For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men.
Parallel translations
- WEB For among my people are found wicked men. They watch, as fowlers lie in wait. They set a trap. They catch men.
- BSB For among My people are wicked men; they watch like fowlers lying in wait; they set a trap to catch men.
- NKJV ‘For among My people are found wicked men; They lie in wait as one who sets snares; They set a trap; They catch men.
- NASB ‘For wicked people are found among My people, They watch like fowlers lying in wait; They set a trap, They catch people.
- NLT “Among my people are wicked men who lie in wait for victims like a hunter hiding in a blind. They continually set traps to catch people.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Among God's people are wicked men who trap their fellow human beings like bird-catchers. It matters because it exposes predatory injustice within the covenant community.
Overview
The Lord indicts wicked men who lurk like fowlers, setting snares to ensnare and exploit others. Such oppression within Israel violates the justice God requires of His people. This concern for the victims of the powerful runs throughout Scripture and reflects God's heart, which the gospel calls His people to share (Proverbs 1:11-18; Micah 7:2).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Prov 1:11If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:
- Ps 64:5They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?
- Jer 18:22Let a cry be heard from their houses, when thou shalt bring a troop suddenly upon them: for they have digged a pit to take me, and hid snares for my feet.
- Ezek 22:2–12Now, thou son of man, wilt thou judge, wilt thou judge the bloody city? yea, thou shalt shew her all her abominations.
- Ps 10:9–10He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net.
- 1 Sam 19:10–11And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin, but he slipped away out of Saul’s presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night.
- Hab 1:14–15And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them?
- Isa 58:1Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.
- Luke 5:10And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.
- Jer 4:22For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.
- Prov 1:17–18Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Against the failure of false shepherds Jeremiah promises the Righteous Branch, 'The LORD our righteousness,' and the new covenant written on the heart and sealed in the blood of Christ.
How Jeremiah 5:26 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.