Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 17:12-18

Here, as often before, we have the prophet retired for private meditation, and alone with God. Those ministers that would have comfort in their work must be much so. In his converse here with God and his own heart he takes the liberty which devout souls sometimes use in their soliloquies, to pass from one thing to another, without tying themselves too strictly to the laws of method and coherence. I. He acknowledges the great favour of God to his people in setting up a revealed religion among... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 17:16

As for me, I have not hastened from being a pastor to follow thee ,.... Though he had met with so much ill usage, and was hated by the people for bringing such messages to them, and was jeered and scoffed at because his prophecies were not accomplished; yet he had not been hasty, and solicitous, and importunate with the Lord to dismiss him from his service; but was willing to continue in his office as a pastor or prophet, and to follow the Lord fully, and faithfully perform the work he had... read more

John Gill

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

Be not a terror unto me ,.... By deserting him, and leaving him in the hands of his enemies; or by denying him supports under their reproaches and persecution; or by withdrawing his gracious presence from him, than which nothing is more terrible to a good man; or by withholding the comfortable influences of his Spirit; or by suffering terrors to be injected into him from any quarter; and more is meant than is expressed; namely, that God would be a comforter of him, and bear him up under all... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 17:18

Let them be confounded that persecute me ,.... With words with reproaches, with scoffs and jeers, saying, "where is the word of the Lord?" Jeremiah 17:14 ; let such be ashamed that scoffingly put such a question, by seeing the accomplishment of it: but let not me be confounded ; who have delivered it out as the word of the Lord, that should be surely fulfilled; let not me be brought to shame by the failure of it and be reckoned as a false prophet: let them be dismayed ; terrified... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 17:16

I have not hastened from being a pastor - Dr. Blayney translates thus: "But I have not been in haste to outrun thy guidance." I was obliged to utter thy prediction; but I have not hastened the evil day. For the credit of my prophecy I have not desired the calamity to come speedily; I have rather pleaded for respite. I have followed thy steps, and proclaimed thy truth. I did not desire to be a prophet; but thou hast commanded, and I obeyed. read more

Adam Clarke

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

Be not a terror unto me - Do not command me to predict miseries, and abandon me to them and to my enemies. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 17:18

Let them be confounded - They shall be confounded. These words are to be understood as simple predictions, rather than prayers. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 17:16

Verse 16 The Prophet here implores God as his defender, having found his own nation so refractory, that they could in no way be brought to a right mind. There is yet no doubt but he intended to double their fear in thus testifying that he brought nothing of his own, but faithfully executed the command of God, that he did not presumptuously undertake the office of a teacher, but obeyed the call of God, as though he had said, that they (as we shall find in another place) did not resist a mortal... read more

John Calvin

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

Verse 17 Now the Prophet, having appealed to God as a witness to his integrity, prays him to show himself as his patron and defender. Thus he again implores God’s aid, Be not thou, he says, a terror to me, that is, “Suffer me not while pleading thy cause to be terrified.” Thy the word, terror, he means such a dread as stupifies all the feelings. It would have indeed been wholly unreasonable for the Prophets to fail in constancy and firmness, for it belonged to God to rule them by his Spirit,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 17:18

Verse 18 The Prophet, as we have seen, had a hard contest, not only with one man or with a few, but with the whole people, and then it is probable that there were many sects, for when he cried against the avaricious, there was a commotion instantly made by all those who lived on plunder, when he spoke against the indulgence of lust, there was a second conspiracy against him; when he condemned drunkenness and intemperance, there was a new combination formed to oppose him. We hence see how all... read more

Group of Brands