Jeremiah 6:16

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 6:9-17

The heads of this paragraph are the very same with those of the last; for precept must be upon precept and line upon line. I. The ruin of Judah and Jerusalem is here threatened. We had before the haste which the Chaldea army made to the war (Jer. 6:4, 5); now here we have the havoc made by the war. How lamentable are the desolations here described! The enemy shall so long quarter among them, and be so insatiable in their thirst after blood and treasure, that they shall seize all they can meet... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 6:16

Thus saith the Lord, stand ye in the ways, and see ,.... These are the words of the Lord to the people, whom he would have judge for themselves, and not be blindly led by the false prophets and priests; directing them to do what men should, when they are in a place where two or more ways meet, and know not which way to take; they should make a short stop, and look to the way mark or way post, which points whither each path leads, and so accordingly proceed. Now, in religious things, the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 6:16

Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see - Let us observe the metaphor. A traveler is going to a particular city; he comes to a place where the road divides into several paths, he is afraid of going astray; he stops short, - endeavors to find out the right path: he cannot fix his choice. At last he sees another traveler; he inquires of him, gets proper directions - proceeds on his journey - arrives at the desired place - and reposes after his fatigue. There is an excellent sermon... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 6:16

Verse 16 The Prophet teaches us here that the fault of the people could not be extenuated as though they had sinned through ignorance; for they had been warned more than necessary by God. The same sentiment is found in Isaiah, “This is your rest; but they would not hear.” (Isaiah 28:12.) But our Prophet more at large condemns the Jews; for God had commanded them to stand in the ways, to look and to inquire respecting all the old paths. He uses a similitude: and we ought not to doubt... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 6:1-30

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 6:9-17

The preacher's bitter cry. Profound distress marks the prophet's utterances in this section. The lament over the incorrigible wickedness of men and his own baffled work is loud and long and bitter exceedingly (cf. Christ's tears over Jerusalem; Paul's sorrow over his countrymen). I. WHAT CAUSED THIS BITTER CRY ? His perception of the judgment of God drawing nigh ( Jeremiah 6:9 , Jeremiah 6:12 , Jeremiah 6:15 ). The obstinacy of the people ( Jeremiah 6:10 , Jeremiah... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 6:16

Stand ye in the ways ; literally, station yourselves on (or, by ) roads , i . e . at the meeting-point of different roads. There (as the following words state) the Jews are to make inquiry as to the old paths . Antiquity gives a presumption of rightness; the ancients were nearer to the days when God spoke with man; they had the guidance of God's two mighty "shepherds" ( Isaiah 63:11 ); they knew, far better than we, who "are but of yesterday, and know nothing" ( Job 8:9 ),... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 6:16

The old paths. I. CONSIDER THE RECOMMENDATION TO FOLLOW THE OLD PATHS . 1. The course of life should be determined after thoughtful deliberation . Jeremiah is to "stand in the ways and see." It is foolish to go with the multitude without individual convictions of what is right, or to follow our own private impulses blindly and aimlessly. 2. The choice should fall on a good way . Other ways may be smooth, pleasant, flowery at the starting, only to lose... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 6:16

The old paths. Men are surrounded from their earliest years with various religious systems, the claims of which conflict. To a conscientious mind, intellectual disquietude is the first result of this; in those less in earnest it produces and justifies indifference. All religious tend, under these circumstances, to assume the aspect of speculative questions, and the moral life is increasingly detached from religious sanctions. Morality must thereby be impaired, if it do not ultimately... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 6:16

The good old paths. It is noticeable in the order of nature how God has secured the true adjustment and hence the highest well-being of his universe by means of the action of contrasted and opposite forces . By means of that power which the mighty mass of the sun has to draw everything to itself—if this were left alone to operate, the whole of those innumerable orbs that now circle round the sun as their center would be drawn in upon it and perish. But this is prevented by the action... read more

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