Jeremiah 9:5,6

The MT. has apparently suffered some corruption. The LXX yield a fairly good sense. Dividing the four consonants of the Hebrew word rendered "thine habitation," so as to end Jeremiah 9:5 with the first two, which thus yield the meaning of turn, and then taking the second pair, which will thus mean oppression(as in Psalms 10:7; Psalms 55:11), they render the whole "they committed iniquity and Ceased not to turn aside. (Jeremiah 9:6) Oppression on oppression and deceit on deceit, etc.," the latter pair of identical words suggesting the parallel preceding. As Gi. points out, this does not obviate the objection that the verb rendered "weary themselves" always elsewhere (e.g. Isaiah 16:12; Isaiah 47:13) means to do so to no purpose, which is unsuitable here. Hence, and for other reasons, he rejects Jeremiah 9:4.