Jeremiah 5:6 Meaning and Explanation
“Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, and a wolf of the evenings shall spoil them, a leopard shall watch over their cities: every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces: because their transgressions are many, and their backslidings are increased.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Wild predators will destroy the land, striking down those who venture out—judgment matching their many transgressions.
The Context of Jeremiah 5:6
Wild beasts will devastate the land, attacking all who leave shelter, because transgressions have multiplied.
What Does Jeremiah 5:6 Mean?
The chapter shifts from moral diagnosis to prophetic judgment: three predators—lion, wolf, and leopard—will ravage the land. Each hunts at different times (forest hunter, evening stalker, city watcher), suggesting that danger will be constant and inescapable. No one can leave the city safely; whoever ventures out will be torn in pieces. These are not mere wild animals but agents of divine judgment enacted through nature itself.
The cumulative language—'their transgressions are many, and their backslidings are increased'—emphasizes that this judgment is proportionate. Transgressions are willful violations; backslidings are repeated returns to unfaithful ways. The multiplication of both shows a pattern of deepening rebellion. The three predators symbolize judgment from which there is no refuge, whether at home or abroad.
Jeremiah 5:6 in the Original Language
pšaim (פְּשָׁעִ֔ים), 'transgressions' — willful rebellion and conscious breach of covenant; more severe than mere sin.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jeremiah 5:6
What does Jeremiah 5:6 mean?
Wild predators will destroy the land, striking down those who venture out—judgment matching their many transgressions.
What is the context of Jeremiah 5:6?
Wild beasts will devastate the land, attacking all who leave shelter, because transgressions have multiplied.