2 And thou shalt swear, H7650 The LORD H3068 liveth, H2416 in truth, H571 in judgment, H4941 and in righteousness; H6666 and the nations H1471 shall bless H1288 themselves in him, and in him shall they glory. H1984
That he who blesseth H1288 himself in the earth H776 shall bless H1288 himself in the God H430 of truth; H543 and he that sweareth H7650 in the earth H776 shall swear H7650 by the God H430 of truth; H543 because the former H7223 troubles H6869 are forgotten, H7911 and because they are hid H5641 from mine eyes. H5869
But let him that glorieth H1984 glory H1984 in this, that he understandeth H7919 and knoweth H3045 me, that I am the LORD H3068 which exercise H6213 lovingkindness, H2617 judgment, H4941 and righteousness, H6666 in the earth: H776 for in these things I delight, H2654 saith H5002 the LORD. H3068
That, G2443 according as G2531 it is written, G1125 He that glorieth, G2744 let him glory G2744 in G1722 the Lord. G2962
In the LORD H3068 shall all the seed H2233 of Israel H3478 be justified, H6663 and shall glory. H1984
But G1161 he that glorieth, G2744 let him glory G2744 in G1722 the Lord. G2962
And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently H3925 learn H3925 the ways H1870 of my people, H5971 to swear H7650 by my name, H8034 The LORD H3068 liveth; H2416 as they taught H3925 my people H5971 to swear H7650 by Baal; H1168 then shall they be built H1129 in the midst H8432 of my people. H5971
I have sworn H7650 by myself, the word H1697 is gone out H3318 of my mouth H6310 in righteousness, H6666 and shall not return, H7725 That unto me every knee H1290 shall bow, H3766 every tongue H3956 shall swear. H7650
And Solomon H8010 said, H559 Thou hast shewed H6213 unto thy servant H5650 David H1732 my father H1 great H1419 mercy, H2617 according as he walked H1980 before H6440 thee in truth, H571 and in righteousness, H6666 and in uprightness H3483 of heart H3824 with thee; and thou hast kept H8104 for him this great H1419 kindness, H2617 that thou hast given H5414 him a son H1121 to sit H3427 on his throne, H3678 as it is this day. H3117
And I will bring H935 them, and they shall dwell H7931 in the midst H8432 of Jerusalem: H3389 and they shall be my people, H5971 and I will be their God, H430 in truth H571 and in righteousness. H6666
Hear H8085 ye this, O house H1004 of Jacob, H3290 which are called H7121 by the name H8034 of Israel, H3478 and are come forth H3318 out of the waters H4325 of Judah, H3063 which swear H7650 by the name H8034 of the LORD, H3068 and make mention H2142 of the God H430 of Israel, H3478 but not in truth, H571 nor in righteousness. H6666 For they call H7121 themselves of the holy H6944 city, H5892 and stay H5564 themselves upon the God H430 of Israel; H3478 The LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 is his name. H8034
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Jeremiah 4
Commentary on Jeremiah 4 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 4
It should seem that the first two verses of this chapter might better have been joined to the close of the foregoing chapter, for they are directed to Israel, the ten tribes, by way of reply to their compliance with God's call, directing and encouraging them to hold their resolution (v. 1, 2). The rest of the chapter concerns Judah and Jerusalem.
Jer 4:1-2
When God called to backsliding Israel to return (ch. 3:22) they immediately answered, Lord, we return; now God here takes notice of their answer, and, by way of reply to it,
Jer 4:3-4
The prophet here turns his speech, in God's name, to the men of the place where he lived. We have heard what words he proclaimed towards the north (ch. 3:12), for the comfort of those that were now in captivity and were humbled under the hand of God; let us now see what he says to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, who were now in prosperity, for their conviction and awakening. In these two verses he exhorts them to repentance and reformation, as the only way left them to prevent the desolating judgments that were ready to break in upon them. Observe,
Jer 4:5-18
God's usual method is to warn before he wounds. In these verses, accordingly, God gives notice to the Jews of the general desolation that would shortly be brought upon them by a foreign invasion. This must be declared and published in all the cities of Judah and streets of Jerusalem, that all might hear and fear, and by this loud alarm be either brought to repentance or left inexcusable. The prediction of this calamity is here given very largely, and in lively expressions, which one would think should have awakened and affected the most stupid. Observe,
Jer 4:19-31
The prophet is here in an agony, and cries out like one upon the rack of pain with some acute distemper, or as a woman in travail. The expressions are very pathetic and moving, enough to melt a heart of stone into compassion: My bowels! my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; and yet well, and in health himself, and nothing ails him. Note, A good man, in such a bad world as this is, cannot but be a man of sorrows. My heart makes a noise in me, through the tumult of my spirits, and I cannot hold my peace. Note, The grievance and the grief sometimes may be such that the most prudent patient man cannot forbear complaining.
Now, what is the matter? What is it that puts the good man into such agitation? It is not for himself, or any affliction in his family that he grieves thus; but it is purely upon the public account, it is his people's case that he lays to heart thus.