The devil's lure. "Their houses are full of deceit, therefore they are become great," etc. I. SEVERAL OF THESE LURES ARE NAMED HERE . 1. Wealth : "They are waxen rich." 2. Luxury : "They are waxen fat, they shine." 3. Impunity : "They overpass … they judge not … yet they prosper." 4. Success : "They prosper." II. AND THE LIKE LURES ARE HELD OUT STILL . Satan is ever seeking, and with sad success, in seduce men by such... read more
They overpass the deeds of the wicked ; rather, they overpass the common measure of wickedness (literally, the cases of wickedness ); or, as others, they exceed in deeds of wickedness . Yet they prosper ; rather, so that they ( the fatherless ) might prosper; or, that they ( the rich ) might make it to prosper . read more
Against the God(1) of Creation Jeremiah 5:22, and(2) of Providence Jeremiah 5:24,They sin, not merely by apostasy, but by a general immorality extending to all classes Jeremiah 5:25-28. It is in this immorality that their idolatry has its root.Jeremiah 5:22The sea is the symbol of restless and indomitable energy, chafing against all resistance, and dashing to pieces the works whereby man endeavors to restrain its fury. Yet God has imposed upon it laws which it must obey, and keeps it in its... read more
Jeremiah 5:25-29. Your iniquities have turned away these things See note on Jeremiah 3:3. For among my people are found wicked men I need not search for such among the heathen nations, for they are easily found among them that are called by my name. They lay wait, &c. They use all the arts of fraud and cunning, that they may overreach others, and make a prey of them and their substance. They set a trap, they catch men Such a trap did Jezebel lay for Naboth, 1 Kings 21:9-10. Such a... read more
A corrupt society (5:20-31)The people of Judah do not fear God for his mighty power (20-21), nor do they give him thanks for the benefits he gives them through nature (22-24). They think they can go their own way regardless of God, but in so doing they miss out on his blessings (25).By cruelty, cunning and bribery, the wealthy increase their power, but the poor cannot obtain justice in even the smallest affairs. Administrators and judges alike are corrupt (26-28). God sees all this, and will... read more
waxen fat. Reference to Pentateuch, (the same word as in Deuteronomy 32:15 ). the wicked = a lawless one. Hebrew. rasha'. App-44 . the fatherless = an orphan. yet they prosper: or, that they [the fatherless] should prosper. Figure of speech Ellipsis. App-6 . Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 10:18 ; Deuteronomy 24:17 ; Deuteronomy 27:19 ). the needy = needy ones. read more
Jeremiah 5:27. As a cage is full of birds— A trap-cage. כלוב kelub, comes from כלב keleb, a dog; and this name was undoubtedly given to the trap-cage, because it served the same purpose as a dog in assisting to catch game. That sort of trap-cage also seems to be alluded to, in which tame birds are put to hop and fly about as a decoy to others. read more
Jeremiah 5:28. Yea, they overpass, &c.— Yea, they have exceeded all expression of wickedness; or, have been wicked beyond expression. Houbigant renders it, Therefore they burst forth into words of iniquity. read more
27. full of deceit—full of treasures got by deceit. rich— (Psalms 73:12; Psalms 73:18-20). read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 5:27
A cage . The Hebrew word klub is used in Amos 8:1 for a basket such as was used for fruit; it seems to be the parent of the Greek word κλωβός , used in the 'Anthology' for a bird-cage. The root means to plait or braid; hence some sort of basket-work seems to be meant. Connecting this with the preceding verse, Hitzig seems right in inferring that the "cage" was at the same time a trap (comp. Ecclesiastes 11:1-10 :30, "Like as a partridge taken in a cage ἐν καρτάλλῳ , a... read more