John Gill Commentary Jeremiah 5:26

"For among my people are found wicked men: they watch, as fowlers lie in wait; they set a trap, they catch men." — Jeremiah 5:26 (ASV)

For among my people are found wicked men
Not a few only, but in general they appeared to be so, upon an inquiry into their character and conduct; for otherwise it would not have been so difficult to find a good man among them, as is suggested (Jeremiah 5:1) , they lay wait as he that setteth snares ;
or, "they look about" ^F3 ; that is, as Kimchi interprets it, every man looks in the ways, to see if a man passed by, that he might rob him of what he had; as a man that lays snares, or sets a trap to catch birds in: or, "everyone looks out, when they that lay snares rest" ^F4 ; and so they are more diligent and constant in catching men than such persons are in catching birds: they set a trap ;
or "dig a pit, or ditch" ^F5 ; for men to fall in; see (Psalms 7:15) : they catch men ;
and rob them of their substance; or by their ill examples and counsels draw them into sin, and so into ruin; or circumvent them in trade and business.

---

FOOTNOTES:

• F3: (rwsy) "aspicit", Vatablus, i. e. "quisque eorum", Piscator; "aspicient", Pagninus.
• F4: (Myvwqy Kvk rwvy) "contemplatur quisque, cum quiescunt aucupes", De Dieu; so Ben Melech; "et cum resident aucupes", Piscator, Gataker; "sit quiet and unmoved, that they may not frighten the birds by any noise, watching and expecting when they would get into the net"; so Gussetius.
• F5: (tyxvm wbyuh) "fodiunt foveas", Tigurine version.