Jeremiah 6:27
Jeremiah 6:27 in Multiple Translations
“I have appointed you to examine My people like ore, so you may know and try their ways.
I have set thee for a tower and a fortress among my people, that thou mayest know and try their way.
I have made thee a trier and a fortress among my people; that thou mayest know and try their way.
I have made you a tester among my people, so that you may have knowledge of their way and put it to the test.
Jeremiah, I have made you a tester of metals so you can test my people as if they were metal, so you can know what they're made of and how they act.
I haue set thee for a defence and fortresse among my people, that thou maiest knowe and trie their waies.
A watch-tower I have given thee, Among My people a fortress, And thou knowest, and hast tried their way.
“I have made you a tester of metals and a fortress among my people, that you may know and try their way.
I have set thee for a tower and a fortress among my people, that thou mayest know and try their way.
I have set thee for a strong trier among my people: and thou shalt know and prove their way.
Then Yahweh said to me, “Jeremiah, I have caused you to become like [MET] someone who heats metal very hot to completely burn the impurities. You will examine my people’s behavior.
Berean Amplified Bible — Jeremiah 6:27
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Jeremiah 6:27 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
בָּח֛וֹן
נְתַתִּ֥י/ךָ
בְ/עַמִּ֖/י
מִבְצָ֑ר
וְ/תֵדַ֕ע
וּ/בָחַנְתָּ֖
אֶת
דַּרְכָּֽ/ם
בָּח֛וֹן
bâchôwn
H969
assayer
N-ms
נְתַתִּ֥י/ךָ
nâthan
H5414
to give
V-Qal-Perf-1cs | Suff
בְ/עַמִּ֖/י
ʻam
H5971
Amaw
Prep | N-ms | Suff
מִבְצָ֑ר
mibtsâr
H4013
fortification
N-ms
וְ/תֵדַ֕ע
yâdaʻ
H3045
to know
Conj | V-Qal-Imperf-2ms
וּ/בָחַנְתָּ֖
bâchan
H974
to test
Conj | V-Qal-2ms
אֶת
ʼêth
H853
Obj.
DirObjM
דַּרְכָּֽ/ם
derek
H1870
way
N-cs | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Jeremiah 6:27
בָּח֛וֹן
bâchôwn
H969
"assayer"
N-ms
An assayer is someone who tests and evaluates the quality of metals, like gold or silver, to determine their value. This word is used in the Bible to describe a person who inspects and values metals.
Definition: assayer (an inspector and valuer of metals)
Usage: Occurs in 1 OT verses. KJV: tower. See also: Jeremiah 6:27.
נְתַתִּ֥י/ךָ
nâthan
H5414
"to give"
V-Qal-Perf-1cs | Suff
This word means to give, put, or set something, with a wide range of applications. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus, describing God's actions and human interactions. The word is used to convey giving, selling, or exchanging something.
Definition: : give/deliver/send/produce 1) to give, put, set 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to give, bestow, grant, permit, ascribe, employ, devote, consecrate, dedicate, pay wages, sell, exchange, lend, commit, entrust, give over, deliver up, yield produce, occasion, produce, requite to, report, mention, utter, stretch out, extend 1a2) to put, set, put on, put upon, set, appoint, assign, designate 1a3) to make, constitute 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be given, be bestowed, be provided, be entrusted to, be granted to, be permitted, be issued, be published, be uttered, be assigned 1b2) to be set, be put, be made, be inflicted 1c) (Hophal) 1c1) to be given, be bestowed, be given up, be delivered up 1c2) to be put upon
Usage: Occurs in 1816 OT verses. KJV: add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield. See also: Genesis 1:17; Genesis 40:21; Exodus 30:12.
בְ/עַמִּ֖/י
ʻam
H5971
"Amaw"
Prep | N-ms | Suff
A people or nation is what this Hebrew word represents, like the nation of Israel in Exodus 33:13. It can also mean a tribe, troops, or attendants, and is used to describe a group of people gathered together. The word is often used to refer to the people of God.
Definition: This name means nation, people
Usage: Occurs in 1655 OT verses. KJV: folk, men, nation, people. See also: Genesis 11:6; Exodus 16:4; Leviticus 17:9.
מִבְצָ֑ר
mibtsâr
H4013
"fortification"
N-ms
This word describes a strong, fortified place like a castle or a fenced city, providing protection and safety. It is used in the Bible to describe secure and defended locations.
Definition: fortification, fortress, fortified city, stronghold
Usage: Occurs in 37 OT verses. KJV: (de-, most) fenced, fortress, (most) strong (hold). See also: Numbers 13:19; Isaiah 34:13; Psalms 89:41.
וְ/תֵדַ֕ע
yâdaʻ
H3045
"to know"
Conj | V-Qal-Imperf-2ms
The Hebrew word for to know means to ascertain by seeing, and is used in many senses, including to learn, perceive, and recognize, as seen in various KJV translations.
Definition: 1) to know 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to know 1a1a) to know, learn to know 1a1b) to perceive 1a1c) to perceive and see, find out and discern 1a1d) to discriminate, distinguish 1a1e) to know by experience 1a1f) to recognise, admit, acknowledge, confess 1a1g) to consider 1a2) to know, be acquainted with 1a3) to know (a person carnally) 1a4) to know how, be skilful in 1a5) to have knowledge, be wise 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be made known, be or become known, be revealed 1b2) to make oneself known 1b3) to be perceived 1b4) to be instructed 1c) (Piel) to cause to know 1d) (Poal) to cause to know 1e) (Pual) 1e1) to be known 1e2) known, one known, acquaintance (participle) 1f) (Hiphil) to make known, declare 1g) (Hophal) to be made known 1h) (Hithpael) to make oneself known, reveal oneself Aramaic equivalent: ye.da (יְדַע "to know" H3046)
Usage: Occurs in 874 OT verses. KJV: acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware, (un-) awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, [idiom] could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to) discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel, can have, be (ig-) norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have (knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, [phrase] be learned, [phrase] lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, [idiom] prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell, understand, have (understanding), [idiom] will be, wist, wit, wot. See also: Genesis 3:5; Leviticus 5:4; Judges 21:12.
וּ/בָחַנְתָּ֖
bâchan
H974
"to test"
Conj | V-Qal-2ms
To test or examine something, like gold or a person's heart, is what this word means. It appears in stories like Job's trials, where his faith is tested by God, and in Proverbs 17:3, which talks about refining silver.
Definition: 1) to examine, try, prove 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to examine, scrutinise 1a2) to test, prove, try (of gold, persons, the heart, man of God) 1b) (Niphal) to be tried, proved 1c) (Pual) to make a trial
Usage: Occurs in 28 OT verses. KJV: examine, prove, tempt, try (trial). See also: Genesis 42:15; Psalms 81:8; Psalms 7:10.
אֶת
ʼêth
H853
"Obj."
DirObjM
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Definition: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
Usage: Occurs in 6782 OT verses. KJV: (as such unrepresented in English). See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 10:8; Genesis 19:21.
דַּרְכָּֽ/ם
derek
H1870
"way"
N-cs | Suff
Derek refers to a road or path, and can also mean a way of life or manner of action. It is often used to describe a journey or direction, and can be used figuratively to describe a person's character or moral path.
Definition: : road/route 1) way, road, distance, journey, manner 1a) road, way, path 1b) journey 1c) direction 1d) manner, habit, way 1e) of course of life (fig.) 1f) of moral character (fig.)
Usage: Occurs in 626 OT verses. KJV: along, away, because of, [phrase] by, conversation, custom, (east-) ward, journey, manner, passenger, through, toward, (high-) (path-) way(-side), whither(-soever). See also: Genesis 3:24; Deuteronomy 28:29; 1 Kings 15:34.
Study Notes — Jeremiah 6:27
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Jeremiah 6:27 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Jeremiah 6:27
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Jeremiah 6:27
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Jeremiah 6:27
- Trapp's Commentary on Jeremiah 6:27
- Ellicott's Commentary on Jeremiah 6:27
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Jeremiah 6:27
- Cambridge Bible on Jeremiah 6:27
- Barnes' Notes on Jeremiah 6:27
- Whedon's Commentary on Jeremiah 6:27
- Sermons on Jeremiah 6:27
Context — An Invasion from the North
25Do not go out to the fields; do not walk the road. For the enemy has a sword; terror is on every side.
26O daughter of my people, dress yourselves in sackcloth and roll in ashes. Mourn with bitter wailing, as you would for an only son, for suddenly the destroyer will come upon us.
27“I have appointed you to examine My people like ore, so you may know and try their ways.
28All are hardened rebels, walking around as slanderers. They are bronze and iron; all of them are corrupt. 29The bellows blow fiercely, blasting away the lead with fire. The refining proceeds in vain, for the wicked are not purged.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeremiah 1:18 | Now behold, this day I have made you like a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land. |
| 2 | Jeremiah 15:20 | Then I will make you a wall to this people, a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you to save and deliver you, declares the LORD. |
| 3 | Ezekiel 3:8–10 | Behold, I will make your face as hard as their faces, and your forehead as hard as their foreheads. I will make your forehead like a diamond, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or dismayed at their presence, even though they are a rebellious house.” “Son of man,” He added, “listen carefully to all the words I speak to you, and take them to heart. |
| 4 | Ezekiel 20:4 | Will you judge them, will you judge them, son of man? Confront them with the abominations of their fathers |
| 5 | Jeremiah 9:7 | Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Behold, I will refine them and test them, for what else can I do because of the daughter of My people? |
| 6 | Ezekiel 22:2 | “As for you, son of man, will you judge her? Will you pass judgment on the city of bloodshed? Then confront her with all her abominations |
Jeremiah 6:27 Summary
In Jeremiah 6:27, God tells Jeremiah that He has appointed him to examine His people like ore, which means to test and refine them to reveal their true character. This is similar to how a refiner tests and purifies metal, as seen in Zechariah 13:9. Just as ore is smelted to extract precious metals, God is testing His people to see what is truly in their hearts (see Deuteronomy 8:2). Through this process, God is showing Jeremiah, and us, that He is a God who cares deeply about the hearts of His people and wants to make them pure and holy, as seen in 1 Peter 1:7.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to 'examine My people like ore' in Jeremiah 6:27?
This phrase suggests a process of testing and refining, similar to how ore is smelted to extract precious metals, as seen in Jeremiah 9:7, where God says He will 'test them, for what else can I do, because of the daughter of my people?'
Why is God appointing Jeremiah to examine His people in this way?
God is appointing Jeremiah to examine His people so that Jeremiah may know and try their ways, which is in line with Ezekiel 33:7, where God tells Ezekiel that he is a watchman over the house of Israel, responsible for warning them of their sins
What is the purpose of God testing His people in Jeremiah 6:27?
The purpose of God testing His people is to reveal their true character, as seen in Deuteronomy 8:2, where God says He led the Israelites through the wilderness to humble and test them, to know what was in their hearts
How does this verse relate to the concept of spiritual refining in the Bible?
This verse relates to the concept of spiritual refining, as seen in Malachi 3:3, where God says He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and in 1 Peter 1:7, where it says that the trials believers face are to test the genuineness of their faith
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that God is testing and refining me today, and how can I respond in obedience and faith?
- In what ways can I, like Jeremiah, be a watchman over my own heart and the hearts of those around me, warning them of the dangers of sin and the importance of following God?
- How can I, like the Israelites in the wilderness, allow God to humble and test me, so that I may know what is in my own heart and rely more fully on Him?
- What are some areas of my life where I need to be refined and purified, and how can I ask God to work in those areas to make me more like Jesus?
Gill's Exposition on Jeremiah 6:27
I have set thee for a tower,.... Or "in" one (d); in a watch tower, to look about and observe the actions of the people, their sins and transgressions, and reprove them for them; as well as to descry
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Jeremiah 6:27
I have set thee for a tower and a fortress among my people, that thou mayest know and try their way. I have set thee for a tower and a fortress among my people - (Jeremiah 1:18); rather, an assayer (and) explorer.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Jeremiah 6:27
Here God speaks by way of encouragement to the prophet, and tells him he had made him a fortified tower, that he might both discover the carriages of his people, which is one use of a high tower, ,8 Habakkuk 2:1; and also to assure him, though they shall make several attempts against him, yet he shall be kept safe, os in a castle or fortress, . That thou mayest know and try their way; their courses, actions, and manners, and which way they stand affected; thou mayest bring all to thy strict observation and scrutiny, as goldsmiths or refiners do metals; for so is the word try used, , and elsewhere. Hereby he shall be encouraged to reprove them more freely, and with authority, because God doth promise to defend him, that they shall not hurt him; God will give him prudence to see what is amiss, and undauntedness to oppose it.
Trapp's Commentary on Jeremiah 6:27
Jeremiah 6:27 I have set thee [for] a tower [and] a fortress among my people, that thou mayest know and try their way.Ver. 27. I have set thee for a tower and a fortress.] Or, A fortified watch tower have I made thee among my people - i.e., to spy out and discover their dispositions and affections.
Ellicott's Commentary on Jeremiah 6:27
(27) I have set thee . . .—The verse is difficult, as containing words in the Hebrew which are not found elsewhere, and have therefore to be guessed at. The following rendering is given on the authority of the most recent commentators, and has the merit of being in harmony with the metallurgic imagery of the following verses. As a prover of ore I have set thee among my people, and thou shalt know and try their way. The words are spoken by Jehovah to the prophet, and describe his work. By others, the first part of the sentence is rendered as follows: As a prover of ore I have set thee like a fortress, as if with a reference to Jeremiah 1:18, where the same word is used.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Jeremiah 6:27
Verse 27. I have set thee for a tower and a fortress] Dr. Blayney translates, I have appointed thee to make an assay among my people. The words refer to the office of an assayer of silver and gold; and the manner of assaying here intended is by the cupel, a flat broad iron ring filled with the ashes of burnt bones. To separate the alloy from the silver they add a portion of lead; and when all is fused together, and brought into a state of ebullition, the cupel absorbs the lead, and with it the dross or alloy, and the silver is left pure and motionless on the top of the cupel. The people are here represented under the notion of alloyed silver. They are full of impurities; and they are put into the hands of the prophet, the assayer, to be purified. The bellows are placed, the fire is lighted up, but all to no purpose: so intensely commixed is the alloy with the silver, that it cannot be separated. The nozzle of the bellows is even melted with the intensity of the fire used to effect the refinement; and the lead is carried off by the action of the heat; and the assayer melteth in vain, for the alloy still continues in union with the metal. The assayer gives up the process, - will not institute one more expensive or tedious - pronounces the mass unfit to be coined, and denominates it reprobate silver, Jeremiah 6:30.
Thus, the evil habits and dispositions of the Israelites were so ingrained that they would not yield to either the ordinary or extraordinary means of salvation. God pronounces them reprobate silver, - not sterling, - full of alloy; - having neither the image nor the superscription of the Great King either on their hearts or on their conduct. Thus he gave them up as incorrigible, and their adversaries prevailed against them. This should be a warning to other nations, and indeed to the Christian Church; for if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare these.
Cambridge Bible on Jeremiah 6:27
22–30. The last of the four divisions. See introd. note to the ch.
Barnes' Notes on Jeremiah 6:27
Render it: I have set thee among My people as a prover of ore, And thou shalt know and try their way. They are all of them rebels of rebels (i. e., utter rebels): Slander-walkers, were copper and iron, Corrupters all of them.
Whedon's Commentary on Jeremiah 6:27
27. A tower and a fortress — The rendering here is clearly indefensible.
Sermons on Jeremiah 6:27
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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All That Matters Is God's Presence by David Wilkerson | David Wilkerson emphasizes the significance of seeking God's presence in our lives, illustrating how it transformed the lives of biblical figures like Abraham, Joshua, Gideon, and |
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The Northern Iron and the Steel by J.C. Philpot | J.C. Philpot preaches on the use of figures in illustrating the gospel, emphasizing their ability to shed light on truths and make a lasting impression. He delves into the literal |
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To Whom Shall We Liken Him? by Martin Knapp | Martin Knapp preaches about the remarkable similarities between Mr. Weber and various biblical figures, highlighting his evangelistic zeal, family's conversion, deliverance mission |
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Their Dregs and Dross by Thomas Brooks | Thomas Brooks emphasizes that God uses severe providences and fiery trials to refine and purify His people from sin, much like how gold and silver are refined in fire. He illustrat |
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Brought to a Safe Place by David Wilkerson | David Wilkerson emphasizes that even the most faithful Christians can face overwhelming trials and suffering, which may lead them to question God's presence in their pain. He reass |