Jeremiah 17:2

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 17:1-4

The people had asked (Jer. 16:10), What is our iniquity, and what is our sin? as if they could not be charged with any thing worth speaking of, for which God should enter into judgment with them; their challenge was answered there, but here we have a further reply to it, in which, I. The indictment is fully proved upon the prisoners, both the fact and the fault; their sin is too plain to be denied and too bad to be excused, and they have nothing to plead either in extenuation of the crime or... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 17:2

Whilst their children remember their altars ,.... Which is a further proof of their long continuance in idolatrous practices, and a fresh witness against them; they trained up their children in them; who, when grown up, could not forget them, but imitated them, and went on in the same evil ways. Some render the words, "as they remember their children, so they remember their altars F9 כזכר בניהם מזבחו־תאם "sicut recordantur filiorum suorum, ita recordantur ararum suarum"; so some in... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 17:2

Whilst their children remember - Even the rising generation have their imagination stocked with idol images, and their memories with the frantic rites and ceremonies which they saw their parents observe in this abominable worship. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 17:2

Verse 2 Interpreters seem not to me to have perceived the design of the Prophet here, at least they have not clearly explained the subject. He proceeds, as I think, with what he said at the end of the last verse, — that the iniquity of Judah was graven on the altars, or on the horns of the altars: how was this? even because they transmitted to posterity whatever they devised as to their ungodly forms of worship. How then was iniquity graven on the horns of the altars? even because it was not a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 17:1-2

Sin's record. I. THE RECORD IS INEFFACEABLE . This is contrary to the notions of very many. Sin, when it is committed, wears the aspect of insignificance and triflingness. It is the gratification of a momentary impulse, of a personal and individual character; and it is not supposed that any one else, or at any rate any large number of persons, can be affected by it. The sinner supposes that he himself will be able to condone it, and that, when the active prompting of which he is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 17:1-4

The profound impression of Judah's sin. I. THERE IS IMPLIED JUDAH 'S OWN INDIFFERENCE TO ITS SIN . With supernatural clearness of vision, the prophet saw the sin of Judah; and he spoke concerning that sin with words which Jehovah had put into his mouth. And yet it is evident the people would not admit his representations as being correct and as needing urgent attention. The great bulk of them thought that he was inventing or at least exaggerating. They had lived so long... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 17:1-27

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 17:2

Whilst their children remember , etc. The connection of this with the preceding verse is rather obscure. Probably it is intended as an exemplification of the "sin of Judah," the inveterateness of which is shown by their thoughts spontaneously turning to the altars and symbols of the false gods whenever they are near a leafy tree or a high hill. To make "their sons" the accusative (with Hitzig and Keil), rendering, "As they remember their children, [even so they remember their altars]," seems... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Jeremiah 17:2

While their children remember their altars - Perhaps an allusion to their sacrifices of children to Moloch. Present perhaps at some such blood-stained rite, its horrors would be engraven forever upon the memory.Groves - “Asherahs,” i. e., wooden images of Astarte (see Exodus 34:13 note). read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Jeremiah 17:1-2

Jeremiah 17:1-2. The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron Many of the Jews, though living in the habitual commission of the grossest crimes, were, nevertheless, self-righteous, and thought they did not deserve that God should enter into judgment with them in any such way as Jeremiah foretold he would do. Wherefore, said they, hath the Lord pronounced all this great evil against us? What is our iniquity? What is our sin? chap. Jeremiah 16:10. Here the prophet tells them their sin... read more

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