Jeremiah 5:1 · Bible study
Jeremiah 5:1 Commentary: Searching Jerusalem for a Righteous Man
Hebrew · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
God's challenge to find one just person in Jerusalem reveals the depth of sin and His mercy. Echoes Abraham's plea for Sodom.
Research Summary
- Meaning: God challenges anyone to find one person in Jerusalem who practices justice and seeks faithfulness; if found, He will pardon the whole city.
- Key words: “Streets” (חוּצוֹת) and “broad places” (רְחוֹבוֹת) encompass both poor and rich areas; “truth” (אֱמוּנָה) means steadfast fidelity.
- Main debate: Whether the command is literal (total corruption) or rhetorical hyperbole (emphasizing the majority’s sin).
- Theological theme: God’s justice is vindicated by human sin; His mercy is willing but conditional on repentance and righteousness.
- Best use: Preach as a call to self-examination and as a pointer to Christ, the righteous One who secures pardon for the unrighteous.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
“Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem. Look now and take note; search her squares. If you can find a single person, anyone who acts justly, anyone who seeks the truth, then I will forgive the city.
WEB World English Bible 2000
“Run back and forth through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in its wide places, if you can find a man, if there is anyone who does justly, who seeks truth, then I will pardon her.
KJV King James Version 1769
Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that doeth justly, that seeketh truth; and I will pardon her.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
Go to and fro in streets of Jerusalem, And see, I pray you, and know, And seek in her broad places, if ye find a man, If there be one doing judgment, seeking stedfastness--Then am I propitious to her.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broadways thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be [any] that doeth justice, that seeketh fidelity; and I will pardon it.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Go about through the streets of Jerusalem, and see, and consider, and seek in the broad places thereof, if you can find a man that executeth judgment, and seeketh faith: and I will be merciful unto it.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
DISCURRID por las plazas de Jerusalem, y mirad ahora, y sabed, y buscad en sus plazas si halláis hombre, si hay alguno que haga juicio, que busque verdad; y yo la perdonaré.
Correi pelas ruas de Jerusalém, e olhai agora, e informai-vos, e buscai em suas praças, para ver se achais algum homem, se há alguém que faça juízo, que busque a verdade; e eu a perdoarei.
Parcourez les rues de Jérusalem,
Gehet durch die Gassen zu Jerusalem und schauet und erfahret und suchet auf ihrer Straße, ob ihr jemand findet, der recht tue und nach dem Glauben frage, so will ich dir gnädig sein.
Gaat om door de wijken van Jeruzalem, en ziet nu toe, en verneemt, en zoekt op haar straten, of gij iemand vindt, of er een is, die recht doet, die waarheid zoekt, zo zal Ik haar genadig zijn.
Andate attorno per le vie di Gerusalemme, e guardate, e informatevi, e cercate per le sue piazze se vi trovate un uomo, se ve n’è uno solo che operi giustamente, che cerchi la fedeltà; e io perdonerò Gerusalemme.
Obchodźcie ulice Jeruzalemskie, a upatrujcie teraz, i obaczcie, a szukajcie po ulicach jego, jeźli znajdziecie męża, jeźli kto jest coby czynił sąd i szukał prawdy, a przepuszczę mu.
Походите по улицам Иерусалима, и посмотрите, и разведайте, и поищите на площадях его, не найдете ли человека, нет ли соблюдающего правду, ищущего истины? Я пощадил бы Иерусалим.
你們當在耶路撒冷 的街上 跑來跑去，在寬闊處 尋找，看看 有 一人 行 公義 求 誠實 沒有？若 有，我就赦免 這城。
Go quickly through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and get knowledge, and make a search in her wide places if there is a man, if there is one in her who is upright, who keeps faith; and she will have my forgiveness.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Jeremiah 5:1
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that Jeremiah 5:1 serves to justify God’s judgment by demonstrating the city’s pervasive corruption. Calvin emphasizes that God shows He “tried all expedients, before he had recourse to extreme severity” but found no remedy. Barnes cautions against taking the words literally, noting that good men like Jeremiah himself still lived there; rather, the search targets the mass of the people and their leaders who had abandoned covenant faithfulness. Gill and Matthew Henry draw the parallel to Abraham’s plea in Genesis 18, where God agreed to spare Sodom for ten righteous, here God lowers the bar to a single person, underscoring the depth of sin. The key term translated “truth” (אֱמוּנָה) carries the sense of steadfastness and fidelity, a quality that had vanished from public life. Keil & Delitzsch summarize: God would pardon if one practiced righteousness and sought faithfulness, but high and low have forsaken Him.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: High
Main views:
- Literal total corruption: The verse’s statement that not one righteous person could be found, supported by the context of vv.2-3 showing false oaths and hardness, and parallels like Psalm 14:3.
- Rhetorical hyperbole: Barnes and Calvin argue the search targets the dominant sinful leadership and populace, not the faithful remnant (Jeremiah, Baruch). The language is exaggerated for effect.
- Limited to public leaders: Gill notes Targum and Kimchi interpret the search among the body of the people and public officials; the poor and ignorant are dismissed in v.4, and the great are found guilty in v.5.
What is clear: God’s judgment is justified by overwhelming unfaithfulness, and He is willing to show mercy even for the sake of a single righteous person, reflecting the pattern of Genesis 18.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Literalness of the search for one righteous person | God's challenge is to emphasize the widespread corruption that justifies judgment. | Some (e.g., Barnes, Calvin) argue it is not literally true that no righteous person existed (Jeremiah, Baruch were present), but rather it highlights the dominant sin among the leaders and populace. Others (e.g., Matthew Henry, Wesley) take it as indicating a condition worse than Sodom, where even one was lacking. |
| Identity of 'a man' (אִישׁ) | The search is for someone who practices justice and seeks truth. | Some commentators specify this refers to public officials or judges (executing judgment), while others apply it to the common person in everyday life. Gill notes Targum says 'whose works are good'. |
| Comparison to Sodom in Genesis 18 | The passage echoes Abraham's intercession, showing God's willingness to save a city for the righteous. | Some stress continuity, God's mercy remains consistent; others emphasize escalation, Sodom required ten, Jerusalem required one, showing greater sin. |
| Meaning of אֱמוּנָה (emunah) | It denotes faithfulness, reliability, steadfastness, not merely truthful speech. | Some (Cambridge) emphasize it includes truth in words and deeds; others (Lange) link it directly to fidelity to the covenant and trust in God. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The prophet Jeremiah ministered during Judah’s final decades before the Babylonian exile, a period of political upheaval and religious decline. Despite king Josiah’s reforms earlier, the people’s hearts remained unchanged (Jer 5:3). In this chapter, God calls for an exhaustive search of Jerusalem, through its narrow streets (חוּצוֹת) and its broad public squares (רְחוֹבוֹת), where markets and courts gathered. Calvin notes that the lanes housed the poor, while the wide streets were where the “great people, the chief men of the city” assembled; the examination was to cover all inhabitants. The verb שׁוֹטְטוּ (“rove about”) suggests diligence and thoroughness, reminiscent of the Cynic philosopher Diogenes who walked Athens with a lamp seeking a true man. The search aims to find anyone who “does justice” (מִשְׁפָּט) and “seeks faithfulness” (אֱמוּנָה). The Cambridge Bible explains that אֱמוּנָה unites fidelity toward God, integrity toward others, and personal genuineness, not merely truthful speech. The cultural echo of Abraham’s negotiation for Sodom in Genesis 18:23-32 is unmistakable: there God agreed to spare the city for ten righteous; here He offers to pardon for a single individual. This sharp escalation shows the moral condition of Jerusalem as graver than Sodom’s in God’s assessment (Matthew Henry). The chapter proceeds to show that neither the poor (v.4) nor the great (v.5) were exempt from corruption; both classes had broken the covenant. This context explains why the verse functions as divine self-vindication: judgment is not capricious but a response to total covenant failure.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Jeremiah 5:1. The Hebrew text is stable across manuscripts.
Reception History
From the early church, this verse was read as a demonstration of human depravity and the need for a mediator. The Fathers often connected it to the unique righteousness of Christ who alone satisfies God’s search. During the Reformation, interpreters like Calvin used it to argue that salvation is entirely by grace, since no human could meet the standard. In the Wesleyan tradition, the verse served as a call to personal holiness and social justice, urging believers to embody the faithfulness that the city lacked. Modern readings often highlight the corporate dimension: God holds communities accountable for their moral state, yet remains eager to pardon.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God’s Search is Exhaustive, The command to run through streets and squares shows that no one is hidden from God’s examination. Every class, every corner of Jerusalem is scrutinized.
- God’s Standard is High, The qualities required, doing justice and seeking faithfulness, are not mere external religion but heart-level integrity. Verses 2-3 show that even religious oaths are false.
- God’s Mercy is Willing, Despite the corruption, God offers to pardon the entire city for the sake of a single righteous person. This echoes Genesis 18 and reveals God’s desire to forgive.
Five-point outline
- The Call to Investigate, God invites any observer to conduct the search, vindicating His judgment in the eyes of the world.
- The Target of the Search, Not just any inhabitant, but one who executes justice and seeks truth (emunah, faithfulness).
- The Condition for Pardon, Forgiveness is conditional on finding that one person, showing the seriousness of sin.
- The Connection to Abraham, God’s offer is even more generous than with Sodom, yet Jerusalem fails where Sodom might have been saved.
- The Implication for Today, Only Christ, the truly Righteous One, can stand in the gap. The verse points to our need for a substitute.
Illustration hooks
- A teacher announces an open-book test and then searches every desk for a single student who has studied diligently, the search reveals the class’s unpreparedness.
- A town gathers to honor an honest public official; the newspaper launches a contest to find one perfectly honest person, only to find that no one qualifies.
- A parent says, “If you can find one toy you’ve put away properly, we’ll have ice cream”, the child searches but finds only mess, discovering the gulf between promise and reality.
Questions your congregation is asking
- “Does God really mean there were no good people in Jerusalem? What about Jeremiah and the faithful remnant?”
- “Why would God set such a low bar (one person) and still not find it? Is He just looking for an excuse to punish?”
- “How does this Old Testament passage connect to Jesus? If even one righteous person could save a city, how does Christ save us?”
Leading a Discussion
Jeremiah 5:1 confronts us with God’s thorough search for righteousness and His astonishing offer of pardon. The verse invites us to consider the depth of human sin and the height of divine patience. As you discuss, keep in mind the cultural background of public squares and the Hebrew word emunah (faithfulness).
Discussion questions
- What does the command to “run back and forth” through streets and squares tell us about the thoroughness of God’s search?
- How does the parallel with Genesis 18 (Abraham’s plea for Sodom) shape your understanding of this verse? Why does God lower the number from ten to one?
- The Hebrew word for “truth” here is emunah, faithfulness, reliability. How does that deeper meaning change how you read the verse?
- Why do you think the prophet mentions both the poor (v.4) and the great (v.5) in the context of this search? What does that say about sin’s universality?
- If you had been a citizen of Jerusalem hearing this challenge, how would you have responded? Would you have been confident or convicted?
- In what ways does this passage point forward to Jesus? How is He the “one man” who fulfills the search?
- How might this verse shape the way we pray for our own cities? Does God still look for faithful people to show mercy?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 18:23 | Abraham came near, and said, “Will you consume the righteous with the wicked? |
| Genesis 18:32 | He said, “Oh don’t let the Lord be angry, and I will speak just once more. What if ten are found there?” He said, “I will not destroy it for the ten’s sake.” |
| I Kings 19:10 | He said, “I have been very jealous for Yahweh, the God of Armies; for the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.” |
| II Chronicles 16:9 | For Yahweh’s eyes run back and forth throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. You have done foolishly in this; for from now on you will have wars.” |
| Psalms 12:1 | For the Chief Musician; upon an eight-stringed lyre. A Psalm of David. Help, Yahweh; for the godly man ceases. For the faithful fail from among the children of men. |
| Psalms 14:3 | They have all gone aside. They have together become corrupt. There is no one who does good, no, not one. |
| Psalms 53:2 | God looks down from heaven on the children of men, to see if there are any who understood, who seek after God. |
| Psalms 53:4 | Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and don’t call on God? |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke highlights Jeremiah's search through Jerusalem's marketplaces as a deliberate test of the city's moral state, comparing it to a Greek philosopher who carried a lamp looking for a real man. He stresses that God's willingness to pardon the entire city for even one righteous
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin argues that God is not being overly harsh or severe with His people. Instead, God shows that He exhausted every possible remedy before resorting to judgment, because the people's wickedness was completely incurable and left no other option for treatment.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
Cambridge Bible Schools notes the prophet challenges hearers to search thoroughly for any righteous person, but the prevailing wickedness has driven the little remaining good out of sight. The commentary further explains that "truth" here means faithfulness in a broad sense, encompassing constancy toward God, integrity toward others, and genuineness toward oneself.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
Run to and from by the streetes of Ierusalem, and beholde nowe, and knowe, and inquire in the open places thereof, if ye can finde a man, or if there be any that executeth iudgement, and seeketh the trueth, and I will spare it.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill emphasizes that God's command to search Jerusalem for a righteous person reveals how rare true faithfulness had become. Even a single man who executed justice and sought truth would have moved God to pardon the whole city, but none could be found among the common people.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB distinguishes the faithful remnant from the corrupt masses in Jeremiah 5. The prophet's search for one just person targets the king, counselors, false prophets, and priests, among whom not even one righteous could be found. The godly were already set apart and forbidden to intercede.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil and Delitzsch insist that God's statement about finding no righteous person in Jerusalem is not rhetorical exaggeration but simple truth from the divine perspective. Before the all-seeing eye of God, no human is pure, and the righteous are so few they cannot sway the moral state of the whole. They also note that the people's oath by God's name is condemned not for invoking false gods but for swearing falsely.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry highlights God's shocking challenge to find even a single person in Jerusalem who pursues justice and truth, with the remarkable promise to pardon the whole city for one such person. This underlines the depth of Judah's moral collapse, where even those who claimed to know the Lord had become hardened beyond reform.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley notes that God offers to spare Jerusalem for a single righteous person, a lower standard than the ten required for Sodom, making Jerusalem's corruption even worse. This open invitation for all to examine Jerusalem's state serves as God's vindication, proving His judgments are not harsh but fully deserved.