Jeremiah 5:27 Meaning and Explanation
“As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The wicked's houses overflow with deceit, and through dishonest gain they have become wealthy and powerful.
The Context of Jeremiah 5:27
Through houses full of deceit and dishonest exploitation, the wicked have become wealthy and powerful.
What Does Jeremiah 5:27 Mean?
The image shifts: a cage full of birds represents confinement and entrapment. Similarly, the houses of the wicked are 'full of deceit'—filled with dishonest dealings, false weights, corrupt contracts, and treachery. Just as a cage imprisons birds, deceit imprisons the wicked in their own system of exploitation. Yet this very deceit has made them 'great and waxen rich'—wealthy and powerful in the community.
The verse reveals a bitter irony: dishonesty and exploitation have led to material success and prominence. The wicked have prospered through cunning and treachery. This inversion of values—where wickedness leads to wealth—corrupts society. Those who should be condemned become influential. Yet their wealth and power are built on a foundation of deceit that will not endure. True greatness comes through justice; what they have gained dishonestly will be taken away in judgment.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jeremiah 5:27
What does Jeremiah 5:27 mean?
The wicked's houses overflow with deceit, and through dishonest gain they have become wealthy and powerful.
What is the context of Jeremiah 5:27?
Through houses full of deceit and dishonest exploitation, the wicked have become wealthy and powerful.