Bible Commentaries
Jeremiah 30

Verse 1

The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,

The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord. — This chapter and the next are Jeremiah’s thirteenth sermon, as some reckon them, and it is wholly consolatory. The author of it he showeth to be the "God of all consolation"; and this the prophet inculcateth six different times in the five first verses, pro maiori efficacia, that it may take the better.

Verse 2

Thus speaketh the LORD God of Israel, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book.

Write thee all the words that I have spoken to thee in a book. — For the use of posterity, as Habakkuk 2:2 and that the consolations may not be forgotten. as Hebrews 12:5

“ Vox audita perit: littera scripta manet. ”

Verse 3

For, lo, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the LORD: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.

I will bring again the captivity Convertam conversionem. - Vulg. of Israel and Judah. — This promise, Oecolampadius thinketh, was written in the book in greater letters than the rest; it was fulfilled according to the letter in carnal Israel sent back by Cyrus (upon Daniel’s prayer, who understood by that book here mentioned that the time of deliverance, yea, the set time was come, Daniel 9:2 ), but more fully in those "Jews inwardly," Romans 2:29 those "Israelites indeed" who are set at liberty by Christ, John 8:36 and shall be much more at the last day.

Verse 4

And these [are] the words that the LORD spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah.

And these are the words. — These are the contents of this precious book; every leaf, nay, line, nay, letter whereof, droppeth myrrh and mercy.

That the Lord spake. — See on Jeremiah 30:1 .

Verse 5

For thus saith the LORD; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace.

We have heard a voice of trembling. — We were at first in a pitiful plight, scil., when the city was taken and the temple burnt (and this is elegantly here set forth, and in the two next verses); but better times are at hand:

“ Flebile principium melior fortuna sequetur. ”

Verse 6

Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?

Ask ye now, and see, … — Was it ever heard of in this world that a male did bear? The poets indeed fable that Minerva was born of Jupiter’s brain:

“ Pictoribus atque poetis,

Quidlibet audendi fas est. ”

Wherefore do I see every man. — Heb., Every strong or mighty man.

With their hands on their loins. — And not on their weapons.

And all faces turned into paleness. — Through extreme fear, the blood running to the heart, and the heart fallen into the heels. The Septuagint, for "paleness," have the yellow jaundice; the Vulgate, gold yellowness; Piscator, morbus regius; the royal sickness, the Hebrew properly implieth the colour of blasted corn. Deuteronomy 28:22 It importeth that the most stout-hearted warriors should be enervati et exangues, more parturientium, bloodless and spiritless, as travailing women.

Verse 7

Alas! for that day [is] great, so that none [is] like it: it [is] even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.

Alas! for that day is great, — i.e., Troublesome and terrible, somewhat like the last day, the day of judgment, which is therefore also called the "great day," because therein the great God will do great things, …

It is even the time of Jacob’s trouble. — Such as never befell him before. Those very days shall be "affliction," so Mark expresseth the last desolation; Jeremiah 13:19 not "afflicted" only, but "affliction" itself. But though it be the time of Jacob’s troubles, let it be also the time of his trust, for there will be shortly a day of his triumph.

But he shall be saved out of it. — Not from it, but yet out of it; the Lord knoweth how to deliver his: 2 Peter 2:9 and though Sense say it will not be; Reason it cannot be; yet Faith gets above and says it shall be; I see the land.

Verse 8

For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, [that] I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him:

I will break his yoke from off thy neck. — The forementioned misery did but make way for this mercy, that it might be the more magnified. Let the saints but see from what, to what, and by what Jesus Christ hath delivered them, and they cannot but be thankful.

Verse 9

But they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.

But they shall serve the Lord their God. — "Without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of their lives." Luke 1:74-75 John 8:12 ; John 8:31-36 , Romans 8:1-4

And David their king, — i.e., Zerubbabel of David’s line, Haggai 2:23 but especially Christ, the King of saints, as the Jewish doctors also expound it.

Whom I will raise up to them. — To be Messiah the Prince. Daniel 9:25 Christ the Lord. Acts 5:31

Verse 10

Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the LORD; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make [him] afraid.

Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob. — This is Isaiah like; and indeed the prophet here setteth himself verbis consolantissimis, by words of comfort, as one saith, with most cordial comforts, to cheer the hearts of God’s poor afflicted.

Verse 11

For I [am] with thee, saith the LORD, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished.

For I am with thee. — To preserve thee, and to provide for thee; to support thee, and to supply thee.

Though I make a full end of all nations. — See Isaiah 27:7-8 . See Trapp on " Isaiah 27:7 " See Trapp on " Isaiah 27:8 " Jeremiah 5:10 ; Jeremiah 5:18 .

But I will correct thee in measure. — Heb., According to judgment, not summo iure et rigida iustitia; not as I might, but in mercy and with moderation.

And will not leave thee altogether unpunished. — Heb., Et innocentando non innocentabo te; in very faithfulness I will afflict thee, that I may be true to thy soul, and not cruel to thy body. Aliqui reddunt mundando non mundabo te, id est, non excoquam te exacte ad purum putum.

Verse 12

For thus saith the LORD, Thy bruise [is] incurable, [and] thy wound [is] grievous.

Thy bruise is incurable, — i.e., Inevitable, by God’s irrevocable decree. Or, It is incurable in itself; but not to me, who am an almighty Physician or surgeon. See Ezekiel 37:11 . They seemed "free among the dead," free of that company.

Verse 13

[There is] none to plead thy cause, that thou mayest be bound up: thou hast no healing medicines.

There is none to plead thy cause. — Thou art friendless.

That thou mayest be bound up. — Thou art helpless.

Verse 14

All thy lovers have forgotten thee; they seek thee not; for I have wounded thee with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of thine iniquity; [because] thy sins were increased.

All thy lovers have forgotten thee. — Thy sweethearts, thine idols, thy carnal friends, thy priests, prophets, riches, pleasures, all these have given thee the bag, as we say; they stand aloof from thy help.

They seek thee not. — Sink thou mayest, or swim, for them; thou art no part of their care.

For I have wounded thee with the wound of an enemy. — As if I cared not where I hit thee, or how much I hurt thee.

With the chastisement of a cruel one. — So it may seem, and so Job thought; Job 30:21 but that was his error. See here what a pass a saint may be at, and how deeply he may suffer, when his sins are increased. God, out of love displeased, may lay upon him and not spare, leave bloody wales on his back, … Crudelem medicum intemperans aeger facit.

For the multitude of thine iniquities. — Because thy sins are many and mighty, or bony. See Amos 5:12 . See Trapp on " Amos 5:12 "

Verse 15

Why criest thou for thine affliction? thy sorrow [is] incurable for the multitude of thine iniquity: [because] thy sins were increased, I have done these things unto thee.

Why criest thou for thine affliction? — And not rather for thy sins? cry not perii, I have died, but peccavi; I have sinned, not, I am undone; but, I have done very foolishly. See Lamentations 3:39-40 .

Verse 16

Therefore all they that devour thee shall be devoured; and all thine adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; and they that spoil thee shall be a spoil, and all that prey upon thee will I give for a prey.

Therefore all they that devoured thee shall be devoured. — Or, Nevertheless, or yet all they that devoured thee, …, q.d., That thou mayest experience that in love I corrected thee and for thy good, though to thy so great grief. I will have my pennyworths on thine enemies, measuring to them as they have done to thee.

Verse 17

For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD; because they called thee an Outcast, [saying], This [is] Zion, whom no man seeketh after.

For I will restore health. — It goes best with the Church when worst with her enemies. It shall do so much more when all Christ’s foes shall be made his footstool.

Because they called thee an Outcast. — Concluding so from thine afflictions. The Jewish nation, saith Cicero, Quam cara diis esset, docuit, quod est victa, quod elocata, quod servata. - Cic, pro Flacco. show how well God regards them, that have been so oft subdued, by the Chaldees, Greeks, Romans, … This was but a slender argument, only God is moved by the enemy’s insolence and insults to look in mercy the rather upon his poor despised and despited people.

Saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after. — Illusio ex allusione, this was a jeer by playing upon her name, Per ludibrium et blasphemam contumeliam. as if Zion signified a dry or waste place, and therefore not much to be desired. Strabo indeed saith as much of Judea; and Mount Zion at this day, nihil habet eximium, nihil expetendum, hath no great desire in it. But certainly Judea was once a land flowing with milk and honey, and Mount Zion was in no small request. Howsoever, none ought by their bitter taunts to add affliction to the afflicted, but rather to weep with those that weep; "be pitiful, be courteous." 1 Peter 3:8

Verse 18

Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will bring again the captivity of Jacob’s tents, and have mercy on his dwellingplaces; and the city shall be builded upon her own heap, and the palace shall remain after the manner thereof.

The captivity of Jacob’s tents, — i.e., The poor captives that now live at Babylon as strangers in tents or huts.

And the city shall be builded upon her own heap. — Or, Hill, sc., in Mount Moriah. Jerusalem shall be inhabited in Jerusalem. Zechariah 12:6 All this was prolusio perfectae liberationis in Christo, saith Junius, a type and pledge of perfect deliverance by Christ.

Verse 19

And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small.

And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving. — Mox ubi fides, inde prodit et laus et confessio. Faith is a fruitful grace, the very womb wherein all the rest are conceived.

Verse 20

Their children also shall be as aforetime, and their congregation shall be established before me, and I will punish all that oppress them.

Their children also shall be as aforetime. — How easily can the Lord "turn again the captivity of his people," set them statu quo prius? "They shall be as if I had not cast them off." Zechariah 10:6 See Trapp on " Zechariah 10:6 "

Verse 21

And their nobles shall be of themselves, and their governor shall proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me: for who [is] this that engaged his heart to approach unto me? saith the LORD.

And their nobles shall be of themselves. — Foreigners shall no more domineer over them, but they shall have governors of their own nation, who shall be more tender of them, and careful of their good. Some apply all this, and well they may, to Jesus Christ, who is here called Magnificus et Domigrator, his magnificent or honourable one and his ruler, Christus Fortis ille et Gigas est. - Oecol. who also is one of them, and proceedeth from among them. See Deuteronomy 18:18 .

And I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me. — Either as God, co-equal and coessential with me, or as Mediator; and so he shall approach unto me by the hypostatical union (in respect of which he came the nearest unto God of any that ever was or could), and by the execution of his priestly office, wherein he intercedeth for my people, and reconcileth them unto me.

For who is this that engaged his heart? — Who but my Son Christ durst do it, or was fit to do it? He is a super-excellent person, as is imported by this Mi-hu-ze, Who this he?

Verse 22

And ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.

And ye shall be my people, and I will be your God, — sc., Through Christ, and by his mediation. As for those that are not in covenant with God by Christ, as the devil will one day sweep them, so meanwhile,

Verse 23

Behold, the whirlwind of the LORD goeth forth with fury, a continuing whirlwind: it shall fall with pain upon the head of the wicked.

Behold the whirlwind of the Lord goeth forth with fury. — Sensim sese conglomerans ac demittens in eorum capite; the vengeance of God followeth them close at heels, till at length they be wherried away by that terrible tempest at death. Job 27:20

Verse 24

The fierce anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have done [it], and until he have performed the intents of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it.

The fierce anger of the Lord. — See Jeremiah 23:20 .

In the latter days ye shall consider it. — In the days of the Messiah, but especially at the end of the world, when all these things shall have their full accomplishment.