Jeremiah 17:1

JUDAH’S SIN INEFFACEABLY RECORDED, Jeremiah 17:1-4.

1. Sin of Judah Namely, that very sin set forth in the previous chapter, of which even the Gentiles would become ashamed. Origen and Isidore understood by “Judah,” here, Judas Iscariot!

Pen of iron A sharp-pointed iron stylus, or chisel, used for making inscriptions on tables of wood or stone. Exodus 32:16; Job 19:24. Of course when this was used it was for the purpose of graving it very deeply, so that it could not be easily effaced.

Point of a diamond In Ezekiel 3:9, and Ezekiel 7:12, the original of diamond is rendered adamant; in every other place it is translated thorn. The sense here is correctly given. Pliny says the ancients were acquainted with the cutting powers of the diamond.

Table of their heart… horns of your altars The inward seat of sin and its outward expression. God would have his law written on their hearts, but they had written sin instead. The “altars” here are the idolatrous altars which the Jews had set up to Baalim. True, Josiah had destroyed these; but doubtless many of them had been rebuilt and were now standing as the visible proof of Israel’s idolatry, answering to the writing on their hearts. The change of person their heart… your altars is such as is common, especially with Jeremiah, and serves to charge home their guilt more directly and personally.