Jeremiah 6:28

They [are] all grievous revolters, walking with slanders: [they are] brass and iron; they [are] all corrupters.

They are all grievous {H5493} revolters {H5637}, walking {H1980} with slanders {H7400}: they are brass {H5178} and iron {H1270}; they are all corrupters {H7843}.

All of them are total rebels, spreading slanderous gossip; they are bronze and iron, [inferior metals,] all of them corrupt.

All are hardened rebels, walking around as slanderers. They are bronze and iron; all of them are corrupt.

They are all grievous revolters, going about with slanders; they are brass and iron: they all of them deal corruptly.

Commentary

Context of Jeremiah 6:28

The book of Jeremiah chronicles the prophetic ministry of Jeremiah to the southern kingdom of Judah during a tumultuous period leading up to the Babylonian exile. God had called Jeremiah to be a "prophet to the nations" (Jeremiah 1:5), delivering messages of warning, judgment, and eventual restoration. Chapter 6 specifically describes the impending judgment upon Jerusalem due to the people's deep-seated rebellion, moral corruption, and refusal to heed God's warnings. In the verses immediately preceding Jeremiah 6:28, God describes Jeremiah's role as a "tester of metals" or an assayer among His people (Jeremiah 6:27), tasked with examining their spiritual quality. This verse reveals the devastating conclusion of that divine assessment.

Meaning of the Verse

Jeremiah 6:28 paints a stark picture of the moral and spiritual decay of Judah. The verse uses strong language and vivid metaphors to describe their condition:

  • "They [are] all grievous revolters": This indicates a pervasive and profound rebellion against God. The Hebrew word for "revolters" (sarar) implies stubbornness, defiance, and a persistent turning away from divine instruction. It's not merely a lapse but a deep-seated characteristic.
  • "walking with slanders": Their very conduct is marked by malicious gossip, deceit, and treachery. The word rakil, often translated "slander," refers to tale-bearing that causes strife and damage, suggesting a society riddled with dishonesty and backbiting.
  • "[they are] brass and iron": This powerful metaphor refers to base metals. In the context of refining (as hinted at in the surrounding verses), brass and iron are hard, unyielding, and difficult to purify into precious metals like silver or gold. This symbolizes the people's hardened hearts, their unresponsiveness to God's refining fire, and their resistance to repentance. Their character is coarse and impure, incapable of yielding spiritual purity.
  • "they [are] all corrupters": This final phrase summarizes their destructive nature. They not only are corrupt themselves but actively spread corruption, influencing others negatively and undermining moral and spiritual integrity within the nation. They are agents of decay.

Key Themes

  • Profound Spiritual Rebellion: The verse highlights the deep-seated nature of Judah's unfaithfulness, moving beyond mere disobedience to outright defiance.
  • Moral Degeneration: It underscores the breakdown of ethical conduct, characterized by slander and widespread corruption.
  • Divine Judgment and Assessment: God's clear-eyed evaluation of His people's state, revealing their unworthiness and resistance to His grace.
  • Hardness of Heart: The metaphor of "brass and iron" powerfully conveys their stubborn refusal to be softened or purified by God's discipline and prophetic warnings, leading to consequences such as those described in Hebrews 3:8.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew terms used in this verse emphasize the severity of Judah's condition. Sarar (ืกึธืจึทืจ), translated "revolters," speaks to an obstinate, unruly nature, indicating a deep-seated refusal to submit to authority. Rakil (ืจึธื›ึดื™ืœ), "slanders," points to malicious gossip and tale-bearing that is destructive to community and trust. The imagery of n'choshet (ื ึฐื—ึนืฉืึถืช, "brass" or "copper") and barzel (ื‘ึผึทืจึฐื–ึถืœ, "iron") is crucial. These are not precious metals and, in the metallurgical process described in Jeremiah 6:29-30, signify impurities that cannot be removed, illustrating the irreversible spiritual state of the people.

Symbolism of Brass and Iron

The metaphor of "brass and iron" is central to understanding this verse. In ancient metallurgy, silver and gold were refined by fire to separate them from impurities. However, if the base metal itself was "brass and iron," it meant the material was inherently coarse and resistant to purification into something precious. God, through Jeremiah, is essentially saying that His people are not merely impure; they are fundamentally unrefinable in their current state. Their hearts are so hard and their rebellion so ingrained that they resist the spiritual "refiner's fire" (Malachi 3:3) meant to purge their sin.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 6:28 serves as a sobering warning against the dangers of persistent rebellion and a hardened heart.

  • Self-Examination: It calls believers to honest self-assessment. Are we "grievous revolters" in any area, stubbornly resisting God's word or correction?
  • Watchfulness Against Slander: The verse highlights the destructive nature of slander and gossip, reminding us of the importance of truthful and edifying speech (Ephesians 4:29).
  • Responsiveness to God's Refining: Just as Judah became like unrefinable metals, we are exhorted to remain pliable in God's hands, allowing Him to purify us through trials and His Word, rather than hardening our hearts against Him.
  • Impact on Others: The phrase "all corrupters" reminds us that our spiritual state affects not only ourselves but also those around us. We are called to be a positive, sanctifying influence, not agents of decay.
Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 9:4

    Take ye heed every one of his neighbour, and trust ye not in any brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbour will walk with slanders.

  • Jeremiah 5:23

    But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone.

  • Jeremiah 18:18

    ยถ Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.

  • Psalms 50:20

    Thou sittest [and] speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother's son.

  • Jeremiah 20:10

    For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, [say they], and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, [saying], Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.

  • Revelation 11:18

    And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

  • Isaiah 31:6

    ยถ Turn ye unto [him from] whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted.
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