah 6:21 powerfully contributes to several key themes prevalent in the book of Jeremiah. Firstly, it highlights the theme of **Divine Judgment and Retribution**, asserting God's direct agency in bringing about the consequences of sin, rather than merely allowing them to happen. The "stumblingblocks" are not accidental but divinely appointed instruments of justice. Secondly, it emphasizes the **Severity and Universality of Judgment**, demonstrating that God's wrath is comprehensive, sparing no one, regardless of age or social standing. This underscores the inescapable nature of divine punishment for a nation that has persistently rejected its covenant Lord. Finally, it reinforces the theme of **Unheeded Warnings and Persistent Rebellion**, as the judgment described is a direct result of Judah's refusal to repent and return to the LORD, despite numerous prophetic appeals, as seen in [Jeremiah 5:25](/jeremiah/5-25 "Jeremiah 5:25 - Judah's Sins Withholding Good") where their iniquities have turned away the good things from them.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **LORD (Hebrew, _Yᵉhôvâh'_):** This is the sacred covenant name of God, often translated as "Jehovah" or "the Lord." Derived from a root meaning "to be" or "to exist," it signifies "the self-Existent or Eternal One." Its presence here signifies that the pronouncement of judgment is not a mere human prediction but a direct, authoritative declaration from the eternal God who is faithful to His covenant, even in judgment. It underscores the divine origin and certainty of the impending calamity, revealing the personal and relational nature of the God who is bringing this judgment.
* **stumblingblocks (Hebrew, _mikshôwl'_):** This masculine noun, derived from the root *kâshal* (to stumble), denotes an obstacle, a snare, or a cause of ruin. It can refer literally to something that causes one to trip, or figuratively to something that leads to moral, spiritual, or physical downfall. In a theological context, it often refers to an instrument of judgment or an offense. Here, it explicitly refers to the divinely appointed means by which Judah will be brought to ruin, highlighting that their destruction is a direct consequence of their unrepentant sin and God's righteous response, not an arbitrary act.
* **fall (Hebrew, _kâshal'_):** This primitive root means "to totter or waver (through weakness of the legs, especially the ankle); by implication, to falter, stumble, faint or fall." It vividly portrays the physical, moral, and societal collapse that will ensue from the "stumblingblocks" God lays. It implies a loss of stability, a descent into ruin, and an inability to recover, signifying the comprehensive nature of the judgment. The use of this verb emphasizes the inevitability of their collapse once God sets the obstacles in their path.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Therefore thus saith the LORD,"**: This introductory phrase serves as a powerful divine authentication. It establishes that what follows is not Jeremiah's personal opinion or a human prediction, but a direct, authoritative, and unalterable word from Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. It signals the solemnity and certainty of the impending pronouncement, emphasizing God's sovereignty and His active engagement in the affairs of His people.
* **"Behold, I will lay stumblingblocks before this people,"**: This clause declares God's active agency in the impending judgment. The "stumblingblocks" are not random misfortunes or external threats God merely permits; rather, they are divinely ordained obstacles, traps, or causes of ruin that God Himself will purposefully place in Judah's path. This highlights God's intentionality in bringing about the consequences of their persistent sin and rebellion against Him, demonstrating His righteous justice.
* **"and the fathers and the sons together shall fall upon them;"**: This part specifies the comprehensive and indiscriminate nature of the judgment. It highlights that no demographic—neither the old nor the young, nor the familial bond that typically offers protection and continuity—will be spared. The calamity will affect all generations simultaneously, signifying a total societal collapse and the absence of refuge within traditional societal structures, underscoring the depth of Judah's corporate sin.
* **"the neighbour and his friend shall perish."**: This final clause further emphasizes the pervasive and devastating scope of the judgment. Even the closest social ties and personal relationships, which typically provide support and solace, will offer no protection. The perishing of "neighbour and friend" underscores the utter destruction of communal life and the widespread loss of life, signifying the complete breakdown of society under God's righteous wrath and the finality of the judgment for those who refuse to repent.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 6:21 employs several powerful **literary devices** to convey its message of impending judgment with stark clarity. The most prominent is **Metaphor**, where "stumblingblocks" (Hebrew: *mikshôwl*) are used to represent the divinely orchestrated obstacles and causes of ruin that will lead to Judah's downfall. These are not literal blocks but the instruments of judgment, such as invading armies, famine, or societal collapse, which God actively places in their path. The phrase "fathers and sons together shall fall" and "the neighbour and his friend shall perish" uses **Merism** (a type of synecdoche) to represent the entirety of the population, emphasizing the universality and totality of the judgment across all social strata and familial bonds, from the oldest to the youngest, and across all social relationships. This creates a sense of **Hyperbole** to underscore the extreme and inescapable nature of the calamity. The overall tone is one of **Divine Pronouncement** and **Prophetic Warning**, delivered with stark and uncompromising language, characteristic of Jeremiah's ministry, to convey the gravity of Judah's unrepentant state and the certainty of God's righteous retribution.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 6:21 serves as a profound theological statement on God's justice and sovereignty, demonstrating that His patience has limits and that persistent rebellion against His covenant leads to certain judgment. It reveals a God who is not merely reactive but actively involved in orchestrating the consequences of sin, using the very path of their chosen disobedience as a means of their downfall. This divine action underscores the seriousness of covenant breaking and the absolute necessity of repentance. The indiscriminate nature of the judgment highlights that when a nation or people collectively turn from God, the consequences impact all, regardless of individual innocence or age, emphasizing the corporate responsibility inherent in the covenant relationship and the pervasive reach of divine wrath.

* [Leviticus 26:14-17](/leviticus/26-14-17 "Leviticus 26:14-17 - Consequences of Disobedience")
* [Deuteronomy 28:15-20](/deuteronomy/28-15-20 "Deuteronomy 28:15-20 - Curses for Disobedience")
* [Isaiah 8:14-15](/isaiah/8-14-15 "Isaiah 8:14-15 - A Stone of Stumbling")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 6:21 stands as a stark reminder that God is not only a God of love and mercy but also of righteous judgment and justice. For us today, it underscores the profound seriousness of sin and the inevitable consequences of persistent rebellion against divine truth. While we live under the New Covenant of grace, the principle remains that turning away from God's revealed will and rejecting His loving guidance can lead to spiritual and even temporal "stumblingblocks" in our lives, hindering our walk with Him and potentially leading to profound spiritual peril. This verse calls us to a deep self-examination, prompting us to consider areas where we might be resisting God's voice or neglecting His commands. It challenges us to embrace genuine repentance, seeking to align our lives, both individually and corporately, with His righteous standards, lest we find ourselves on a path of self-destruction that God, in His justice, allows to unfold. It reminds us that God's warnings are not idle threats but loving calls to avert disaster.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be creating "stumblingblocks" through disobedience or unrepentant sin?**
* **How does understanding God's justice in Jeremiah 6:21 deepen my appreciation for His mercy and grace offered through Christ?**
* **What societal or communal "stumblingblocks" do I observe today, and how might they reflect a turning away from God?**
* **How can I actively listen to and obey God's warnings in my life, both personally and within my community of faith, to avoid spiritual pitfalls?**

### FAQ
**What are the "stumblingblocks" mentioned in Jeremiah 6:21?**

Answer: The "stumblingblocks" (Hebrew: *mikshôwl*) are not literal obstacles but a powerful metaphor for the divinely appointed instruments of judgment and ruin that God would place before the people of Judah. These would manifest as the direct consequences of their unrepentant sin, including the invading Babylonian armies, famine, disease, and the internal societal collapse that would lead to their destruction and exile. God is depicted as actively orchestrating these events as a righteous response to their persistent rebellion against His covenant and His repeated warnings.

**Does this verse mean God actively causes people to sin or stumble?**

Answer: No, this verse does not imply that God causes people to sin or tempts them to evil. Instead, it indicates that God, in His sovereignty and justice, orchestrates the *consequences* of people's *already existing* sin and rebellion. The "stumblingblocks" are not temptations to sin, but rather the just and inevitable outcomes that God lays in the path of those who have chosen a course of persistent disobedience. It highlights God's active role in bringing about judgment upon those who have rejected His warnings and refused to repent, as seen in passages like [Jeremiah 5:25](/jeremiah/5-25 "Jeremiah 5:25 - Judah's Sins Withholding Good") where their sins have kept good from them, and [Jeremiah 6:10](/jeremiah/6-10 "Jeremiah 6:10 - Judah's Refusal to Hear God's Word") which describes their ears as uncircumcised, unable to hear His word.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Jeremiah 6:21 speaks of God laying stumblingblocks of temporal judgment upon an unrepentant Israel, the New Testament reveals a profound Christ-centered fulfillment and reinterpretation of the "stumblingblock" motif. Jesus Himself becomes both the ultimate **stumblingblock** and the ultimate **cornerstone**. For those who reject Him, He is "a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense" ([1 Peter 2:8](/1_peter/2-8 "1 Peter 2:8 - Christ, the Stumbling Stone"), echoing the prophecy in [Isaiah 8:14](/isaiah/8-14 "Isaiah 8:14 - A Stone of Stumbling")). The very one sent by God to deliver humanity becomes the obstacle over which they fall, leading to their spiritual ruin, not because He causes them to sin, but because their hearts are hardened against the truth and grace He embodies. However, for those who believe, this same "stone" is transformed into the "chief cornerstone" ([Ephesians 2:20](/ephesians/2-20 "Ephesians 2:20 - Christ, the Chief Cornerstone")), the foundational element of salvation and eternal life. Thus, while the Old Testament "stumblingblocks" were instruments of God's temporal judgment against a rebellious nation, Christ represents the decisive, eternal "stumblingblock" that reveals the heart's true disposition towards God, leading either to condemnation for unbelief or to salvation for those who trust in Him as the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"). His cross, a scandal to some, is the power and wisdom of God to those who are being saved ([1 Corinthians 1:23-24](/1_corinthians/1-23-24 "1 Corinthians 1:23-24 - Christ Crucified, God's Power and Wisdom")).

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 8:14

And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

Ezekiel 3:20

Again, When a righteous [man] doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

Jeremiah 13:16

Give glory to the LORD your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, [and] make [it] gross darkness.

Isaiah 9:14

Therefore the LORD will cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush, in one day.

Isaiah 9:17

Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one [is] an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand [is] stretched out still.

Romans 9:33

As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Jeremiah 15:2

And it shall come to pass, if they say unto thee, Whither shall we go forth? then thou shalt tell them, Thus saith the LORD; Such as [are] for death, to death; and such as [are] for the sword, to the sword; and such as [are] for the famine, to the famine; and such as [are] for the captivity, to the captivity.