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John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 29:15

Verse 15 Many interpreters connect the first of these verses with the preceding ones, and they seem not to think so without reason; for the reason given is not unsuitable, if we refer to what the Prophet had said, even that the Jews were by no means to hope for a return until the end of seventy years. But the meaning I adopt is more probable; the particle כי, ki, is repeated; the first is causal, and the second an illative; (219) and consistently with the usage of Scripture the learned and the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 29:16

Verse 16 We now perceive for what purpose the Prophet, after having addressed the captives, turned his discourse to King Zedekiah and to the Jews, who as yet remained at home or in their own country; it was, that the captives might hence know how great was their madness to promise to themselves a return, after having been driven to remote lands, when final ruin was nigh both the king and the people, who as yet remained at Jerusalem; Thus then saith Jehovah to the king who sits on the throne of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 29:17

Verse 17 He says, I will pursue them with the sword, and famine, and pestilence The surrender of Jeconiah, as we have elsewhere seen, was voluntary; he was therefore more kindly received by the king of Babylon. At length the city was attacked, and as the siege was long, there was more rage felt against the king and the whole people, for the Chaldeans had been wearied by their obstinacy. Hence it was, that they dealt more severely with them. But nothing happened except through the just vengeance... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 29:18

Verse 18 He goes on with the same subject, — that he would not cease to consume them with pestilence, famine, and the sword, until he wholly destroyed them, according to what we find in the twenty-fourth chapter. He repeats what is in that chapter; but the words are taken from the twenty-eighth chapter of Deuteronomy, and from the twenty-ninth. The prophets, we know, drew the substance of their doctrine from the fountain of the Law, and, strictly speaking, brought forward nothing new, but... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 29:19

Verse 19 The Prophet, after having denounced God’s judgment on those who remained in their own country as well as on the exiles, subjoins this reason, because they hearkened not to the word of the Lord; and this was a most grievous sin. Though ignorance is no excuse before God, for those who are without the Law must perish; yet the servant who knew his Lord’s will and did it not, shall be beaten with many stripes. And the more abundant God’s grace is in calling us to the right way of salvation,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 29:20

Verse 20 Jeremiah announces a special prophecy, but in confirmation of his former doctrine. His object is still the same, to prevent the captives, as they had begun, to listen to flatteries, and to make them feel assured that they were to bear their exile till the end of seventy years. But he speaks here of three impostors; he connects two of them together, and mentions the third by himself. He directs his discourse especially to all the captives, for he deigned not to address those who... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 29:15-23

Jeremiah's denunciation of two leading false prophets at Babylon, with a digression on the fate of Zedekiah and Jerusalem. Some eminent critics maintain that verses 16-20 are an interpolation, and this view is certainly supported By the omission of these verses in the Septuagint. It must also in fairness be admitted that the natural connection of verse 15 is with verse 21, not with verse 16. But it does not follow that verses 16-20 are an arbitrary interpolation. They may be regarded either as... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 29:16

Know that thus saith the Lord ; rather, Surely thus saith the Lord . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 29:17

I will send upon them , etc.; alluding to Jeremiah 24:10 . Vile figs ; literally, figs exciting a shudder . The figure involves an allusion to Jeremiah 24:2 , Jeremiah 24:3 . read more

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