O ye children of Benjamin, gather yourselves to flee out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and set up a sign of fire in Bethhaccerem: for evil appeareth out of the north, and great destruction.

JEREMIAH 6:1KJV
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Jeremiah 6:1 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 6:1 mean?

Jeremiah 6:1 is a warning to the people of Benjamin to escape from Jerusalem because a great disaster is coming from the north. The verse describes blowing a trumpet in Tekoa and setting up a signal fire in Bethhaccerem as urgent alerts, since evil and destruction are approaching.

The prophet Jeremiah is speaking to the descendants of Benjamin, who lived in and around Jerusalem. He urges them to flee because an enemy army is coming from the north—historically understood as Babylon. The mention of specific places and signals shows how serious and immediate the threat is, painting a picture of a city preparing for invasion.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 6:1

  • "children" (בְּנֵי, bənê): This word refers to the descendants or people of Benjamin, highlighting that Jeremiah is addressing a specific group within Judah.
  • "blow" (תָּקְעוּ, taq‘u) and "trumpet" (שׁוֹפָר, shofar): The act of blowing the shofar was a traditional way to sound an alarm or call people to action, emphasizing the urgency and seriousness of the warning.
  • "sign" (תִּקְעוּ, tiq‘u) and "Bethhaccerem" (בֵּית הַכֶּרֶם, Beit-hakkerem): Setting up a signal fire in Bethhaccerem was a way to warn surrounding areas, showing that the danger was not just local but widespread.
  • "evil" (רָעָה, ra‘ah) and "destruction" (שֶׁבֶר, shever): These words stress the severity of what is coming—not just trouble, but great harm and ruin.

Why Jeremiah 6:1 matters

  • Jeremiah 6:1 clarifies that the threat is both imminent and specific, not just a general warning but a real military danger from the north.
  • The verse connects to the larger message of Jeremiah, where the prophet repeatedly warns Jerusalem and Judah about consequences for turning away from God.
  • The use of alarms and signal fires shows how ancient communities communicated danger, helping modern readers picture the urgency and fear of the moment.

Where else these words appear

“Bethhaccerem” Hebrew H1021 · used in 2 verses

  • Nehemiah 3:14 But the dung gate repaired Malchiah the son of Rechab, the ruler of part of Bethhaccerem; he built it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.

“flee” Hebrew H5756 · used in 4 verses

  • Exodus 9:19 Send therefore now, and gather thy cattle, and all that thou hast in the field; for upon every man and beast which shall be found in the field, and shall not be brought home, the hail shall come down upon them, and they shall die.
  • Isaiah 10:31 Madmenah is removed; the inhabitants of Gebim gather themselves to flee.
  • Jeremiah 4:6 Set up the standard toward Zion: retire, stay not: for I will bring evil from the north, and a great destruction.

“Tekoa” Hebrew H8620 · used in 7 verses

  • 2 Samuel 14:2 And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched thence a wise woman, and said unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on now mourning apparel, and anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead:
  • 1 Chronicles 4:5 And Ashur the father of Tekoa had two wives, Helah and Naarah.
  • 2 Chronicles 20:20 And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.

“sign” Hebrew H4864 · used in 14 verses

  • Genesis 43:34 And he took and sent messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin's mess was five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with him.
  • 2 Chronicles 24:6 And the king called for Jehoiada the chief, and said unto him, Why hast thou not required of the Levites to bring in out of Judah and out of Jerusalem the collection, according to the commandment of Moses the servant of the LORD, and of the congregation of Israel, for the tabernacle of witness?
  • Jeremiah 40:5 Now while he was not yet gone back, he said, Go back also to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon hath made governor over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people: or go wheresoever it seemeth convenient unto thee to go. So the captain of the guard gave him victuals and a reward, and let him go.