Jeremiah 6 · Verse 29

Jeremiah 6:29

The bellows are burned, the lead is consumed of the fire; the founder melteth in vain: for the wicked are not plucked away.
Jeremiah 6:29, King James Version

Jeremiah 6:29 in other translations

BSBThe bellows blow fiercely, blasting away the lead with fire. The refining proceeds in vain, for the wicked are not purged.
WEBThe bellows blow fiercely. The lead is consumed in the fire. In vain they go on refining, for the wicked are not plucked away.
ASVThe bellows blow fiercely; the lead is consumed of the fire: in vain do they go on refining; for the wicked are not plucked away.
YLTThe bellows have been burnt, By fire hath the lead been consumed, In vain hath a refiner refined, And the wicked have not been drawn away.
DARBYThe bellows are burned, the lead is consumed by the fire; they have melted, and melted in vain; and the bad are not plucked away.
BBEThe blower is blowing strongly, the lead is burned away in the fire: they go on heating the metal to no purpose, for the evil-doers are not taken away.
WebsterThe bellows is burned, the lead is consumed by the fire; the founder melteth in vain: for the wicked are not plucked away.

What does Jeremiah 6:29 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
29. bellows ... burned--So intense a heat is made that the very bellows are almost set on fire. Rosenmuller translates not so well from a Hebrew root, "pant" or "snort," referring to the sound of the bellows blown hard. lead--employed to separate the baser metal from the silver, as quicksilver is now used. In other words, the utmost pains have been used to purify Israel in the furnace of affliction, but in vain (Jr 5:3; 1Pe 1:7). consumed of the fire--In the Chetib, or Hebrew text, the "consumed" is supplied out of the previous "burned." Translating as Rosenmuller, "pant," this will be inadmissible; and the Keri (Hebrew Margin) division of the Hebrew words will have to be read, to get "is consumed of the fire." This is an argument for the translation, "are burned." founder--the refiner. wicked ... not plucked away--answering to the dross which has no good metal to be separated, the mass being all dross.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Jeremiah 6:18-30

God rejects their outward services, as worthless to atone for their sins. Sacrifice and incense were to direct them to a Mediator; but when offered to purchase a license to go on in sin, they provoke God. The sins of God's professing people make them an easy prey to their enemies. They dare not show themselves. Saints may rejoice in hope of God's mercies, though they see them only in the promise: sinners must mourn…

Read the full comment on Jeremiah 6:18-30 →

Jeremiah 6:29 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

נָחַ֣רna.Charit puffsH2787
מַפֻּ֔חַma.Pu.ach[the] bellow[s]H4647
מֵאֵ֖שׁ תַּ֣םme.'ish tamfrom a fire it is completeH784
עֹפָ֑רֶת'o.Fa.retleadH5777
לַשָּׁוְא֙la.shaV'for <the> vanityH7723
צָרַ֣ףtza.Rafsomeone has refinedH6884
צָר֔וֹףtza.Rofsteadfastly <to refine>H6884
וְרָעִ֖יםve.ra.'Imand evil [people]H7451
לֹ֥אlo'notH3808
נִתָּֽקוּ\׃ni.Ta.kuthey have been separatedH5423

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Jeremiah 6:29

  • Proverbs 17:3

    The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the Lord trieth the hearts.

  • Isaiah 49:4

    Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God.

  • 1 Peter 4:12

    Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

  • Zechariah 13:9

    And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God.

  • Ezekiel 24:13

    In thy filthiness is lewdness: because I have purged thee, and thou wast not purged, thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness any more, till I have caused my fury to rest upon thee.

  • Hosea 11:7

    And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt him.

  • Malachi 3:2-3

    But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.

  • Jeremiah 9:7

    Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts, Behold, I will melt them, and try them; for how shall I do for the daughter of my people?

  • 1 Peter 1:7

    That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the founder.
9:7; Pr 17:3; Zec 13:9; Mal 3:2,3; 1Pe 1:7; 4:12
in vain.
Isa 49:4; Eze 24:13; Ho 11:7

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Jeremiah 6:28

    They are all grievous revolters, walking with slanders: they are brass and iron; they are all corrupters.

  • Jeremiah 6:29

    The bellows are burned, the lead is consumed of the fire; the founder melteth in vain: for the wicked are not plucked away.

  • Jeremiah 6:30

    Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the Lord hath rejected them.

Read all of Jeremiah 6

Jeremiah 6:29 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Quemóse el fuelle, del fuego se ha consumido el plomo: por demás fundió el fundidor, pues los malos no son arrancados.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Le soufflet brûle, le plomb est consumé par le feu, on affine, on affine en vain: les mauvais n’ont point été ôtés.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Versengt vom Feuer ist der Blasebalg, zu Ende ist das Blei vergebens hat man geschmolzen und geschmolzen: Die Bösen sind nicht ausgeschieden worden.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Defecit sufflatorium; in igne consumptum est plumbum: frustra conflavit conflator, malitiæ enim eorum non sunt consumptæ.