1The great disparity between God and idols. 17The prophet warneth to prepare for a removal out of the land: 19he lamenteth over the spoil and desolation of it: 23he prayeth God to correct his people with moderation, and to turn his fury upon the heathen that wasted them.
1HEAR ye the word which the LORD speaketh 1unto you, O house of Israel:
1 Or, hath spoken of or concerning you.
2Thus saith the LORD, Learn not 2the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the 3signs of heaven; 4for the heathen are dismayed at them.
2 Or, to go in the way of the heathen, that is, to follow their idolatrous custom and practice.
3 The sun, moon, stars, etc. See Gen. 1 on verse 14. Of which the heathen made idols, and ascribed unto them the government of the world, and by their course and motion foretold things to come; in which the Jews did imitate them, as appears from Jer. 7:18, etc.
4 Other, howbeit, notwithstanding, etc. Likewise: but let the heathen, etc.
3For the 5customs of the people are vain: for one cuttetha a 6tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.
5 The idols, idolatrous ordinances, ceremonies.
a Isa. 44:14, etc.
6 Compare verse 8. Or, one heweth down a tree out of the forest, for a work, etc.
4They 7deck it with silver and with gold; they fastenb8it with nails and with hammers, that 9it 10move not.
7 Hebr. He maketh it fair and beautiful.
b Isa. 41:7.
8 They fasten the wooden idols, which they made, to a wall or pillar.
9 The image, the idol.
10 Or, not go forth, or, they permit it not to wag, that is, they make is so firm that it is out of danger to become loose and to fall down, from which this wooden god cannot preserve itself.
5They are 11upright as the 12palm tree, but speakc not: they 13must needs be borne,d because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannote do 14evil, neither also is it in them to do good.
11 See Exod. 25 on verse 31.
12 Standing firm or bold upright, raised up by beaten plates of equal size, as if they had life and would speak, but are not able to do any work of a living man, as follows.
c Psalm 115:5.
13 Hebr. carrying they are carried.
d Isa. 46:1, 7.
e Isa. 41:23.
14 They cannot hurt their enemies or help their friends. Compare Deut. 32 on verse 31.
6Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee,f O LORD; thou art great, and thy name is great in 15might.
f Psalm 86:8, 10.
15 Whereas on the contrary all idols are weak and feeble.
7Whog would not fear thee, O King of 16nations? for to thee doth it 17appertain: forasmuch as among all the 18wise men of the nations, and in 19all their kingdoms, there is none like unto thee.
g Rev. 15:4.
16 Even bearing rule over those nations, that know not Thee, but worship idols.
17 Or, it befitteth thee, that they would fear Thee.
18 Who are wont to boast most of wisdom, and yet are mere fools, as is shown in the next verse.
19 That is, all their kingdoms, which altogether make up one idolatrous pagan kingdom.
8But they are 20altogether 21brutishh and foolish: the 22stock is a doctrine of vanities.
20 Or, in one thing, altogether, all counted in one.
21 As brute beasts; also verses 14 and 21. See Psalm 49 on verse 10.
h Isa. 41:29; Hab. 2:18; Zech. 10:2.
22 By idolatrous images and their worship, the people are let to mere vanity, they are nothing but teachers of mere vanity. See 2 Kings 17 on verse 15 and of the use of the Hebrew word, which signifies instruction and discipline, Prov. 16 on verse 22.
9Silver 23spread into plates is brought from 24Tarshish, and gold from 25Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the founder:i blue and purple is 26their clothing: 27they are all the work of 28cunning men.
23 Or, Stretched out silver.
24 From beyond the sea. See 1 Kings 10 on verse 22.
25 This is held to be one with Ophir, of which see 1 Kings 9 on verse 28. Others hold it to be Fez.
i a person who casts metal or glass in a mold
26 Of the idolatrous images.
27 The idols.
28 That is, skillful, artful workmen. Compare Exod. 31:6; Jer. 9 on verse 17.
10But the LORD is the 29true God, he is the 30living God, and an 31everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.
29 Other, the Lord is the true God; or, in truth, that is, truly.
30 Who most properly may be said to live, as having from everlasting to everlasting His incomprehensible Divine life and Essence in and of Himself, and making alive whomsoever and whatsoever He will, as being the Fountain and Author of life. See John 5:21, 26, etc. Therefore He ought to be acknowledged and honored as God alone.
31 Hebr. king of eternity. Compare 1 Tim. 1:17.
1132Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens.
32 This verse is put in the Chaldean or Babylonian language to teach the godly Jews how they, being in captivity in Babel, should make profession of their faith concerning the true God, and oppose the gain-say idolaters.
1233He hath made the earthj by his power, he hath 34established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretchedk out the heavens by his discretion.
33 Our God, Whom we serve, of Whom is spoken in verse 10.
j Gen. 1:1; Jer. 51:15.
34 Or, prepared, founded.
k Job 9:8; Psalm 104:2; Isa. 40:22; 44:24; 51:13.
13When he uttereth his 35voice, there is a 36multitude of waters in the 37heavens, and he causeth the vapoursl to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings 38with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his 39treasures.
35 Understand thunder, as Psalm 29:3, etc., or God’s command, as some.
36 Or, noise.
37 That is, the air.
l Psalm 135:7.
38 See Job 37:11; 38:25. Or, against rain, for rain.
39 See Job 38 on verse 22; Psalm 135:7.
1440Everym man is brutish 41in his knowledge: every founder is confounded by the 42graven image: for his molten image is 43falsehood, and there is no 44breath in 45them.
40 Understand: all cunning workmen of idolatrous images have become dumb and brutish as beasts.
m Jer. 51:17, 18.
41 Or, from, through or in, on account of their skill of making images, by which they thought to obtain great glory. Compare Rom. 1:22.
42 Or, carved.
43 Or, lying, it is mere deceit.
44 That is, spirit, blast. See Job 9 on verse 18.
45 The carved and molten images.
15They are vanity, and 46the work of errors: in the time of 47their visitation they shall perish.
46 That is, mere seductive work.
47 When God shall punish and destroy the idols and idolaters together.
16The 48portion of Jacobnis not like 49them: 50for he is the former of all things; and Israel is theo51rod of his inheritance: The LORD of 52hosts is his name.
48 As such the Lord calls Himself, because He is become a God, Confederate and Savior, and consequently as an invaluable Inheritance of His people in the Messiah, Whose joint-heirs they are, Rom. 8:17. Compare Psalm 16 on verse 5.
n Jer. 51:19.
49 Namely, the idols.
50 Or, but.
o Psalm 74:2.
51 See Psalm 74 on verse 2.
52 See 1 Kings 18 on verse 15.
17 ¶ 53Gather up thy 54wares out of the land, O inhabitant of the fortress.
53 Hebr. properly: Gather together, and consequently: Take, or convey away. See Psalm 26 on verse 9. The words are placed in the feminine gender, from which many do gather that God here speaks to the daughter of Zion, or to Jerusalem, that (without relying on the strength of their city) they would pack up their goods and flee away, in regard of the approaching invasion of the Babylonians, whereof in the sequel, and clearly in verse 22. Compare Jer. 6:1; 8:14; Ezek. 12:3, 4, etc. Some understand it of Babel.
54 Or, commerce.
18For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will 55sling out the inhabitants of the land at this once, and will distressp them, that they may 56find it so.
55 Cast them out by the Babylonians, as with a sling.
p Jer. 6:24.
56 That is, receive the just, deserved punishments, or, actually find the truth of my prophecies.
19 ¶ 57Woe is me for my 58hurt! my wound is grievous: but I 59said, 60Truly this is a grief, and I must bear it.
57 Words of the land or the people of Jerusalem, etc., as Jer. 4:31. Or, of the prophet, speaking in the person of the people, as if it were his own suffering which he felt and carried. Compare Jer. 14:17.
58 As Jer. 4:6; 14:17.
59 Namely, within myself, that is, thought that it would not be so difficult, but I would be able to bear and overcome it, but it came out quite different than I imagined.
60 Other, Surely, this is a sickness, yet I must bear it, as if he said: This is indeed a grievous sickness, much heavier than I had conceived it would be, yet notwithstanding I must endure it.
20My tabernacle is spoiled, and all my cords are broken: my 61children are gone forth of me, and they are not: there is none to stretch forth my tent any more, and to set up my curtains.
61 That is, the citizens of the city of Jerusalem, in whose name this complaint is made.
21For the 62pastors are become 63brutish, and have not sought the LORD: therefore they shall not 64prosper, and all their 65flocks shall be scattered.
62 Ecclesiastical and political governors.
63 As verses 8 and 14.
64 Other, they have not been happy or prosperous.
65 That is, flock of their pasture, the congregation.
22Behold, the noise of the bruitq is come, and a great commotion out of the northr country, to make the cities of Judah desolate, and a den of dragons.s
q rumor, report
r Jer. 1:14, 16.
s Jer. 9:11.
23¶O LORD, I know thatt the 66way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his 67steps.
t Prov. 16:1; 20:24.
66 That is, his purpose and doing is not in his power. See Gen. 6 on verse 12.
67 Or, goings. Consequently (the prophet wants to say) I and all believers, we renounce all our own wisdom and strength, commending all our purposes and doings, in this our trouble, to thy Fatherly government; beseeching Thee, inasmuch as Thou intendest to punish this land by the king of Babel, and he, with all his designs and doings, is likewise shut up under Thy Providence, that Thou wouldst limit his power, and in mercy moderate Thine anger towards Thy people, according to Thy gracious promises of the covenant. Compare Jer. 4 on verse 27. This is the scope and substance of this and the next verse.
24O LORD, 68correctu me, but withv69judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou 70bring me to nothing.
68 See Psalm 6 on verse 1.
u Psalm 6:1; 38:1.
v Jer. 30:11; 46:28.
69 Or, with measure. Hebr. properly: with judgment, that is here, with reason and moderation, or, in a reasonable or moderate manner, such as Thou hast promised to Thy children, that Thou also wilt consequently preserve Thy justice. See Jer. 30:11; 46:28, and compare Isa. 30:18; Ezek. 34:16. The contrary is the bringing to nothing, whereof in the following words.
70 Hebr. diminish, make me small, few or lowly, that is, bruise or grind me to dust, or make me so small, as that I am no more a people, which was the consequence of the outpouring of the Divine wrath, whereof in the following verse. This is in contrast to the moderate chastisement.
2571Pourw out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee 72not, and upon the families that call not on thy name: for they have eatenx up Jacob, and devoured him, and consumedy him, and have made his habitation desolate.
71 As if he said: Wilt Thou needs pour out Thy full wrath, do it not upon Thine own people, but rather upon Thine and Thy people’s enemies.
w Psalm 79:6.
72 See Job 18 on verse 21; Psalm 79 on verse 6.
x Jer. 8:16.
y Jer. 9:16.