Jeremiah 5:26-28
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It's easy to see the "wicked men" as individuals, but the verse paints a picture of systemic corruption, with "they" consistently lurking and setting traps, implying a widespread, almost institutionalized form of malice permeating God's own people. This isn't just about a few bad apples; it suggests that iniquity had become the norm, not the exception.
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; they have grown fat and sleek. They know no bounds in deeds of evil; they judge not with justice the cause of the fatherless, to make it prosper, and they do not defend the rights of the needy.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet Jeremiah is exposing the deep-seated corruption within Jerusalem, arguing that its own people, even those considered God's chosen, are complicit in its downfall. He’s just described the people's unresponsiveness to God's warnings, and now he vividly illustrates how wicked individuals among them actively scheme to ensnare others. This condemnation points to a pervasive moral rot, not just among a few bad apples, but as a characteristic feature of the community, making them susceptible to God's judgment.
Jeremiah declares that wickedness isn't hidden among distant enemies, but right in the heart of God's chosen people. How can this be?
The prophet isn't just pointing out a few bad apples; he's revealing a pervasive corruption within Israel. God's people were supposed to be set apart, a light to the nations. Yet, the "wicked" (resha'im) were found "among my people." This isn't about fringe elements; it's a statement about the state of the nation. The word "found" suggests their sin wasn't secret but evident, even undeniable, like thieves caught in the act. This makes their sin especially grievous because they were called to holiness. Their unfaithfulness was a betrayal of their covenant relationship with God.
The verse uses a vivid image of fowlers and traps. What does this metaphor reveal about the nature of their wickedness?
Jeremiah compares the wicked to fowlers who "lie in wait" and "set a trap." This isn't about overt violence, but cunning deception. Fowlers hide, observe patiently, and use bait to lure unsuspecting birds into their nets. Similarly, these individuals within Israel weren't just sinful; they were actively setting snares. They were employing deceit, manipulation, and corrupt practices to "catch men." This could refer to exploiting the poor, perverting justice, or leading others into idolatry and disobedience. Their goal was destruction, disguised as something else.
Understand the original words
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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.
din · Hebrew Noun/Verb
Biblical justice refers to the administration of fairness and righteousness, particularly upholding the cause of the vulnerable, as commanded by God. Injustice involves perverting this standard for self-interest.
yathom · Hebrew Noun
A specific category of the vulnerable mentioned frequently in Scripture; God mandates the protection and care of children who have lost their fathers, reflecting His own role as Father to the fatherless.
ebyon · Hebrew Noun/Adjective
Those lacking physical, economic, or social power; God commands His people to advocate for the poor and oppressed, declaring that injustice against them is a direct offense against Him.
Jeremiah's powerful imagery of wicked men as fowlers highlights the pervasive corruption within Judah, even after repeated warnings and deportations, emphasizing that judgment was a consequence of their deep-seated infidelity to God.
c. 722 BC
Fall of the Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the Northern Kingdom of Israel, exiling many of its inhabitants. This event serves as a stark warning to the Southern Kingdom of Judah about the consequences of disobedience.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Under King Nebuchadnezzar, Babylon conquers Judah and begins deporting skilled Israelites, including members of the royal family and educated elite, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of Judah's decline.
597 BC
Second Babylonian Deportation
Babylon deports more Judeans, including the prophet Ezekiel and King Jehoiachin, after a rebellion. This further weakens the kingdom and increases the sense of impending doom.
586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Babylon destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling the majority of the remaining population. This catastrophic event is the climax of God's judgment on Judah's unfaithfulness.
c. 580 BC
Jeremiah's Ministry Continues
Jeremiah, though imprisoned or in exile, continues to prophesy, lamenting the people's sin and offering a message of future hope and restoration, emphasizing God's enduring covenant.
This passage describes the wicked lying in wait and setting traps, mirroring the imagery of fowlers used in Jeremiah to depict the insidious nature of sin.
Psalm 91:3This psalm speaks of God delivering the righteous from the fowler's snare, connecting to the idea of hidden dangers and traps set by wicked people mentioned in Jeremiah.
1 Kings 21:9Jezebel's scheme to falsely accuse Naboth and seize his vineyard is a specific example of the wicked setting traps and catching innocent men, as described by Jeremiah.
Acts 23:13The conspiracy of over forty men to ambush and kill Paul illustrates how a group can plot and set traps with deadly intent, echoing the description of wicked men in Jeremiah.
Micah 7:2Micah laments that the godly are like a harvest of summer fruits, implying they are easily gathered, which resonates with the idea of the wicked catching men like fowlers catch birds.
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…
It's easy to see the "wicked men" as individuals, but the verse paints a picture of systemic corruption, with "they" consistently lurking and setting traps, implying a widespread, almost institutionalized form of malice permeating God's own people. This isn't just about a few bad apples; it suggests that iniquity had become the norm, not the exception.
The prophet Jeremiah is exposing the deep-seated corruption within Jerusalem, arguing that its own people, even those considered God's chosen, are complicit in its downfall. He’s just described the people's unresponsiveness to God's warnings, and now he vividly illustrates how wicked individuals among them actively scheme to ensnare others. This condemnation points to a pervasive moral rot, not just among a few bad apples, but as a characteristic feature of the community, making them susceptible to God's judgment.
The prophet Jeremiah is exposing the deep-seated corruption within Jerusalem, arguing that its own people, even those considered God's chosen, are complicit in its downfall. He’s just described the people's unresponsiveness to God's warnings, and now he vividly illustrates how wicked individuals among them actively scheme to ensnare others. This condemnation points to a pervasive moral rot, not just among a few bad apples, but as a characteristic feature of the community, making them susceptible to God's judgment.
"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…" — It's easy to see the "wicked men" as individuals, but the verse paints a picture of systemic corruption, with "they" consistently lurking and setting traps, implying a widespread, almost institutiona…
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Last reviewed October 2026
