Old Testament
Jeremiah 5:10
The Clear Bible Translation matches the King James Version, written at a 10th-grade reading level in plain English
At a Glance
In this verse, God commands the destruction of Jerusalem's defenses, symbolizing the impending judgment on the city due to its unfaithfulness.
- Author
- Jeremiah the prophet, with Baruch
- Written
- Around 600 BC
- Genre
- Prophecy
- Original Audience
- Judah before and during the Babylonian exile
Go up on her walls and destroy, but do not make a complete end. Remove her battlements, for they are not the LORD's.
Go ye up upon her walls, and destroy; but make not a full end: take away her battlements; for they are not the LORD’s.
Verse Analysis
Plain-English insight for readers
In this verse, God commands the destruction of Jerusalem's defenses, symbolizing the impending judgment on the city due to its unfaithfulness. The instruction to not make a complete end suggests that while judgment is necessary, there is still hope for restoration. The battlements, which represent the false security of the people, are to be removed because they do not belong to God. This reflects the idea that reliance on human strength and defenses is futile when one is out of alignment with God's will. The verse serves as a warning about the consequences of turning away from God and highlights the importance of true faith and reliance on Him rather than on worldly security.
Related Bible verses
How to apply Jeremiah 5:10 to your life
This verse reminds us to evaluate what we rely on for security in our lives. Are we depending on our own strength or resources instead of trusting in God? It encourages us to remove anything that distracts us from our relationship with Him and to seek true security in faith and obedience.
Curated for this public verse page. Jeremiah Summary
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick, clear answers about this verse
What does Jeremiah 5:10 mean?
Jeremiah 5:10 conveys God's command to destroy Jerusalem's defenses, symbolizing judgment for the city's unfaithfulness. It emphasizes that while destruction is necessary, there is still hope for eventual restoration.
What is the significance of battlements in Jeremiah 5:10?
In Jeremiah 5:10, battlements represent the false sense of security that the people had in their own strength and defenses. God instructs their removal to highlight that true security comes from faithfulness to Him, not from human efforts.
How does Jeremiah 5:10 relate to faith and security?
Jeremiah 5:10 challenges individuals to examine what they rely on for security. It teaches that trusting in God is essential, as human strength and defenses are inadequate when one is not aligned with His will.
What themes are present in Jeremiah 5:10?
Key themes in Jeremiah 5:10 include judgment, destruction, hope for restoration, false security, and the importance of faithfulness and repentance in one's relationship with God.

The Book of Jeremiah
Jeremiah 1: The Call of Jeremiah
The words of Jeremiah, son of Hilkiah, a priest from Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, are recorded. The word of the LORD comes to him in the thirteenth year of King Josiah's reign over Judah. It continues to come to him through the reign of King Jehoiakim and until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah, when Jerusalem is carried into captivity. The LORD states that before He formed Jeremiah in the womb, He knew him and ordained him as a prophet to the nations. Jeremiah responds that he cannot speak because he is a child. The LORD commands him not to say he is a child, for he will go where the LORD sends him and speak what the LORD commands.
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