Jeremiah 5:1

Jeremiah 5:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it.
• New International Version (NIV)“Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem, look around and consider, search through her squares. If you can find but one person who deals honestly and seeks the truth, I will forgive this city.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, look and take note! Search her squares to see if you can find a man, one who does justice and seeks truth, that I may pardon her.
• New King James Version (NKJV)“Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem; See now and know; And seek in her open places If you can find a man, If there is anyone who executes judgment, Who seeks the truth, And I will pardon her.

Context of Jeremiah 5:1

The Lord said, ‘Run along all the streets of Jerusalem. Look carefully all around you. Look in all the public places of the city. Try to find one person who is honest. Try to find one person who wants to know the truth. If you find one person like that, I will forgive all the people in the city. 2They make promises and they say, “I will do it, as surely as the Lord lives.” But what they say is all lies.’ 3Lord, you want people to be honest and true. You have punished your people, but they did not feel any pain. You nearly destroyed them, but they still refuse to change. Their minds have become as hard as rock. They refuse to turn back to you.

Jeremiah 5:1 word by word

שׁוֹטְט֞וּ בְּחוּצ֣וֹת יְרוּשָׁלִַ֗ם וּרְאוּ־נָ֤א וּדְעוּ֙ וּבַקְשׁ֣וּ בִרְחוֹבוֹתֶ֔יהָ אִם־תִּמְצְא֣וּ אִ֔ישׁ אִם־יֵ֛שׁ עֹשֶׂ֥ה מִשְׁפָּ֖ט מְבַקֵּ֣שׁ אֱמוּנָ֑ה וְאֶסְלַ֖ח לָֽהּ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Run ye to and froשׁוּטshûţ · to roveH7751
• through the streetsחוּץchûts chûts · outsideH2351
• of Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵםyerûshâlaim yerûshâlayim · JerusalemH3389
• and seeרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• now, and knowיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• and seekבָּקַשׁbâqash · to seekH1245
• in the broad placesרְחוֹבrechôb rechôb · street/plazaH7339
• thereof, if ye can findמָצָאmâtsâ' · to findH4672
• a manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• if there beיֵשׁyêsh · thereH3426
• that executethעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• judgmentמִשְׁפָּטmishpâţ · justiceH4941
• the truthאֱמוּנָה'ĕmûnâh 'ĕmûnâh · faithfulnessH530
• and I will pardonסָלַחsâlach · to forgiveH5545

Cross-references for Jeremiah 5:1

• 2 Chronicles 16:9The Lord carefully watches over the whole earth. If people serve him faithfully, he makes them strong. But you have done a foolish thing. As a result, you will now always be fighting wars.’
• Daniel 12:4Daniel, you must now close this message. Put seals on the book so that nobody can open it until it is time for the end of this world. Many people will try to understand about these things. They will travel everywhere to get more knowledge.’
• Joel 2:9They run towards the city. They run along the wall. They climb into houses. They go through the windows like robbers.
• Amos 8:12People will travel everywhere in the country, north and south, east and west. They will want to hear a message from the Lord, but there will be nothing for them to hear.
• Zechariah 2:4The second angel said to the first angel, ‘Run to that young man with the line in his hand. Say that Jerusalem will be a city without walls. This is because of the many people and many animals that will live in it.
• Proverbs 8:3She stands near the gates where people go into the city. This is what she says:
• Luke 14:21The servant went back to his master. He told him what everyone had said. Then the master of the house was very angry. “Go out quickly to every street in the town,” he said to his servant. “Bring the poor people here. Bring those that have lost an arm or a leg. And bring those that cannot walk well, and those that cannot see.”
• 1 Kings 19:20So Elisha left his oxen in the field and he ran after Elijah. Elisha said, ‘Let me go home first to kiss my father and my mother and say “goodbye”. Then I will come with you.’ Elijah replied, ‘Yes, go back home. But do not forget about what I have done to you.’
• Proverbs 20:6Many people say that you can trust them. But it is difficult to find a truly faithful person.
• Ezekiel 22:30I looked among the people for a man who would make the land safe. He would make it a good, strong place again, with nothing bad in it. Then I would not destroy it. But I could not find anyone like that.
• Genesis 18:23Then Abraham went near to the Lord and he asked, ‘Will you destroy the good people as well as the bad people?
• Psalms 12:1Lord, please help me! All the good people have gone away! No kind or faithful people remain.
• Psalms 14:3But everyone has turned away from God. They have all become evil. Not even one person does things that are right!
• Psalms 53:2God looks down from heaven at the people on earth. He wants to see if there is anyone who is really wise and who wants to know God.
• Micah 7:1I am very sad! I am like someone who comes to trees with no fruit on them. Other people have picked the fruit already. So I am like those people who can only pick the last grapes. Those are the grapes that other people leave behind. Really, there are no grapes there to eat. There are none of the first figs that I like so much.
• Proverbs 2:4Look for wisdom as carefully as you would look for silver, or valuable jewels.

Commentaries on Jeremiah 5:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Broad places - Market-places, and those where there was most public resort. If ye can find a man - A certain philosopher went through the streets of Athens with a lighted lamp in his hand; and being asked what he sought, answered, "I am seeking to find a Man." So in Jerusalem none was found, on the most diligent search, who acted worthy the character of a rational being. I will pardon it - I will spare the city for the sake of one righteous person. So at…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1The broad places - The open spaces next the gates, and other places of concourse. A man - Or, anyone. That executeth - “That” practiceth. Truth - uprightness, probity (so in Jeremiah 5:3).Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The Jews' profession of religion was hypocritical. (Jr 5:1-9) The cruel proceedings of their enemies. (Jr 5:10-18) Their apostacy and idolatry. (Jr 5:19-31) Verses 1-9 None could be found who behaved as upright and godly men. But the Lord saw the true character of the people through all their disguises. The poor were ignorant, and therefore they were wicked. What can be expected but works of darkness, from people that know nothing of God and religion?…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-2A just person follows God's laws and treats others fairly. An honest person is reliable, truthful, and loyal to God. Jeremiah found neither justice nor honesty. Although some people were under oath, their claims of innocence were false. Their actions showed they had lied under oath (Genesis 4:2; 7:9; Genesis 18:23–32; Isaiah 48:1; Ezekiel 22:30; Titus 1:15–16).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-311. a man--As the pious Josiah, Baruch, and Zephaniah lived in Jerusalem at that time, Jeremiah must here mean the mass of the people, the king, his counsellors, the false prophets, and the priests, as distinguished from the faithful few, whom God had openly separated from the reprobate people; among the latter not even one just person was to be found (Is 9:16) [Calvin]; the godly, moreover, were forbidden to intercede for them (Jr 7:16; compare Ge 18:23…Read the comment

Topics related to Jeremiah 5:1

• Backsliders
• Idolatry
• Intercession
• Sin

In the dictionaries

• Jerusalem
• Correction
• Deceit
• Anthropology
• Broad
• City
• Exodus, the Book of
• Jeremiah (2)

Commentaries on Jeremiah 5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings