The original text of this chapter, as with the rest of the Book of Jeremiah, was written in Hebrew language. Since the division of the Bible into chapters and verses in the late medieval period, this chapter is divided into 31 verses.
There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BCE. Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include Codex Vaticanus (B; B; 4th century), Codex Sinaiticus (S; BHK: S; 4th century), Codex Alexandrinus (A; A; 5th century) and Codex Marchalianus (Q; Q; 6th century).[3] Among the Chester Beatty Papyri (BHK: Beatty) are the fragments of Jeremiah (Rahlfs 966; Chester Beatty Library (CBL) BP VIII), dated from the late second century or early third century AD, containing Jeremiah 4:30–5:1; 5:9–13; 5:13–14; 5:23–24.[4][5]
Parashot
The parashah sections listed here are based on the Aleppo Codex.[6] Jeremiah 5 is a part of the Third prophecy (Jeremiah 3:6-6:30) in the section of Prophecies of Destruction (Jeremiah 1-25). {P}: open parashah; {S}: closed parashah.
Jeremiah 5:1-9: Even one righteous man would procure forgiveness. But moral obliquity and obstinacy in sin are universal among the enlightened no less than the ignorant. Retribution cannot but be the result.
Jeremiah 5:10-19: The people have refused to credit the forecasts of the true prophets. Therefore, shall city and country alike be laid waste by a mighty nation of unknown tongue. Israel has chosen to serve foreign gods at home. Now she shall be compelled to serve foreign masters in exile.
Jeremiah 5:20-29: They fear not Jehovah, who is absolute in His control of nature's forces, whether beneficent or destructive. By craft, like that of the fowler, who fills his cage with trapped birds, rich men lay up wealth at the expense of the needy and the orphan. Divine vengeance must ensue.
Jeremiah 5:30-31: Prophets teach falsely, and support priestly rule. The people welcome this state of things. What shall the end be?[7]
Verse 1
Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem,
"Run to and fro" is fitting for Jeremiah as a youth (Jeremiah 1:6) but other translations do not maintain this emphasis: “Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem (New International Version), Walk up and down the streets of Jerusalem (New Century Version). The Greek philosopher Diogenes similarly is said to have strolled about the city of Athens in full daylight with a lantern, "looking for an honest man".[9]
Verse 2
And though they say, The LORD liveth; surely they swear falsely[10]
The reading is "... therefore they swear falsely" in the Masoretic Text[7] and the Lexham English Bible.[11]