Jeremiah 4:1-2 - Exposition

The form and structure of the translation require a change. Render, If thou wilt return , O Israel , saith Jehovah , wilt return unto me ; and if thou wilt put away , etc; and not wander ; and wilt swear , As Jehovah liveth , with good faith , with justice , and with righteousness ; then shall the nations bless themselves by him , and in him shall they glory . The clause, "and not wander," seems too short; the Septuagint had a choicer reading, "and put away, etc; from his [thy] mouth, and not wander from before me." It is the close of the prophecy which we have here. The prophet subjoins a promise which he has heard from Jehovah. True, it does not appeal to Israel's self-love (as Isaiah 48:18 , Isaiah 48:19 ; Psalms 81:13-16 ), but to a nobler feeling of responsibility for the world's welfare. Israel has been entrusted with a mission, and on the due performance of this mission hangs the weal or woe of humanity. Hence Jehovah's longing for Israel's repentance. If Israel will but "return," and obey God's commandments, all nations will be attracted to the true religion. The form of expression used for the latter statement is borrowed probably from Genesis 22:18 ; Genesis 26:4 (it is less closely parallel with Genesis 12:3 ; Genesis 18:18 ). To "bless by " any one is to use his name in the benediction formula. Seeing Israel so blessed through his allegiance to Jehovah, all nations shall wish themselves a similar blessing (the reverse of the process in Jeremiah 29:22 ; comp. Isaiah 65:16 ). To "swear, As Jehovah liveth," means to call Jehovah to witness to the truth of a statement. This is to be done "with good faith," etc; i . e . the object of the oath must be consistent with honesty and probity. Abominations; i . e . idols , as often (see 2 Kings 23:24 ).