Jeremiah 6:5 — Word Study
WLCק֚וּמוּ וְנַעֲלֶ֣ה בַלָּ֔יְלָה וְנַשְׁחִ֖יתָה אַרְמְנוֹתֶֽיהָ׃ ס
BSARise upqûwm [arise, stand up] let us attackʻâlâh [go up, ascend] by nightlayil [in the darkness of, the time of darkness] and destroyshâchath [ruin, tear down] her fortressesʼarmôwn [palaces, citadels]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| ק֚וּמוּ | arise | Verb, Qal, imperative second person masculine plural |
| וְנַעֲלֶ֣ה | so we may go up | Conjunction, verb qal first person common plural |
| בַלָּ֔יְלָה | in the night | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| וְנַשְׁחִ֖יתָה | and let us destroy | Conjunction, verb hiphil infinitive construct first person common plural |
| אַרְמְנוֹתֶֽיהָ׃ ס | fortresses its | Noun common feminine plural construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Rise up, let us attack by night and destroy her fortresses!’” |
| KJV | Arise, and let us go by night, and let us destroy her palaces. |
| ASV | Arise, and let us go up by night, and let us destroy her palaces. |
| YLT | 'Rise, and we go up by night, And we destroy her palaces.' |
| WEB | Arise! Let’s go up by night, and let’s destroy her palaces.” |
| BBE | Up! let us go up by night, and send destruction on her great houses. |
Translations align closely, especially in the imperative commands to rise and attack.
The main clause presents a direct call to action, with a subordinate phrase detailing the intended outcome.
7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbקוּם
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Jeremiah 6:5
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Call to Battlegenerated
Jeremiah 6:5 occurs in a passage where the people are urged to prepare for battle against a city under siege. The context highlights the urgency of the situation, with a call to action that reflects a time of crisis. This verse is part of a larger narrative that warns of destruction and the need for readiness, as seen in the preceding and following verses.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeremiah 9:21 | For death has climbed in through our windows; it has entered our fortresses to cut off the children from the streets, the young men from the town squares. |
| 2 | Jeremiah 17:27 | But if you do not listen to Me to keep the Sabbath day holy by not carrying a load while entering the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle an unquenchable fire in its gates to consume the citadels of Jerusalem.’” |
| 3 | Jeremiah 52:13 | He burned down the house of the LORD, the royal palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem—every significant building. |
| 4 | 2 Chronicles 36:19 | Then the Chaldeans set fire to the house of God and broke down the wall of Jerusalem. They burned down all the palaces and destroyed every article of value. |
| 5 | Psalm 48:3 | God is in her citadels; He has shown Himself to be a fortress. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 10 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — ק֚וּמוּ, Ku.mugenerated
The verb קוּם (qum) is an imperative form, commanding a group to rise or stand up. It conveys not just a physical action but also a sense of readiness and resolve, often used in contexts of battle or significant action.
This word appears frequently in the Hebrew Bible, indicating its importance in various situations, from personal to communal actions. The parsing as a second person masculine plural imperative suggests a collective call to action, emphasizing unity in purpose.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
Translations of this verse generally agree on the imperative nature of the commands.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The structure of the verse is straightforward, featuring three main verbs: ק֚וּמוּ (rise up), וְנַעֲלֶ֣ה (let us go up), and וְנַשְׁחִ֖יתָה (let us destroy). Each verb carries an imperative force, creating a sense of urgency and collective action.
The Hebrew word order places the commands at the forefront, highlighting the immediacy of the call to action and the need for a united response.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates קוּם as ἀνάστητε, which also conveys the idea of rising or standing up, maintaining the imperative nature of the command. This choice reflects a similar urgency in the Greek context.
The other verbs are rendered in a way that captures the essence of the original Hebrew, showing a consistent interpretation of the call to action.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Jeremiah 6:5 is a call to action, urging a group to rise up and attack at night to destroy the fortresses of their enemy. The verse emphasizes the urgency and necessity of taking decisive action in a time of crisis.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
To 'rise up' signifies a call to action, encouraging the group to prepare themselves for battle.
Attacking at night may provide a tactical advantage, allowing for surprise and stealth.
The 'fortresses' symbolize strongholds or places of power that need to be destroyed to weaken the enemy.
This call reflects a critical moment in the narrative, highlighting the need for readiness and unity in facing challenges.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What are some situations in my life where I need to 'rise up' and take action?
- How can I prepare myself for challenges that require courage and determination?
- What does it mean for me to work together with others in times of crisis?
- In what ways can I identify and confront the 'fortresses' in my life that hold me back?
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Jeremiah 6:5 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleArise, and let us go up by night,.... Since they could not take the city at noon, and by day, as they expected, they propose to attempt it by night; they would lose no time, but proceed on, day and
Read John Gill on Jeremiah 6 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryPrepare ye war against her; arise, and let us go up at noon. Woe unto us! for the day goeth away, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out. The invading soldiers encourage one another to the attack on Jerusalem.
Read Robert Jamieson on Jeremiah 6 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleLet us go by night, or, this night. They were set upon it, they would lose neither day nor night; which shows that they were extraordinarily stirred up by God in this expedition. Let us destroy her palaces: this was the bait or motive that they propounded to themselves, viz. to have the spoil of all the stately palaces and rich houses of the nobles and great ones.
Read Matthew Poole on Jeremiah 6 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsJeremiah 6:5 Arise, and let us go by night, and let us destroy her palaces.Ver. 5. Let us destroy her palaces.] Where we shall find all precious substance; we shall fill our hands with spoil.
Read John Trapp on Jeremiah 6 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 5. Arise, and let us go by night] Since we have lost the day, let us not lose the night; but, taking advantage of the darkness, let us make a powerful assault while they are under the impression of terror.
Read AdamClarke on Jeremiah 6 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges5. The impatience of the soldiers at the delay takes the form of a demand for a night assault. Cp. Isaiah 15:1. palaces] LXX here and often translate by θεμέλια, foundations, though varying much elsewhere in the rendering of the word, and significantly avoiding “palaces.” See Article by Mr P. J. Heywood (J. Th. S. XIII. pp. 66 ff.), who suggests that the word denoted primarily the general outline or ground plan as formed by the ramification of streets and buildings, and that the main reference of the word is to the streets and lanes, rather than to higher erections. See his discussion of numerous passages. In Jeremiah 9:21 he renders accordingly “lanes (or quarters).” In Jeremiah 17:27 and…
Read Cambridge on Jeremiah 6 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleUp! and we will make the assault “by night!” And destroy “her palaces.” The generals delay the assault until the next morning. The soldiers consider themselves aggrieved at this, and clamour for a night attack.
Read Albert Barnes on Jeremiah 6 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Rise up, let us attack by night and destroy her fortresses!’”
Arise! Let’s go up by night, and let’s destroy her palaces.”
Rise up, let us attack by night and destroy her fortresses!’”
So come on, let’s go ahead and attack it by night and destroy all its fortified buildings.’
Tyndale line
Arise, and let us go by night, and let us destroy her palaces.
Arise, and let us go up by night, and let us destroy her palaces.
Arise, and let us go up by night, and let us destroy her palaces.
Arise, and let us go by night, and let us destroy her palaces.
Arise, and let vs goe vp by night, and destroy her palaces.
Strictly literal
Arise, and let us go up by night, and let us destroy her palaces.
'Rise, and we go up by night, And we destroy her palaces.'
Rise, and we go up by night, || And we destroy her palaces.”
Arise, and let us go up by night, and let us destroy her palaces.”
But let us attack at night and destroy her fortresses.”
From the Latin
Arise, and let us go up in the night, and destroy her houses.
Simplified
Come on, we'll attack at night instead and destroy her fortresses!”
Up! let us go up by night, and send destruction on her great houses.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the wording of this verse, with all five words matched. This consistency across the witnesses indicates a strong preservation of the text's intent and meaning.
ק֚וּמוּ וְנַעֲלֶ֣ה בַלָּ֔יְלָה וְנַשְׁחִ֖יתָה אַרְמְנוֹתֶֽיהָ׃ ס
5 of the 5 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Jeremiah 6:5
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
The Hebrew word קוּם (qum) is a primitive root meaning 'to rise' and encompasses a range of actions such as standing, becoming powerful, and establishing. It can imply a sudden or hostile rise, as well as the act of fulfilling or confirming something. The entries also note various grammatical forms, indicating its use in different contexts, including raising up or causing to stand.
לֵב קָמָי prob. late Atbash Je 51:1.
ref
קוּם 628 vb. arise, stand up, stand
Qal 460
arise
arise, in hostile sense (oft. with idea of suddenness)
arise, abs., = become powerful
arise = come on the scene, appear, of leader, prophet
arise for, i.e. to become
arise for action
arise (out of inaction), introducing some specific deed
esp. arise = start, make a move, to go somewhere
stand
Pi.
fulfil
confirm, ratify
confirm, establish
impose, an obligation
Pō‛l. raise up
Hithpō‛l. raise oneself, = rise up
Hiph.
146cause to arise, raise
raise, set up, stones
erect, build
fig, of setting up law
raise up = bring on the scene
raise up = rouse, stir up
instigate, build
fig, of setting up law
raise up = constitute
cause to stand
Hoph. be raised up
base
H6965a לֵב קָמָי prob. late Atbash H6965b קוּם arise, stand up, stand .. arise
. arise, in hostile sense (oft. with idea of suddenness)
. arise, abs., = become powerful
. arise = come on the scene, appear, of leader, prophet
. arise for, i.e. to become
. . arise for action
. arise (out of inaction), introducing some specific deed
. esp. arise = start, make a move, to go somewhere
. stand
. . fulfil
. . confirm, ratify
. confirm, establish
. impose, an obligation
. raise up
. raise oneself, = rise up
. . cause to arise, raise
. . raise, set up, stones
. erect, build
. fig, of setting up law
. raise up = bring on the scene
. . raise up = rouse, stir up
. instigate, build
. fig, of setting up law
. raise up = constitute
. cause to stand
. be raised up
6965 quwm koom
a primitive root; to rise (in various applications, literal,
figurative, intensive and causative):--abide, accomplish, X
be clearer, confirm, continue, decree, X be dim, endure, X
enemy, enjoin, get up, make good, help, hold, (help to) lift
up (again), make, X but newly, ordain, perform, pitch, raise
(up), rear (up), remain, (a-)rise (up) (again, against), rouse
up, set (up), (e-)stablish, (make to) stand (up), stir up,
strengthen, succeed, (as-, make) sure(-ly), (be) up(-hold, -
rising).
קָמָי (qa.may) — (Leb)-kamai.
Combined with lev (לֵב "Leb" H3820B)
§ -Kamai = "my adversary"
Leb-kamai, i.e., people of Gambulai
קוּם (qum) — to arise: rise.
: rise/get_going
1) to rise, arise, stand, rise up, stand up
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to arise
1a2) to arise (hostile sense)
1a3) to arise, become powerful
1a4) to arise, come on the scene
1a5) to stand
1a5a) to maintain oneself
1a5b) to be established, be confirmed
1a5c) to stand, endure
1a5d) to be fixed
1a5e) to be valid
1a5f) to be proven
1a5g) to be fulfilled
1a5h) to persist
1a5i) to be set, be fixed
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to fulfil
1b2) to confirm, ratify, establish, impose
1c) (Polel) to raise up
1d) (Hithpael) to raise oneself, rise up
1e) (Hiphil)
1e1) to cause to arise, raise
1e2) to raise, set up, erect, build
1e3) to raise up, bring on the scene
1e4) to raise up, rouse, stir up, investigate
1e5) to raise up, constitute
V-Qal-Impv-2mp — Verb · Qal · imperative second person masculine pluralHVqv2mp
The Hebrew word עָלָה (alah) means 'to ascend' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including going up, climbing, and rising in various contexts such as personal, natural, and spiritual. It can refer to actions involving people, animals, vegetation, and even thoughts, and includes nuances of being exalted or offering sacrifices. The word is built from a primitive root and appears in various grammatical forms, indicating different aspects of ascent or elevation.
עָלָה 890 vb. go up, ascend, climb
Qal
of persons, go up, ascend, in local relations
go up, in personal relations
of animals, go or come up
of vegetation, spring up, grow, shoot forth
of natural phenom., go up, rise
of inanimate things, instead of passive construction
of thoughts
come up before God, arrogance
go up, extend, of boundary
excel
Niph.
be brought up
be taken up
pass., be taken up, away
reflex., take oneself away from, get up from
reflex.: take oneself away
be exalted, of God
Hiph.
bring up persons
in personal relations
bring up animals
cause to ascend
mentally
offer a present; bring up tithe to
exalt
cause to ascend (in flame), offer sacrifice
Hoph.
be carried away
be taken up into, inserted in
be offered
Hithp. lift oneself
base
H5927 עָלָה go up, ascend, climb .. of persons, go up, ascend, in local relations
. go up, in personal relations
. of animals, go or come up
. of vegetation, spring up, grow, shoot forth
. of natural phenom., go up, rise
. of inanimate things, instead of passive construction
. of thoughts
. come up before God, arrogance
. go up, extend, of boundary
. excel
. . . be brought up
. be taken up
. . pass., be taken up, away
. reflex., take oneself away from, get up from
. reflex.: take oneself away
. be exalted, of God
. . bring up persons
. in personal relations
. bring up animals
. cause to ascend
. mentally
. offer a present; bring up tithe to
. exalt
. cause to ascend (in flame), offer sacrifice
. . be carried away
. be taken up into, inserted in
. be offered
. lift oneself
5927 `alah aw-law'
a primitive root; to ascend, intransitively (be high) or
actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary
and secondary, literal and figurative (as follow):--arise
(up), (cause to) ascend up, at once, break (the day) (up),
bring (up), (cause to) burn, carry up, cast up, + shew, climb
(up), (cause to, make to) come (up), cut off, dawn, depart,
exalt, excel, fall, fetch up, get up, (make to) go (away, up);
grow (over) increase, lay, leap, levy, lift (self) up, light,
(make) up, X mention, mount up, offer, make to pay, + perfect,
prefer, put (on), raise, recover, restore, (make to) rise
(up), scale, set (up), shoot forth (up), (begin to) spring
(up), stir up, take away (up), work.
עָלָה (a.lah) — to ascend: rise.
: rise/go
1) to go up, ascend, climb
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to go up, ascend
1a2) to meet, visit, follow, depart, withdraw, retreat
1a3) to go up, come up (of animals)
1a4) to spring up, grow, shoot forth (of vegetation)
1a5) to go up, go up over, rise (of natural phenomenon)
1a6) to come up (before God)
1a7) to go up, go up over, extend (of boundary)
1a8) to excel, be superior to
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be taken up, be brought up, be taken away
1b2) to take oneself away
1b3) to be exalted
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to bring up, cause to ascend or climb, cause to go up
1c2) to bring up, bring against, take away
1c3) to bring up, draw up, train
1c4) to cause to ascend
1c5) to rouse, stir up (mentally)
1c6) to offer, bring up (of gifts)
1c7) to exalt
1c8) to cause to ascend, offer
1d) (Hophal)
1d1) to be carried away, be led up
1d2) to be taken up into, be inserted in
1d3) to be offered
Conj | V-Qal-1cp — Conjunction · verb qal first person common pluralHC/Vqu1cp
לַ֫יְלָה (layil) means 'night' and is derived from a root that suggests a twist away from light. It encompasses the literal sense of night as opposed to day, as well as figurative uses related to gloom or adversity. The term appears in contexts like Isaiah 21:11.
לַ֫יְלָה, לַ֫יִל 242 n.m. night
base
H3915 לַ֫יְלָה, לַ֫יִל night
3915 layil lah'-yil
or (Isa. 21:11) leyl {lale}; also laylah {lah'- yel-aw}; from
the same as 3883; properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e.
night; figuratively, adversity:--((mid-))night (season).
see HEBREW for 03883
לַ֫יְלָה (lay.lah) — night.
1) night
1a) night (as opposed to day)
1b) of gloom, protective shadow (fig.)
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHRd/Ncmsa
nit.
See DAY AND NIGHT for the natural usage and the various terms.
1. In the Old Testament:
Figurative uses: The word "night" (laylah or layil is sometimes used figuratively in the Old Testament. Thus, Moses compares the brevity of time, the lapse of a thousand years, to "a watch in the night" (Ps 90:4). Adversity is depicted by it in such places as Job 35:10; compare Isa 8:20; Jer 15:9. Disappointment and despair are apparently depicted by it in the "burden of Dumah" (Isa 21:11,12); and spiritual blindness, coming upon the false prophets (Mic 3:6); again sudden and…
[DAY]
The ancient Hebrews began their artificial day at evening, and ended it the next evening, so that the night proceeded the day. This usage may probably be traced to the terms employed in describing the creation, Ge 1:5,8,13, etc., "The evening and the morning were the first day." The Hebrews allowed twelve to the day; but these hours were not equal, except at the equinox. At other times, when the hours of the night were long, those of the day were short, as in winter; and when the hours of night were short, as at midsummer, the hours of the day were long in proportion. See HOURS.
The nights are sometimes extremely cold in Syria, when the days are very hot; and travelers in the deserts and among the mountains near Palestine refer to their own sufferings from these opposite extremes, in illustration of Jacob’s words in
שָׁחַת (shachath) is a Hebrew verb meaning to ruin or corrupt. It encompasses a range of actions including decay, spoilage, and moral perversion, with various grammatical forms indicating different nuances of destruction or corruption. The word appears in contexts that suggest both physical and moral degradation.
[שָׁחַת] 161 vb. go to ruin (?)
Niph. be marred, spoiled
Pi.
spoil, ruin
pervert, corrupt
Hiph.
spoil, ruin
pervert, corrupt
Hoph. spoiled, ruined
base
H7843 [שָׁחַת] go to ruin (?) . be marred, spoiled
. . spoil, ruin
. pervert, corrupt
. . spoil, ruin
. pervert, corrupt
. spoiled, ruined
7843 shachath shaw-khath'
a primitive root; to decay, i.e. (causatively) ruin
(literally or figuratively):--batter, cast off, corrupt(-er,
thing), destroy(-er, -uction), lose, mar, perish, spill,
spoiler, X utterly, waste(-r).
שָׁחַת (sha.chat) — to ruin.
1) to destroy, corrupt, go to ruin, decay
1a) (Niphal) to be marred, be spoiled, be corrupted, be corrupt, be injured, be ruined, be rotted
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to spoil, ruin
1b2) to pervert, corrupt, deal corruptly (morally)
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to spoil, ruin, destroy
1c2) to pervert, corrupt (morally)
1c3) destroyer (participle)
1d) (Hophal) spoiled, ruined (participle)
Aramaic equivalent: she.chat (שְׁחַת "to corrupt" H7844)
Conj | V-Hiphil-1cp — Conjunction · verb hiphil infinitive construct first person common pluralHC/Vhc1cp
אַרְמוֹן (armown) refers to a citadel, castle, or palace, indicating a structure that is elevated or fortified. This term is primarily found in the prophetic books of the Old Testament, particularly in Amos and Jeremiah, and it is noted that it was not used before the royal period. The entries consistently emphasize its meanings related to fortifications and royal residences.
אַרְמוֹן n.m. citadel—citadel, castle, palace, not used before royal period, mostly in prophets, esp. common in Am & Je
base
H759 אַרְמוֹן citadel—citadel, castle, palace, not used before royal period, mostly in prophets, esp. common in Am & Je
759 'armown ar-mone'
from an unused root (meaning to be elevated); a citadel (from
its height):--castle, palace. Compare 2038.
see HEBREW for 02038
אַרְמוֹן (ar.mon) — citadel: palace.
: palace
citadel, palace, fortress
Also means: ar.mon (אַרְמוֹן ": fortress" H0759H)
אַרְמוֹן (ar.mon) — citadel: fortress.
: palace
citadel, palace, fortress
A sub-meaning of ar.mon (אַרְמוֹן ": palace" H0759)
N-mp | Suff — Noun common feminine plural construct · suffixHNcfpc/Sp3fs