5 Thus saith H559 the LORD, H3068 What iniquity H5766 have your fathers H1 found H4672 in me, that they are gone far H7368 from me, and have walked H3212 after H310 vanity, H1892 and are become vain? H1891
And they rejected H3988 his statutes, H2706 and his covenant H1285 that he made H3772 with their fathers, H1 and his testimonies H5715 which he testified H5749 against them; and they followed H3212 H310 vanity, H1892 and became vain, H1891 and went after H310 the heathen H1471 that were round about H5439 them, concerning whom the LORD H3068 had charged H6680 them, that they should not do H6213 like them.
Because G1360 that, when they knew G1097 God, G2316 they glorified G1392 him not G3756 as G5613 God, G2316 neither G2228 were thankful; G2168 but G235 became vain G3154 in G1722 their G846 imaginations, G1261 and G2532 their G846 foolish G801 heart G2588 was darkened. G4654
They have moved me to jealousy H7065 with that which is not H3808 God; H410 they have provoked me to anger H3707 with their vanities: H1892 and I will move them to jealousy H7065 with those which are not a people; H5971 I will provoke them to anger H3707 with a foolish H5036 nation. H1471
They that observe H8104 lying H7723 vanities H1892 forsake H5800 their own mercy. H2617
Every man H120 is brutish H1197 by his knowledge; H1847 every founder H6884 is confounded H3001 by the graven image: H6459 for his molten image H5262 is falsehood, H8267 and there is no breath H7307 in them. They are vanity, H1892 the work H4639 of errors: H8595 in the time H6256 of their visitation H6486 they shall perish. H6
Every man H120 is brutish H1197 in his knowledge: H1847 every founder H6884 is confounded H3001 by the graven image: H6459 for his molten image H5262 is falsehood, H8267 and there is no breath H7307 in them. They are vanity, H1892 and the work H4639 of errors: H8595 in the time H6256 of their visitation H6486 they shall perish. H6
They that make H3335 a graven image H6459 are all of them vanity; H8414 and their delectable things H2530 shall not profit; H3276 and they are their own witnesses; H5707 they see H7200 not, nor know; H3045 that they may be ashamed. H954
And now, O inhabitants H3427 of Jerusalem, H3389 and men H376 of Judah, H3063 judge, H8199 I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. H3754 What could have been done H6213 more to my vineyard, H3754 that I have not done H6213 in it? wherefore, H4069 when I looked H6960 that it should bring forth H6213 grapes, H6025 brought it forth H6213 wild grapes? H891
And turn ye not aside: H5493 for then should ye go after H310 vain H8414 things, which cannot profit H3276 nor deliver; H5337 for they are vain. H8414
And G2532 saying, G3004 Sirs, G435 why G5101 do ye G4160 these things? G5130 We G2249 also G2532 are G2070 men G444 of like passions G3663 with you, G5213 and preach G2097 unto you G5209 that ye should turn G1994 from G575 these G5023 vanities G3152 unto G1909 the living G2198 God, G2316 which G3739 made G4160 heaven, G3772 and G2532 earth, G1093 and G2532 the sea, G2281 and G2532 all things G3956 that are therein: G1722 G846
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?
Wherefore the Lord H136 said, H559 Forasmuch H3282 as this people H5971 draw near H5066 me with their mouth, H6310 and with their lips H8193 do honour H3513 me, but have removed H7368 their heart H3820 far H7368 from me, and their fear H3374 toward me is taught H3925 by the precept H4687 of men: H582
Hear H8085 ye, O mountains, H2022 the LORD'S H3068 controversy, H7379 and ye strong H386 foundations H4146 of the earth: H776 for the LORD H3068 hath a controversy H7379 with his people, H5971 and he will plead H3198 with Israel. H3478 O my people, H5971 what have I done H6213 unto thee? and wherein have I wearied H3811 thee? testify H6030 against me.
Son H1121 of man, H120 thy brethren, H251 even thy brethren, H251 the men H582 of thy kindred, H1353 and all the house H1004 of Israel H3478 wholly, are they unto whom the inhabitants H3427 of Jerusalem H3389 have said, H559 Get you far H7368 from the LORD: H3068 unto us is this land H776 given H5414 in possession. H4181
But they are altogether H259 brutish H1197 and foolish: H3688 the stock H6086 is a doctrine H4148 of vanities. H1892
But thou hast not called H7121 upon me, O Jacob; H3290 but thou hast been weary H3021 of me, O Israel. H3478 Thou hast not brought H935 me the small cattle H7716 of thy burnt offerings; H5930 neither hast thou honoured H3513 me with thy sacrifices. H2077 I have not caused thee to serve H5647 with an offering, H4503 nor wearied H3021 thee with incense. H3828
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.