Jeremiah 6:25
in Jeremiah 6Do not go out to the fields; do not walk the road. For the enemy has a sword; terror is on every side.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy, and terror, are on every side.
KJV
Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy and fear is on every side.
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This verse in Jeremiah 6
Commentary
8 notes on this verse(Verse 25.) Do not go out to the fields, and do not walk on the road, for the sword of the enemy is all around. The Gospel teaches (Matthew 24) that we should not go out into the field or descend from the height of roofs, but rather listen to this: 'Escape to the mountain to be saved' (Genesis 19:17). We are instructed in Isaiah and Micah (Isaiah 2, Micah 4) to run to and climb to this mountain.
This site's exposition
an army is coming from the land of the north
on Jeremiah 6:22-26
The invader from the north named at 1:14 and 4:6 is given a face, “cruel and merciless”, riding “against you, O Daughter of Zion”. The report breaks the city's nerve, “our hands hang limp”. Mourning “as you would for an only son” was the sharpest grief the culture knew.
This site's exposition
Do not go out to the fields
Terror is on every side renders Magor-missabib, which Barnes calls Jeremiah's watchword; the phrase returns at 20:3 and 20:10. Barnes reads the enemy's sword as a commission from God. The roads and fields belong to the enemy.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Though he has not come yet, he is coming, the decree has gone forth: let us therefore meet the execution of it with a suitable sadness." As saints may rejoice in hope of God's mercies, though they see them only in the promise, so sinners must mourn for fear of God's judgments, though they see them only in the threatenings.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — odd-straight-quotes
Go not forth into the field,....
An account of those sins of Judah and Jerusalem which provoked God to bring this desolating judgment upon them.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
For the sword of the enemy - literally, “for to the enemy a sword; i. e., for the enemy is armed,” he has a commission from God to execute judgment. See Jer 12:12; Isa 10:5, and Psa 17:13 note. Fear is on every side - Magor-Missabib, Jeremiah’s watchword (compare Jer 20:3, Jer 20:10). The “and” before it should be omitted.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
He addresses "the daughter of Zion" (Jer 6:23); caution to the citizens of Jerusalem not to expose themselves to the enemy by going outside of the city walls. sword of the enemy--literally, "there is a sword to the enemy"; the enemy hath a sword.
The words behind it
11 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| אַל־ | ʾal- | may not | H408 → | 724 times |
| תֵּֽצְאוּ֙ | tetzei | you go out | H3318 → | 1067 times |
| הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה | hasadeh | the field | H7704 → | 334 times |
| וּבַדֶּ֖רֶךְ | uvaderekh | and on the road | H1870 → | 707 times |
| אַל־ | ʾal- | mau not | H408 → | 724 times |
| תֵּלֵ֑כוּ | telekhi | you walk | H1980 → | 1546 times |
| כִּ֚י | ki | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| חֶ֣רֶב | cherev | a sword | H2719 → | 413 times |
| לְאֹיֵ֔ב | leoyev | [belongs] to [the] enemy | H341 → | 282 times |
| מָג֖וֹר | magor | terror | H4032 → | 8 times |
| מִסָּבִֽיב׃ | misaviv | [is] from round about | H5439 → | 336 times |
אַל־may not
ʾal-H408 →724 times
תֵּֽצְאוּ֙you go out
tetzeiH3318 →1067 times
הַשָּׂדֶ֔הthe field
hasadehH7704 →334 times
וּבַדֶּ֖רֶךְand on the road
uvaderekhH1870 →707 times
אַל־mau not
ʾal-H408 →724 times
תֵּלֵ֑כוּyou walk
telekhiH1980 →1546 times
כִּ֚יfor
kiH3588 →4482 times
חֶ֣רֶבa sword
cherevH2719 →413 times
לְאֹיֵ֔ב[belongs] to [the] enemy
leoyevH341 →282 times
מָג֖וֹרterror
magorH4032 →8 times
מִסָּבִֽיב׃[is] from round about
misavivH5439 →336 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Jeremiah 49:29They will take their tents and flocks, their tent curtains and all their goods. They will take their camels for themselves. They will shout to them: ‘Terror is on every side!’
it leads to
- Jeremiah 46:5
Why am I seeing this? They are terrified, they are retreating; their warriors are defeated, they flee in haste without looking back; terror is on every side!” declares the LORD.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Jeremiah 46:5
Through
Psalms 31:13For I hear the slander of many; there is terror on every side. They conspire against me and plot to take my life.
it leads to
- Jeremiah 20:10
For I have heard the whispering of many: “Terror is on every side! Report him; let us report him!” All my trusted friends watch for my fall: “Perhaps he will be deceived so that…
- Matthew 27:1
When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people conspired against Jesus to put Him to death.
- Jeremiah 20:10
Through
Jeremiah 20:10For I have heard the whispering of many: “Terror is on every side! Report him; let us report him!” All my trusted friends watch for my fall: “Perhaps he will be deceived so that…
it leads to
- Psalms 41:9
Even my close friend whom I trusted, the one who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.
- Psalms 31:13
For I hear the slander of many; there is terror on every side. They conspire against me and plot to take my life.
- Isaiah 29:21
those who indict a man with a word, who ensnare the mediator at the gate, and who with false charges deprive the innocent of justice.
- Psalms 41:9
Through
Jeremiah 14:18If I go out to the country, I see those slain by the sword; if I enter the city, I see those ravaged by famine! For both prophet and priest travel to a land…
it leads to
- Ezekiel 7:15
The sword is outside; plague and famine are within. Those in the country will die by the sword, and those in the city will be devoured by famine and plague.
- Ezekiel 7:15
Through
Job 18:11Terrors frighten him on every side and harass his every step.
it leads to
- Job 15:21
Sounds of terror fill his ears; in his prosperity the destroyer attacks him.
- Job 15:21
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Jeremiah
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Jeremiah; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.