I have set thee for a tower and a fortress among my people, that thou mayest know and try their way.

JEREMIAH 6:27KJV
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Jeremiah 6:27 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 6:27 mean?

Jeremiah 6:27 presents God giving Jeremiah a task among his people. The KJV pictures Jeremiah as a tower and a fortress, placed where he can observe the people’s conduct and put it to the test.

The images suggest a secure position from which Jeremiah can see what is happening around him. “Their way” means how the people live and act. The verse introduces an image of testing metal that continues in the verses that follow.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 6:27

  • “tower” — בָּחוֹן (baḥon): This word is associated with testing or examining. Its use here helps connect the KJV’s picture of a tower with Jeremiah’s task of examining the people.
  • “try” — בָּחַן (baḥan): This word can mean to test or examine something closely. Here the testing image leads into the description of metal being examined in verses 28–30.

Why Jeremiah 6:27 matters

  • Jeremiah’s task concerns the people’s conduct, not merely their words. The verse says he is to “know and try their way.”
  • The metal-testing picture helps explain the outcome of Jeremiah’s examination. In verse 30, the people are called rejected silver, an image of metal that has not passed the test.

Where else these words appear

“try” Hebrew H974 · used in 28 verses

  • Genesis 42:15 Hereby ye shall be proved: By the life of Pharaoh ye shall not go forth hence, except your youngest brother come hither.
  • Psalms 11:4 The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD'S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.
  • 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?

“fortress” Hebrew H4013 · used in 37 verses

  • Numbers 13:19 And what the land is that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad; and what cities they be that they dwell in, whether in tents, or in strong holds;
  • 2 Kings 18:8 He smote the Philistines, even unto Gaza, and the borders thereof, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.
  • Jeremiah 48:18 Thou daughter that dost inhabit Dibon, come down from thy glory, and sit in thirst; for the spoiler of Moab shall come upon thee, and he shall destroy thy strong holds.