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Wednesday, August 27th, 2025
the Week of Proper 16 / Ordinary 21
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Read the Bible

Myles Coverdale Bible

Jeremiah 6:6

for thus hath the LORDE of hoostes commaunded. Hew downe hir trees, and set vp bulworkes agaynst Ierusale. This is the cite that must be punished, for in her is all maliciousnes.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Armies;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Trees;  

Dictionaries:

- Holman Bible Dictionary - Kir-Hareseth;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Mount;   Zechariah, Book of;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Battering ram;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Mount;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Oppression;   Siege;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
For this is what the Lord of Armies says:
Hebrew Names Version
For thus has the LORD of Hosts said, Hew you down trees, and cast up a mound against Yerushalayim: this is the city to be visited; she is wholly oppression in the midst of her.
King James Version
For thus hath the Lord of hosts said, Hew ye down trees, and cast a mount against Jerusalem: this is the city to be visited; she is wholly oppression in the midst of her.
English Standard Version
For thus says the Lord of hosts: "Cut down her trees; cast up a siege mound against Jerusalem. This is the city that must be punished; there is nothing but oppression within her.
New American Standard Bible
For this is what the LORD of armies says: "Cut down her trees And pile up an assault ramp against Jerusalem. This is the city to be punished, In whose midst there is only oppression.
New Century Version
This is what the Lord All-Powerful says: "Cut down the trees around Jerusalem, and build an attack ramp to the top of its walls. This city must be punished. Inside it is nothing but slavery.
Amplified Bible
For the LORD of hosts has said, "Cut down her trees And build a siege [mound] against Jerusalem. This is the city which must be punished; There is nothing but oppression inside her [walls].
World English Bible
For thus has Yahweh of Hosts said, Hew you down trees, and cast up a mound against Jerusalem: this is the city to be visited; she is wholly oppression in the midst of her.
Geneva Bible (1587)
For thus hath the Lord of hostes said, Hewe downe wood, and cast a mounte against Ierusalem: this citie must be visited: all oppression is in the middes of it.
Legacy Standard Bible
For thus says Yahweh of hosts,"Cut down her treesAnd cast up a siege against Jerusalem.This is the city to be punished,In whose midst there is only oppression.
Berean Standard Bible
For this is what the LORD of Hosts says: "Cut down the trees and raise a siege ramp against Jerusalem. This city must be punished; there is nothing but oppression in her midst.
Contemporary English Version
I am the Lord All-Powerful, and I will command these armies to chop down trees and build a ramp up to the walls of Jerusalem. People of Jerusalem, I must punish you for your injustice.
Complete Jewish Bible
For Adonai -Tzva'ot says this: "Cut down her trees, and raise a siege-ramp against Yerushalayim! This is the city to be punished; in her there is nothing but oppression.
Darby Translation
For thus hath Jehovah of hosts said: Hew ye down trees, and cast a mound against Jerusalem. She is the city to be visited; she is wholly oppression in the midst of her.
Easy-to-Read Version
This is what the Lord All-Powerful says: "Cut down the trees around Jerusalem, and build a siege mound against it. This city should be punished because inside there is no justice—only slavery.
George Lamsa Translation
For thus says the LORD of hosts, Hew down her trees and cast a mound against Jerusalem; this is the city to be visited with destruction; all of her calumnies are in the midst of her.
Good News Translation
The Lord Almighty has ordered these kings to cut down trees and build mounds in order to besiege Jerusalem. He has said, "I will punish this city because it is full of oppression.
Lexham English Bible
For thus says Yahweh of hosts, "Cut down trees and heap up a siege ramp against Jerusalem. This is the city that must be punished, its oppression is in its midst.
Literal Translation
For so Jehovah of Hosts has said, Cut down her trees and pour out a mound against Jerusalem. She is the city to be visited. In her midst is oppression, all of her.
American Standard Version
For thus hath Jehovah of hosts said, Hew ye down trees, and cast up a mound against Jerusalem: this is the city to be visited; she is wholly oppression in the midst of her.
Bible in Basic English
For this is what the Lord of armies has said: Let trees be cut down and an earthwork be placed against Jerusalem: sorrow on the false town! inside her there is nothing but cruel ways.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
For thus hath the LORD of hosts said: hew ye down her trees, and cast up a mound against Jerusalem; this is the city to be punished; everywhere there is oppression in the midst of her.
King James Version (1611)
For thus hath the Lord of hostes said; Hew yee downe trees and cast a mount against Ierusalem: this is the citie to be visited, she is wholly oppression in the midst of her.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
For thus hath the Lorde of hoastes commaunded, Hewe downe her trees, and set vp bulwarkes against Hierusalem: for the tyme is come that this citie must be punished, for in her is all maliciousnesse.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
For thus saith the Lord, Hew down her trees, array a numerous force against Jerusalem. O false city; there is all oppression in her.
English Revised Version
For thus hath the LORD of hosts said, Hew ye down trees, and cast up a mount against Jerusalem: this is the city to be visited; she is wholly oppression in the midst of her.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For the Lord of oostis seith these thingis, Kitte ye doun the tre therof, and schede ye erthe aboute Jerusalem; this is the citee of visitacioun; al fals caleng is in the myddis therof.
Update Bible Version
For thus has Yahweh of hosts said, Cut down trees, and cast up a mound against Jerusalem: this is the city to be visited; she is wholly oppression in the midst of her.
Webster's Bible Translation
For thus hath the LORD of hosts said, Hew ye down trees, and cast a mount against Jerusalem: this [is] the city to be visited; she [is] wholly oppression in the midst of her.
New English Translation
All of this is because the Lord who rules over all has said: ‘Cut down the trees around Jerusalem and build up a siege ramp against its walls. This is the city which is to be punished. Nothing but oppression happens in it.
New King James Version
For thus has the LORD of hosts said: "Cut down trees, And build a mound against Jerusalem. This is the city to be punished. She is full of oppression in her midst.
New Living Translation
This is what the Lord of Heaven's Armies says: "Cut down the trees for battering rams. Build siege ramps against the walls of Jerusalem. This is the city to be punished, for she is wicked through and through.
New Life Bible
For the Lord of All says, "Cut down her trees, and build a battle-wall against Jerusalem. This is the city to be punished. There is nothing but a sinful power that makes hard times for others within her.
New Revised Standard
For thus says the Lord of hosts: Cut down her trees; cast up a siege ramp against Jerusalem. This is the city that must be punished; there is nothing but oppression within her.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For, Thus, saith Yahweh of hosts, Cut ye down timber, And cast up, against Jerusalem a mound, - That, is the city to be punished! There is, nothing, but oppression in her midst;
Douay-Rheims Bible
For thus saith the Lord of hosts: Hew down her trees, cast up a trench about Jerusalem: this is the city to be visited, all oppression is in the midst of her.
Revised Standard Version
For thus says the LORD of hosts: "Hew down her trees; cast up a siege mound against Jerusalem. This is the city which must be punished; there is nothing but oppression within her.
Young's Literal Translation
For thus said Jehovah of Hosts: Cut down her wood, And pour out against Jerusalem a mount, She [is] the city to be inspected, Wholly -- she is oppression in her midst.
THE MESSAGE
God -of-the-Angel-Armies gave the orders: "Chop down her trees. Build a siege ramp against Jerusalem, A city full of brutality, bursting with violence. Just as a well holds a good supply of water, she supplies wickedness nonstop. The streets echo the cries: ‘Violence! Rape!' Victims, bleeding and moaning, lie all over the place. You're in deep trouble, Jerusalem. You've pushed me to the limit. You're on the brink of being wiped out, being turned into a ghost town."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
For thus says the LORD of hosts, "Cut down her trees And cast up a siege against Jerusalem. This is the city to be punished, In whose midst there is only oppression.

Contextual Overview

1 Come out of Ierusalem, ye stronge childre of BenIamin: blowe vp the trompettes ye Tecuites, set vp a token vnto Bethacarem, for a plage and a greate misery pepeth out from the North. 2 I will licken the doughter Sion to a fayre and tendre woman, and to her shall come the shepherdes with their flockes. 3 Their tentes shal they pitch rounde aboute her, and euery one shal fede with his honde. 4 Make batell agaynst her (shal they saye:) Arise, let vs go vp, while it is yet daye. Alas, the daye goeth awaye, & the night shadowes fall downe: 5 Arise, let vs go vp by night, and destroye hir stronge holdes, 6 for thus hath the LORDE of hoostes commaunded. Hew downe hir trees, and set vp bulworkes agaynst Ierusale. This is the cite that must be punished, for in her is all maliciousnes. 7 Like as a codyte aboundeth in water, eue so this citie aboudeth in wickednes. Robbery and vnrightuousnesse is herde in her, sorow & woundes are euer there in my sight. 8 Amede the (o Ierusalem) lest I with drawe my herte from the, and make the desolate: & thy londe also, yt no man dwel in it.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 20:20 - thou shalt build Jeremiah 20:8 - I cried Jeremiah 30:15 - for the Jeremiah 32:31 - this city Ezekiel 4:1 - even Ezekiel 5:5 - This Ezekiel 26:8 - cast a mount Daniel 11:15 - cast up Amos 4:1 - which oppress Micah 6:12 - the rich Zephaniah 3:1 - to the

Cross-References

Genesis 6:8
Neuertheles Noe founde grace in the sight of the LORDE.
Genesis 6:10
and begat thre sonnes: Sem, Ham and Iaphet.
Genesis 6:17
For lo, I wyll bringe a floude of water vpon the earth, to destroye all flesh (wherin the breth of life is) vnder the heaue: All that is vpon earth, shal perishe.
Genesis 6:18
But with the wyll I make a couenaunt, and thou shalt go in to the Arcke with thy sonnes, with thy wyfe, and with thy sonnes wyues.
Exodus 32:14
Thus the LORDE repented of the euell, which he sayde he wolde do vnto his people.
Numbers 23:19
God is not a man yt he shulde lye, ner a mans childe yt eny thinge shulde repente him. Shulde he saye and not do? Shulde he speake & not make it good?
Deuteronomy 5:29
But who shal geue them soch an herte, yt they maye feare me, & kepe all my comaundementes as longe as they lyue, yt it maye go well with them, and with their childre for euer?
Deuteronomy 32:29
O that they were wyse & vnderstode this, that they wolde cosidre what shulde happe vnto them her after.
Deuteronomy 32:36
For the LORDE shall iudge his people, and shal haue compassion on his seruauntes. For he shal considre that their power is awaie, and that it is gone with them, which were shut vp and remayned ouer.
1 Samuel 15:11
It repenteth me that I made Saul kynge, for he hath turned him selfe backe fro me, and not cofirmed my wordes. Therfore was Samuel angrye, & cried vnto the LORDE all that nighte.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For thus hath the Lord of hosts said,.... To the Chaldeans; for as it was the Lord that brought them out of their own country, and directed them to Jerusalem, and ordered them to prepare war against it; so they were as an army under his command, and he it was that ordered them to do this, and that, and the other thing: the whole affair was of the Lord, and the Jews had more to fear from him, who is the Lord of armies, than from the army of the Chaldeans; for, as they could do nothing without his divine permission, so, having that, there was a certainty of succeeding:

hew ye down trees, and cast a mount against Jerusalem: in the Hebrew text it is, "pour out a mount" q; the reason of which is, because there were a ditch or ditches about the city; and into these they poured in stones, and dirt, and trees, and pieces of wood, and so filled them up, and cast up a mount, on which they could raise their batteries, and demolish the walls and houses; hence mention is made of hewing down of trees, in order to cast the mount; for these were to be cut down, not so much to make battering rams, and other instruments of war, as to fill up the ditch, and raise the mount, so that the walls might be more easily battered and scaled: though some r interpret it of taking precise, fixed, determined counsel, about the war, and the manner of carrying it:

this is the city to be visited; or punished; not only that deserves to be so visited, but which would certainly be visited, and that immediately; its punishment was not far off; vengeance would soon be taken on it, and that for its sins: and so the Targum,

"this is the city whose sins are visited;''

as it follows:

she is wholly oppression in the midst of her; there were nothing but oppression and oppressors in her; not only full of oppressors, but oppression itself. This is instanced in for all kind of wickedness; the meaning is, that she was a sink of sin, and very wickedness itself.

q שפכו סללה "fundite aggerem", V. L. Munster, Tigurine version; "fundite vallum", Schmidt. r כרתו עצה "decidite, [vel] decernite consilium". So Gussetius, Ebr. Comment. p. 628.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Hew ye down trees - Rather, her trees: for the simple purpose of clearing the approaches.

Cast a mount - literally, pour: the earth was emptied out of the baskets, in which it was carried to the required spot upon the backs of laborers.

Wholly - Or,

“She “is the city” that is visited:

“Wholly oppression” is “in the midst of her!”

She is visited, - i. e., punished; she is ripe for punishment.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Jeremiah 6:6. Hew ye down trees — To form machines.

And cast a mount — That may overlook the city, on which to place our engines.

This is the city to be visited — We are sure of success, for their God will deliver it into our hands, for it is full of oppression, and he has consigned it to destruction.


 
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