Jeremiah 2:5 - Exposition

What iniquity , etc.; rather, what unrighteousness , etc. (comp. Deuteronomy 32:4 , "a God of faithfulness, and without unrighteousness," alluding to the "covenant" between Jehovah and Israel). God's condescending grace (his ' anavah , Psalms 18:36 ). As if he were under an obligation to Israel (comp. Micah 6:3 , etc.; Isaiah 5:3 ). Vanity ; i . e . the idols; literally, a breath (so Jeremiah 10:15 ; Jeremiah 14:22 ; Jeremiah 16:19 ). Are become vain . The whole being of man is affected by the want of solid basis to his religion (comp. Jeremiah 23:16 ; Psalms 115:8 ); and the evident allusion to our passage in Romans 1:21 . The clause is verbally repeated in 2 Kings 17:15 , with reference to the ten tribes.