Jeremiah 5:26 Meaning and Explanation
“For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Wicked men within God's people prey on others through deceit and treachery, like hunters setting snares for animals.
The Context of Jeremiah 5:26
Wicked men within God's people use cunning deception to exploit and victimize others like hunters setting snares.
What Does Jeremiah 5:26 Mean?
God's indictment focuses now on social corruption within Israel itself. Among His people, wicked men are 'found'—discovered in their wickedness. These men do not use open force but cunning: they 'lay wait' like hunters setting snares for game. The metaphor of snares suggests careful, deliberate deception meant to capture unsuspecting prey. They set traps designed to ensnare and 'catch men'—people become victims of their cunning plots.
This describes systematic exploitation. The wicked use intelligence and patience to victimize others. Their treachery is not incidental but a profession and practice. The image shows contempt for human dignity—treating people as game to be hunted. Such corruption corrodes the entire social fabric. God's people are called to justice and righteousness; instead, the vulnerable are prey to the cunning and powerful. This internal corruption, alongside idolatry, justifies God's judgment.
Jeremiah 5:26 in the Original Language
moqesh (מוֹקֵשׁ), 'snares' — traps set to capture prey; metaphorically, anything designed to ensnare or deceive.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jeremiah 5:26
What does Jeremiah 5:26 mean?
Wicked men within God's people prey on others through deceit and treachery, like hunters setting snares for animals.
What is the context of Jeremiah 5:26?
Wicked men within God's people use cunning deception to exploit and victimize others like hunters setting snares.