For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men.
There are evil people among my own people who lie in wait like hunters setting traps. They set up their schemes to catch and harm others.
God is pointing out that there are wicked people among His chosen people who deliberately plan to trap and harm others, just like hunters catching prey.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Jeremiah, the prophet is delivering God's messages to the people of Judah during a time of widespread moral decline in the 7th-6th century BC, as the nation faced threats from the Babylonian empire. This verse specifically addresses the deceitful behavior of wicked individuals within God's own people, who exploit others like hunters setting traps, reflecting the broader societal corruption and idolatry that led to divine judgment. Jeremiah's warnings were part of his overall call for repentance to avert the impending exile.
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