Bible Commentaries
Jeremiah 23

Verse 1

Pastors. Successors of Josias (Calmet) and false prophets. (Menochius)

Verse 3

Multiplied. The prophets subjoin tidings of peace to such as might cause affliction. (Theodoret)

Verses 4-5

Pastors; Zorobabel, &c., as figures of Christ, and of the pastors of his Church. --- No more, as much as formerly. So many expressions must be understood. --- Branch. Septuagint, "orient." --- Reign. Zorobabel was not chief governor, (Calmet) though at the head of his tribe. (Haydock) --- The kingdom of Christ was not of this world, John xviii. 36. (Calmet) --- He alone imparts justice to others. (Worthington)

Verse 6

Saved: less disturbed. The world shall be redeemed, Luke ii. 14., and Ephesians ii. 14. --- Just. Hebrew, "Justice," by whom we are made just. He is the true God, Colossians ii. 9, 14. No man could bear this title: and Grotius insidiously attempts to apply it to the Jews, though the Chaldean, &c., clearly speak of the Messias. He [Grotius] must be read with great caution. (Calmet) --- Septuagint, "This is his name, which the Lord will call him, Josedech. In the prophets. (9.) My," &c. (Haydock) --- Josedech means "the Lord justice." (Calmet) --- Symmachus, "Lord, justify us."

Verse 8

Land. The deliverance from Egypt and Babylon were emblems of man’s redemption, which was accomplished by far greater miracles.

Verse 9

Prophets of falsehood. He directs his discourse to them, and afterwards to the priests, being filled with amazement at their impending ruin.

Verse 10

Adulterers; impostors or idolaters. --- Cursing of the Lord, or the abuse of his sacred name. (Calmet) --- Unlike. Hebrew, "not right." (Haydock)

Verse 11

Defiled. Hebrew, "hypocrites." My priests retain the appearance of religion, to join with impostors in deluding the people.

Verse 14

Jerusalem. These were far worse, as they pretended to be inspired by God, whereas those of Samaria publicly adhered to Baal; so that the people must have been foolish to have been deceived by them. (Calmet)

Verse 15

Gall, or something mortally bitter, chap. ix. 15. (Haydock)

Verse 16

Own. To rely on private judgment, and not on the Church, is a mark of falsehood. (Worthington)

Verse 17

Blaspheme. Hebrew, "despise;" or Septuagint, "reject disdainfully the word of the Lord, you," &c., chap. vi. 14., and viii. 11.

Verse 18

Counsel. Hebrew, "secret." Which of you is acquainted with his designs? I will inform you, that your perdition is at hand, ver. 20. (Calmet)

Verse 21

Not send. The want of mission proves a prophet or preacher to be false. (Worthington)

Verse 22

I should. Some copies read avertissent, "they would have turned," conformably with the Hebrew, &c., and we should suspect that this was a mistake of the transcriber, if St. Jerome did not agree with the Vulgate in his commentary, (Calmet) though not in express terms: (Haydock) "I also should not have abandoned them to impurity....Let us behold how heretics, having once given way to despair,...seek the gratification of their sensual appetite." (St. Jerome)

Verse 23

Off? Can you so easily penetrate my designs, or escape my fury? Am I like your idols of yesterday? Septuagint and Theodotion, "I am a God at hand," &c., which agrees with the sequel. (Calmet)

Verse 27

Dreams, as if God had favoured them with his revelations. (Haydock) --- Fathers; the false prophets of Baal, whom these imitate.

Verse 28

Dream, to those who are really sent by God, (Calmet) and recognized, 1 Corinthians xiv. 29. (Haydock)

Verse 29

Pieces? True prophets will have a zeal fo the conversion of souls, chap. xx. 9., and Hebrews iv. 12.

Verse 30

CHAPTER XXIII.

Neighbour, causing those whom I have sent to be disregarded.

Verse 31

Use. Hebrew also, "sharpen, or render smooth," and insinuating, Psalm xlix. 16. (Calmet)

Verse 32

Wonders. Protestants, "lightness." Septuagint, "frauds," or pretended miracles. (Haydock) --- False prophets cannot work true miracles: but it is more difficult to distinguish these than the former mark of being lawfully sent, ver. 21. (Worthington)

Verse 33

Burden, Massa, (Haydock) denotes a weight, or sometimes a prediction. (Calmet)

Verse 34

Burden of the Lord. This expression is here rejected and disallowed, at least for those times: because it was then used in mockery and contempt by the false prophets, and unbelieving people, who ridiculed the repeated threats of Jeremias under the name of his burdens. (Challoner)

Verse 35

Answered. I will make you alter your language by chastisements.

Verse 39

Take. Hebrew of the Masorets, (Calmet) "I, even I, will utterly forget (Protestants; Haydock) or abandon you." (Chaldean) But the sense of the Septuagint and Vulgate seems preferable. (Calmet)