The Meaning of Jeremiah 22:6 Explained

Jeremiah 22:6

KJV: For thus saith the LORD unto the king's house of Judah; Thou art Gilead unto me, and the head of Lebanon: yet surely I will make thee a wilderness, and cities which are not inhabited.

YLT: For thus said Jehovah, Concerning the house of the king of Judah: Gilead art thou to Me -- head of Lebanon, If not -- I make thee a wilderness, Cities not inhabited.

Darby: For thus saith Jehovah concerning the house of the king of Judah: Thou art a Gilead unto me, the summit of Lebanon: verily I will make thee a wilderness, cities not inhabited.

ASV: For thus saith Jehovah concerning the house of the king of Judah: Thou art Gilead unto me, and the head of Lebanon; yet'surely I will make thee a wilderness, and cities which are not inhabited.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For thus saith  the LORD  unto the king's  house  of Judah;  Thou [art] Gilead  unto me, [and] the head  of Lebanon:  [yet] surely I will make  thee a wilderness,  [and] cities  [which] are not inhabited  {08675;03427:08737}. 

What does Jeremiah 22:6 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The Lord regarded the Davidic palace as a most pleasant and glorious thing, like Gilead and Mount Hermon, areas both famous for their forests and mountains. Again, the House of the Forest of Lebanon may be particularly in view (cf. Jeremiah 21:14). Yet He would turn the king"s residence into a desolation, like a wilderness or an uninhabited town, if the rulers disobeyed.

Context Summary

Jeremiah 22:1-30 - The Folly Of Idolatry
Jeremiah 10:1-10
We are here introduced into an idol-factory. Contrasted with the manufactured idols is the majesty of our God. There is none like Him. His name is great in might; He is the King of the nations, the true and living God, and the everlasting King! Christian, fear not or be dismayed when enemies plot against you. It is a vain device that they frame. To hide in God is a sure defence from all that man can do for our hurt. O thou true and living Savior, in thy wounds harried and faithful souls become strong and brave again.
Jeremiah 10:19-25
The prophet now bids the people prepare for their captivity. Their city would be as when a shepherd removed his slight and insubstantial tent, leaving no trace. But Jeremiah's soul is lacerated and torn with the message he must needs announce. Are we called to be shepherds? Let us see to it that we seek the Lord; so only shall our flocks not be scattered, Jeremiah 10:21. Are we in perplexity as to our path in life? It is not for us to direct ourselves, but to look up for God's sure guidance, which will be given to the soul that waits for it, Jeremiah 10:23. Are we being corrected? Let us be patient; it is only when we endure without complaining that our trial works out the highest good, and God will not give us more than we can bear, Jeremiah 10:24. [source]

Chapter Summary: Jeremiah 22

1  He exhorts to repentance, with promises and threats
10  The judgment of Shallum;
13  of Jehoiakim;
20  and of Coniah

What do the individual words in Jeremiah 22:6 mean?

For thus says Yahweh to the house of the king of Judah Gilead You [are] to Me the head of Lebanon [Yet] surely not I will make you a wilderness Cities - [which] are inhabited
כִּֽי־ כֹ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֗ה עַל־ בֵּית֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֔ה גִּלְעָ֥ד אַתָּ֛ה לִ֖י רֹ֣אשׁ הַלְּבָנ֑וֹן אִם־ לֹ֤א אֲשִֽׁיתְךָ֙ מִדְבָּ֔ר עָרִ֖ים [נושבה] (נוֹשָֽׁבוּ)

כֹ֣ה ׀  thus 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֹּה  
Sense: thus, here, in this manner.
אָמַ֣ר  says 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יְהוָ֗ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
בֵּית֙  the  house 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
מֶ֣לֶךְ  of  the  king 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
יְהוּדָ֔ה  of  Judah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְהוּדָה  
Sense: the son of Jacob by Leah.
גִּלְעָ֥ד  Gilead 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: גִּלְעָד  
Sense: a mountainous region bounded on the west by the Jordan, on the north by Bashan, on the east by the Arabian plateau, and on the south by Moab and Ammon; sometimes called ‘Mount Gilead’ or the ‘land of Gilead’ or just ‘Gilead’.
אַתָּ֛ה  You  [are] 
Parse: Pronoun, second person masculine singular
Root: אַתְּ 
Sense: you (second pers.
לִ֖י  to  Me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
רֹ֣אשׁ  the  head 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: רֹאשׁ 
Sense: head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning.
הַלְּבָנ֑וֹן  of  Lebanon 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: לְבָנׄון  
Sense: a wooded mountain range on the northern border of Israel.
אִם־  [Yet]  surely 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: אִם  
Sense: if.
אֲשִֽׁיתְךָ֙  I  will  make  you 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular, second person masculine singular
Root: שִׁית  
Sense: to put, set.
מִדְבָּ֔ר  a  wilderness 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִדְבָּר 
Sense: wilderness.
עָרִ֖ים  Cities 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: עִיר 
Sense: excitement, anguish.
[נושבה]  - 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Participle, feminine singular
(נוֹשָֽׁבוּ)  [which]  are  inhabited 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.