---
title: "Bullinger"
description: "Oh that, &c. Figure of speech  Pathopoeia.  waters . . . fountain . . . tears. Figure of speech  Catabasis.  slain. Not healed by \"balm\" or \"physicia"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/bullingers-companion-bible-notes/jeremiah/9"
---

**Oh that, &c.** Figure of speech *Pathopoeia.*
**waters . . . fountain . . . tears.** Figure of speech *Catabasis.*
**slain.** Not healed by "balm" or "physician".

**bend:** or, prepare.
**truth** = veracity.

**neighbour** = friend.
**trust ye not** = do not confide. Hebrew. *batah.* App-69 .
**every brother . . . supplant.** Reference to Pentateuch ([Genesis 25:26](../../../kjv/genesis/25/26) ; [Genesis 27:36](../../../kjv/genesis/27/36) ). App-92 .

**the LORD of hosts.** See note on [Jeremiah 6:6](../../../kjv/jeremiah/6/6) and [1 Samuel 1:3](../../../kjv/1-samuel/1/3) .
**how shall** = how [else] shall, &c.
**for the daughter:** or, because of [the wickedness of] the daughter, &c.

**shot out.** Hebrew = piercing. But some codices, with two early printed editions, and Syriac, read "pointed".

**My soul** = I myself (emphatic). Hebrew. *nephesh.* Figure of speech *Anthropopatheia.*
**avenged.** Compare [Jeremiah 5:9](../../../kjv/jeremiah/5/9) , [Jeremiah 5:29](../../../kjv/jeremiah/5/29) .

**habitations** = pastures.

**dragons** = jackals.

**Who . . . ?** Figure of speech *Erotesis.*
**who . . . ?** The Ellipsis is thus correctly supplied.

**forsaken.** Reference to Pentateuch ([Deuteronomy 32:15](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/32/15) , [Deuteronomy 32:21](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/32/21) ). App-92 .
**My law.** Reference to Pentateuch ([Exodus 20](../../../kjv/exodus/20) , &c). App-92 .
**set before them.** Reference to Pentateuch ([Deuteronomy 4:8](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/4/8) , [Deuteronomy 4:44](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/4/44) ). App-92 .
**therein.** In the law, not the voice.

**imagination** = stubbornness. Reference to Pentateuch, (see note on [Jeremiah 3:17](../../../kjv/jeremiah/3/17) ).

**the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel.** See note on [Jeremiah 7:3](../../../kjv/jeremiah/7/3) .
**wormwood . . . gall.** Reference to Pentateuch ([Deuteronomy 29:18](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/29/18) ). Repeated in [Jeremiah 23:15](../../../kjv/jeremiah/23/15) . Occurs also in [Lamentations 3:19](../../../kjv/lamentations/3/19) .
**water of gall.** Compare [Jeremiah 8:14](../../../kjv/jeremiah/8/14) .

**I will scatter.** Reference to Pentateuch ([Leviticus 26:33](../../../kjv/leviticus/26/33) .[Deuteronomy 28:64](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/28/64); [Deuteronomy 28:64](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/28/64) ).
**heathen** = nations.

**Thus saith, &c.** This (verses: [Jeremiah 9:17-20](../../../kjv/jeremiah/9/17-20) ) develops the calamity, for which this chapter gives the reason.
**mourning women.** A class still hired for the purpose. Compare [2 Samuel 1:24](../../../kjv/2-samuel/1/24) . [2 Chronicles 35:25](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/35/25) .[Ecclesiastes 12:5](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/12/5) .[Matthew 9:23](../../../kjv/matthew/9/23) .[Mark 5:38](../../../kjv/mark/5/38) .
**cunning** = skilful (in this business).

**How. !** Supply *Ellip* sis: "[saying], How is it", &c.
**because.** Some codices, with three early printed editions (one Rabbinic), read "yea, for", or "for indeed".
**our dwellings, &c** .: or, they have cast down our habitations. Compare [Daniel 8:11](../../../kjv/daniel/8/11) .[Job 8:18](../../../kjv/job/8/18) . [Ezekiel 19:12](../../../kjv/ezekiel/19/12) .

**Yet:** or, For, or Yea.
**women.** These had been largely the instrumental cause; now they share the calamities.

**children** = infant.
**streets . . .**

****
**Speak.** This shows that Jerome's Hebrew text was unpointed, for he read d-b-r as *deber =* pestilence, instead of *dabar =* word, or *dabber =* speak.
**open field.** Some codices, with one early printed edition, read "ground".
**none shall gather them.** Compare [Psalms 79:3](../../../kjv/psalms/79/3) .

**Thus saith, &c.** The lesson which follows is of universal application.
**Let not.** Note the Figure of speech *Symploke,* or *Anaphora* , for emphasis.
**wisdom . . . might . . . riches.** These are the three things which men boast of, and trust in. This was Jerusalem's sin.
**let not.** Some codices, with six early printed editions (one in margin), Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "neither let".

**let him, &c.** Quoted in [1 Corinthians 1:31](../../../kjv/1-corinthians/1/31) .
**knoweth Me.** This lies at the foundation of everything: of all trust in God (for One unknown cannot be trusted at all); of all pleasing ([Ephesians 1:17](../../../kjv/ephesians/1/17) . [Colossians 1:9](../../../kjv/colossians/1/9) , [Colossians 1:10](../../../kjv/colossians/1/10) ; [1 John 5:20](../../../kjv/1-john/5/20) ). The want of it led to Gentile corruption ([Romans 1:28](../../../kjv/romans/1/28) ); to Israel's fall ([Isaiah 1:3](../../../kjv/isaiah/1/3) .[Luke 19:42](../../../kjv/luke/19/42) , [Luke 19:44](../../../kjv/luke/19/44) ); and all future blessing is wrapt up in it: for Israel ([Jeremiah 31:34](../../../kjv/jeremiah/31/34) .[Isaiah 54:13](../../../kjv/isaiah/54/13); [Isaiah 54:13](../../../kjv/isaiah/54/13) ); and for creation ([Isaiah 11:9](../../../kjv/isaiah/11/9) ). This is why we have the written Word ([2 Timothy 3:15](../../../kjv/2-timothy/3/15) ), and the living "Word" ([John 1:18](../../../kjv/john/1/18) ).
**Which exercise, &c.** Reference to Pentateuch ([Exodus 34:6](../../../kjv/exodus/34/6) ). App-92 .
**lovingkindness** = favour shown to the unworthy.
**judgment** = justice to the oppressed. One school of Massorites ( App-30 ) read "and justice", emphasizing the statement by the Figure of speech *Polysyndeton.* App-6 .

**circumcised, &c.** : in the flesh, but not in "ears" ([Jeremiah 6:10](../../../kjv/jeremiah/6/10) ), nor in "heart" ([Jeremiah 4:4](../../../kjv/jeremiah/4/4) ). Reference to Pentateuch ([Leviticus 26:41](../../../kjv/leviticus/26/41) , [Leviticus 26:42](../../../kjv/leviticus/26/42) .[Deuteronomy 10:16](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/10/16) ; [Deuteronomy 30:6](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/30/6) ). Elsewhere only in [Ezekiel 44:7](../../../kjv/ezekiel/44/7) , [Ezekiel 44:9](../../../kjv/ezekiel/44/9) ,
**with the uncircumcised** = circumcised in uncircumcision: i.e. "circumcised [externally]who [are yet really] uncircumcised", as explained at the end of the next verse. Hence the contrast with the nations mentioned, which all practiced (external) circumcision ([Romans 2:25-29](../../../kjv/romans/2/25-29) ).

**children** = sons.
**that are in the utmost corners:** or, all that have the corners of their beard polled. Reference to Pentateuch ([Leviticus 19:27](../../../kjv/leviticus/19/27) ). App-92 . Compare [Jeremiah 49:32](../../../kjv/jeremiah/49/32) .
**uncircumcised.** Supply *Ellipsis* , from the next clause: "uncircumcised [in heart], and all", &c.
**the house of Israel.** See note on [Jeremiah 2:4](../../../kjv/jeremiah/2/4) .

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