Thomas Aquinas Commentary Jeremiah 5:6

"Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, a wolf of the evenings shall destroy them, a leopard shall watch against their cities; every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces; because their transgressions are many, [and] their backslidings are increased." — Jeremiah 5:6 (ASV)

1. Here, punishment is threatened.

   First, he specifies the punishment concerning the killing of people: the lion of the forest, representing a fierce one—that is, Nebuchadnezzar, because of his ferocity. This lion signifies the kingdom of the Chaldeans. Concerning the devastation of the countryside, he mentions the wolf at sunset. This represents swiftness, for wolves are faster in the evening when they are empty of food and crave prey at night. Alternatively, the wolf signifies the kingdom of the Persians. Concerning the siege of the city, he says the leopard keeps watch. This refers to Nebuchadnezzar because of his deceitfulness, or it refers to the kingdom of the Greeks because of the variety of its kings who had been subjected to him. However, the author is silent about the kingdom of the Romans, because that was still a long way off. Or perhaps he refers to it when he says, any who goes out—that is, anyone who escaped from the hands of the previous invaders—shall be captured. The bear lying in wait has become to me as a lion in hiding (Lamentations 3:10). Their horses are lighter than leopards, and swifter than a wolf at evening (Habakkuk 1:8).

2. He then returns to the cause of their judgment: their sins have multiplied in number and have been strengthened by habitual practice, resulting in their backslidings from God. Our iniquities have been multiplied before you, and our sins have answered us (Isaiah 59:12).