TRV
Translation
American Standard Version
Refuse silver shall men call them, because Jehovah hath rejected them.
World English Bible Messianic
Men will call them rejected silver, because the LORD has rejected them.”
Young's Literal Translation
`Silver rejected,' they have called to them, For Jehovah hath kicked against them!
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In the KJVVerse 19,120 of 31,102
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Commentary on Jeremiah 6 verses 18–30
18 ¶ Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them.
19 Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.
20 To what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto me.
21 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.
22 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, a people cometh from the north country, and a great nation shall be raised from the sides of the earth.
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.
24 We have heard the fame thereof: our hands wax feeble: anguish hath taken hold of us, and pain, as of a woman in travail.
25 Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy and fear is on every side.
26 O daughter of my people, gird thee with sackcloth, and wallow thyself in ashes: make thee mourning, as for an only son, most bitter lamentation: for the spoiler shall suddenly come upon us.
27 I have set thee for a tower and a fortress among my people, that thou mayest know and try their way.
28 They are all grievous revolters, walking with slanders: they are brass and iron; they are all corrupters.
29 The bellows are burned, the lead is consumed of the fire; the founder melteth in vain: for the wicked are not plucked away.
30 Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the LORD hath rejected them.
Here, I. God appeals to all the neighbours, nay, to the whole world, concerning the equity of his proceedings against Judah and Jerusalem (Jer 6:18, Jer 6:19): "Hear, you nations, and know particularly, O congregation of the mighty, the great men of the nations, that take cognizance of the affairs of states about you and make remarks upon them. Observe now what is doing among those of Judah and Jerusalem; you hear of the desolations brought upon them, the earth rings of it, trembles under it; you all wonder that I should bring evil upon this people, that are in covenant with me, that profess relation to me, that have worshipped me, and been highly favoured by me; you are ready to ask, Wherefore has the Lord done thus to this land? Deu 29:24. Know then," 1. "That it is the natural product of their devices. The evil brought upon them is the fruit of their thought. They thought to strengthen themselves by their alliance with foreigners, and by that very thing they weakened and diminished themselves, they betrayed and exposed themselves." 2. "That it is the just punishment of their disobedience and rebellion. God does but execute upon them the curse of the law for their violation of its commands. It is because they have not hearkened to my words nor to my law, nor regarded a word I have said to them, but rejected it all. They would never have been ruined thus by the judgments of God's hand if they had not refused to be ruled by the judgments of his mouth: therefore you cannot say that they have any wrong done them."
II. God rejects their plea, by which they insisted upon their external services as sufficient to atone for all their sins. Alas! it is a frivolous plea (Jer 6:20): "To what purpose come there to me incense and sweet cane, to be burnt for a perfume on the golden altar, though it was the best of the kind, and far-fetched? What care I for your burnt-offerings and your sacrifices?" They not only cannot profit God (no sacrifice does, Psa 50:9), but they do not please him, for none does this but the sacrifice of the upright; that of the wicked is an abomination to him. Sacrifice and incense were appointed to excite their repentance, and to direct them to a Mediator, and assist their faith in him. Where this good use was made of them they were acceptable, God had respect to them and to those that offered them. But when they were offered with an opinion that thereby they made God their debtor, and purchased a license to go on in sin, they were so far from being pleasing to God that they were a provocation to him.
III. He foretels the desolation that was now coming upon them. 1. God designs their ruin because they hate to be reformed (Jer 6:21): I will lay stumbling-blocks before this people, occasions of falling not into sin, but into trouble. Those whom God has marked for destruction he perplexes and embarrasses in their counsels, and obstructs and retards all the methods they take for their own safety. The parties of the enemy, which they met with wherever they went, were stumbling-blocks to them; in ever corner they stumbled upon them and were dashed to pieces by them: The fathers and the sons together shall fall upon them; neither the fathers with their wisdom, nor the sons with their strength and courage, shall escape them, or get over them. The sons that sinned with their fathers fall with them. Even the neighbour and his friend shall perish and not be able to help either themselves or one another. 2. He will make use of the Chaldeans as instruments of it; for whatever work God has to do he will find out proper instruments for the doing of it. This is a people fetched from the north, from the sides of the earth. Babylon itself lay a great way off northward; and some of the countries that were subject to the king of Babylon, out of which his army was levied, lay much further. These must be employed in this service, Jer 6:22, Jer 6:23. For, (1.) It is a people very numerous, a great nation, which will make their invasion the more formidable. (2.) It is a warlike people. They lay hold on bow and spear, and at this time know how to use them, for they are used to them. They ride upon horses, and therefore they march the more swiftly, and in battle press the harder. No nation had yet brought into the field a better cavalry that the Chaldeans. (3.) It is a barbarous people. They are cruel and have no mercy, being greedy of prey and flushed with victory. They take a pride in frightening all about them; their voice roars like the sea. And, (4.) They have a particular design upon Judah and Jerusalem, in hopes greatly to enrich themselves with the spoil of that famous country. They are set in array against thee, O daughter of Zion! The sins of God's professing people make them an easy prey to those that are God's enemies as well as theirs.
IV. He describes the very great consternation which Judah and Jerusalem should be in upon the approach of this formidable enemy, Jer 6:24-26. 1. They own themselves in a fright, upon the first intelligence brought them of the approach of the enemy: "When we have but heard the fame thereof our hands wax feeble, and we have no heart to make any resistance; anguish has taken hold of us, and we are immediately in an extremity of pain, like that of a woman in travail." Note, Sense of guilt quite dispirits men, upon the approach of any threatening trouble. What can those hope to do for themselves who have made God their enemy? 2. They confine themselves by consent to their houses, not daring to show their heads abroad; for, though they could not but expect that the sword of the enemy would at last find them out there, yet they would rather die tamely and meanly there than run any venture, either by fight or flight, to help themselves. Thus they say one to another, "Go not forth into the field, no not to fetch in your provision thence, nor walk by the way; dare not to go to church or market, it is at your peril if you do, for the sword of the enemy, and the fear of it, are on every side; the highways are unoccupied, as in Jael's time," Jdg 5:6. Let this remind us, when we travel the roads in safety and there is none to make us afraid, to bless God for our share in the public tranquillity. 3. The prophet calls upon them sadly to lament the desolations that were coming upon them. He was himself the lamenting prophet, and called upon his people to join with him in his lamentations: "O daughter of my people, hear they God calling thee to weeping and mourning, and answer his call: do not only put on sackcloth for a day, but gird it on for thy constant wear; do not only put ashes on thy head, but wallow thyself in ashes; put thyself into close mourning, and use all the tokens of bitter lamentation, not forced and for show only, but with the greatest sincerity, as parents mourn for an only son, and think themselves comfortless because they are childless. Thus do thou lament for the spoiler that suddenly comes upon us. Though he has not come yet, he is coming, the decree has gone forth: let us therefore meet the execution of it with a suitable sadness." As saints may rejoice in hope of God's mercies, though they see them only in the promise, so sinners must mourn for fear of God's judgments, though they see them only in the threatenings.
V. He constitutes the prophet a judge over this people that now stand upon their trial: as Jer 1:10, I have set thee over the nations; so here, I have set thee for a tower, or as a sentinel, or a watchman, upon a tower, among my people, as an inspector of their actions, that thou mayest know, and try their way, Jer 6:27. Not that God needed any to inform him concerning them; on the contrary, the prophet knew little of them in comparison but by the spirit of prophecy. But thus God appeals to the prophet himself, and his own observation concerning their character, that he might be fully satisfied in the equity of God's proceedings against them and with the more assurance give them warning of the judgments coming. God set him for a tower, conspicuous to all and attacked by many, but made him a fortress, a strong tower, gave him courage to stem the tide and bear the shock of their displeasure. Those that will be faithful reprovers have need to be firm as fortresses. Now in trying their way he will find two things: - 1. That they are wretchedly debauched (Jer 6:28): They are all grievous revolters, revolters of revolters (so the word is), the worst of revolters, as a servant of servants is the meanest servant. They have a revolting heart, have deeply revolted, and revolt more and more. They seemed to start fair, but they revolt and start back. They walk with slanders; they make nothing of belying and backbiting one another, nay, they make a perfect trade of it; it is their constant course, and they govern themselves by the slanders they hear, hating those that they hear ill-spoken of, though ever so unjustly. They are brass and iron, base metals, and there is nothing in them that is valuable. They were as silver and gold, but they have degenerated. Nay, as they are all revolters, so they are all corrupters, not only debauched themselves, but industrious to debauch others, to corrupt them as they themselves are corrupt; nay, to make them seven times more the children of hell than themselves. It is often so; sinners soon become tempters. 2. That they would never be reclaimed and reformed; it was in vain to think of reforming them, for various methods had been tried with them, and all to no purpose, Jer 6:29, Jer 6:30. He compares them to ore that was supposed to have some good metal in it, and was therefore put into the furnace by the refiner, who used all his art, and took abundance of pains, about it, but it proved all dross, nothing of any value could be extracted out of it. God by his prophets and by his providences had used the most proper means to refine this people and to purify them from their wickedness; but it was all in vain. By the continual preaching of the word, and in a series of afflictions, they had been kept in a constant fire, but all to no purpose. The bellows have been still kept so near the fire, to blow it, that they are burnt with the heat of it, or they are quite worn out with long use and thrown into the fire as good for nothing. The prophets have preached their throats sore with crying aloud against the sins of Israel, and yet they are not convinced and humbled. The lead, which was then used in refining silver, as quicksilver is now, is consumed of the fire, and has not done its work. The founder melts in vain; his labour is lost, for the wicked are not plucked away, no care is taken to separate between the precious and the vile, to purge out the old leaven, to cast out of communion those who, being corrupt themselves, are in danger of infecting others. Or, Their wickednesses are not removed (so some read it); they are still as bad as ever, and nothing will prevail to part between them and their sins. They will not be brought off from their idolatries and immoralities by all they have heard, and all they have felt, of the wrath of God against them; and therefore that doom is passed upon them (Jer 6:30): Reprobate silver shall they be called, useless and worthless; they glitter as if they had some silver in them, but there is nothing of real virtue or goodness to be found among them; and for this reason the Lord has rejected them. He will no more own them as his people, nor look for any good from them; he will take them away like dross (Psa 119:119), and prepare a consuming fire for those that would not be purified by a refining fire. By this it appears, (1.) That God has no pleasure in the death and ruin of sinners, for he tries all ways and methods with them to prevent their destruction and qualify them for salvation. Both his ordinances and his providences have a tendency this way, to part between them and their sins; and yet with many it is all lost labour. We have piped unto you, and you have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and you have not wept. Therefore, (2.) God will be justified in the death of sinners and all the blame will lie upon themselves. He did not reject them till he had used all proper means to reform them; did not cast them off so long as there was any hope of them, nor abandon them as dross till it appeared that they were reprobate silver.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 18–30. Public domain.
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IrenaeusAD 202
AGAINST HERESIES 4:36.2
Jeremiah says, “I set watchmen over you. Hear the sound of the trumpet. They said, We will not listen. Therefore the Gentiles have heard, and they who feed the flocks in them.” It is therefore one and the same Father who planted the vineyard, who led forth the people, who sent the prophets, who sent his own Son and who gave the vineyard to those other husbandmen that render the fruits in their season.
Aphrahat the Persian SageAD 345
DEMONSTRATIONS 5:21
Daniel said, “The saints of the most High shall receive the kingdom.” What shall we say concerning this? Have the children of Israel received the kingdom of the most High? God forbid. Or has that people come on the clouds of heaven? This has passed away from them. For Jeremiah said concerning them, “Call them rejected silver, for the Lord has rejected them.” Again he said, “He will not again regard them.” And Isaiah said concerning them, “Pass by! Pass by! Approach not the defiled.”
JeromeAD 420
Commentary on Jeremiah
(Verse 27 and following) I have appointed you as a strong tester among my people, and you will know and prove their ways. All these leaders are turning away (or disobedient), walking deceitfully (or perversely). Bronze and iron are all corrupted, the bellows in the fire have failed (which the Greeks more significantly call a 'puffer'), the lead is consumed, the refiner has vainly blown (or the moneylender). For their wickedness is not consumed: call them reprobate silver, for the Lord has rejected them. The prophet is given as a strong proof to an unbelieving people, which is called Mabsar in Hebrew, which either means fortified, according to Aquila, or enclosed and surrounded, according to Symmachus and the Septuagint, like a very strong city, so that it fears no treachery from any people; and when you have proven and understood the way of a sinful people, then you will understand that silver mixed with copper cannot be purged in any way. For just as lead is mixed with metals that are adulterated and corrupted, so that the foreign material can be separated, and if perhaps it has not been purified, all the lead is consumed and reduced to nothing: in the same way, every discourse of teachings and prophetic speech perishes in those who scorn to listen (Psalm 57). Let us speak also about those who, like deaf asps, plug their ears so as not to hear the voices of those who enchant. For the mint worker and the metal smelter have labored in vain: their wickedness has not been consumed. Therefore, they are called not silver, but reprobate silver, because the Lord has rejected them. And the princes are those who turn away from the Lord, who walk perversely and deceitfully.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Jeremiah 6:30 delivers a stark and definitive pronouncement of divine judgment upon the nation of Judah, concluding a passage that describes God's exhaustive yet ultimately futile efforts to refine His people. Through the potent metallurgical metaphor, the verse declares that Judah has become "reprobate silver"—metal so thoroughly corrupted by impurities that it is deemed worthless and irrevocably rejected by the divine Refiner, the LORD, as a direct consequence of their persistent and unrepentant rebellion against His covenant.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The verse predominantly employs a powerful Metaphor, comparing the people of Judah to "reprobate silver." Just as a skilled metalworker meticulously tests and ultimately discards silver that proves impossible to purify, God, functioning as the divine Refiner, has painstakingly tested Judah and found them to be irredeemably corrupt in their current state of unrepentance. This metaphor vividly conveys their spiritual worthlessness and unsuitability in God's eyes after repeated failures to respond to His refining work. There is also a strong element of Irony present, as silver is universally regarded as a symbol of purity, value, and preciousness, yet here it is paradoxically described as "reprobate," highlighting the tragic corruption and debasement of what was originally intended for a noble and holy purpose. Finally, the entire verse functions as a solemn Judgmental Pronouncement, a definitive and authoritative statement of condemnation that underscores the finality and gravity of God's assessment of their spiritual condition.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 6:30 stands as a profound and sobering testament to the gravity of human sin and the unwavering justice of God. While the Scriptures consistently portray God as infinitely merciful, patient, and slow to anger, this verse unequivocally reveals that His patience is not without limits, and persistent, unrepentant rebellion can indeed lead to a point of divine rejection. It underscores the vital biblical principle that God's refining processes, though often painful and challenging, are ultimately for our good and sanctification, and our response to these divine disciplines profoundly determines our spiritual trajectory. The imagery of "reprobate silver" signifies a people whose hearts have become so hardened, impure, and unresponsive that they are no longer capable of responding to God's compassionate call to repentance and purification, thereby leading to the just and inevitable consequence of His withdrawal and judgment. This serves as a solemn and enduring warning against spiritual complacency, the dangers of resisting God's transformative work, and the perils of taking His grace for granted.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 6:30, though a severe and ancient warning, offers crucial and timely lessons for contemporary believers. It compels us to engage in profound and honest self-examination, prompting us to ask whether we are truly yielding to God's ongoing refining work in our lives or stubbornly resisting His transformative grace. God's ultimate desire for His people is always for our purification, holiness, and conformity to the image of His Son, and He sovereignly employs diverse means—including His living Word, various trials, loving correction, and the indwelling Holy Spirit—to diligently remove the "dross" of sin, self-will, and worldly attachments from us. This verse serves as a powerful reminder that persistent disobedience, a complacent attitude, and a hardened heart can tragically lead to a spiritual state where one becomes impervious to God's voice, His loving discipline, and His call to repentance. Therefore, we are called to cultivate a responsive, tender, and teachable heart, one that is quick to repent, eager to obey, and wholeheartedly embraces God's sanctifying process, recognizing that His ultimate aim is to make us truly precious, pure, and useful vessels for His glorious kingdom.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does "reprobate silver" mean in this context?
Answer: In Jeremiah 6:30, "reprobate silver" refers to metal that has undergone the intense process of refining—heating to high temperatures to separate precious metals from impurities—but has been found to be so thoroughly mixed with base, worthless elements (dross) that it cannot be purified. It is beyond redemption through that process and is therefore discarded as useless. This is a powerful and devastating metaphor for the people of Judah. God, acting as the divine Refiner, had repeatedly and patiently attempted to purify them through His prophets, His covenant laws, and various disciplinary trials. However, their pervasive idolatry, systemic injustice, and unrepentant rebellion meant they were like this irredeemable silver—so spiritually corrupt and hardened that they resisted all divine attempts at purification. Consequently, they were declared worthless and rejected by God, signifying the depth of their spiritual depravity and the finality of His judgment upon their national rebellion.
Does this verse mean God permanently rejects people, offering no hope of repentance?
Answer: While Jeremiah 6:30 indeed speaks of a definitive rejection of the nation of Judah in that specific historical moment due to their prolonged and persistent unrepentance, it is crucial to interpret this verse within the broader, overarching narrative of biblical theology. The immediate context is a specific national judgment upon a people who had repeatedly and stubbornly rejected God's covenant and His numerous warnings. The Bible consistently presents God as merciful, compassionate, and "slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love" (e.g., Psalm 103:8). He always desires repentance and restoration (e.g., 2 Peter 3:9). However, Scripture also gravely warns that there can be a point where human hearts become so hardened through consistent rebellion and rejection of truth that they are no longer capable of responding to God's call (e.g., Hebrews 6:4-6). For individuals, the New Testament profoundly emphasizes God's boundless grace and transformative power, which are always available through genuine faith in Jesus Christ, offering a path to reconciliation, spiritual purification, and eternal salvation for all who repent and believe (e.g., John 3:16). Therefore, while Jeremiah 6:30 highlights a severe consequence for a nation's prolonged and corporate rebellion, it does not negate God's ongoing invitation to individual repentance and salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 6:30, with its stark and terrifying imagery of rejected silver and divine judgment, finds its ultimate resolution, profound theological depth, and glorious reversal in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. While ancient Judah was declared "reprobate silver" due to their inherent sinfulness and their tragic inability to be purified by the Law and prophetic warnings, Christ stands as the perfect, unblemished "silver," the precious Lamb of God who perfectly fulfilled all righteousness and bore no impurity. He willingly became the recipient of the divine rejection and judgment that humanity justly deserved, bearing the full, crushing weight of sin on the cross, becoming "sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (as seen in 2 Corinthians 5:21). Through His unparalleled atoning sacrifice, Christ offers a new and living way for humanity to be truly refined, cleansed, and made eternally acceptable to God, not through our own failed attempts at purification or adherence to the Law, but solely through His imputed righteousness and the washing of regeneration. Believers in Christ are no longer "reprobate" but are declared righteous, purified by His precious blood, and continually refined by the indwelling Holy Spirit (as described in Titus 3:5 and 1 Peter 1:7). Thus, the terrifying verdict of Jeremiah 6:30 powerfully underscores humanity's desperate need for a Savior, a need perfectly and completely met in Jesus, who transforms those who were once "reprobate" into precious vessels, "holy and useful to the Master, prepared for every good work" (as illustrated in 2 Timothy 2:21).