Jeremiah 5:10-11
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This isn't just a command to destroy a city; it's God disowning His own people and their defenses. The "branches" and "battlements" that are not the Lord's are being stripped away because the people themselves have turned away from Him, leaving nothing truly His to protect.
“Go up through her vine rows and destroy, but make not a full end; strip away her branches, for they are not the LORD’s. For the house of Israel and the house of Judah have been utterly treacherous to me, declares the LORD.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jeremiah is delivering a severe prophecy of judgment against Judah, personified as a faithless vine or vineyard, for their widespread sin and betrayal of God. The preceding verses call for a devastating invasion, describing how the enemy will conquer the land, but this verse introduces a crucial nuance: the destruction isn't total. God commands the invaders to climb the walls and break them down, stripping away its defenses (its "branches" or "battlements"), because these fortifications no longer belong to the Lord, implying He has withdrawn His protection from their sinful ways.
Who is giving the command to destroy Jerusalem? It's not just an invading army acting on their own.
Jeremiah 5:10 begins with a direct command: “Go up through her vine rows and destroy.” This isn't a suggestion; it's an order.
The Commander
While it's the enemy (the Chaldeans) carrying out the destruction, the ultimate authority comes from God Himself. He is the one authorizing and directing this devastating invasion. This is a crucial concept: even human actions that bring immense suffering are, in a sovereign sense, permitted and directed by God for His purposes.
Purpose of Judgment
This judgment isn't random violence. It's a consequence of Judah's rebellion and unfaithfulness. God is acting as the ultimate judge, and He is calling on earthly powers to execute His sentence.
The command is to destroy, but with a surprising limitation. What does 'make not a full end' really mean?
The verse contains a critical restraint: “but make not a full end.” This isn't a contradiction to the destruction; it's a promise of preservation.
A Deliberate Restraint
God's judgment, while severe, is never absolute extermination for His covenant people. He sets boundaries. This command to the invaders signifies that a remnant will survive, a seed for future restoration.
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Theological Significance
This concept echoes throughout Scripture, pointing to God's faithfulness. Even in wrath, He remembers His promises and His people. This “not a full end” is the first note of the “remnant” theme that Jeremiah will explore further.
Why are these 'branches' being stripped away? The reason is stark: 'for they are not the LORD’s.'
The imagery shifts to a vine, comparing Judah to its branches. The command to 'strip away her branches' is directly explained by the reason given: 'for they are not the LORD’s.'
Loss of Divine Ownership
When a vine’s branches are cut off, it’s because they are unhealthy, unproductive, or simply not part of the intended harvest. Here, God declares that these 'branches' of Judah—representing their sinful actions, corrupt leaders, or unfaithful people—no longer belong to Him in a way that earns His protection.
The Consequence of Treachery
Their actions have essentially disowned God, and in response, He disowns them. This isn't about God arbitrarily abandoning His people; it's about the natural consequence of their persistent rebellion and betrayal, which severs their connection to His favor and protection.
Understand the original words
gephen · Hebrew Noun
A common biblical metaphor for the nation of Israel as God’s cultivated people, meant to bear fruit for His glory; it is subject to pruning or destruction when it fails to produce righteousness.
Yisra'el · Hebrew Proper Noun
The covenant community of God, descended from Jacob, set apart as a kingdom of priests and a holy nation to reflect God’s character and receive His promises.
bagad · Hebrew Verb
Refers to the act of being unfaithful, deceitful, or acting as a traitor, particularly in the context of a covenant relationship; it implies breaking trust and acting faithlessly against a superior or partner.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal, covenant-keeping name of God, revealed to Moses, signifying His self-existence, eternal nature, and faithful relationship with His people.
The command to destroy, but not completely, reflects God's judgment on Judah's unfaithfulness. The imagery of a vine signifies that while its branches (representing unrighteous elements) are cut off, a remnant (the vine stock) is preserved according to God's covenant promises.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Assyrian Exile
The Northern Kingdom of Israel falls to the Assyrian Empire, leading to the exile of its people and the scattering of the ten tribes. This event serves as a stark warning of the consequences of disobedience to God.
701 BC
Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem
King Sennacherib of Assyria invades Judah and besieges Jerusalem. While the city is miraculously spared destruction, the surrounding towns are devastated, illustrating Judah's vulnerability.
626 BC
Jeremiah Begins Prophesying
Jeremiah is called by God to prophesy, beginning his ministry during a time of moral and spiritual decay in Judah, shortly before major geopolitical shifts.
609 BC
Josiah's Reforms and Death
King Josiah's religious reforms, inspired by the rediscovery of the Book of the Law, briefly revitalize Judah. However, his death in battle against the Egyptians marks a turning point toward decline.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquers Judah, and many prominent citizens, including Daniel, are taken into exile. This marks the beginning of Babylon's dominance and the eventual destruction of Jerusalem.
597 BC
Second Babylonian Deportation
Following a rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar deports more of Judah's population, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel. Jerusalem's temple is plundered.
586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Nebuchadnezzar's armies finally destroy Jerusalem, burn the Temple, and exile the remaining population. This catastrophic event fulfills God's warnings, leaving the nation devastated.
This passage uses the powerful metaphor of God's vineyard to represent Israel, just as Jeremiah's prophecy hints at Judah as a vine whose branches are to be stripped away because they no longer belong to the Lord.
Psalm 80:8-16This psalm echoes the imagery of God's vine, appealing to Him to restore His people, highlighting the deep spiritual connection between God and Israel as a cultivated plant that has fallen into disrepair.
Jeremiah 4:27This verse speaks of making 'not a full end' of Judah, which directly parallels the command in Jeremiah 5:10 to 'make not a full end,' pointing to the concept of a surviving remnant amidst judgment.
Ezekiel 14:22-23This passage shows God preserving a remnant of survivors who can reflect on His judgment, reinforcing the idea that even in severe destruction, a portion may be spared for His purposes, much like the 'not a full end' in Jeremiah 5:10.
clarkeJeremiah 5:10: "Go ye up upon her walls, and destroy; but make not a full end: take away her battlements; for they are not the LORD'S."
Go ye up upon her walls - This is the permission and authority given to the Chaldeans to pillage Jerusalem. Take away her battlements - Some translate נטישות netishoth, branches; others, vines. Destroy the branches, cut down the stem; but do not damage the root. Leave so many of the people that the state may be regenerated. The Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic,…
pulpitJeremiah 5:10: "Go ye up upon her walls, and destroy; but make not a full end: take away her battlements; for they are not the LORD'S."
Verses 10-18. - Provoked by the open unbelief of the men of Judah, Jehovah repeats his warning of a sore judgment. Verse 10. - Her walls. There is a doubt about "walls," which should, as some think, rather be vine-rows (a change of points is involved; also of shin into sin - the slightest of all changes), or shoots, or branches (comparing the Syriac). The figur…
This isn't just a command to destroy a city; it's God disowning His own people and their defenses. The "branches" and "battlements" that are not the Lord's are being stripped away because the people themselves have turned away from Him, leaving nothing truly His to protect.
Jeremiah is delivering a severe prophecy of judgment against Judah, personified as a faithless vine or vineyard, for their widespread sin and betrayal of God. The preceding verses call for a devastating invasion, describing how the enemy will conquer the land, but this verse introduces a crucial nuance: the destruction isn't total. God commands the invaders to climb the walls and break them down, stripping away its defenses (its "branches" or "battlements"), because these fortifications no longer belong to the Lord, implying He has withdrawn His protection from their sinful ways.
Jeremiah is delivering a severe prophecy of judgment against Judah, personified as a faithless vine or vineyard, for their widespread sin and betrayal of God. The preceding verses call for a devastating invasion, describing how the enemy will conquer the land, but this verse introduces a crucial nuance: the destruction isn't total. God commands the invaders to climb the walls and break them down, stripping away its defenses (its "branches" or "battlements"), because these fortifications no longer belong to the Lord, implying He has withdrawn His protection from their sinful ways.
"“Go up through her vine rows and destroy, but make not a full end; strip away her branches, for they are not the LORD’s. For the house of Israel and the house of Judah have been utterly treacherous to me,…" — This isn't just a command to destroy a city; it's God disowning His own people and their defenses. The "branches" and "battlements" that are not the Lord's are being stripped away because the people…
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Last reviewed October 2026
