21 Yet I had planted H5193 thee a noble vine, H8321 wholly a right H571 seed: H2233 how then art thou turned H2015 into the degenerate plant H5494 of a strange H5237 vine H1612 unto me?
22 For though thou wash H3526 thee with nitre, H5427 and take thee much H7235 soap, H1287 yet thine iniquity H5771 is marked H3799 before H6440 me, saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD. H3069
23 How canst thou say, H559 I am not polluted, H2930 I have not gone H1980 after H310 Baalim? H1168 see H7200 thy way H1870 in the valley, H1516 know H3045 what thou hast done: H6213 thou art a swift H7031 dromedary H1072 traversing H8308 her ways; H1870
24 A wild ass H6501 used H3928 to the wilderness, H4057 that snuffeth up H7602 the wind H7307 at her pleasure; H185 H5315 in her occasion H8385 who can turn her away? H7725 all they that seek H1245 her will not weary H3286 themselves; in her month H2320 they shall find H4672 her.
25 Withhold H4513 thy foot H7272 from being unshod, H3182 and thy throat H1627 from thirst: H6773 but thou saidst, H559 There is no hope: H2976 no; for I have loved H157 strangers, H2114 and after H310 them will I go. H3212
26 As the thief H1590 is ashamed H1322 when he is found, H4672 so is the house H1004 of Israel H3478 ashamed; H3001 they, their kings, H4428 their princes, H8269 and their priests, H3548 and their prophets, H5030
27 Saying H559 to a stock, H6086 Thou art my father; H1 and to a stone, H68 Thou hast brought me forth: H3205 for they have turned H6437 their back H6203 unto me, and not their face: H6440 but in the time H6256 of their trouble H7451 they will say, H559 Arise, H6965 and save H3467 us.
28 But where are thy gods H430 that thou hast made H6213 thee? let them arise, H6965 if they can save H3467 thee in the time H6256 of thy trouble: H7451 for according to the number H4557 of thy cities H5892 are thy gods, H430 O Judah. H3063
29 Wherefore will ye plead H7378 with me? ye all have transgressed H6586 against me, saith H5002 the LORD. H3068
30 In vain H7723 have I smitten H5221 your children; H1121 they received H3947 no correction: H4148 your own sword H2719 hath devoured H398 your prophets, H5030 like a destroying H7843 lion. H738
31 O generation, H1755 see H7200 ye the word H1697 of the LORD. H3068 Have I been a wilderness H4057 unto Israel? H3478 a land H776 of darkness? H3991 wherefore say H559 my people, H5971 We are lords; H7300 we will come H935 no more unto thee?
32 Can a maid H1330 forget H7911 her ornaments, H5716 or a bride H3618 her attire? H7196 yet my people H5971 have forgotten H7911 me days H3117 without number. H4557
33 Why trimmest H3190 thou thy way H1870 to seek H1245 love? H160 therefore hast thou also taught H3925 the wicked ones H7451 thy ways. H1870
34 Also in thy skirts H3671 is found H4672 the blood H1818 of the souls H5315 of the poor H34 innocents: H5355 I have not found H4672 it by secret search, H4290 but upon all these.
35 Yet thou sayest, H559 Because I am innocent, H5352 surely his anger H639 shall turn H7725 from me. Behold, I will plead H8199 with thee, because thou sayest, H559 I have not sinned. H2398
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Jeremiah 2
Commentary on Jeremiah 2 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 2
It is probable that this chapter was Jeremiah's first sermon after his ordination; and a most lively pathetic sermon it is as any we have is all the books of the prophets. Let him not say, "I cannot speak, for I am a child;' for, God having touched his mouth and put his words into it, none can speak better. The scope of the chapter is to show God's people their transgressions, even the house of Jacob their sins; it is all by way of reproof and conviction, that they might be brought to repent of their sins and so prevent the ruin that was coming upon them. The charge drawn up against them is very high, the aggravations are black, the arguments used for their conviction very close and pressing, and the expostulations very pungent and affecting. The sin which they are most particularly charged with here is idolatry, forsaking the true God, their own God, for other false gods. Now they are told,
Those hearts were hard indeed that were untouched and unhumbled when their sins were thus set in order before them. O that by meditating on this chapter we might be brought to repent of our spiritual idolatries, giving that place in our souls to the world and the flesh which should have been reserved for God only!
Jer 2:1-8
Here is,
Jer 2:9-13
The prophet, having shown their base ingratitude in forsaking God, here shows their unparalleled fickleness and folly (v. 9): I will yet plead with you. Note, Before God punishes sinners he pleads with them, to bring them to repentance. Note, further, When much has been said of the evil of sin, still there is more to be said; when one article of the charge is made good, there is another to be urged; when we have said a great deal, still we have yet to speak on God's behalf, Job 36:2. Those that deal with sinners, for their conviction, must urge a variety of arguments and follow their blow. God had before pleaded with their fathers, and asked why they walked after vanity and became vain, v. 5. Now he pleads with those who persisted in that vain conversation received by tradition from their fathers, and with their children's children, that is, with all that in every age tread in their steps. Let those that forsake God know that he is willing to argue the case fairly with them, that he may be justified when he speaks. He pleads that with us which we should plead with ourselves.
Jer 2:14-19
The prophet, further to evince the folly of their forsaking God, shows them what mischiefs they had already brought upon themselves by so doing; it had already cost them dear, for to this were owing all the calamities their country was now groaning under, which were but an earnest of more and greater if they repented not. See how they smarted for their folly.
Jer 2:20-28
In these verses the prophet goes on with his charge against this backsliding people. Observe here,
Jer 2:29-37
The prophet here goes on in the same strain, aiming to bring a sinful people to repentance, that their destruction might be prevented.