Jeremiah 10:17 — Word Study
WLCאִסְפִּ֥י מֵאֶ֖רֶץ כִּנְעָתֵ֑ךְ יֹשֶׁ֖בֶת בַּמָּצֽוֹר׃ ס
BSAGather upʼâçaph [collect, assemble] your belongingskinʻâh△ [wares, goods, bundle] from this landʼerets [country, territory, region] you who liveyâshab [dwell, reside, abide] under siegemâtsôwr [in a stronghold, in a place of entrenchment, surrounded by enemies]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| אִסְפִּ֥י | gather up | Verb, Qal, imperative second person feminine singular |
| מֵאֶ֖רֶץ | from [the] ground | Preposition, noun common feminine singular construct |
| כִּנְעָתֵ֑ךְ | bundle your | Noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| יֹשֶׁ֖בֶת | O [you who] dwell | Verb, Qal, participle (active) feminine singular |
| בַּמָּצֽוֹר׃ ס | in the siege | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Gather up your belongings from this land, you who live under siege. |
| KJV | ¶ Gather up thy wares out of the land, O inhabitant of the fortress. |
| ASV | Gather up thy wares out of the land, O thou that abidest in the siege. |
| YLT | Gather from the land thy merchandise, O dweller in the bulwark, |
| WEB | Gather up your wares out of the land, you who live under siege. |
| BBE | Get your goods together and go out of the land, O you who are shut up in the walled town. |
The translations agree on the key phrases, providing a consistent understanding of the command.
The sentence is structured around a main command, with supporting phrases that clarify the context and the audience.







8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbאָסַף
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
1 of 5 occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament — a word chosen on purpose.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Jeremiah 10:17
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — A Call to Gather Belongingsgenerated
Jeremiah 10:17 is a directive from the prophet to those living under siege, urging them to collect their belongings from the land. This call reflects a time of distress and impending judgment, emphasizing the necessity of readiness as the LORD prepares to act against the inhabitants of the land, as seen in the surrounding verses.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeremiah 6:1 | “Run for cover, O sons of Benjamin; flee from Jerusalem! Sound the ram’s horn in Tekoa; send up a signal over Beth-haccherem, for disaster looms from the north, even great destruction. |
| 2 | Ezekiel 12:3–12 | Therefore, son of man, pack your bags for exile. In broad daylight, set out from your place and go to another as they watch. Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious house. |
| 3 | Micah 2:10 | Arise and depart, for this is not your place of rest, because its defilement brings destruction— a grievous destruction! |
| 4 | Matthew 24:15 | So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination of desolation,’ described by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand), |
| 5 | Jeremiah 21:13 | Behold, I am against you who dwell above the valley, atop the rocky plateau— declares the LORD— you who say, “Who can come against us? Who can enter our dwellings?” |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 5 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — אִסְפִּ֥י, 'is.Pigenerated
The verb אָסַף (acaph) means to gather or remove. It encompasses actions such as collecting, assembling, and withdrawing, often for a specific purpose. In this verse, it conveys the urgency of gathering belongings in a time of crisis.
The imperative form indicates a direct command to the second person feminine singular, suggesting that the speaker addresses a specific group, likely the women or families affected by the siege. This word's usage in various contexts throughout the Bible highlights its significance in communal and personal actions.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The translations agree on the wording of gather up for אִסְפִּ֥י, reflecting a consistent understanding of the command across versions.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb אִסְפִּ֥י (gather up) governs the entire command, with a prepositional phrase indicating where to gather from, followed by a noun phrase describing what to gather, and concluding with a participial phrase identifying who is being addressed.
The structure emphasizes the urgency of the command, with the imperative verb at the forefront, highlighting the immediate action required by those living under siege.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates אִסְפִּ֥י as συνήγαγεν (synēgagen), which means 'gathered together'. This choice suggests a collective action, reinforcing the idea of assembling belongings as a community in a time of crisis.
The use of ἔχωθεν for מֵאֶ֖רֶץ indicates a focus on the source of the gathering, emphasizing the urgency of leaving the land.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Jeremiah 10:17 tells the people to gather their belongings from the land as they are living under siege. This command highlights the urgency of preparing for the impending distress that is about to come upon them.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It signifies preparing for a significant change or crisis, indicating that the people need to be ready to leave their current situation.
These individuals are in a vulnerable position, facing imminent danger, and the command serves as a warning to take action before it is too late.
The verse teaches the importance of being proactive in times of trouble, emphasizing the need to gather resources and be ready for what is to come.
It reflects the broader theme of judgment and distress that the people of Israel are facing, as indicated by the preceding and following verses.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what areas of my life do I need to prepare for potential challenges or changes?
- How can I support others who may be facing difficult situations, similar to those living under siege?
- What does this verse teach me about the importance of community during times of crisis?
- How can I apply the urgency of this command to my own life today?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early interpretations of this verse highlight its significance in understanding the urgency of preparation in times of crisis, as seen in the writings of Jerome.
Gather from the land your confusion, you who dwell in siege; for thus says the Lord: Behold, I will cast far away the inhabitants of the earth this time, and I will afflict them that they may be found.Early Church Fathers on Jeremiah 10 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Jeremiah 10:17 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleGather up thy wares out of the land,.... Or thy merchandise, as the Targum; or thy substance, as the Septuagint; all valuable effects and goods that are movable, which might be carried from place to place.
Read John Gill on Jeremiah 10 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryGather up thy wares out of the land, O inhabitant of the fortress. Gather up thy wares - thine effects or movable goods (Ezekiel 12:3, "Thou Son of man, prepare thee stuff for removing, and remove by day in their sight").
Read Robert Jamieson on Jeremiah 10 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleThe prophet now enters upon another subject, and probably begins another sermon. Gather up thy wares, i.e. every thing thou hast any advantage by, not only thy domestic concerns, but all thy traffic and merchandise, wherever thou hast any concerns in the land, as men use to do in case of invasion by an enemy, to secure them. It seems to be a sarcasm, or kind of military derision. O inhabitant of the fortress: this is understood by some as spoken to the Babylonians, that they should make provision for their escape, their idols being not able to save them; but this seems to be remote from the prophet’ s meaning. It is rather therefore directed to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, that being the…
Read Matthew Poole on Jeremiah 10 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsJeremiah 10:17 Gather up thy wares out of the land, O inhabitant of the fortress.Ver. 17. Gather up thy wares out of the land.] Make up thy pack, and prevent a plundering. Reculas tuas et sarcinas compone.
Read John Trapp on Jeremiah 10 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(17) Gather up thy wares.—The section from Jeremiah 10:1-16 inclusive had been as a long parenthesis, reproving Israel for the sin which placed it among the “uncircumcised in the heart” (Jeremiah 9:26). Now the prophet returns to his main theme, the devastation of the land of Israel as the penalty of that sin. He begins with a vivid touch in the picture of utter misery. The daughter of Israel (the word “inhabitant” is feminine), sitting as in a besieged fortress, is to gather up her goods and chattels into one small bundle (the English “wares” suggests the idea of trade, which is foreign to the context), and with that as the sole remnant of her possessions, to go forth into exile. Probably…
Read Charles John Ellicott on Jeremiah 10 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 17. Gather up thy wares] Pack up your goods, or what necessaries of life your enemies will permit you to carry away; for,-
Read AdamClarke on Jeremiah 10 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges17–25. Exile is at hand. Appeal to Jehovah in His wrath to remember mercy The utterances, interrupted by Jeremiah 9:23-26, and Jeremiah 10:1-16, are now continued. The passage has apparently suffered both by corruption of MT. and by marginal glosses, afterwards incorporated with the text. It may be summarized thus. (i) 17–22. The city is bidden hastily to prepare to be cast forth into exile as the result of impending siege. The country laments, as it lies waste. The inhabitants are carried captive, because of the folly of their rulers. The report of the invasion of the northern foe presages desolation. (ii) 23–25. The prophet, pleading the weakness of man’s nature, prays that there may be a…
Read Cambridge on Jeremiah 10 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleThe prophet now returns to the main subject of his sermon, the conquest of Judaea. Thy wares - Rather, thy bundle, which could contain a few articles for necessary use, and be carried in the hand. They are going into exile.
Read Albert Barnes on Jeremiah 10 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Gather up your belongings from this land, you who live under siege.
Gather up your wares out of the land, you who live under siege.
Gather up your belongings from this land, you who live under siege.
Gather your belongings together and prepare to leave the land, you people of Jerusalem who are being besieged.
Tyndale line
¶ Gather up thy wares out of the land, O inhabitant of the fortress.
Gather up thy wares out of the land, O thou that abidest in the siege.
Gather up thy wares out of the land, O thou that abidest in the siege.
Gather up thy wares out of the land, O inhabitant of the fortress.
Gather vp thy wares out of the land, O thou that dwellest in the strong place.
Strictly literal
Gather up thy baggage out of the land, O inhabitress of the fortress.
Gather from the land thy merchandise, O dweller in the bulwark,
Gather your merchandise from the land, || O dweller in the bulwark,
Gather up thy wares from the ground, O inhabitress of the beleaguered city.
Gather your bundle and leave the land, you people who have been living under the siege.
From the Latin
Gather up thy shame out of the land, thou that dwellest in a siege.
Simplified
You people living in Jerusalem under siege, get all your things together ready to leave,
Get your goods together and go out of the land, O you who are shut up in the walled town.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree closely in wording, with the Septuagint reflecting the same imperative call to gather. The Dead Sea Scrolls, while damaged, show that the same command was present, though some words were restored by editors.
אִסְפִּ֥י מֵאֶ֖רֶץ כִּנְעָתֵ֑ךְ יֹשֶׁ֖בֶת בַּמָּצֽוֹר׃ ס
5 of the 5 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
[אספי] [מארץ] [כנעת׳ך] [יושבת] [במצור]
nothing on the leather here — 5 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Jeremiah 10:17
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
אָסַף (acaph) is a Hebrew verb meaning to gather or remove. It encompasses a range of actions including collecting, assembling, and withdrawing. The verb appears in various forms, such as Qal, Niphal, Piel, and Hithpael, indicating different nuances like gathering individuals or being gathered. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.
אָסַף 209 vb. gather, remove
Qal
gather, collect
gather an individual into company of others
bring up the rear of
gather and take away, remove, withdraw
Niph.
assemble, be gathered, reflex.
pass. of Qal 2
Pass. of Qal 4; be taken away, removed, perish
Pi.
gather harvest
take in, receive into
as subst. rearguard, rearward
Pu. be gathered, of men
Hithp. gather themselves
base
H622 אָסַף gather, remove
622 'acaph aw-saf'
a primitive root; to gather for any purpose; hence, to
receive, take away, i.e. remove (destroy, leave behind, put
up, restore, etc.):--assemble, bring, consume, destroy,
felch, gather (in, together, up again), X generally, get
(him), lose, put all together, receive, recover (another from
leprosy), (be) rereward, X surely, take (away, into, up), X
utterly, withdraw.
אָסַף (a.saph) — to gather.
1) to gather, receive, remove, gather in
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to gather, collect
1a2) to gather (an individual into company of others)
1a3) to bring up the rear
1a4) to gather and take away, remove, withdraw
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to assemble, be gathered
1b2) (pass of Qal 1a2)
1b2a) to be gathered to one's fathers
1b2b) to be brought in or into (association with others)
1b3) (pass of Qal 1a4)
1b3a) to be taken away, removed, perish
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to gather (harvest)
1c2) to take in, receive into
1c3) rearguard, rearward (subst)
1d) (Pual) to be gathered
1e) (Hithpael) to gather oneself or themselves
V-Qal-Impv-2fs — Verb · Qal · imperative second person feminine singularHVqv2fs
אֶ֫רֶץ (erets) is a feminine noun meaning 'earth' or 'land.' It encompasses various meanings, including the whole earth, specific territories like Canaan, and even inhabitants of the land. It can refer to soil, ground, or regions, and is used in phrases related to distance and the living. There is a note on the plural form אֲרָצוֹת, which mainly appears in later texts to denote multiple lands.
אֶ֫רֶץ n. f. & (seld.) m. earth, land
earth, whole earth (opp. to a part)
earth, opp. to heaven, sky
earth = inhabitants of earth
land =
country, territory
district, region
trial territory
piece of ground
specif. land of Canaan, or Israel
= inhabitants of land
used even of Shᵉʼôl
ground, surface of ground
soil, as productive
אֶרֶץ in phrases
people of the land
in measurements of distance
the country of the plain, level or plain country
land of the living
end(s) of the earth
pl. אֲרָצוֹת is almost wholly late; it denotes lands, countries, often in contrast to Canaan, lands of the nations, etc.
base
H776 אֶ֫רֶץ n. f. & (seld.) m. earth, land . . earth, whole earth (opp. to a part)
. earth, opp. to heaven, sky
. earth = inhabitants of earth
. land = . country, territory
. district, region
. trial territory
. piece of ground
. specif. land of Canaan, or Israel
. = inhabitants of land
. used even of Shᵉʼôl
. . ground, surface of ground
. soil, as productive
. אֶרֶץ in phrases . people of the land
. in measurements of distance
. the country of the plain, level or plain country
. land of the living
. end(s) of the earth
. pl. אֲרָצוֹת is almost wholly late; it denotes lands, countries, often in contrast to Canaan, lands of the nations, etc.
776 'erets eh'-rets
from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth
(at large, or partitively a land):--X common, country, earth,
field, ground, land, X natins, way, + wilderness, world.
אֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) — land: country/planet.
: country/field
1) land, earth
1a) earth
1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part)
1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven)
1a3) earth (inhabitants)
1b) land
1b1) country, territory
1b2) district, region
1b3) tribal territory
1b4) piece of ground
1b5) land of Canaan, Israel
1b6) inhabitants of land
1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world
1b8) city (-state)
1c) ground, surface of the earth
1c1) ground
1c2) soil
1d) (in phrases)
1d1) people of the land
1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance)
1d3) level or plain country
1d4) land of the living
1d5) end(s) of the earth
1e) (almost wholly late in usage)
1e1) lands, countries
1e1a) often in contrast to Canaan
אֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) — land: soil.
: soil
1) land, earth
1a) earth
1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part)
1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven)
1a3) earth (inhabitants)
1b) land
1b1) country, territory
Prep | N-cs — Preposition · noun common feminine singular constructHR/Ncfsc
כִּנְעָה (kin'ah) refers to a bundle or pack, derived from a root meaning to fold. It is used in contexts relating to packages or wares, as noted in Jeremiah 10:17. The entries consistently emphasize its meaning as a physical collection of items.
[כִּנְעָה] n.f. bundle, pack;—Je 10:17
ref
H3666 כִּנְעָה
3666 kin`ah kin-aw'
from 3665 in the sense of folding (compare 3664); a
package:--wares.
see HEBREW for 03665
see HEBREW for 03664
כִּנְעָה (kin.ah) — bundle.
bundle, bag, pack
N-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHNcfsc/Sp2fs
יָשַׁב (yashab) is a Hebrew verb meaning to sit, remain, or dwell. It encompasses a range of actions from simply sitting down to more complex ideas like establishing a home or causing a place to be inhabited. The entries indicate various forms, including Qal (to sit), Niphal (to be inhabited), and Hiphil (to cause to dwell). There is an Aramaic equivalent, יְתִב (ye.tiv), meaning 'to dwell'.
יָשַׁב 1090 vb. sit, remain, dwell
Qal
sit
sit, sit down
sit down
sit = be set (as a jewel)
remain, stay, tarry
with special emphasis of qualifying phr.
dwell, have one’s abode
of a land or city, sit, abide, seated in its place, fig. for be inhabited
Niph. be inhabited, of land
Pi. and they shall set their encampments in thee
Hiph.
cause to sit
cause to abide
cause to dwell
cause cities to be inhabited
marry (prop. give a dwelling to)
Hoph. and ye be made to dwell alone in the midst of the land
base
H3427 יָשַׁב sit, remain, dwell
3427 yashab yaw-shab'
a primitive root; properly, to sit down (specifically as
judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to
remain; causatively, to settle, to marry:--(make to)
abide(-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-ing), ease
self, endure, establish, X fail, habitation, haunt, (make to)
inhabit(-ant), make to keep (house), lurking, X marry(-ing),
(bring again to) place, remain, return, seat, set(- tle),
(down-)sit(-down, still, -ting down, -ting (place) -uate),
take, tarry.
יָשַׁב (ya.shav) — to dwell.
1) to dwell, remain, sit, abide
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to sit, sit down
1a2) to be set
1a3) to remain, stay
1a4) to dwell, have one's abode
1b) (Niphal) to be inhabited
1c) (Piel) to set, place
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to cause to sit
1d2) to cause to abide, set
1d3) to cause to dwell
1d4) to cause (cities) to be inhabited
1d5) to marry (give an dwelling to)
1e) (Hophal)
1e1) to be inhabited
1e2) to make to dwell
Aramaic equivalent: ye.tiv (יְתִב "to dwell" H3488)
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) feminine singularHVqrfsa
dwel:
(1) In the Old Testament "dwell" is a translation of 9 words, of which by far the most frequent is yashabh, "to sit down," translated "dwell" over 400 times (Ge 4:20; Jos 20:4; 1Ch 17:1,4,5, etc.); also very frequently "sit," and sometimes "abide," "inhabit," "remain." Another word often rendered "dwell" is shakhan or shakhen ("to settle down"), from which is derived the rabbinic word shekhinah (literally, "that which dwells"), the light on the mercy-seat which symbolized the Divine presence (Ex 25:8, etc.). In order to avoid appearing to localize the Divine Being, wherever God is said to "dwell" in a place, the Targum renders that He "causes His Shekinah to dwell"…
Dwell
Tents were in primitive times the common dwellings of men. Houses were afterwards built, the walls of which were frequently of mud (Job 24:16; Matt. 6:19, 20) or of sun-dried bricks.
God “dwells in light” (1 Tim. 6:16; 1 John 1:7), in heaven (Ps. 123:1), in his church (Ps. 9:11; 1 John 4:12). Christ dwelt on earth in the days of his humiliation (John 1:14). He now dwells in the hearts of his people (Eph.…
מָצוֹר (matsowr) refers to a siege or an enclosure used during a siege, such as a rampart or fortification. It can denote both the physical structures associated with besieging and the abstract concept of distress. The word is built from a root meaning to hem in, indicating confinement or defense.
מָצוֹר n.[m.] siege-enclosure, siege, entrenchment
base
H4692 מָצוֹר siege-enclosure, siege, entrenchment
4692 matsowr maw-tsore'
or matsuwr {maw-tsoor'}; from 6696; something hemming in,
i.e. (objectively) a mound (of besiegers), (abstractly) a
siege, (figuratively) distress; or (subjectively) a
fastness:--besieged, bulwark, defence, fenced, fortress,
siege, strong (hold), tower.
see HEBREW for 06696
מָצוֹר (ma.tsor) — siege.
1) siege-enclosure, siege, entrenchment, siege works
1a) siege
1b) enclosure, siege-works, rampart
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHRd/Ncmsa
sej (matsor (De 28:52,53; 1Ki 15:27; 2Ki 25:2; Isa 29:3; Eze 4:2); "to be besieged," "to suffer siege," ba-matsor bo' (De 20:19; 2Ki 24:10; 25:2)):
1. In Early Hebrew History
2. In the Monarchy
3. Preliminaries to Siege
4. Siege Operations: Attack
(1) Investment of City
(2) Line of Circumvallation
(3) Mound, or Earthworks
(4) Battering-Rams
(5) Storming of Walls and Rushing of Breach
5. Siege Operations: Defense
6. Raising of Siege
7. Horrors of Siege and Capture
8. Siege in the New Testament
LITERATURE
→ An offer of peace must be made to the city before beginning a De 20:10-12
→ Conducted by erecting embankments parallel to the walls of the besieged city De 20:19,20; Isa 29:3; 37:33
→ Battering-rams used in
See BATTERING-RAMS
→ Distress of the inhabitants during a 2Ki 6:24-29; 25:3; Isa 9:20; 36:12; Jer 19:9
