1 Run ye to and fro H7751 through the streets H2351 of Jerusalem, H3389 and see H7200 now, and know, H3045 and seek H1245 in the broad places H7339 thereof, if ye can find H4672 a man, H376 if there be H3426 any that executeth H6213 judgment, H4941 that seeketh H1245 the truth; H530 and I will pardon H5545 it.
2 And though they say, H559 The LORD H3068 liveth; H2416 surely they swear H7650 falsely. H8267
3 O LORD, H3068 are not thine eyes H5869 upon the truth? H530 thou hast stricken H5221 them, but they have not grieved; H2342 thou hast consumed H3615 them, but they have refused H3985 to receive H3947 correction: H4148 they have made their faces H6440 harder H2388 than a rock; H5553 they have refused H3985 to return. H7725
4 Therefore I said, H559 Surely these are poor; H1800 they are foolish: H2973 for they know H3045 not the way H1870 of the LORD, H3068 nor the judgment H4941 of their God. H430
5 I will get H3212 me unto the great men, H1419 and will speak H1696 unto them; for they have known H3045 the way H1870 of the LORD, H3068 and the judgment H4941 of their God: H430 but these have altogether H3162 broken H7665 the yoke, H5923 and burst H5423 the bonds. H4147
6 Wherefore a lion H738 out of the forest H3293 shall slay H5221 them, and a wolf H2061 of the evenings H6160 shall spoil H7703 them, a leopard H5246 shall watch H8245 over their cities: H5892 every one that goeth out H3318 thence shall H2007 be torn in pieces: H2963 because their transgressions H6588 are many, H7231 and their backslidings H4878 are increased. H6105
7 How H335 shall I pardon H5545 thee for this? H2063 thy children H1121 have forsaken H5800 me, and sworn H7650 by them that are no H3808 gods: H430 when I had fed them to the full, H7650 they then committed adultery, H5003 and assembled themselves by troops H1413 in the harlots' H2181 houses. H1004
8 They were as fed H2109 horses H5483 in the morning: H7904 every one H376 neighed H6670 after his neighbour's H7453 wife. H802
9 Shall I not visit H6485 for these things? saith H5002 the LORD: H3068 and shall not my soul H5315 be avenged H5358 on such a nation H1471 as this?
10 Go ye up H5927 upon her walls, H8284 and destroy; H7843 but make H6213 not a full end: H3617 take away H5493 her battlements; H5189 for they are not the LORD'S. H3068
11 For the house H1004 of Israel H3478 and the house H1004 of Judah H3063 have dealt very H898 treacherously H898 against me, saith H5002 the LORD. H3068
12 They have belied H3584 the LORD, H3068 and said, H559 It is not he; neither shall evil H7451 come H935 upon us; neither shall we see H7200 sword H2719 nor famine: H7458
13 And the prophets H5030 shall become wind, H7307 and the word H1696 is not in them: thus shall it be done H6213 unto them.
14 Wherefore thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 God H430 of hosts, H6635 Because ye speak H1696 this word, H1697 behold, I will make H5414 my words H1697 in thy mouth H6310 fire, H784 and this people H5971 wood, H6086 and it shall devour H398 them.
15 Lo, I will bring H935 a nation H1471 upon you from far, H4801 O house H1004 of Israel, H3478 saith H5002 the LORD: H3068 it is a mighty H386 nation, H1471 it is an ancient H5769 nation, H1471 a nation H1471 whose language H3956 thou knowest H3045 not, neither understandest H8085 what they say. H1696
16 Their quiver H827 is as an open H6605 sepulchre, H6913 they are all mighty men. H1368
17 And they shall eat up H398 thine harvest, H7105 and thy bread, H3899 which thy sons H1121 and thy daughters H1323 should eat: H398 they shall eat up H398 thy flocks H6629 and thine herds: H1241 they shall eat up H398 thy vines H1612 and thy fig trees: H8384 they shall impoverish H7567 thy fenced H4013 cities, H5892 wherein thou H2007 trustedst, H982 with the sword. H2719
18 Nevertheless in those days, H3117 saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 I will not make H6213 a full end H3617 with you.
19 And it shall come to pass, when ye shall say, H559 Wherefore H8478 H4100 doeth H6213 the LORD H3068 our God H430 all these things unto us? then shalt thou answer H559 them, Like as ye have forsaken H5800 me, and served H5647 strange H5236 gods H430 in your land, H776 so shall ye serve H5647 strangers H2114 in a land H776 that is not yours.
20 Declare H5046 this in the house H1004 of Jacob, H3290 and publish H8085 it in Judah, H3063 saying, H559
21 Hear H8085 now this, O foolish H5530 people, H5971 and without understanding; H3820 which have eyes, H5869 and see H7200 not; which have ears, H241 and hear H8085 not:
22 Fear H3372 ye not me? saith H5002 the LORD: H3068 will ye not tremble H2342 at my presence, H6440 which have placed H7760 the sand H2344 for the bound H1366 of the sea H3220 by a perpetual H5769 decree, H2706 that it cannot pass H5674 it: and though the waves H1530 thereof toss H1607 themselves, yet can they not prevail; H3201 though they roar, H1993 yet can they not pass over H5674 it?
23 But this people H5971 hath a revolting H5637 and a rebellious H4784 heart; H3820 they are revolted H5493 and gone. H3212
24 Neither say H559 they in their heart, H3824 Let us now fear H3372 the LORD H3068 our God, H430 that giveth H5414 rain, H1653 both the former H3138 and the latter, H4456 in his season: H6256 he reserveth H8104 unto us the appointed H2708 weeks H7620 of the harvest. H7105
25 Your iniquities H5771 have turned away H5186 these things, and your sins H2403 have withholden H4513 good H2896 things from you.
26 For among my people H5971 are found H4672 wicked H7563 men: they lay wait, H7789 as he that setteth H7918 snares; H3353 they set H5324 a trap, H4889 they catch H3920 men. H582
27 As a cage H3619 is full H4392 of birds, H5775 so are their houses H1004 full H4392 of deceit: H4820 therefore they are become great, H1431 and waxen rich. H6238
28 They are waxen fat, H8080 they shine: H6245 yea, they overpass H5674 the deeds H1697 of the wicked: H7451 they judge H1777 not the cause, H1779 the cause of the fatherless, H3490 yet they prosper; H6743 and the right H4941 of the needy H34 do they not judge. H8199
29 Shall I not visit H6485 for these things? saith H5002 the LORD: H3068 shall not my soul H5315 be avenged H5358 on such a nation H1471 as this?
30 A wonderful H8047 and horrible thing H8186 is committed H1961 in the land; H776
31 The prophets H5030 prophesy H5012 falsely, H8267 and the priests H3548 bear rule H7287 by their means; H3027 and my people H5971 love H157 to have it so: and what will ye do H6213 in the end H319 thereof?
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Jeremiah 5
Commentary on Jeremiah 5 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 5
Jer 5:1-31. The Cause of the Judgments to Be Inflicted Is the Universal Corruption of the People.
1. a man—As the pious Josiah, Baruch, and Zephaniah lived in Jerusalem at that time, Jeremiah must here mean the mass of the people, the king, his counsellors, the false prophets, and the priests, as distinguished from the faithful few, whom God had openly separated from the reprobate people; among the latter not even one just person was to be found (Isa 9:16) [Calvin]; the godly, moreover, were forbidden to intercede for them (Jer 7:16; compare Ge 18:23, &c.; Ps 12:1; Eze 22:30).
see … know—look … ascertain.
judgment—justice, righteousness.
pardon it—rather, her.
2. (Tit 1:16).
swear falsely—not a judicial oath; but their profession of the worship of Jehovah is insincere (Jer 5:7; Jer 4:2). The reformation under Josiah was merely superficial in the case of the majority.
3. eyes upon the truth—(De 32:4; 2Ch 16:9). "Truth" is in contrast with "swear falsely" (Jer 5:2). The false-professing Jews could expect nothing but judgments from the God of truth.
stricken … not grieved—(Jer 2:30; Isa 1:5; 9:13).
refused … correction—(Jer 7:28; Zep 3:2).
4. poor—rather, "the poor." He supposes for the moment that this utter depravity is confined to the uninstructed poor, and that he would find a different state of things in the higher ranks: but there he finds unbridled profligacy.
5. they have known—rather, "they must know." The prophet supposes it as probable, considering their position.
but these—I found the very reverse to be the case.
burst … bonds—set God's law at defiance (Ps 2:3).
6. lion … wolf … leopard—the strongest, the most ravenous, and the swiftest, respectively, of beasts: illustrating the formidable character of the Babylonians.
of the evenings—Others not so well translate, of the deserts. The plural means that it goes forth every evening to seek its prey (Ps 104:20; Hab 1:8; Zep 3:3).
leopard … watch … cities—(Ho 13:7). It shall lie in wait about their cities.
7. It would not be consistent with God's holiness to let such wickedness pass unpunished.
sworn by—(Jer 5:2; Jer 4:2); that is, worshipped.
no gods—(De 32:21).
fed … to the full—so the Keri (Hebrew Margin) reads. God's bountifulness is contrasted with their apostasy (De 32:15). Prosperity, the gift of God, designed to lead men to Him, often produces the opposite effect. The Hebrew Chetib (text) reads: "I bound them (to Me) by oath," namely, in the marriage covenant, sealed at Sinai between God and Israel; in contrast to which stands their "adultery"; the antithesis favors this.
adultery … harlots' houses—spiritually: idolatry in temples of idols; but literal prostitution is also included, being frequently part of idol-worship: for example, in the worship of the Babylonian Mylitta.
8. in the morning—(Isa 5:11). "Rising early in the morning" is a phrase for unceasing eagerness in any pursuit; such was the Jews' avidity after idol-worship. Maurer translates from a different Hebrew root, "continually wander to and fro," inflamed with lust (Jer 2:23). But English Version is simpler (compare Jer 13:27; Eze 22:11).
9. (Jer 5:29; Jer 9:9; 44:22).
10. Abrupt apostrophe to the Babylonians, to take Jerusalem, but not to destroy the nation utterly (see on Jer 4:27).
battlements—rather, tendrils [Maurer]: the state being compared to a vine (Jer 12:10), the stem of which was to be spared, while the tendrils (the chief men) were to be removed.
11. (Jer 3:20).
12. belied—denied.
It is not he—rather, "(Jehovah) is not He," that is, the true and only God (Jer 14:22; De 32:39; Isa 43:10, 13). By their idolatry they virtually denied Him. Or, referring to what follows, and to Jer 5:9, "(Jehovah) is not," namely, about to be the punisher of our sins (Jer 14:13; Isa 28:15).
13. Continuation of the unbelieving language of the Jews.
the prophets—who prophesy punishment coming on us.
the word—the Holy Spirit, who speaks through true prophets, is not in them [Maurer]. Or else, "There is no word (divine communication) in them" (Ho 1:2) [Rosenmuller].
thus, &c.—Their ill-omened prophecies shall fall on themselves.
14. ye … thy … this people—He turns away from addressing the people to the prophet; implying that He puts them to a distance from Him, and only communicates with them through His prophet (Jer 5:19).
fire … wood—Thy denunciations of judgments shall be fulfilled and shall consume them as fire does wood. In Jer 23:29 it is the penetrating energy of fire which is the point of comparison.
15. (Jer 1:15; 6:22). Alluding to De 28:49, &c.
Israel—that is, Judah.
mighty—from an Arabic root, "enduring." The fourfold repetition of "nation" heightens the force.
ancient—The Chaldeans came originally from the Carduchian and Armenian mountains north of Mesopotamia, whence they immigrated into Babylonia; like all mountaineers, they were brave and hardy (see on Isa 23:13).
language … knowest not—Isa 36:11 shows that Aramaic was not understood by the "multitude," but only by the educated classes [Maurer]. Henderson refers it to the original language of the Babylonians, which, he thinks, they brought with them from their native hills, akin to the Persic, not to the Aramaic, or any other Semitic tongue, the parent of the modern Kurd.
16. open sepulchre—(Compare Ps 5:9). Their quiver is all-devouring, as the grave opened to receive the dead: as many as are the arrows, so many are the deaths.
17. (Le 26:16).
18. Not even in those days of judgments, will God utterly exterminate His people.
I will not make a full end with you—(Jer 5:10; Jer 4:27).
19. Retribution in kind. As ye have forsaken Me (Jer 2:13), so shall ye be forsaken by Me. As ye have served strange (foreign) gods in your land, so shall ye serve strangers (foreigners) in a land not yours. Compare the similar retribution in De 28:47, 48.
21. eyes … ears, and—Translate, "and yet" (compare De 29:4; Isa 6:9). Having powers of perception, they did not use them: still they were responsible for the exercise of them.
22. sand—Though made up of particles easily shifting about, I render it sufficient to curb the violence of the sea. Such is your monstrous perversity, that the raging, senseless sea sooner obeys Me, than ye do who profess to be intelligent [Calvin], (Job 26:10; 38:10, 11; Pr 8:29; Re 15:4).
23. (Jer 6:28).
24. rain … former … latter—The "former" falls from the middle of October to the beginning of December. The "latter," or spring rain in Palestine, falls before harvest in March and April, and is essential for ripening the crops (De 11:14; Joe 2:23).
weeks of … harvest—the seven weeks between passover and pentecost, beginning on the sixteenth of Nisan (De 16:9). By God's special providence no rain fell in Palestine during the harvest weeks, so that harvest work went on without interruption (see Ge 8:22).
25. National guilt had caused the suspension of these national mercies mentioned in Jer 5:24 (compare Jer 3:3).
26. (Pr 1:11, 17, 18; Hab 1:15).
as he that setteth snares—rather, "as fowlers crouch" [Maurer].
trap—literally, "destruction": the instrument of destruction.
catch men—not as Peter, to save (Lu 5:10), but to destroy men.
27. full of deceit—full of treasures got by deceit.
rich—(Ps 73:12, 18-20).
28. shine—the effect of fatness on the skin (De 32:15). They live a life of self-indulgence.
overpass … the wicked—exceed even the Gentiles in wickedness (Jer 2:33; Eze 5:6, 7).
judge not … fatherless—(Isa 1:23).
yet … prosper—(Jer 12:1).
29. (Jer 5:9; Mal 3:5).
30. (Jer 23:14; Ho 6:10).
31. bear rule by their means—literally, "according to their hands," that is, under their guidance (1Ch 25:3). As a sample of the priests lending themselves to the deceits of the false prophets, to gain influence over the people, see Jer 29:24-32.
love to have it so—(Mic 2:11).
end thereof—the fatal issue of this sinful course when divine judgments shall come.