Jeremiah 1:4-19

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 1:12

Then said the Lord unto me, thou hast well seen ,.... The thing seen is a very proper emblem of what I am about to do, and the quick dispatch that will be made therein: for l will hasten my word to perform it ; the words שקד אני , "shoked ani", "I will hasten", or "I am hastening", are in allusion to שקד , "shoked", the name of the almond tree in Hebrew; which is so called because it is quick and early, and, as it were, hastens to bring forth its flowers, leaves, and fruit; in like... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 1:13

And the word of the Lord came unto me the second time ,.... In the same vision: saying, what seest thou ? besides the almond tree rod; which perhaps was now removed out of sight, and another object appears: and I said, I see a seething pot ; a pot with fire under it, boiling and bubbling up: and the face thereof was towards the north ; either the mouth of the pot where it boiled up, which might be turned to the north in the vision; or that side of the pot, as Kimchi thinks, on... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 1:14

Then the Lord said unto me ,.... Explaining the above vision: out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land ; that is, out of Babylon, which lay north, as Jarchi says, and so the Talmud F20 T. Bab. Gittin, fol. 6. 1. and Bava Bathra, fol. 25. 2. ; or north east, as Kimchi and Ben Melech, to the land of Israel; from hence came Nebuchadnezzar and his army, which are meant by "the evil" that should break forth, or "be opened" F21 תפתח ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 1:15

For, lo, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north, saith the Lord ,.... Which belonged unto and were under the jurisdiction of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and the "call" of them, as Kimchi well observes, is no other than putting it into their hearts to come: and they shall come ; being influenced and directed by the providence of God, who had a principal concern in this matter: and they shall set everyone his throne at the entering of the gates of Jerusalem ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 1:16

And I will utter my judgments against them ,.... Not against the kingdoms of the north, but against the people of the Jews. The sense is, that God would enter into judgment with this people, and pass sentence upon them, and execute it: touching all their wickedness ; or on account of all their sins and transgressions hereafter mentioned: who have forsaken me . The Targum is, "who have forsaken my worship"; for to forsake the public worship of God, attendance on his word and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 1:17

Thou therefore gird up thy loins ,.... The loins both of his mind and body. The allusion is to the custom of the eastern countries in wearing long garments, who, when they went about business, girt them about them for quicker dispatch; and here it designs haste and expedition in doing the Lord's work, as well as courage and resolution of mind: and arise ; and go from Anathoth to Jerusalem: and speak unto them all that I command thee ; See Gill on Jeremiah 1:7 , be not dismayed... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 1:18

For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city ,.... Or, "as" one; so read the Targum, Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions; which is inexpungible, and cannot be taken: and an iron pillar ; which cannot be removed out of its place: and brasen walls ; which cannot be broken down. All these metaphors show the safety and security of the prophet, being surrounded by the power of God; his constancy, immovableness, and invincibleness in the work of the Lord, having such a spirit... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 1:19

And they shall fight against thee ,.... The Targum adds, "that they may hide the words of thy prophecy;' hinder him from prophesying, stop his mouth, and even take away his life: but they shall not prevail against thee ; as to do either: for I am with thee, saith the Lord, to deliver thee ; as he did; he hid him when they sought for him, and delivered him out of the dungeon and bonds into which he was cast by them; See Gill on Jeremiah 1:8 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 1:4

The word of the Lord came unto me - Then I first felt the inspiring influence of the Divine Spirit, not only revealing to me the subjects which he would have me to declare to the people, but also the words which I should use in these declarations. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 1:5

Before I formed thee - I had destined thee to the prophetic office before thou wert born: I had formed my plan, and appointed thee to be my envoy to his people. St. Paul speaks of his own call to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles in similar terms, Galatians 1:15 , Galatians 1:16 . read more

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