Jeremiah 2

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 2:27

Verse 27 The Prophet here confirms what he had before said of the perverse wickedness of the people. He shews that he had not said without reason, that their sins were extremely gross, and could not be excused by any evasions: for they say, he adds, to the wood, Thou art my father, and to the stone, Thou hast begotten, me By these words the Prophet shews, that idolatry was so rampant among the people, that they openly ascribed to their statues, made of wood or stone, the honor due to the only... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 2:28

Verse 28 And hence he adds, Where are your gods? Here God laughs to scorn the false confidence by which the Jews deceived themselves: Where are your gods, which you have made for yourselves? Let them arise, let us see whether they will help you in the time of your distress. We now understand what the Prophet means: for he shews that the people acted in a most strange manner; for they worshipped idols when they were in safety, and afterwards would have God to be bound to them; and yet they... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 2:29

Verse 29 Jeremiah concludes here his previous subject: he says that the Jews gained nothing by alleging against God that they were innocent, and by thinking that they could by mere words escape his judgment, and not only by doing so, but also by hurrying on to such a degree of presumption as to challenge God himself, and to seek to prove him guilty. But God answers them in one word, and says, that they were perfidious. The meaning then is, that the Jews ill consulted their own interest in... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 2:30

Verse 30 Some expound the beginning of this verse as though the meaning were, — that God chastised the Jews on account of their folly, because they habituated themselves to falsehoods: but the latter clause does not correspond. There is therefore no doubt but that God here expostulates with the Jews, because he had tried to bring them to the right way and found them wholly irreclaimable. A similar expostulation is found in Isaiah, “In vain,” he says, “have I chastised you; for from the sole of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 2:31

Verse 31 The prophet assumes the character, no doubt, of one in astonishment, that he might render the sin of the people more detestable: for he speaks as one astonished, generation! The word, דור, dur; as it is well known, means an age. It is then the same as if he had said, “On what time are we fallen? or in what an age do we now live?” We now then perceive the import of the word. Then he adds, See ye the word of Jehovah The word, see, seems not to be suitable; for he ought to have said,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 2:32

Verse 32 God here confirms what is said in the last verse, and would make his people ashamed, because they valued him less than girls are wont to value their ornaments. The necklaces of young women are indeed nothing but mere trifles, and yet we see that girls are so taken with them through a foolish passion, that they value such trinkets more than their very life. “How then is it, “says God, “that my people have forgotten me? Is there to be found any such ornament? Can anything be found among... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 2:33

Verse 33 This verse is differently explained: but the Prophet simply means; that the Jews were like lascivious women, who not only despise their husbands at home, but ramble here and there in all directions, and also paint their faces and seek for themselves all the charms of wantonness. He says that the Jews had acted in this way; and hence he says that they made beautiful their ways The verb in Hebrew has a wide meaning: it means to prepare, to conciliate favor. But its import here is, as... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 2:34

Verse 34 The Prophet repeats, as I think, what he had before said, — that the wickedness of his nation was incorrigible; for they repented not when warned, but on the contrary raged like wild beasts against the Prophets and religious teachers. Those interpreters are mistaken who think that the savage cruelty of the Jews in general is here condemned; and all are of this opinion. But the Prophet no doubt enhances this evil, by saying, that the Jews were not only obstinate in their vices, but also... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 2:35

Verse 35 The Prophet here shews that the Jews were possessed of such a brazen front, that they could not be led by any admonitions to feel any shame. Though then they were like adulterous women, and though they gave meretricious hire to such as they ran to in all parts, and though also they had murdered the prophets and the pious ministers of God, yet they boasted, as persons conscious of no evil, that they were innocent. Thou hast yet said; that is, “How darest thou to pretend to be innocent,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 2:36

Verse 36 The Prophet goes on with the same subject. He had said before that the people were like an unfaithful wife, who having left her husband rambles here and there to gratify her lusts. For this view he now gives the reason; for he might have appeared to treat the people too severely, had not the fact been pointed out as it were by the finger; and this he does now. He says, that they ran here and there, not in a common manner, but in a way to render evident their shameful levity, such as is... read more

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 2:27

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 2:28

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 2:29

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 2:30

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 2:31

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 2:32

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 2:33

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 2:34

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 2:35

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 2:36

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