Bible Commentaries
Jeremiah 23

Verse 1

the pastors = rulers. See notes on Jeremiah 2:8 ; Jeremiah 3:15 , &c.

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

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

Verse 2

the LORD God of Israel. See note on Jeremiah 11:3 .

God. Hebrew. Elohim.

that feed = that are the feeders of. Figure of speech Antimereia (of the Verb).

behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

I will visit, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 32:34 ).

evil. Hebrew ra'a.

Verse 3

I will gather, &c. Compare Jeremiah 31:10 ; Jeremiah 32:7 . Ezekiel 34:13 , &c.

Verse 5

Branch = Sprout from the root, not from a branch. Compare Isaiah 11:1 ; Isaiah 53:2 . Here, Hebrew. zemach. The name of the brightest star in the Zodiac sign "Virgo". See App-12 . See notes on the Structure of the Four Gospels. Compare Jeremiah 33:15 .

King. See the Structure of the Gospels. Matthew. Compare Isaiah 9:6 , Isaiah 9:7 . Zechariah 6:12 , Zechariah 6:13 .Psalms 72:2 .Luke 1:32 .

judgment and justice. See note on Jeremiah 22:3 .

Verse 6

Israel shall dwell safely. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 25:18 , Leviticus 25:19 ; Leviticus 25:26 , Leviticus 25:5 .Deuteronomy 33:12 , Deuteronomy 33:28 . Repeated in Jeremiah 32:37 ; Jeremiah 33:16 ). App-92 .

THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Hebrew. Jehovah Zidkenu. See App-4 . For the reason of the large type in Authorized Version, see App-48 .

OUR. Because the gift of God.

Verse 7

the days come. Compare Jeremiah 16:14 , Jeremiah 16:15 .

Which brought up, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Ex. Jeremiah 12:15 , &c). App-92 .

children = sons.

Verse 8

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

land = soil.

Verse 9

Mine heart, &c. Figure of speech Pathopoeia.

man. Hebrew. 'ish.

a man = a strong man. Hebrew. geber. App-14 .

wine. Hebrew. yayin. App-27 .

Verse 10

their: i.e. the false prophets.

Verse 11

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

Verse 12

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

Verse 15

the LORD of hosts = Jehovah Zebaioth. See note on Jeremiah 6:6 and 1 Samuel 1:3 .

Verse 17

They say still. Figure of speech Polyptoton. Hebrew = saying they say = keep on saying.

imagination = stubbornness.

Verse 18

who . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. Implying that none hath.

counsel = secret council. Compare Psalms 25:14 .

His. Hebrew text, with Revised Version, reads "My"; but margin of Hebrew text, the Babylonian Codex, with eight early printed editions, Aramaean, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "His'! with Authorized Version.

heard: or, announced. Compare Jeremiah 23:22 .

Verse 19

fall grievously = burst.

the wicked = lawless ones.

Verse 20

the latter days = end of days. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 49:1 , the same word). App-92 .

perfectly. Compare Jeremiah 30:24 .

Verse 21

I have not, &c. Compare Jeremiah 23:32 ; Jeremiah 14:14 .

Verse 22

But if, &c. The Hebrew accent requires the rendering: "But, had they stood in My Council: then they would have made My People hear My words, and they would have turned", &c.

Verse 23

Am I . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .

and not, &c. Figure of speech Pleonasm , for emphasis.

Verse 24

Can . . . ? . . . Do . . . ? Figure of speech E rotesis.

fill. The Hebrew accent (" Tiphcha' ") puts the emphasis on "fill" (not on "earth"), denoting the fullness of the Divine presence which no place can in clude, or ex clude. A fullness of grace, of the prophetic word of judgment, and of promise.

Verse 25

I have dreamed. Thus catching the people's ears. Note Figure of speech Epizeuxis. App-6 .

Verse 26

How long . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis.

shall this be = shall this exist. Hebrew. yesh. See notes on Jeremiah 31:6 , Jeremiah 31:16 , Jeremiah 31:17 . Proverbs 8:21 ; Proverbs 18:24 , and Luke 7:25 .

Verse 27

as = according as.

for = in, or through.

Verse 28

he that hath, &c. Compare Ezekiel 13:7 .

chaff = crushed, or chopped straw. Hebrew. teben.

Verse 29

Is not . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis.

Verse 30

I am against, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 18:20 ).

Verse 31

say, He saith = uttered it as an oracle. Hebrew. ne'um. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 22:16 . Numbers 14:28 ; Numbers 24:3 , Numbers 24:4 , Numbers 24:15 , Numbers 24:16 ). Frequent in the prophets.

Verse 32

lightness = reckless boasting.

Verse 33

What burden? Septuagint, Vulgate, and Rashi, read "Ye yourselves are the burden". Compare Jeremiah 23:36 .

forsake = reject.

Verse 36

perverted. See note on Jeremiah 6:10 .

the living God. Both words are plural.

Verse 38

ye say = ye keep on saying. Figure of speech Polyptoton. App-6 .

Verse 40

everlasting . . . perpetual. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Whole), for a part of time = life long. Limited here by the promised Restoration.