Jeremiah 6:23

They shall lay hold on bow and spear; they [are] cruel, and have no mercy; their voice roareth like the sea; and they ride upon horses, set in array as men for war against thee, O daughter of Zion.

They shall lay hold {H2388} on bow {H7198} and spear {H3591}; they are cruel {H394}, and have no mercy {H7355}; their voice {H6963} roareth {H1993} like the sea {H3220}; and they ride {H7392} upon horses {H5483}, set in array {H6186} as men {H376} for war {H4421} against thee, O daughter {H1323} of Zion {H6726}.

They will take hold of bow and spear; they are cruel; they have no compassion: their noise as they ride on horses is like the roaring sea; and they are equipped for battle against you, daughter of Tziyon.

They grasp the bow and spear; they are cruel and merciless. Their voice roars like the sea, and they ride upon horses, lined up like men in formation against you, O Daughter of Zion.”

They lay hold on bow and spear; they are cruel, and have no mercy; their voice roareth like the sea, and they ride upon horses, every one set in array, as a man to the battle, against thee, O daughter of Zion.

Jeremiah 6:23 is a stark prophecy describing the terrifying nature of the invading army God would use to bring judgment upon Judah. The prophet Jeremiah, often called the "weeping prophet," delivered these messages during a time of deep spiritual decline in Judah, just before the Babylonian exile.

Context of Jeremiah 6:23

This verse is part of a larger section in Jeremiah chapter 6 where the prophet vividly warns Jerusalem, poetically referred to as the "daughter of Zion," of the impending invasion from the North. The "they" refers to the Chaldeans, or Babylonians, who were God's chosen instrument of judgment against Judah for their persistent idolatry, injustice, and disobedience. The imagery used here is designed to instill fear and convey the overwhelming power and ruthlessness of this approaching enemy, making it clear that no escape would be possible without repentance.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment: The verse underscores God's sovereign control over nations, even using a cruel foreign power to execute His righteous judgment on His own people who had strayed far from His covenant. This is a recurring theme throughout Jeremiah's prophecies, such as in Jeremiah 5:15.
  • Ruthless Enemy: The description "cruel, and have no mercy" highlights the unpitying nature of the invaders. This stands in stark contrast to the mercy and compassion God continually offered His people before their final judgment.
  • Overwhelming Force: The phrases "their voice roareth like the sea" and "they ride upon horses, set in array as men for war" paint a picture of a vast, disciplined, and terrifying military force. The roar like the sea conveys an unstoppable, all-encompassing sound of destruction.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: The severity of the threatened judgment serves as a powerful reminder of the dire consequences of rejecting God's commands and warnings.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "their voice roareth like the sea" uses the Hebrew word sha'ag (שָׁאַג), which is often used for the roar of a lion or the tumultuous sound of a mighty force. Comparing the sound of the army to the "sea" emphasizes its immense volume, terrifying nature, and overwhelming presence, much like crashing waves. The term "daughter of Zion" (בַּת־צִיּוֹן, bat-Tziyyon) is a common poetic personification of Jerusalem and its inhabitants, often used in prophetic and lament literature to evoke a sense of intimacy and vulnerability, as seen also in Lamentations 2:13.

Practical Application

While specific to ancient Judah, Jeremiah 6:23 offers timeless lessons. It reminds us of the seriousness of sin and the principle that unrepentant disobedience can lead to severe consequences. It also highlights God's justice and His ultimate sovereignty, even in the midst of human suffering and conflict. For believers today, it serves as a call to heed God's warnings, pursue genuine repentance, and trust in His divine plan, even when it involves difficult circumstances. It also underscores the importance of compassion, contrasting the invaders' cruelty with the mercy that God desires from His people, as taught by Jesus in the Beatitudes.

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.

  • Isaiah 13:18

    [Their] bows also shall dash the young men to pieces; and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eye shall not spare children.

  • Jeremiah 50:42

    They shall hold the bow and the lance: they [are] cruel, and will not shew mercy: their voice shall roar like the sea, and they shall ride upon horses, [every one] put in array, like a man to the battle, against thee, O daughter of Babylon.

  • Habakkuk 1:6

    For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, [that] bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces [that are] not theirs.

  • Habakkuk 1:10

    And they shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn unto them: they shall deride every strong hold; for they shall heap dust, and take it.

  • Isaiah 19:4

    And the Egyptians will I give over into the hand of a cruel lord; and a fierce king shall rule over them, saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts.

  • Jeremiah 4:29

    The whole city shall flee for the noise of the horsemen and bowmen; they shall go into thickets, and climb up upon the rocks: every city [shall be] forsaken, and not a man dwell therein.

  • Isaiah 5:26

    And he will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss unto them from the end of the earth: and, behold, they shall come with speed swiftly:

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