Bible Commentaries
Jeremiah 11

Verse 1

Jeremiah's Seventh prophecy (see book comments for Jeremiah).

word. Singular, indicating this as a special prophecy.

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah . App-4 .

Verse 2

the words. Plural, indicating the many utterances of "this covenant".

this covenant. The old covenant of Exodus had been specially renewed by Judah in Jeremiah's days, under Josiah, in his eighteenth year (2 Kings 23:1-3 ).

Judah. Emphasized by repeated reference here. Compare verses: Jeremiah 11:2 , Jeremiah 11:6 , Jeremiah 11:9 , Jeremiah 2:10 , Jeremiah 2:12 , Jeremiah 2:13 , Jeremiah 2:17 .

Verse 3

the LORD God of Israel. This title occurs in Jeremiah fourteen times (Jeremiah 11:3 ; Jeremiah 13:12 ; Jeremiah 21:4 ; Jeremiah 23:2 ; Jeremiah 24:5 ; Jeremiah 25:15 ; Jeremiah 30:2 ; Jeremiah 32:36 ; Jeremiah 33:4 ; Jeremiah 34:2 , Jeremiah 34:13 ; Jeremiah 37:7 ; Jeremiah 42:9 ; Jeremiah 45:2 ).

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

God. Hebrew. Elohim.

Israel. Still used of Judah as representing the whole nation. See note on 1 Kings 12:17 .

Cursed be the man, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 27:26 ).

Verse 4

in the day. See App-18 .

from the iron furnace. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 4:20 ).

Obey = Hear, with Beth (= B) = Listen or attend to.

Obey My voice. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 15:26 ). App-92 .

them: i.e. "the words" of Jeremiah 11:3 .

I will be your God. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 26:3-12 ).

Verse 5

the oath which I have sworn. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 7:12 ).

a land flowing with milk and honey. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 3:8 , Exodus 3:17 ; Exodus 13:5 ; Exodus 33:3 .Leviticus 20:24 .Numbers 13:27 ; Numbers 14:8 ; Numbers 16:13 , Numbers 16:14 .Deuteronomy 6:3 ; Deuteronomy 11:9 ; Deuteronomy 26:9 , Deuteronomy 26:15 ; Deuteronomy 27:3 ; Deuteronomy 31:20 ). Outside the Pent, it is found only in Joshua 5:6 . Joshua 11:4 ; Jos 32:22 ; and Ezekiel 20:6 , Ezekiel 20:15 ; Ezekiel 25:4 ). App-92 .

So be it, O LORD. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 27:15-26 : the same word). App-92 .

Verse 6

in the cities, &c. Compare Jeremiah 2:28 , and Jeremiah 11:13 .

Verse 7

rising early, &c. See note on Jeremiah 7:13 .

Verse 8

imagination = stubbornness.

evil. Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44 .

Verse 10

iniquities. Hebrew. 'avah . App-44 .

went = are gone.

the house of Israel. See note on Jeremiah 2:4 .

the house of Judah. See note on Jeremiah 3:18 .

Verse 11

Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

Verse 12

go, and cry, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 32:37 , Deuteronomy 32:38 ).

trouble. Same word as evil (verses: Jeremiah 11:8 , Jeremiah 11:15 , Jeremiah 11:17 ). So in Jeremiah 11:14 .

Verse 13

shameful thing. Hebrew "shame": put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Effect), for the idol which was the cause of the shame. Compare Jeremiah 3:24 .

Verse 14

pray not, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Ex, Jeremiah 32:10 ). Compare Jeremiah 7:16 ; Jeremiah 14:11 . App-92 .

for. Some codices, with one early printed edition, Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "in the time of", as in Jeremiah 11:12 .

Verse 15

the holy flesh: i.e. the sacrifices. Compare Jeremiah 7:21 .Haggai 2:12 . Septuagint reads, "shall vows (or litanies) and holy flesh", &c.

is passed from thee? = taketh away from thee [thy wickedness]? or, removeth thy evil (i.e. calamity)?

then thou rejoicest : i.e. if such false worship will remove thy calamity, then thou mayest rejoice; but this was impossible.

Verse 16

olive tree. The symbol of Israel's religious privileges. See note on Judges 9:8-12 .

Verse 17

the LORD of hosts. See note on Jeremiah 6:6 . 1 Samuel 1:3 .

done = wrought.

Verse 18

hath given = gave. Jeremiah a type of Messiah. See App-85 .

know = knew.

Verse 19

like a lamb. See App-85 .

saying. Note the Figure of speech. Ellipsis ( App-6 ), as frequently with this verb. See notes on Psa_109::5 ; Psalms 109:6 ; Psalms 144:12 , &c.

the tree with the fruit thereof. Hebrew "the dish in his food". Figure of speech Hypallage ( App-6 ), for the food in his dish.

from the land of the living. Jeremiah a type of Christ. See Isaiah 53:8 and App-85 .

Verse 20

triest the reins and the heart. Compare Jeremiah 11:20 ; Jeremiah 17:10 ; Jeremiah 20:12 . Found elsewhere only in Psalms 7:9 ; Psalms 26:2 . See App-85 .

Verse 21

of = concerning.

men. Hebrew. Plural of 'enosh. App-14 .

seek = are seeking.

thy life = thy soul. Hebrew. nephesh.

hand. Some codices, with two early printed editions, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "hands".

Verse 22

punish = visit upon.

Verse 23

evil. Hebrew. ra'a' . App-44 .

the year of their visitation. See note on Jeremiah 8:12 .