Worthy.Bible » STRONG » Jeremiah » Chapter 1 » Verse 17

Jeremiah 1:17 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

17 Thou therefore gird up H247 thy loins, H4975 and arise, H6965 and speak H1696 unto them all that I command H6680 thee: be not dismayed H2865 at their faces, H6440 lest I confound H2865 thee before H6440 them.

Cross Reference

Ezekiel 3:14-18 STRONG

So the spirit H7307 lifted me up, H5375 and took me away, H3947 and I went H3212 in bitterness, H4751 in the heat H2534 of my spirit; H7307 but the hand H3027 of the LORD H3068 was strong H2388 upon me. Then I came H935 to them of the captivity H1473 at Telabib, H8512 that dwelt H3427 by the river H5104 of Chebar, H3529 and I sat H3427 where they sat, H3427 and remained H3427 there astonished H8074 among H8432 them seven H7651 days. H3117 And it came to pass at the end H7097 of seven H7651 days, H3117 that the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 came unto me, saying, H559 Son H1121 of man, H120 I have made H5414 thee a watchman H6822 unto the house H1004 of Israel: H3478 therefore hear H8085 the word H1697 at my mouth, H6310 and give them warning H2094 from me. When I say H559 unto the wicked, H7563 Thou shalt surely H4191 die; H4191 and thou givest him not warning, H2094 nor speakest H1696 to warn H2094 the wicked H7563 from his wicked H7563 way, H1870 to save his life; H2421 the same wicked H7563 man shall die H4191 in his iniquity; H5771 but his blood H1818 will I require H1245 at thine hand. H3027

Ezekiel 3:10-11 STRONG

Moreover he said H559 unto me, Son H1121 of man, H120 all my words H1697 that I shall speak H1696 unto thee receive H3947 in thine heart, H3824 and hear H8085 with thine ears. H241 And go, H3212 get H935 thee to them of the captivity, H1473 unto the children H1121 of thy people, H5971 and speak H1696 unto them, and tell H559 them, Thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 whether they will hear, H8085 or whether they will forbear. H2308

Jeremiah 1:7-8 STRONG

But the LORD H3068 said H559 unto me, Say H559 not, I am a child: H5288 for thou shalt go H3212 to all that I shall send H7971 thee, and whatsoever I command H6680 thee thou shalt speak. H1696 Be not afraid H3372 of their faces: H6440 for I am with thee to deliver H5337 thee, saith H5002 the LORD. H3068

Ezekiel 33:6-8 STRONG

But if the watchman H6822 see H7200 the sword H2719 come, H935 and blow H8628 not the trumpet, H7782 and the people H5971 be not warned; H2094 if the sword H2719 come, H935 and take H3947 any person H5315 from among them, he is taken away H3947 in his iniquity; H5771 but his blood H1818 will I require H1875 at the watchman's H6822 hand. H3027 So thou, O son H1121 of man, H120 I have set H5414 thee a watchman H6822 unto the house H1004 of Israel; H3478 therefore thou shalt hear H8085 the word H1697 at my mouth, H6310 and warn H2094 them from me. When I say H559 unto the wicked, H7563 O wicked H7563 man, thou shalt surely H4191 die; H4191 if thou dost not speak H1696 to warn H2094 the wicked H7563 from his way, H1870 that wicked H7563 man shall die H4191 in his iniquity; H5771 but his blood H1818 will I require H1245 at thine hand. H3027

Ezekiel 2:6-7 STRONG

And thou, son H1121 of man, H120 be not afraid H3372 of them, neither be afraid H3372 of their words, H1697 though briers H5621 and thorns H5544 be with thee, and thou dost dwell H3427 among scorpions: H6137 be not afraid H3372 of their words, H1697 nor be dismayed H2865 at their looks, H6440 though they be a rebellious H4805 house. H1004 And thou shalt speak H1696 my words H1697 unto them, whether they will hear, H8085 or whether they will forbear: H2308 for they are most rebellious. H4805

Commentary on Jeremiah 1 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible


CHAPTER 1

Jer 1:1-19. The General Title or Introduction

Jer 1:1-3, probably prefixed by Jeremiah, when he collected his prophecies and gave them to his countrymen to take with them to Babylon [Michaelis].

1. Anathoth—a town in Benjamin, twenty stadia, that is, two or three miles north of Jerusalem; now Anata (compare Isa 10:30, and the context, Isa 10:28-32). One of the four cities allotted to the Kohathites in Benjamin (Jos 21:18). Compare 1Ki 2:26, 27; a stigma was cast thenceforth on the whole sacerdotal family resident there; this may be alluded to in the words here, "the priests … in Anathoth." God chooses "the weak, base, and despised things … to confound the mighty."

2, 3. Jehoiakim … Josiah … Zedekiah—Jehoahaz and Jehoiachin are omitted for they reigned only three months each. The first and last of the kings under whom each prophet prophesied are often thus specified in the general title. See on these kings, and Jeremiah's life, my Introduction.

thirteenth … of his reign—(Jer 25:3).

fifth month—(2Ki 25:8).

4-10. Jeremiah's call to the prophetical office.

unto me—other manuscripts read "to him"; but English Version probably represents the true Hebrew text; this inscription was doubtless made by Jeremiah himself.

5. knew—approved of thee as My chosen instrument (Ex 33:12, 17; compare Isa 49:1, 5; Ro 8:29).

sanctified—rather, "separated." The primary meaning is, "to set apart" from a common to a special use; hence arose the secondary sense, "to sanctify," ceremonially and morally. It is not here meant that Jehovah cleansed Jeremiah from original sin or regenerated him by His Spirit; but separated him to his peculiar prophetical office, including in its range, not merely the Hebrews, but also the nations hostile to them (Jer 25:12-38; 27:1-21; 46:1-51:64), [Henderson]. Not the effect, but the predestination in Jehovah's secret counsel, is meant by the sanctification here (compare Lu 1:15, 41; Ac 15:18; Ga 1:15; Eph 1:11).

6. From the long duration of his office (Jer 1:2, 3; Jer 40:1, &c.; Jer 43:8, &c.), it is supposed that he was at the time of his call under twenty-five years of age.

child—the same word is translated, "young man" (2Sa 18:5). The reluctance often shown by inspired ministers of God (Ex 4:10; 6:12, 30; Jon 1:3) to accept the call, shows that they did not assume the office under the impulse of self-deceiving fanaticism, as false prophets often did.

7. to all that—to all "to whom" [Rosenmuller]. Rather, "to all against whom"; in a hostile sense (compare Jer 1:8, 17, 18, 19) [Maurer]. Such was the perversity of the rulers and people of Judea at that time, that whoever would desire to be a faithful prophet needed to arm himself with an intrepid mind; Jeremiah was naturally timid and sensitive; yet the Spirit moulded him to the necessary degree of courage without taking away his peculiar individuality.

8. (Eze 2:6; 3:9).

I am with thee—(Ex 3:12; Jos 1:5).

9. touched my mouth—a symbolical act in supernatural vision, implying that God would give him utterance, notwithstanding his inability to speak (Jer 1:6). So Isaiah's lips were touched with a living coal (Isa 6:7; compare Eze 2:8, 9, 10; Da 10:16).

10. set thee over—literally, "appointed thee to the oversight." He was to have his eye upon the nations, and to predict their destruction, or restoration, according as their conduct was bad or good. Prophets are said to do that which they foretell shall be done; for their word is God's word; and His word is His instrument whereby He doeth all things (Ge 1:3; Ps 33:6, 9). Word and deed are one thing with Him. What His prophet saith is as certain as if it were done. The prophet's own consciousness was absorbed into that of God; so closely united to God did he feel himself, that Jehovah's words and deeds are described as his. In Jer 31:28, God is said to do what Jeremiah here is represented as doing (compare Jer 18:7; 1Ki 19:17; Eze 43:3).

root out—(Mt 15:13).

pull down—change of metaphor to architecture (2Co 10:4). There is a play on the similar sounds, linthosh, linthotz, in the Hebrew for "root out … pull down."

build … plant—restore upon their repenting. His predictions were to be chiefly, and in the first instance, denunciatory; therefore the destruction of the nations is put first, and with a greater variety of terms than their restoration.

11. rod—shoot, or branch.

almond tree—literally, "the wakeful tree," because it awakes from the sleep of winter earlier than the other trees, flowering in January, and bearing fruit in March; symbol of God's early execution of His purpose; Jer 1:12, "hasten My word" (compare Am 8:3).

12. hasten—rather, "I will be wakeful as to My word," &c.; alluding to Jer 1:11, "the wakeful tree" [Maurer].

13. Another vision, signifying what is the "word" about to be "performed," and by what instrumentality.

seething—literally, "blown under"; so boiling by reason of the flame under it kept brisk by blowing. An Oriental symbol of a raging war.

toward—rather, "from the north." Literally, "from the face of the region situated towards the north" (compare Jer 1:14, 15) [Maurer]. The pot in the north rested on one side, its mouth being about to pour forth its contents southwards, namely, on Judea. Babylon, though east of Judea, was regarded by the Hebrews as north, because they appropriated the term "east" to Arabia-Deserta, stretching from Palestine to the Euphrates; or rather [Bochart], the reference here is not to the site, but to the route of the Babylonians; not being able to cross the desert, they must enter the Holy Land by the northern frontier, through Riblah in Hamath (Jer 39:5; 52:9).

14. break forth—"shall disclose itself."

Out of the north—(Jer 4:6; 6:1, 22; 10:22; 25:9; Eze 26:7). The Chaldeans did not cast off the yoke of Assyria till several years after, under Nabopolassar, 625 B.C.; but long previously they had so increased as to threaten Assyria, which was now grown weak, and other neighboring peoples.

15. families—the tribes or clans composing the various kingdoms of Babylon; the specification of these aggravates the picture of calamity (Jer 25:9).

throne at … gates—the usual place of administering justice. The conquering princes will set up their tribunal there (Jer 39:3, 5; 52:9). Or the reference is to the military pavilion (Jer 43:10) [Maurer].

16. utter—pronounce. The judicial sentences, pronounced against the Jews by the invading princes, would be virtually the "judgments of God" (Isa 10:5).

works—idols.

17. gird … loins—resolutely prepare for thy appointed task. Metaphor from the flowing robes worn in the East, which have to be girt up with a girdle, so as not to incommode one, when undertaking any active work (Job 38:3; Lu 12:35; 1Pe 1:13).

dismayed … confound—the same Hebrew word; literally, "to break." Be not dismayed at their faces (before them), lest I make thee dismayed before their faces (before them), that is, "lest I should permit thee to be overcome by them" (compare Jer 49:37).

18. defenced city, &c.—that is, I will give thee strength which no power of thine enemies shall overcome (Jer 6:27; 15:20; Isa 50:7; 54:17; Lu 21:15; Ac 6:10).

walls—plural, to express the abundant strength to be given him. De Rossi's'S manuscripts read singular, "wall."

people of the land—the general masses, as distinguished from the princes and priests.