Jeremiah 6:15
Were they ashamed when they committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed; they did not know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; at the time that I punish them, they shall be overthrown,” says the LORD.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The most striking thing here is the description of their lack of shame as not just a feeling they didn't have, but something they "could not" do – they had lost the very capacity to blush. This deep insensibility to their sin is the true tragedy, indicating a spiritual stupor so profound that divine judgment is their only remaining option.
Jeremiah has just described the impending invasion of Judah by a brutal enemy, whom God uses as a tool of judgment. The people, particularly the religious leaders, have been complicit in the nation's idolatry and corruption, yet they stubbornly refuse to acknowledge their guilt or fear God's consequences. This lack of shame signals a deep spiritual decay, making them ripe for the judgment God is about to bring upon them.
Jeremiah confronts a people so deep in sin, they've forgotten how to feel embarrassed. What does it mean to truly feel ashamed before God?
The verse opens with a rhetorical question that points to a profound spiritual crisis: 'Were they ashamed when they committed abomination?' The answer is a stark 'No!' The prophet highlights their complete lack of remorse, their inability to even blush.
This isn't just about social awkwardness; it's about a spiritual deadness. True shame before God isn't about humiliation, but about recognizing the offense against His perfect holiness. It's an awareness that our actions have broken fellowship with the Creator. When we lose this sense of shame, we're not free; we're trapped in a dangerous indifference.
This callousness is a sign that something is deeply wrong in our relationship with God. It’s a spiritual anesthesia, numbing us to the pain of sin and the glory of God.
When a people lose their capacity for shame, what's the ultimate consequence? It's not just a feeling, but a fate.
The prophet doesn't leave us with just a diagnosis of their spiritual condition. He moves to the inevitable outcome: 'Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; at the time that I punish them, they shall be overthrown.'
Because they refuse to acknowledge their abominations with shame, God declares they will face a severe judgment. They will fall not just as individuals, but they will fall among the others who are falling – indicating a shared, sweeping disaster. They will be overthrown when God finally brings His judgment.
This isn't a capricious act of God. It's a consequence of their unrepentant sin and their spiritual blindness. God’s judgment is a righteous response to a people who have abandoned His ways and lost all sense of reverence for Him.
Understand the original words
tow'ebah · Hebrew Noun
Acts or practices that are morally disgusting and abhorrent to God, particularly those associated with idolatry and covenant infidelity. It signifies a profound violation of God’s nature and His holy law.
paqad · Hebrew Verb
A divine act of executing justice upon the wicked. In the biblical context, it serves both as a demonstration of God’s holiness and as a call for nations or individuals to turn back to Him.
c. 722 BC
Fall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel
The Assyrian Empire conquers the Northern Kingdom of Israel, exiling many of its inhabitants. This event serves as a stark warning to Judah about the consequences of disobedience.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquers Judah and takes Jehoiakim and a group of nobles, including Daniel, captive to Babylon. This marks the beginning of Judah's Babylonian exile.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar deports King Jehoiachin and thousands more Judeans to Babylon after Jerusalem revolts. This further weakens Judah and intensifies the prophetic warnings.
c. 590 BC— this verse
Jeremiah's Ministry
Jeremiah delivers his prophetic messages, including this verse, to the people of Judah, condemning their idolatry and moral decay, and warning of impending judgment.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Destruction of the Temple
Like Jeremiah's audience, the people Ezekiel addresses are described as 'impudent and hard-hearted,' unable to blush, highlighting a consistent theme of spiritual insensitivity in the face of sin.
Romans 1:32This passage parallels Jeremiah's observation by stating that those who practice wickedness not only do wrong things but also approve of those who do them, showing a complete lack of shame or moral discernment.
Jeremiah 8:12This verse directly echoes Jeremiah 6:15, asking if the people are ashamed of their deeds and stating they have no shame, reinforcing the prophet's message about their deep-seated impenitence.
Proverbs 28:13This proverb offers a stark contrast and consequence: 'Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy,' directly linking the lack of shame and confession to impending judgment.
pulpitJeremiah 6:15: "Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD."
Verse 15. - Were they ashamed? The Authorized Version certainly meets the requirements of the context; there seems to be an implied interrogation. Most, however, render, "They are brought to shame;" in which ease it seems best to take the verb as…
barnesJeremiah 6:15: "Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD."
They are brought to shame because They have "committed abomination:" Shame nevertheless they feel not; To blush nevertheless they know not; "Therefore they shall fall among" the falling; "At the time" when "I visit them, they shall" stumble, "Sait…
The most striking thing here is the description of their lack of shame as not just a feeling they didn't have, but something they "could not" do – they had lost the very capacity to blush. This deep insensibility to their sin is the true tragedy, indicating a spiritual stupor so profound that divine judgment is their only remaining option.
Jeremiah has just described the impending invasion of Judah by a brutal enemy, whom God uses as a tool of judgment. The people, particularly the religious leaders, have been complicit in the nation's idolatry and corruption, yet they stubbornly refuse to acknowledge their guilt or fear God's consequences. This lack of shame signals a deep spiritual decay, making them ripe for the judgment God is about to bring upon them.
Jeremiah has just described the impending invasion of Judah by a brutal enemy, whom God uses as a tool of judgment. The people, particularly the religious leaders, have been complicit in the nation's idolatry and corruption, yet they stubbornly refuse to acknowledge their guilt or fear God's consequences. This lack of shame signals a deep spiritual decay, making them ripe for the judgment God is about to bring upon them.
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Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling the remaining population to Babylon. This is the ultimate fulfillment of the prophecies of judgment against Judah.
"Were they ashamed when they committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed; they did not know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; at the time that I punish them, they shall be…" — The most striking thing here is the description of their lack of shame as not just a feeling they didn't have, but something they "could not" do – they had lost the very capacity to blush. This dee…
