Jeremiah 5:14-19

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 5:10-19

We may observe in these verses, as before, I. The sin of this people, upon which the commission signed against them is grounded. God disowns them and dooms them to destruction, Jer. 5:10. But is there not a cause? Yes; for, 1. They have deserted the law of God (Jer. 5:11): The house of Israel and the house of Judah, though at variance with one another, yet both agreed to deal very treacherously against God. They forsook the worship of him, and therein violated their covenants with him; they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 5:14

Wherefore thus saith the Lord God of hosts, because ye speak this word ,.... That it is not the Lord; it is not he that speaks; it is no prophecy of him, and therefore shall become wind, and come to nothing: behold, I will make my word in thy mouth fire : it shall have its effect, and a dreadful one; it shall not become wind, but be as fire, not to enlighten the understanding, to purify the conscience, and warm the heart; but to torture, distress, and destroy, as the fire of the word out... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 5:15

Lo, I will bring a nation upon you from far ,.... From Babylon, as in Jeremiah 4:16 , O house of Israel, saith the Lord ; though the house of Israel is generally taken for the ten tribes, especially when distinguished from the house of Judah; yet here it seems to design the Jews, the posterity of Jacob, or Israel in the land of Judea; for Israel, or the ten tribes, were carried captive into Assyria before this time: it is a mighty nation ; strong and powerful; so mighty that they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 5:16

Their quiver is an open sepulchre ,.... The Chaldeans used bows and arrows in fighting; and the quiver is a case for arrows; and the phrase denotes, that their arrows would do great execution, and be very mortal; so that a quiver of them would be as devouring as an open grave, into which many dead are cast. The Septuagint and Arabic versions have not this clause; and the Syriac version renders it, "whose throats are as open sepulchres"; see Romans 3:13 , they are all mighty men ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 5:17

And they shall eat up thine harvest ,.... The standing corn in the fields, cut it down, and give it as fodder to their horses, which is usually done by armies; or the increase of the earth, when gathered into the barn, which so great an army would consume: and thy bread ; which includes all kind of provisions: which thy sons and thy daughters should eat ; which is an aggravation of the calamity and misery, that that should become the prey of their enemies, which they with so much... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 5:18

Nevertheless, in those days ,.... When these things should be done by the king of Babylon and his army: saith the Lord, I will not make a full end with you : this was to be done at another time, not now; See Gill on Jeremiah 4:27 , Jeremiah 5:10 , though some think that this is a threatening of more and greater calamities; that this would not be all he would do to them; he had not yet done; he had other evils and calamities, to bring upon them, particularly a long captivity. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 5:19

And it shall come to pass, when ye shall say ,.... That is, the people of the Jews, to whom the prophet belonged, after they had been spoiled by the enemy, and carried captive: wherefore doth the Lord our God all these things unto us ? as if they were innocent and guiltless, and had done nothing to provoke the Lord to anger; and it may be observed, that they professed to know the Lord in words, and call him their God, though in works they had denied him; and they own the hand of the Lord... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 5:14

Because ye speak this word - Because ye thus treat my message, "I will make my words in thy mouth fire." They have said they are but air; but I will make them fire, and a fire too that shall devour them. And how this was to be done, and by whom, is mentioned in the next verse. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 5:15

I will bring a nation - The Scythians, says Dahler; the Babylonians, whose antiquity was great, that empire being founded by Nimrod. Whose language thou knowest not - The Chaldee, which, though a dialect of the Hebrew, is so very different in its words and construction that in hearing it spoken they could not possibly collect the meaning of what was said. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 5:16

Their quiver is an open sepulcher - They are such exact archers as never to miss their mark; every arrow is sure to slay one man. read more

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