Jeremiah 5:1

Footnotes

1. 1 These words are not in the text, but since the words at the end are obviously those of the Lord, they are supplied in the translation here to mark the shift in speaker from 4:29–31 where Jeremiah is the obvious speaker.
2. 2 It is not clear who is being addressed here. The verbs are plural so they are not addressed to Jeremiah per se. Since the passage is talking about the people of Jerusalem, it is unlikely they are addressed here except perhaps rhetorically. Some have suggested that the heavenly court is being addressed here as in Job 1:6–8; 2:1–3. It is clear from Jer 23:18, 22; Amos 3:7 that the prophets had access to this heavenly counsel through visions (cf. 1 Kgs 22:19–23), so Jeremiah could have been privy to this speech through that means. Though these are the most likely addressee, it is too presumptuous to supply such an explicit addressee without clearer indication in the text. The translation will just have to run the risk of the probable erroneous assumption by most English readers that the addressee is Jeremiah.
3. 3 For location see ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; .
4. 4 Heb “who does justice and seeks faithfulness.”
5. 5 Heb “squares. If you can find … if there is one person … then I will …”
6. 6 Heb “forgive [or pardon] it.”