Bible Commentaries
Jeremiah 7

Verse 1

Jeremiah's Sixth Prophecy (see Book comments for Jeremiah).

came. The danger attending this message is shown in Jeremiah 26:0 . Compare Jeremiah 7:2 with Jeremiah 26:2 ; Jeremiah 7:3 with Jeremiah 26:13 ; Jeremiah 7:12-14 with Jeremiah 26:4-6 . Jeremiah 26:0 was in the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim, probably his fourth year. Jeremiah 26:0 is the historical appendix of Jeremiah 7:0 .

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

Verse 2

in the gate: i.e. in the fore-court. The proclamation has the Temple and its frequenters for its subject.

all ye of Judah = all Judah.

Verse 3

the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel. This title occurs thirty-four times in Jeremiah. (Jeremiah 7:3 ; Jeremiah 7:21 ; Jeremiah 9:15 ; Jeremiah 16:9 ; Jeremiah 19:3 ; Jeremiah 19:15 ; Jeremiah 25:15 ; Jeremiah 25:27 ; Jeremiah 27:4 ; Jeremiah 27:21 ; Jeremiah 28:2 ; Jeremiah 28:14 ; Jeremiah 29:4 ; Jeremiah 29:8 ; Jeremiah 29:21 ; Jeremiah 29:25 ; Jeremiah 31:23 ; Jeremiah 32:14-15 ; Jeremiah 35:13 ; Jeremiah 35:18-19 ; Jeremiah 38:17 ; Jeremiah 39:16 ; Jeremiah 42:15 ; Jeremiah 42:18 ; Jeremiah 43:10 ; Jeremiah 44:2 ; Jeremiah 44:11 ; Jeremiah 44:25 ; Jeremiah 46:25 ; Jeremiah 48:1 ; Jeremiah 50:18 ; Jeremiah 51:33 ).

God. Hebrew. Elohim . App-4 .

Verse 4

Trust = Confide. Hebrew. batah. App-69 .

The temple of the LORD . Note the Figure of speech Epizeuxis ( App-4 ), for great emphasis, to exhibit the fanaticism common to all idolaters.

Verse 5

man. Hebrew. 'ish . App-14 .

Verse 6

stranger, the fatherless, and the widow. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 24:17 ).

innocent blood. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 19:10 ). See note on Isaiah 59:7 .

other gods. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 20:3 .Deuteronomy 6:14 ; Deuteronomy 8:19 , &c). App-92 .

Verse 7

Then will I cause, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 4:40 ).

for ever and ever. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Whole), for an age-abiding duration.

Verse 8

Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

Verse 9

steal, murder, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 20:7-15 ).

Verse 10

come = [still] come.

which is called, &c. = whereon My name was called.

Verse 11

Is this house . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. This passage used by our Lord, just as Isaiah 56:7 was in Matthew 21:13 .Mark 11:17 . Luke 19:46 .

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

Verse 12

in Shiloh. Now Seilun. Compare Jeremiah 26:6 , Jeremiah 26:9 ; Jeremiah 41:5 .

where I set . . . at the first. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 12:5 , Deuteronomy 12:11 , &c). App-92 . Compare 1 Samuel 4:11 .

what I did to it. See 1 Samuel 4:11 , and Compare Jeremiah 25:6 .

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

Verse 13

rising up early and speaking. This phrase is almost peculiar to Jeremiah, where it occurs eleven times (Jeremiah 7:13 , Jeremiah 7:25 ; Jeremiah 11:7 ; Jeremiah 25:3 , Jeremiah 25:4 ; Jeremiah 26:5 ; Jeremiah 29:19 ; Jeremiah 32:33 ; Jeremiah 35:14 , Jeremiah 35:15 ; Jeremiah 44:4 ). Occurs elsewhere only in 2 Chronicles 36:15 .

Verse 14

as = according as.

Verse 15

the whole seed of Ephraim. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Part), for the ten tribes which were already in captivity. The trouble recorded in Jeremiah 27:0 proves that this prediction was spoken.

Verse 16

make intercession. Compare Jeremiah 11:14 ; Jeremiah 14:11 .

Verse 18

children = sons.

make: or, offer.

queen. Some codices, with two early printed editions, read "worship", which is put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Effect), for the goddess to whom the worship was offered. See Jeremiah 19:13 ; Jeremiah 44:19 ; and compare 2 Kings 21:3 , 2Ki 21:5 ; 2 Kings 23:12 , 2 Kings 23:13 .

Verse 19

provoke. Note the Figure of speech Ploke , by which the one word implies a second meaning. "Do they provoke Me . . . ? No: they bring on themselves" the judgments of Jehovah. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 32:21 ).

Verse 20

the Lord GOD. Hebrew Adonai Jehovah. App-4 .

man. Hebrew. 'adam. App-14 .

Verse 21

Put = Add.

sacrifices. Hebrew. zabach. App-43 .

Verse 22

I spake not . . . concerning . . . sacrifices. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 15:26 ; Exodus 19:5 ), which was before any law was given. This vindicates the passage from modern criticism. Compare Leviticus 26:3-13 , and 1 Samuel 15:22 , with Psalms 50:8 , Psalms 50:9 ; Psalms 51:16 , Psalms 51:17 ; Isaiah 1:11-17 . Hosea 6:6 . Amos 5:21-24 .Micah 6:6-8 . Matthew 9:13 ; Matthew 12:7 ; Matthew 23:23 .

Verse 23

this thing . . . Obey, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 26:3-13 ). App-92 .

Verse 24

imagination. See note on Jeremiah 3:17 .

Verse 25

your fathers came forth, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Ex. Jeremiah 12:15 ).

Verse 28

a = the.

obeyeth = hearkeneth to.

correction: or instruction, or discipline.

truth = fidelity, or veracity.

their. The Babylonian Codex reads "your".

Verse 29

Cut off thine hair. A symbol of mourning.

Jerusalem: or, supply "daughter of My People". Compare Jeremiah 8:11 , Jeremiah 8:19 , Jeremiah 8:21 , Jeremiah 8:22 ; Jeremiah 9:1 , Jeremiah 9:7 . The verb is feminine (singular)

cast it away. Showing the completeness of the operation.

high places. As such. Compare Jeremiah 3:21 .

of. Genitive of Relation. App-17 . Compare Romans 8:36 ,

Verse 30

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

in the house. Note the enormity of the evil.

which is called by My name = whereon My name was called.

Verse 31

high places. Idolatrous places. Not the same word as Jeremiah 7:29 .

Tophet. In the valley of the son of Hinnom (2 Kings 23:10 . Isaiah 30:33 .Isaiah 19:6 , Isaiah 19:11-14 ).

Hinnom. Now Wady er Rababeh (Joshua 15:8 ; Joshua 18:16 . 2Ki 23:10 . 2 Chronicles 28:3 ; 2 Chronicles 33:6 . Nehemiah 11:30 ).

burn. This shows the result of passing them through the fire.

which I commanded them not. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 17:3 ; Deuteronomy 18:10 ). App-92 . Note the sin of adding to God's commands and words.

them. Some codices, with one early printed edition, Septuagint, and Syriac, read this "them"in the text. Compare Jeremiah 32:35 .

came = ascended. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species), for coming into the mind.

Verse 32

slaughter. Compare Jeremiah 19:6 ; Jeremiah 12:3 .Zechariah 11:4 , Zechariah 11:7 . Occurs only in Jeremiah and Zechariah.

Verse 33

the carcases, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 28:26 ).

fray = frighten: from Fr. effrayer.

Verse 34

the voice of mirth, &c. This refrain is peculiar to Jeremiah. Occurs four times (here; Jeremiah 16:9 ; Jeremiah 25:10 ; Jeremiah 33:11 ) ("joy").

for the land shall be desolate. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 26:31 , Leviticus 26:33 , the same word "desolate"). App-92 .