Bible Commentaries
Jeremiah 8

Verse 1

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

bones. Note the Figure of speech Repetitio , for emphasis.

and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton , to emphasize each class as responsible for the corruption and apostasy.

Verse 2

and. Particularizing here the details of the idolatry.

not be gathered. Compare 2 Samuel 21:13 .

Verse 3

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

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

Verse 4

arise = rise up again.

he turn away, and. The Massorah (vol. II, p. 54, Ginsburg's edition) calls attention to the fact that of the two words represented by "turn" and "and", the first letter of the second word belongs to the first word; so that this latter will read "shall they return [to Him], and He not return [to them]? It is the same word (in Hebrew) in both clauses.

Verse 7

knoweth. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), for the effect of acting on the knowledge.

turtle = turtle-dove.

Verse 8

no man. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Genus), = scarcely any.

Verse 9

rejected. The second of four downward steps. See note on Jeremiah 6:10 .

Verse 10

give their wives unto others. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 28:30 ). App-92 .

inherit = seize; or, to their dispossessors.

from. Some codices, with two early printed editions, and Syriac, read "and from".

prophet. priest. The former, raised up on account of the failure of the latter, now of one accord.

Verse 11

hurt = breach.

Peace, peace = perfect peace. Figure of speech Epizeuxis. Compare Jeremiah 6:14 and Isaiah 26:3 .

Verse 12

could they blush. See note on Jeremiah 6:15 .

the time of their visitation. A phrase ("time" or "year") used eight times in Jeremiah (Jeremiah 8:12 ; Jeremiah 10:15 ; Jeremiah 11:23 ; Jeremiah 23:12 ; Jeremiah 46:21 ; Jeremiah 48:44 ; Jeremiah 50:27 ; Jeremiah 51:18 ). Nowhere else, except Isaiah 10:3 .Hosea 9:7 . Micah 7:4 , until our Lord used it in Luke 19:44 .

Verse 13

surely consume them. Note the Figure of speech Paronomasia . Hebrew. 'asoph 'asiphem.

on the vine. See note on Jeremiah 6:9 .

shall fade = is withered.

the things . . . from them: or, I have appointed them those that shall pass over them.

Verse 14

Why . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. verses: 14-16 spoken by the prophet, not the People. They were being threatened for not doing what is here spoken of, verses: Jeremiah 12:13 . Moreover, Jeremiah 8:15 is spoken by Jeremiah in Jeremiah 14:19 , which is an earlier passage, chronologically.

we: i.e. the prophet to the People. God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

silence. Figure of speech Ploke , the word being used in a different sense.

water of gall = poppy water; = poisoned water.

sinned. Hebrew. chata'. App-44 .

Verse 15

trouble = terror.

Verse 16

Dan. The Assyrians entered the land from the north.

Verse 17

cockatrices = adders.

will not be charmed. This shows that the People were not penitent, and verses: Jeremiah 8:8 , Jeremiah 8:14 , Jeremiah 8:16 are not their words.

Verse 18

I: i.e. the prophet again.

Verse 19

provoked . . . vanities. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 32:21 , same word). Compare Jeremiah 7:19 .

graven Images. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 7:5 , same word). App-92 .

Verse 22

balm . . . physician. The words of the prophet, showing that healing remedies were employed; thus accounting for the silence respecting them. Compare Isaiah 1:6 .

balm = balSamaritan Pentateuch Compare Jeremiah 51:8 .

Gilead. Compare Jeremiah 46:11 .