Jeremiah 9:2-26

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 9:1-11

The prophet, being commissioned both to foretel the destruction coming upon Judah and Jerusalem and to point out the sin for which that destruction was brought upon them, here, as elsewhere, speaks of both very feelingly: what he said of both came from the heart, and therefore one would have thought it would reach to the heart. I. He abandons himself to sorrow in consideration of the calamitous condition of his people, which he sadly laments, a one that preferred Jerusalem before his chief joy... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 9:12-22

Two things the prophet designs, in these verses, with reference to the approaching destruction of Judah and Jerusalem:?1. To convince people of the justice of God in it, that they had by sin brought it upon themselves and that therefore they had no reason to quarrel with God, who did them no wrong at all, but a great deal of reason to fall out with their sins, which did them all this mischief. 2. To affect people with the greatness of the desolation that was coming, and the miserable effects... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 9:23-26

The prophet had been endeavouring to possess this people with a holy fear of God and his judgments, to convince them both of sin and wrath; but still they had recourse to some sorry subterfuge or other, under which to shelter themselves from the conviction and with which to excuse themselves in the obstinacy and carelessness. He therefore sets himself here to drive them from these refuges of lies and to show them the insufficiency of them. I. When they were told how inevitable the judgment... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 9:2

Oh that I had in the wilderness a lodging place of wayfaring men ,.... Such as travellers take up with in a desert, when they are benighted, and cannot reach a town or village. This the prophet chose, partly that he might have an opportunity to give vent to his grief, being alone; for which reason he did not desire to be in cities and populous places, where he might be amused and diverted while his people were in distress: and partly to show his sympathy, not being able to bear the sight of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 9:3

And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies ,.... Their tongues were like bows, and their lying words like arrows, which they directed against persons to their injury; see Psalm 11:2 , or, "like their deceitful bow" F16 קש־תאם שקר "veluti acum falsum", Munster; "quasi arcum mendacii", V. L. ; to which the Targum agrees, "they teach their tongues words of falsehood, they are like to a deceitful bow.' Most agreeably to the accents the words may be rendered, "they bend... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 9:4

Take ye heed everyone of his neighbour ,.... Take care of being imposed upon by them, since they are so given to lying and deceit; be not too credulous, or too easily believe what is said; or keep yourselves from them; have no company or conversation with them, since evil communications corrupt good manners: and trust ye not in any brother ; whether by blood or by marriage, or by religion, believe not his words; trust him not, neither with your money, nor with your mind; commit not your... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 9:5

And they will deceive everyone his neighbour ,.... In conversation, with lying words; and in trade and commerce, by art and tricking: and will not speak the truth ; with respect to facts they report, or goods they sell: they have taught their tongue to speak lies ; and become so accustomed to lying that they cannot do otherwise; it is as it were natural to them: and weary themselves to commit iniquity ; spared no pains to come at it, nor any in it, and go on even to weariness;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 9:6

Thine habitation is in the midst of deceit ,.... In the midst of a people of deceit, as Kimchi and Ben Molech. These are the words of the Lord to the prophet, showing what a people he dwelt among, and had to do with; how cautiously and prudently he should act; how little they were to be trusted to and depended upon; and what little hope there was of bringing them to true repentance, since there was so much deceit and hypocrisy among them. The Targum interprets the words not of the habitation... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 9:7

Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts ,.... Because of this deceit and hypocrisy, and lying: behold, I will melt them, and try them : as the refiner does his gold and silver, by putting them into the fire of afflictions, and thereby remove their dross and corruption from them. So the Targum, "behold, I will bring distress upon them, and melt them, and try them.' For how shall I do for the daughter of my people? the sense is, what could be done otherwise or better? what was more... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 9:8

Their tongue is as an arrow shot out ,.... As an arrow out of a bow, which moves swiftly, and comes with great force; or, "drawn out" F21 שוחט "extensa, vel tracta", Vatablus ; as out of a quiver. The word is used of gold, and rendered "beaten gold", 1 Kings 10:16 , gold drawn out into plates; and here of an arrow drawn out of a quiver; and so it is interpreted in the Talmud F23 T. Bab. Cholin, fol. 30. 2. & Gloss. in ib. ; or is "wounding", as the Septuagint, or... read more

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