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Jeremiah 7:6

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[If] ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt:

If ye oppress {H6231} not the stranger {H1616}, the fatherless {H3490}, and the widow {H490}, and shed {H8210} not innocent {H5355} blood {H1818} in this place {H4725}, neither walk {H3212} after {H310} other {H312} gods {H430} to your hurt {H7451}:

if you stop oppressing foreigners, orphans and widows; if you stop shedding innocent blood in this place; and if you stop following other gods, to your own harm;

if you no longer oppress the foreigner and the fatherless and the widow, and if you no longer shed innocent blood in this place or follow other gods to your own harm,

if ye oppress not the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your own hurt:

Commentary

Jeremiah 7:6 is a pivotal verse within Jeremiah's powerful "Temple Sermon," delivered at the gate of the Lord's house to the people of Judah. It outlines specific moral and spiritual conditions for God's continued presence and blessing in the land, challenging their false security in the Temple building itself. This verse underscores that genuine worship is inseparable from righteous living and faithfulness to God's covenant.

Context of Jeremiah 7:6

The prophet Jeremiah confronts the people of Judah, who are living under the illusion that because the Temple of the Lord stood in Jerusalem, they were immune to divine judgment, regardless of their sinful practices. This passage (Jeremiah 7:1-15) is a direct rebuke of their hypocritical worship and reliance on ritual without obedience. Jeremiah 7:6, specifically, lists core covenant requirements that Judah was failing to uphold, contrasting their external religious observance with their internal corruption and societal injustice.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Social Justice and Compassion: The command not to "oppress the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow" highlights God's deep concern for the most vulnerable members of society. In ancient Israel, these groups were often without family protection or legal standing, making them susceptible to exploitation. This aligns with the consistent call throughout the Mosaic Law to care for the vulnerable in society, echoing God's own character.
  • Sanctity of Life: "And shed not innocent blood in this place" refers to the abhorrent practice of murder and possibly unjust judicial killings. This was a grave violation of God's law, undermining the very fabric of a just society and defiling the land where God dwelled.
  • Exclusive Devotion to God: The warning "neither walk after other gods to your hurt" addresses the pervasive problem of idolatry in Judah. To "walk after" other gods implies a lifestyle of devotion and adherence to false deities, which was a direct violation of the First Commandment. The phrase "to your hurt" emphasizes that turning away from the one true God is ultimately self-destructive, bringing spiritual, social, and physical consequences.

Linguistic Insights

The term "stranger" (Hebrew: ger) refers to a resident alien, a non-Israelite living within the community, who was particularly dependent on the compassion of others for survival. The phrase "to your hurt" (Hebrew: לְרַע לָכֶם, lera' lachem) signifies that following false gods or engaging in injustice does not merely displease God, but actively brings harm and calamity upon the perpetrators themselves.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 7:6 remains profoundly relevant today. It calls believers to examine whether their religious practices are accompanied by genuine righteousness and compassion. True faith is not merely about attending services or performing rituals, but about living justly, valuing human life, and maintaining exclusive devotion to God in all areas of life. It challenges us to identify and dismantle modern "idols" (such as materialism, power, or self-worship) and to actively champion the cause of the marginalized and vulnerable in our communities, reflecting God's heart for justice and mercy.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) 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 — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 8:19 (6 votes)

    And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish.

  • Exodus 22:21 (6 votes)

    Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

  • Exodus 22:24 (6 votes)

    And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.

  • Jeremiah 13:10 (6 votes)

    This evil people, which refuse to hear my words, which walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this girdle, which is good for nothing.

  • Deuteronomy 11:28 (5 votes)

    And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.

  • Zechariah 7:9 (5 votes)

    Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother:

  • Zechariah 7:12 (5 votes)

    Yea, they made their hearts [as] an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts.