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Jeremiah 9:7

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Jeremiah 9:7 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Therefore thus saith Jehovah of hosts, Behold, I will melt them, and try them; for how [else] should I do, because of the daughter of my people?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Therefore thus saith Jehovah of hosts, Behold, I will melt them, and try them; for how [else] should I do, because of the daughter of my people?
Jeremiah 9:7 — American Standard Version

Context — Jeremiah 9

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
4Take ye heed every one of his neighbor, and trust ye not in any brother; for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbor will go about with slanders.
5And they will deceive every one his neighbor, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies; they weary themselves to commit iniquity.
6Thy habitation is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know me, saith Jehovah.
7Therefore thus saith Jehovah of hosts, Behold, I will melt them, and try them; for how [else] should I do, because of the daughter of my people?
8Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaketh deceit: one speaketh peaceably to his neighbor with his mouth, but in his heart he layeth wait for him.
9Shall I not visit them for these things? saith Jehovah; shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?
10For the mountains will I take up a weeping and wailing, and for the pastures of the wilderness a lamentation, because they are burned up, so that none passeth through; neither can men hear the voice of the cattle; both the birds of the heavens and the beasts are fled, they are gone.
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts, etc.] Because of this deceit and hypocrisy, and lying: behold, I will melt them, and try them: as the refiner does his gold and silver, by putting them into the fire of afflictions, and thereby remove their dross and corruption from them. So the Targum, “behold, I will bring distress upon them, and melt them, and try them.” For how shall I do for the daughter of my people? the sense is, what could be done otherwise or better? what was more fit or proper to be done, than to melt and try them, and purge away their sin, “from the face of the daughter of my people”, as the words may be rendered? The Septuagint version is, “what shall I do from the face of…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“melt . . . try them--by sending calamities on them. for how shall I do--"What else can I do for the sake of the daughter of My people?" [MAURER], (Isa 1:25; Mal 3:3).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“From their punishment the prophet now turns to their sins. Jeremiah 9:2 The prophet utters the wish that he might be spared his daily striving, and in some lone wilderness give way to his sorrow, without restraint. A lodging place - It was usual to build in the desert, either by private charity or at the public expense, caravanserais, to receive travelers for a single night, who had however to bring their own supplies with them. An assembly - Or, a gang. Treacherous - Faithless toward one another. Jeremiah 9:3 Rather, “And they bend their tongue to be their bow of lies, i. e.” just as men before a battle get their bows ready, so they of set purpose make ready to do mischief, only their…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Try them - By melting them, I will bring upon them, the fire of the Chaldean war, that shall purge away those deceits in which they trust, that the remnant may be purified. For how - I have tried all other means. Jeremiah 9:10”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“9:7-9 The Lord announced that he would place the people in the crucible of affliction (6:27-30; Isa 1:25). The three rhetorical questions challenged Jeremiah or anyone else to suggest a possible alternative to the Lord’s actions or to explain why they were not justified.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“I will: Jer 6:29, Jer 6:30; Isa 1:25, Isa 48:10; Eze 22:18-22, Eze 26:11, Eze 26:12; Zac 13:9; Mal 3:3; Pe1 1:7, Pe1 4:12 shall: Jer 31:20; Ch2 36:15; Hos 6:4, Hos 6:5, Hos 11:8, Hos 11:9; Zac 1:14-16 Jeremiah 9:8”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification