Jeremiah 5:5

I wil get me vnto the great men, and will speake vnto them, for they haue knowen the way of the Lord, and the iudgement of their God: but these haue altogether broken the yoke, and burst the bondes. Jeremiah 5:5 (KJV)

“Go ye up upon her walls, and destroy; but make not a full end: take away her battlements; for they are not the LORD’S.” Jeremiah 5:10 is situated within a larger passage where the prophet Jeremiah confronts the people of Judah for their unfaithfulness and warns them of impending judgment. In the opening verses of the chapter (Jeremiah 5:1‑3) God is portrayed as searching the streets and squares of Jerusalem for a righteous person who executes justice and seeks truth, yet He finds none. The prophet is then urged to go through the city and see whether any man can be found who truly follows the LORD.

The command in verse 10 shifts focus to the invaders who will besiege Jerusalem. The phrase “Go ye up upon her walls, and destroy” describes the enemies’ ascent to the city’s walls and their intention to bring destruction. Yet the succeeding clause, “but make not a full end,” indicates that while God permits the assault as judgment, He does not desire the complete annihilation of the city. This restraint reveals a measure of divine mercy, preserving a remnant and a future hope for the people despite their disobedience.

The final instruction, “take away her battlements; for they are not the LORD’S,” speaks of removing Jerusalem’s defensive fortifications. The battlements, once symbols of protection, become futile because the people have turned away from the Lord and placed trust in mere physical structures. Their loss will further expose the city to the coming invasion, underscoring that reliance on human defenses cannot substitute for fidelity to God.