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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 23:9-32

Here is a long lesson for the false prophets. As none were more bitter and spiteful against God's true prophets than they, so there were none on whom the true prophets were more severe, and justly. The prophet had complained to God of those false prophets (Jer. 14:13), and had often foretold that they should be involved in the common ruin; but here they have woes of their own. I. He expresses the deep concern that he was under upon this account, and what a trouble it was to him to see men who... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 23:23

Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord ,.... Or "near" F6 מקרב "e propinquo", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "vel propinquus", Schmidt. ; that is, in heaven; and only sees, and hears, and observes persons and things there, being near unto him: and not a God afar off ? that sees, and hears, and takes notice of persons and things at a distance, even on earth. The meaning is, that he certainly was; and that persons and things on earth were as much under his cognizance and notice,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 23:24

Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord ,.... If a man should hide himself in the most secret and hidden places of the earth, and do his works in the most private manner, so that no human eye can see him, he cannot hide himself or his actions from the Lord, who can see from heaven to earth, and through the darkest and thickest clouds, and into the very bowels of the earth, and the most hidden and secret recesses and caverns of it. The darkness and the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 23:23

Am I a God at hand, - and not a God afar off? - You act as if you thought I could not see you! Am I not omnipresent? Do not I fill the heavens and the earth? Jeremiah 23:24 . read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 23:23

Verse 23 Here he especially shakes off from hypocrites their self-delusions; for they were torpid in their vices, because they thought that they could in a manner blind the eyes of God. They did not indeed say so; but the heedless security of men would, never be so great as it is, were they to believe that nothing is hid from God, but that he penetrates into the inmost recesses of the heart, that he discerns between the thoughts and the feelings, and leaves not unobserved the very marrow. If,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 23:24

Verse 24 And that this is the meaning appears more clearly from the next verse, which ought to be read in connection with this; Will a man hide himself in coverts, that I should not see him? (106) This verse is added by way of explanation; there can therefore be no doubt respecting the words, far off and near, — that God is said to be a God afar off; because his eyes penetrate into the lowest depths, so that nothing can escape him. It is a wonder that the Greek translators made so great a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 23:9-40

These verses form a complete prophecy, the title of which Jeremiah himself supplies in the words, "Concerning the (false) prophets" (see below); comp. Jeremiah 46:2 ; Jeremiah 48:1 ; Jeremiah 49:1 , Jeremiah 49:7 , Jeremiah 49:23 , Jeremiah 49:28 . It is true the rendering of the Authorized Version ( Jeremiah 49:9 ), Mine heart within me is broken because of the prophets , is not purely arbitrary; it is favored by the exegetical tradition represented by the Hebrew accents.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 23:23-24

Am I a God at hand , etc.? ("At hand" equivalent to "near.") Eliphaz may again assist us with an illustration. "And thou sayest "—he is expostulating with Job—"What doth God know? can he judge through the dark cloud? thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; yea, he walketh upon the vault of heaven" ( Job 22:13 , Job 22:14 ). It might seem, from the preponderance of the false prophets ever the true, as if Jehovah were unaware of the mischief. Not so; Jehovah is omnipresent. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 23:23-24

The omnipresence of God. I. THE FACT . God must he thought of as fully present everywhere; not as a great Being who fills a great space with, however, only distinct parts in each section of space. The whole of God is present everywhere. He is as much present in every separate locality as if he existed nowhere else. All his infinite attributes of knowledge, power, and goodness are present, to be brought to bear on each individual of the infinite variety of things in the universe. God... read more

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