Jeremiah 7:5

For if ye throughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye throughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbour;

For if ye throughly {H3190} amend {H3190} your ways {H1870} and your doings {H4611}; if ye throughly {H6213} execute {H6213} judgment {H4941} between a man {H376} and his neighbour {H7453};

No, but if you really improve your ways and actions; if you really administer justice between people;

For if you really correct your ways and deeds, if you act justly toward one another,

For if ye thoroughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye thoroughly execute justice between a man and his neighbor;

Jeremiah 7:5 is a pivotal verse within the prophet Jeremiah's "Temple Sermon," delivered at the gate of the Lord's house. It presents a divine ultimatum, outlining the conditions for God's continued presence and blessing among His people, Judah.

Context

This verse is part of a powerful message (Jeremiah 7:1-15) where God confronts the people of Judah regarding their false security. They believed that merely possessing the Temple in Jerusalem guaranteed God's protection, despite their widespread idolatry, social injustice, and moral corruption. Jeremiah urges them to abandon their reliance on empty religious ritual and turn to genuine righteousness. The preceding verse, Jeremiah 7:4, warns against trusting in "lying words," specifically the repeated chant, "The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, are these." Verse 5 then clarifies what true obedience looks like.

Key Themes

  • Authentic Repentance: The call to "throughly amend your ways and your doings" emphasizes that God desires a complete, sincere, and consistent change of heart and lifestyle, not just superficial acts of piety. It's about internal transformation leading to external righteous actions.
  • Practical Justice: The phrase "throughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbour" highlights God's demand for fairness, equity, and ethical conduct in all social and legal dealings. True faith is inseparable from how one treats others in the community.
  • Conditional Blessing: This verse underscores the principle that God's blessings and covenant promises are contingent upon His people's obedience and faithfulness. It challenges the presumption that divine favor is automatic, regardless of moral conduct.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "throughly amend" comes from the Hebrew root yatav, meaning "to be good," "to do well," or "to make right." The adverb "throughly" stresses the completeness and sincerity of this amendment – it's not a partial or feigned change, but a deep commitment to living rightly. Similarly, "execute judgment" translates the Hebrew `asah mishpat, which refers to the active doing of justice. Mishpat encompasses not only legal rulings but also the broader concept of righteous living and ethical conduct in society. It implies upholding standards of fairness and equity for all, especially the vulnerable.

Significance and Application

Jeremiah 7:5 remains profoundly relevant today. It serves as a powerful reminder that God values genuine transformation and righteous living above mere religious observance or outward affiliation. For believers, this means our faith must manifest in how we conduct ourselves in our daily lives, particularly in our interactions with others. We are called to embody justice, truth, and fairness, ensuring our actions align with our confession. This echoes the prophetic call to "do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God." It challenges any form of spiritual hypocrisy, where outward religiosity masks inner corruption or social injustice, a theme also echoed in the New Testament when Jesus rebuked those who neglected the "weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith." True worship involves both devotion to God and righteous living towards our neighbor.

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.

  • Jeremiah 7:3

    Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place.

  • Isaiah 1:19

    If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:

  • 1 Kings 6:12

    [Concerning] this house which thou art in building, if thou wilt walk in my statutes, and execute my judgments, and keep all my commandments to walk in them; then will I perform my word with thee, which I spake unto David thy father:

  • 1 Kings 6:13

    And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel.

  • Jeremiah 4:1

    ¶ If thou wilt return, O Israel, saith the LORD, return unto me: and if thou wilt put away thine abominations out of my sight, then shalt thou not remove.

  • Jeremiah 4:2

    And thou shalt swear, The LORD liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.

  • Jeremiah 22:3

    Thus saith the LORD; Execute ye judgment and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor: and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place.

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