Jeremiah 3:1-4:4

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 3:1-5

These verses some make to belong to the sermon in the foregoing chapter, and they open a door of hope to those who receive the conviction of the reproofs we had there; God wounds that he may heal. Now observe here, I. How basely this people had forsaken God and gone a whoring from him. The charge runs very high here. 1. They had multiplied their idols and their idolatries. To have admitted one strange God among them would have been bad enough, but they were insatiable in their lustings after... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 3:1

They say, if a man put away his wife ,.... Or, "saying" F23 לאמור "dicendo", Montanus, Vatablus, Janius & Tremellius. ; wherefore some connect those words with the last verse of the preceding chapter, as if they were a continuation of what the Lord had been there saying, that he would reject their confidences; so Kimchi; but they seem rather to begin a new section, or a paragraph, with what were commonly said among men, or in the law, and as the sense of that; that if a man... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 3:1

If a man put away his wife - It was ever understood, by the law and practice of the country, that if a woman were divorced by her husband, and became the wife of another man, the first husband could never take her again. Now Israel had been married unto the Lord; joined in solemn covenant to him to worship and serve him only. Israel turned from following him, and became idolatrous. On this ground, considering idolatry as a spiritual whoredom, and the precept and practice of the law to... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 3:1

Verse 1 Many regard this verse as connected with the last, and thus read them connectedly, “God hates false confidences, because he says, “etc. But this seems not to me to be suitable; for Jeremiah brings before us here a new subject, — that God seeks to be reconciled to his people, according to what a husband does, who desires to receive into favor an unchaste wife, and is ready to grant her full pardon, and to take her again as a chaste and faithful wife. This verse, then, cannot be connected... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 3:1

They say , etc.; as the margin of Authorized Version correctly states, the Hebrew simply has "saying." Various ingenious attempts have been made to explain this. Hitzig, for instance, followed by Dr. Payne Smith, thinks that "saying" may be an unusual equivalent for "that is to say," "for example," or the like; while the Vulgate and Rashi, followed by De Wette and Rosenmüller, assume an ellipsis, and render, "It is commonly said," or "I might say." But far the most natural way is to suppose... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 3:1

The offer of a great forgiveness. I. CONSIDER THE ILLUSTRATION BY WHICH IS SHOWN THE EXTENT OF JEHOVAH 'S MERCY TO THE LOST , By an illustration drawn from the power allowed to the Israelite husband, Jehovah shows how great is his spirit of mercy and his desire that the deserting wife, so terribly described in the preceding chapter, should return. The reference is evidently to Deuteronomy 24:1-4 . There the husband is invested with an authority which almost... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 3:1-5

Sin Law Grace. We have here represented to as— I. SIN IN ITS MOST AWFUL FORM . It was the sin of idolatry . This was especially grievous in the sight of God, since Israel was designed to give light to all other nations. They were raised up for the very purpose that through them the knowledge of God might flow forth to the whole world. The destinies of humanity depended on them. Hence if the light that was in them were darkness, "how great," etc.! Their corruption was... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 3:1-25

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Jeremiah 3:1

They say - Or, That is to say. The prophet has completed his survey of Israel’s conduct, and draws the conclusion that as an adulterous wife could not be taken back by her husband, so Israel has forfeited her part in the covenant with God. Apparently the opening word, which literally means “to say,” only introduces the quotation in the margin.Yet return again to me - Or, “and thinkest thou to return unto me!” The whole argument is not of mercy, but is the proof that after her repeated... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Jeremiah 3:1

Jeremiah 3:1. They say That is, men use to say, If a man put away his wife Or give her a bill of divorce, Deuteronomy 24:1; and she go from him In consequence thereof; and become another man’s Engage herself to another; shall he return unto her? He cannot take her again according to the law, Deuteronomy 24:1-4. Or, rather, will a man do such a thing? If the law were not against it, would any man be inclined to take such a woman again? Certainly not. Such playing fast and loose with... read more

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