1 Heb “Flee for safety, people of Benjamin, out of the midst of Jerusalem.” Compare and contrast Jer 4:6. There people in the outlying areas were warned to seek safety in the fortified city of Jerusalem. Here they are told to flee it because it was about to be destroyed. For location see ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; .
2 Heb “ram’s horn,” but the modern equivalent is “trumpet” and is more readily understandable.
3 Heb “leans down” or “looks down.” This verb personifies destruction leaning/looking down from its window in the sky, ready to attack.
4 Heb “[It will be] a severe fracture.” The nation is pictured as a limb being fractured. This passage is emotionally charged. There are two examples of assonance or wordplay in the verse: “sound” (Heb tiq’u, “blow”), which has the same consonants as “Tekoa” (Heb uvitqoa’), and “signal fire,” which comes from the same root as “light” (Heb sé’u mas’et, “lift up”). There is also an example of personification where disaster is said to “lurk” (Heb “look down on”) out of the north. This gives a sense of urgency and concern for the coming destruction.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Flee for safety, O people of Benjamin,

from the midst of Jerusalem!

Blow the trumpet in Tekoa,

and raise a signal on Beth-haccherem,

for disaster looms out of the north,

and great destruction.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

“Flee for safety, people of Benjamin!

Flee from Jerusalem!

Sound the trumpet in Tekoa!

Raise the signal over Beth Hakkerem!

For disaster looms out of the north,

even terrible destruction.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

“Run for cover out of Jerusalem, Benjaminites.

Sound the trumpet in Tekoa;

raise a smoke signal over Beth-haccherem,

for disaster threatens from the north,

even a crushing blow.

NLTNew Living Translation

“Run for your lives, you people of Benjamin!

Get out of Jerusalem!

Sound the alarm in Tekoa!

Send up a signal at Beth-hakkerem!

A powerful army is coming from the north,

coming with disaster and destruction.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Flee for safety, O children of Benjamin,

from the midst of Jerusalem.

And in Tekoa blow a horn,

and on Beth-haccherem lift up a signal,

for evil looks down from the north,

and a great destruction.

O ye children of Benjamin, gather yourselves to flee out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and set up a sign of fire in Beth-haccerem: for evil appeareth out of the north, and great destruction.

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Jeremiah 6:1

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The Destruction of Jerusalem Depicted

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