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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 9:1-11

The prophet, being commissioned both to foretel the destruction coming upon Judah and Jerusalem and to point out the sin for which that destruction was brought upon them, here, as elsewhere, speaks of both very feelingly: what he said of both came from the heart, and therefore one would have thought it would reach to the heart. I. He abandons himself to sorrow in consideration of the calamitous condition of his people, which he sadly laments, a one that preferred Jerusalem before his chief joy... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 9:1

Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears ,.... Or, "who will give to my head water, and to mine eyes a fountain of tears?" as the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, and Arabic versions. The prophet wishes that his head was turned and dissolved into water, and that tears might flow from his eyes as water issues out from a fountain; and he suggests, that could this be, it would not be sufficient to deplore the miserable estate of his people, and to express the inward grief and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 9:2

Oh that I had in the wilderness a lodging place of wayfaring men ,.... Such as travellers take up with in a desert, when they are benighted, and cannot reach a town or village. This the prophet chose, partly that he might have an opportunity to give vent to his grief, being alone; for which reason he did not desire to be in cities and populous places, where he might be amused and diverted while his people were in distress: and partly to show his sympathy, not being able to bear the sight of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 9:3

And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies ,.... Their tongues were like bows, and their lying words like arrows, which they directed against persons to their injury; see Psalm 11:2 , or, "like their deceitful bow" F16 קש־תאם שקר "veluti acum falsum", Munster; "quasi arcum mendacii", V. L. ; to which the Targum agrees, "they teach their tongues words of falsehood, they are like to a deceitful bow.' Most agreeably to the accents the words may be rendered, "they bend... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 9:4

Take ye heed everyone of his neighbour ,.... Take care of being imposed upon by them, since they are so given to lying and deceit; be not too credulous, or too easily believe what is said; or keep yourselves from them; have no company or conversation with them, since evil communications corrupt good manners: and trust ye not in any brother ; whether by blood or by marriage, or by religion, believe not his words; trust him not, neither with your money, nor with your mind; commit not your... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 9:5

And they will deceive everyone his neighbour ,.... In conversation, with lying words; and in trade and commerce, by art and tricking: and will not speak the truth ; with respect to facts they report, or goods they sell: they have taught their tongue to speak lies ; and become so accustomed to lying that they cannot do otherwise; it is as it were natural to them: and weary themselves to commit iniquity ; spared no pains to come at it, nor any in it, and go on even to weariness;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 9:6

Thine habitation is in the midst of deceit ,.... In the midst of a people of deceit, as Kimchi and Ben Molech. These are the words of the Lord to the prophet, showing what a people he dwelt among, and had to do with; how cautiously and prudently he should act; how little they were to be trusted to and depended upon; and what little hope there was of bringing them to true repentance, since there was so much deceit and hypocrisy among them. The Targum interprets the words not of the habitation... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 9:7

Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts ,.... Because of this deceit and hypocrisy, and lying: behold, I will melt them, and try them : as the refiner does his gold and silver, by putting them into the fire of afflictions, and thereby remove their dross and corruption from them. So the Targum, "behold, I will bring distress upon them, and melt them, and try them.' For how shall I do for the daughter of my people? the sense is, what could be done otherwise or better? what was more... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 9:8

Their tongue is as an arrow shot out ,.... As an arrow out of a bow, which moves swiftly, and comes with great force; or, "drawn out" F21 שוחט "extensa, vel tracta", Vatablus ; as out of a quiver. The word is used of gold, and rendered "beaten gold", 1 Kings 10:16 , gold drawn out into plates; and here of an arrow drawn out of a quiver; and so it is interpreted in the Talmud F23 T. Bab. Cholin, fol. 30. 2. & Gloss. in ib. ; or is "wounding", as the Septuagint, or... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 9:1

O that my head were waters - מים ראשי יתן מי mi yitten roshi mayim , "who will give to my head waters?" My mourning for the sins and desolations of my people has already exhausted the source of tears: I wish to have a fountain opened there, that I may weep day and night for the slain of my people. This has been the sorrowful language of many a pastor who has preached long to a hardened, rebellious people, to little or no effect. This verse belongs to the preceding chapter. read more

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