Jeremiah 8:7

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 8:4-12

The prophet here is instructed to set before this people the folly of their impenitence, which was it that brought this ruin upon them. They are here represented as the most stupid senseless people in the world, that would not be made wise by all the methods that Infinite Wisdom took to bring them to themselves and their right mind, and so to prevent the ruin that was coming upon them. I. They would not attend to the dictates of reason. They would not act in the affairs of their souls with the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 8:7

Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times ,.... Of going and returning; for this is a bird of passage, as Pliny F4 Nat. Hist. l. 10. c. 23. and other naturalists observe; which goes away as winter approaches, and returns when that is over. The temperature of the air, as to heat and cold, and the natural propensity of such birds of passage to breed their young, are thought to be the incentives to change their habitation; and wonderful thing it is in nature, that they... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 8:7

The stork in the heaven - The birds of passage know the times of their going and return, and punctually observe them; they obey the dictates of nature, but my people do not obey my law. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 8:7

Verse 7 Here again Jeremiah condemns the shameful insensibility of the people, — that they had less wisdom than birds, not endued with reason and understanding. He then says, that the Jews were more foolish than cranes, swallows, and storks. He no doubt deeply wounded the feelings of the people by so severe a reproof; but it was necessary thus sharply to reprehend the despisers of God; for it appears evident by these words, that they were become exceedingly hardened in their vices. No wonder,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 8:4-7

Apostasy an anomalous and incalculable thing. I. THE ANALOGIES Or COMMON SENSE AND INSTINCT ARE FALSIFIED . ( Jeremiah 8:4-6 .) If a man fall, he will rise again to his feet; if he has made a mistake or gone in a wrong direction, and discovers it, he will turn again, unless he be absolutely bereft of his senses. One might expect similar behavior in spiritual matters. But in the wickedness and defection of Israel it was not so; their apostasy seemed perpetual. The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 8:4-7

The unnatural conduct of Jerusalem. Still more humiliation for the proud, self-satisfied city. The prophet comes with a heavenly light, revealing the very foundations of her glory, and showing how unsubstantial they are, how easily exposed as contradicting truth and the highest propriety. What is aimed at here is to set before man, by the force of contrast, what he ought to be, in the sum of all his faculties made one by a will which acts according to the commandment of God. And so we see—... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 8:4-11

Backsliding in its worst forms. All departures from God are evil, but some are only temporary, and are quickly followed by repentance, return, and restoration. There are others, however, of a far more serious kind, and we have in these verses a great deal told us concerning them. We are told of some of— I. THEIR CHARACTERISTICS . 1. So contrary to men ' s wonted ways . For when men find that they have brought evil on themselves, they will at once seek to undo such evil ( ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 8:7

The appeal to the regularity of animal instincts reminds us of Isaiah 1:3 . Yea, the stork, etc. The minatory birds obey their instinct with the most unfailing regularity. Those referred to are: (3 and 4) the crane and the swallow, or rather, "the swift and the crane." These birds are again mentioned together in Isaiah 38:14 (the psalm of Hezekiah), where special reference is made to the penetrating quality of their note. "The whooping or trumpeting of the crane rings through the night... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 8:7

A lesson from the birds. It is interesting to observe that the Scripture references to natural history are hot directed so much to theological arguments as to moral lessons. While questions concerning the being and nature of God absorb almost the exclusive attention of the natural theologian, the prophet, who assumes the belief of his hearers in the immanence of God in Nature, is more concerned to show how she rebukes man for his own shortcomings and incites to goodness by her mute... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Jeremiah 8:7

Jeremiah appeals to the obedience which migratory birds render to the law of their natures. The “stork” arrives in Palestine about March 21, and after a six weeks’ halt departs for the north of Europe. It takes its flight by day, at a vast height in the air (“in the heaven”). The appearance of the “turtle-dove” is one of the pleasant signs of the approach of spring.The crane and the swallow - Rather, “the swift and the crane.” read more

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