Jeremiah 5:26-27
For wicked men are found among my people; they lurk like fowlers lying in wait. They set a trap; they catch men. Like a cage full of birds, their houses are full of deceit; therefore they have become great and rich;
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The most striking thing here is that these aren't just ordinary sinners; they are "found among my people." This highlights the betrayal of trust, as the wickedness isn't lurking in the outside world, but within the very community God claimed as His own. It implies a deep corruption and a perversion of what should have been a holy nation, where the "fowlers" were not outsiders, but insiders using their position to trap others.
Jeremiah has just described how the nation is filled with wickedness, and now he confirms that these sinners aren't outsiders but are found right within God's own people. He paints a vivid picture, comparing them to fowlers who cunningly lie in wait and set traps to catch unsuspecting birds, emphasizing how these wicked individuals within Israel actively plotted and ensnared others in their destructive schemes. This detailed description sets the stage for God's impending judgment, highlighting the pervasive corruption that has corrupted His chosen people from within.
You might think finding the truly bad guys means looking far away. But sometimes, the most dangerous threats are right beside you, even within the community you trust.
Jeremiah's message here is a stark reality check. He's not just talking about people outside the covenant; he's pointing to those within God's chosen people. The phrase 'wicked men are found among my people' means iniquity wasn't just an occasional problem, but a pervasive presence. This was more shocking because God had set Israel apart for Himself, expecting holiness. When wickedness flourishes within, it's not just a personal failing, but a betrayal of God's covenant and a stain on His name.
Think about a hunter patiently waiting for prey. The verse uses this image to describe how evil operates, not with brute force, but with cunning traps.
The imagery of 'fowlers lying in wait' and 'setting a trap' is powerful. It paints a picture of deliberate, hidden malice. These aren't people acting out of sudden impulse, but those who carefully 'spy' and 'ambush' others. They contrive destructive schemes, much like a bird hunter hides to catch unsuspecting birds. This refers to spiritual predators who use deception, manipulation, and false righteousness to ensnare people, leading them away from God and into destruction.
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Understand the original words
rasha' · Hebrew Adjective
General term for those who disregard God's law, characterized by moral depravity, rebellion against divine authority, and the practice of evil.
moqesh · Hebrew Noun
The act of capturing or ensnaring, often used metaphorically in Scripture to describe deceitful schemes, hidden dangers, or the entrapment of the unwary by the wicked.
mirmah · Hebrew Noun
Moral dishonesty, treachery, or craftiness; the act of misleading others for personal gain, which is condemned by God as an abomination.
This prophecy was delivered during a period of intense national crisis for Judah, marked by increasing political instability, foreign invasions, and widespread moral decay. The imagery of fowlers and traps speaks to the insidious nature of sin that had permeated all levels of society, leading directly to God's judgment.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern Kingdom of Israel, deporting many of its citizens and resettling the area with foreigners. This event serves as a stark warning to the southern Kingdom of Judah about the consequences of disobedience.
626 BC
Jeremiah Begins His Ministry
Jeremiah is called by God to prophesy to Judah, a time of growing corruption and impending judgment. He will preach for over 40 years, often facing rejection and persecution.
609 BC
Josiah's Death
King Josiah, a rare reformer, is killed in battle against Pharaoh Neco of Egypt. His death plunges Judah back into political instability and spiritual decline.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Under Nebuchadnezzar, Babylon conquers Jerusalem. Jehoiakim is made vassal king, and a number of prominent citizens, including Daniel, are deported to Babylon.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
After Jehoiakim rebels, Babylon returns and deports King Jehoiachin and many more Judeans, including the prophet Ezekiel. This marks a severe blow to the kingdom.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple Destruction
Zedekiah's rebellion leads to the final destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple by Nebuchadnezzar's forces. The remaining population is largely exiled to Babylon.
c. 580 BC— this verse
Jeremiah Prophesies Widespread Wickedness
Jeremiah vividly describes the pervasive corruption within Judah, portraying the people as cunning trappers. This highlights the internal decay that contributed to Jerusalem's downfall.
This passage speaks of God delivering believers from the 'snare of the fowler,' directly echoing the imagery of Jeremiah 5:26 and highlighting the destructive traps set by the wicked.
Proverbs 6:5Here, wisdom urges one to 'deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler,' reinforcing the persistent danger posed by hidden traps and deceitful schemes.
1 Kings 21:9-10Jezebel's wicked plot against Naboth, where she devised a legal trap to have him stoned, serves as a powerful historical example of the kind of deceitful snare Jeremiah describes.
Luke 11:54Jesus warns the Pharisees by describing them as 'spying for something to accuse him of,' which reflects the lurking, deceptive nature of those who set traps for others, as depicted in Jeremiah's prophecy.
calvinJeremiah 5:26: "For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men."
- Quia inventi sunt (aut, inveniuntur) in populo meo scelerati; aspicient (hoc est, astute observabunt) secundum ponere laqueos (hoc est, ac si decipulas tenderent;) perditionem locant, in qua homines capiant.
What the previous verse contains is here confirmed, -- that the Jews, through their own fault, had deprived themselves of God's favor. It was necessary…
pooleJeremiah 5:26: "For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men."
Among my people are found wicked men; I need not search for such among the heathen nations, for they are found even among them that are called by my name, whereas all my people ought to have been holy. They lay wait, or contemplate mischievous designs, under deceits, as fowlers do hide themselves, when they watch the birds coming to the snare or net, Proverbs 1:1…
The most striking thing here is that these aren't just ordinary sinners; they are "found among my people." This highlights the betrayal of trust, as the wickedness isn't lurking in the outside world, but within the very community God claimed as His own. It implies a deep corruption and a perversion of what should have been a holy nation, where the "fowlers" were not outsiders, but insiders using their position to trap others.
Jeremiah has just described how the nation is filled with wickedness, and now he confirms that these sinners aren't outsiders but are found right within God's own people. He paints a vivid picture, comparing them to fowlers who cunningly lie in wait and set traps to catch unsuspecting birds, emphasizing how these wicked individuals within Israel actively plotted and ensnared others in their destructive schemes. This detailed description sets the stage for God's impending judgment, highlighting the pervasive corruption that has corrupted His chosen people from within.
Jeremiah has just described how the nation is filled with wickedness, and now he confirms that these sinners aren't outsiders but are found right within God's own people. He paints a vivid picture, comparing them to fowlers who cunningly lie in wait and set traps to catch unsuspecting birds, emphasizing how these wicked individuals within Israel actively plotted and ensnared others in their destructive schemes. This detailed description sets the stage for God's impending judgment, highlighting the pervasive corruption that has corrupted His chosen people from within.
"For wicked men are found among my people; they lurk like fowlers lying in wait. They set a trap; they catch men. Like a cage full of birds, their houses are full of deceit; therefore they have become great a…" — The most striking thing here is that these aren't just ordinary sinners; they are "found among my people." This highlights the betrayal of trust, as the wickedness isn't lurking in the outside worl…
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