Jeremiah 16:17-21

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 16:14-21

There is a mixture of mercy and judgment in these verses, and it is hard to know to which to apply some of the passages here?they are so interwoven, and some seem to look as far forward as the times of the gospel. I. God will certainly execute judgment upon them for their idolatries. Let them expect it, for the decree has gone forth. 1. God sees all their sins, though they commit them ever so secretly and palliate them ever so artfully (Jer. 16:17): My eyes are upon all their ways. They have... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 16:17

For mine eyes are upon all their ways ,.... Not only which they may take to hide themselves from their enemies, and where they should be directed to find them; but their evil ways in which they walked, and which were the cause of their calamities; these, how secret soever they were, were under the eye of God, whose eyes are in every place, and upon all the ways of men, good and bad; though they might flatter themselves, as wicked men sometimes do, that the Lord sees them not, and does not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 16:18

And first I will recompense their iniquity and their sin double ,.... Or, "but first I will recompense", &c.; F6 ושלמתי ראשונה "sed reddum primum". ; meaning, before he showed favour to them, and returned their captivity, Jeremiah 16:15 , he would punish them according to their sins; not double to what they deserved, but to what: they were used to have, or he was used to inflict upon them, punishing them less than their sins deserved; but now he would reward them to the full,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 16:19

O Lord, my strength and my fortress ,.... These are the words of the prophet, rising out of the temptation which beset him; casting off his impatience, diffidence, and unbelief; calling upon God, and exercising faith in him; having received the promise of the restoration of his people to their land, and a view of the future conversion of the Gentiles; which were a means of recovering his spiritual strength, of invigorating grace in him, and of encouraging him to exercise it in a lively... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 16:20

Shall a man make gods unto himself ,.... Can a man make his own gods? a poor, weak, mortal man? can he make gods of gold, silver, brass, wood, or stone? can he put deity into them? and when he has made images of these, can he be so stupid as to account them gods, and worship them? can he be so sottish, and void of understanding, as to imagine that anything that is made by himself or any other, can be God? and they are no gods ; that are made by men; he only is the true God, that is the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 16:21

Therefore, behold, I will this once cause them to know ,.... Or, "at this time", as the Targum; when the Gentiles shall be convinced of the idolatry they have been brought up in, and of the vanity and falsehood of their idols; they shall be made to know the true God, God in Christ, Christ himself, whom to know is life eternal, and to know the way of life and salvation by him; and all this through the ministry of the Gospel that should be brought among them, the Spirit of God accompanying it;... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 16:18

The carcasses of their detestable - things - Either meaning the idols themselves, which were only carcasses without life; or the sacrifices which were made to them. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 16:19

The Gentiles shall come - Even the days shall come when the Gentiles themselves, ashamed of their confidence, shall renounce their idols, and acknowledge that their fathers had believed lies, and worshipped vanities. This may be a prediction of the calling of the Gentiles by the Gospel of Christ; if so, it is a light amidst much darkness. In such dismal accounts there is need of some gracious promise relative to an amended state of the world. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 16:20

Shall a man make gods unto himself? - Can any be so silly, and so preposterously absurd? Yes, fallen man is capable of any thing that is base, mean, vile, and wicked, till influenced and converted by the grace of Christ. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 16:21

Therefore, behold, I will this once - I will not now change my purpose. They shall be visited and carried into captivity; nothing shall prevent this: and they shall know that my name is Jehovah. Since they would not receive the abundance of my mercies, they shall know what the true God can do in the way of judgment. read more

Group of Brands