Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 7:1-15

These verses begin another sermon, which is continued in this and the two following chapters, much to the same effect with those before, to reason them to repentance. Observe, I. The orders given to the prophet to preach this sermon; for he had not only a general commission, but particular directions and instructions for every message he delivered. This was a word that came to him from the Lord, Jer. 7:1. We are not told when this sermon was to be preached; but are told, 1. Where it must be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 7:3

Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel ,.... The Lord of armies above and below in general, and the God of Israel in particular; wherefore they ought to hearken to what he was about to say, and to be obedient to him: amend your ways and your doings ; or, "make them good" F12 היטיבו דרכיכם "bonas facite vias vestras", V. L. Munster, Pagninus, Montanus; "efficite", &c.; Junius & Tremellius, Piscator. ; which shows that they were bad, and were not agreeable to the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 7:4

Trust ye not in lying words ,.... In the words of the lying prophets, as the Targum; and to the same purpose is the Arabic version, "do not trust in lying words, for the false prophets do not profit you in anything;' the things in which they trusted, and in which the false prophets taught them to place their confidence, were their coming up to the temple at certain times for religious exercises, and their attendance on temple service and worship, offering of sacrifices, and the like. The... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 7:5

For if ye thoroughly amend your ways and your doings ,.... Or, "if ye make your ways good, and do your works well", which is what is exhorted to Jeremiah 7:3 , and respects the duties of the moral law; which are more acceptable to God than legal sacrifices, when done from right principles, and with right views, from love, in faith, and to the glory of God; which is doing good works well; the particulars of which follow: if you thoroughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbour ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 7:6

If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow ,.... Who have none to help them, and who ought to have mercy and compassion shown them, as well as justice done them; and should not be injured by private men in their persons and properties, and much less oppressed in courts of judicature by those who should be the patrons and defenders of them: and shed not innocent blood in this place : in the temple, where the sanhedrim, or great court of judicature, sat; for this does... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 7:4

The temple of the Lord - In the Chaldee the passage stands thus: - "Do not trust in the words of lying prophets, which say, Before the temple of the Lord ye shall worship; Before the temple of the Lord ye shall sacrifice; Before the temple of the Lord ye shall adore; thrice in the year ye shall appear before it." This the Targumist supposes to have been the reason why the words are here thrice repeated. They rather seem to express the conviction which the people had, that they should be safe... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 7:5

If ye throughly amend your ways - Literally, If in making good ye fully make good your ways. God will no longer admit of half-hearted work. Semblances of piety cannot deceive him; he will not accept partial reformation; there must be a thorough amendment. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 7:3

Verse 3 Make good, he says, your ways and your doings, then will I dwell in this place (189) This promise contains an implied contrast; for the Prophet intimates, that the people would not long survive, unless they sought in another way to pacify God. “I will dwell, “he seems to say, — in this place, when your life is changed.” It then follows on the other hand, “God will drive you into exile, except you change your life: in vain then do you seek a quiet and happy state through offering your... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 7:4

Verse 4 Then the Prophet comes closer to them when he says, Trust ye not in words of falsehood. For had not this been expressly said, the Jews might, according to their usual way, have found out some evasion: “Have we then lost all our labor in celebrating our festivals with so much diligence, in leaving our homes and families to present ourselves before God? We have spared no expense, we have brought sacrifices and spent our money; and is all this of no value before God?” For hypocrites always... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 7:5

Verse 5 Interpreters do not agree as to the meaning of this passage. Some render כי אם, ki am, “But rather, “or, “But.” I indeed allow that it is so taken in many places; but they are mistaken who read כי אם, ki am, as one word; for the Prophet, on the contrary, repeats what he had said, and that is, that God would not be propitious to the Jews except their life proved that they had really repented. The words are sometimes taken as one in Hebrew, and mean “but;” yet in other places they are... read more

Group of Brands