Bible Commentaries
Jeremiah 16

Verse 1

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

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

Verse 4

earth = ground, or soil.

Verse 5

taken away. Hebrew. 'asaph. A Homonym, with two meanings: (1) to protect, or heal (Numbers 12:14 , Numbers 12:15 ; 2 Kings 5:6 . Psalms 27:10 ); (2) to snatch away (Psalms 26:9 . Psalms 16:5 ).

peace: or, blessing.

saith the LORD = [is] Jehovah's oracle.

mercies = compassions, or tender mercies.

Verse 6

cut themselves . . . make . . . bald. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 19:28 ; Leviticus 21:5 .Deuteronomy 14:1; Deuteronomy 14:1 ). Compare Jeremiah 41:5 ; Jeremiah 47:5 .

Verse 7

men tear themselves = break [bread]. Hebrew. paras, to break, used of breaking bread, as in Isaiah 58:7 . Ezekiel 24:17 . Hosea 9:4 , and Revised Version. The Ellipsis , is wrongly supplied in Authorized Version. See the margin there.

Verse 9

the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel. See note on Jeremiah 7:3 .

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. .

the bride. Compare Jeremiah 7:34 ; Jeremiah 25:10 ; Jeremiah 33:11

Verse 10

Wherefore . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis, App-6 . Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 29:24 , Deuteronomy 29:25 ). Compare Jeremiah 5:19 .

evil = mischief, or calamity. Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44 .

iniquity. Hebrew. 'avah. App-44 .

sin. Hebrew. chata'. App-44 .

Verse 11

not kept My law. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 20:0 ). App-92 .

Verse 12

imagination = stubbornness. Reference to Pentateuch, (see notes on Jeremiah 3:17 ; Jeremiah 7:24 ; Jeremiah 9:14 ; Jeremiah 13:10 ). App-92 .

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

Verse 13

serve other gods. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 4:26-28 ; Deuteronomy 28:36 ). App-92 .

Verse 14

children = sons.

out of. Egypt. Reference to Pentateuch (Ex. Jeremiah 12:15 ).

Verse 15

north. Babylon on the east; but entrance thence into the Land was by the north.

Verse 16

many fishers . . . hunters. Reference to Judah's enemies. Compare Jeremiah 16:18 . Amos 4:2 .Ezekiel 12:13 .Habakkuk 1:14 .

Verse 18

double. See note on Isaiah 40:2 .

Verse 19

Strength = strength (for protection). Hebrew. 'azaz.

Gentiles = nations.

Verse 20

man. Hebrew. 'adam . App-14 .

Verse 21

My name. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 3:15 ; Exodus 15:3 ). App-92 .