Jeremiah 6:27

“I have appointed you to examine My people like ore, so you may know and try their ways.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — God addresses Jeremiah directly, commissioning the prophet to inspect Israel. This declaration follows a call for national mourning and precedes a description of the people's hardened corruption.

The words — The Hebrew בָּח֛וֹן (ba.Chon) literally means assayer, describing one who tests refined metal. The verb נְתַתִּ֥י/ךָ (ne.ta.Ti./kha) states that God has made or appointed the prophet for this specific task.

The thread — Jeremiah 9:7 explicitly ties the motif of divine examination and refining to God Himself. Jeremiah 1:18 and Jeremiah 15:20 establish God as the one who makes the prophet a fortified city and a wall of bronze, not a fortified witness.

Why it lands — The text states that the prophet must observe and test the people's conduct without offering comfort. It requires the reader to accept that unflinching assessment of sin is a prerequisite for any future response.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

בָּח֛וֹןba.Chonan assayer נְתַתִּ֥יךָne.ta.Ti./khaI have made/ you בְעַמִּ֖יve./'a.M/iamong/ people/ my מִבְצָ֑רmiv.Tzarfortification וְתֵדַ֕עve./te.Da'so/ you may observe וּבָחַנְתָּ֖u./va.chan.Taand/ you will test אֶת־'et-<obj.>דַּרְכָּֽם׃dar.Ka/mconduct/ their

King James Version

I have set thee for a tower and a fortress among my people, that thou mayest know and try their way.

Cross-references

Jeremiah 1:18 Now behold, this day I have made you like a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land.
Jeremiah 15:20 Then I will make you a wall to this people, a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you to save and deliver you, declares the LORD.
Jeremiah 9:7 Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Behold, I will refine them and test them, for what else can I do because of the daughter of My people?
Ezekiel 3:8 Behold, I will make your face as hard as their faces, and your forehead as hard as their foreheads.
Ezekiel 20:4 Will you judge them, will you judge them, son of man? Confront them with the abominations of their fathers
Ezekiel 22:2 “As for you, son of man, will you judge her? Will you pass judgment on the city of bloodshed? Then confront her with all her abominations