---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Jeremiah 5"
description: "CHAPTER 5   :-. THE CAUSE
OF THE JUDGMENTS TO
BE INFLICTED
IS THE UNIVERSAL
CORRUPTION OF THE PEOPLE. 1. a man—As the pious Josiah,
Baruch, and Zephaniah"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/jeremiah/5"
---

CHAPTER 5

. THE CAUSE
OF THE JUDGMENTS TO
BE INFLICTED
IS THE UNIVERSAL
CORRUPTION OF THE PEOPLE.

**1. a man**—As the pious Josiah,
Baruch, and Zephaniah lived in Jerusalem at that time, Jeremiah must
here mean the mass of the people, the king, his counsellors, the
false prophets, and the priests, as distinguished from the faithful
few, whom God had openly separated from the reprobate people; among
the latter not even *one* just person was to be found () [CALVIN]; the
godly, moreover, were forbidden to intercede for them (; compare [Genesis 18:23](../../../kjv/genesis/18/23);
[Psalms 12:1](../../../kjv/psalms/12/1); [Ezekiel 22:30](../../../kjv/ezekiel/22/30)).
**see . . . know**—look . .
. ascertain.
**judgment**—justice,
righteousness.
**pardon it**—rather, *her.*

**2.** ().
**swear falsely**—not a
judicial oath; but their profession of the worship of Jehovah is
insincere ([Jeremiah 5:7](../../../kjv/jeremiah/5/7); [Jeremiah 4:2](../../../kjv/jeremiah/4/2)).
The reformation under Josiah was merely superficial in the case of
the majority.

**3. eyes upon the truth**—
([Deuteronomy 32:4](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/32/4); [2 Chronicles 16:9](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/16/9)).
"Truth" is in contrast with "swear falsely" ([2 Chronicles 16:9](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/16/9)). The false-professing Jews could expect nothing but
judgments from the God of truth.
**stricken . . . not grieved**—
([Jeremiah 2:30](../../../kjv/jeremiah/2/30); [Isaiah 1:5](../../../kjv/isaiah/1/5);
[Isaiah 9:13](../../../kjv/isaiah/9/13)).
**refused . . . correction**—
([Jeremiah 7:28](../../../kjv/jeremiah/7/28); [Zephaniah 3:2](../../../kjv/zephaniah/3/2)).

**4. poor**—rather, "*the*
poor." He supposes for the moment that this utter depravity is
confined to the uninstructed poor, and that he would find a different
state of things in the higher ranks: but there he finds unbridled
profligacy.

**5. they have known**—rather,
"they must know." The prophet *supposes it as probable,*
considering their position.
**but these**—I found the
very reverse to be the case.
**burst . . . bonds**—set
God's law at defiance ([Psalms 2:3](../../../kjv/psalms/2/3)).

**6. lion . . . wolf . . . leopard**—the
strongest, the most ravenous, and the swiftest, respectively, of
beasts: illustrating the formidable character of the Babylonians.
**of the evenings**—Others
not so well translate, *of the deserts.* The *plural* means
that it goes forth *every evening* to seek its prey ([Psalms 104:20](../../../kjv/psalms/104/20);
[Habakkuk 1:8](../../../kjv/habakkuk/1/8); [Zephaniah 3:3](../../../kjv/zephaniah/3/3)).
**leopard . . . watch . . .
cities**— ([Hosea 13:7](../../../kjv/hosea/13/7)). It
shall lie in wait about their cities.

**7.** It would not be consistent
with God's holiness to let such wickedness pass unpunished.
**sworn by**— ([Jeremiah 5:2](../../../kjv/jeremiah/5/2);
[Jeremiah 4:2](../../../kjv/jeremiah/4/2)); that is, worshipped.
**no gods**— ([Jeremiah 4:2](../../../kjv/jeremiah/4/2)).
**fed . . . to the full**—so
the *Keri* (*Hebrew Margin*) reads. God's bountifulness is
contrasted with their apostasy ([Jeremiah 4:2](../../../kjv/jeremiah/4/2)). Prosperity, the gift of God, designed to lead men to Him,
often produces the opposite effect. The *Hebrew Chetib* (text)
reads: "I bound them (to Me) by oath," namely, in the
*marriage covenant,* sealed at Sinai between God and Israel; in
contrast to which stands their "adultery"; the antithesis
favors this.
**adultery . . . harlots'
houses**—spiritually: idolatry in temples of idols; but literal
prostitution is also included, being frequently part of idol-worship:
for example, in the worship of the Babylonian *Mylitta.*

**8. in the morning**— (). "Rising early in the morning" is a phrase for
unceasing eagerness in any pursuit; such was the Jews' avidity after
idol-worship. MAURER
translates from a different *Hebrew* root, "continually
wander to and fro," inflamed with lust (). But *English Version* is simpler (compare [Jeremiah 13:27](../../../kjv/jeremiah/13/27);
[Ezekiel 22:11](../../../kjv/ezekiel/22/11)).

**9.** ([Jeremiah 5:29](../../../kjv/jeremiah/5/29);
[Jeremiah 9:9](../../../kjv/jeremiah/9/9); [Jeremiah 44:22](../../../kjv/jeremiah/44/22)).

**10.** Abrupt apostrophe to the
Babylonians, to take Jerusalem, but *not to destroy the nation
utterly* (see on [Jeremiah 4:27](../../../kjv/jeremiah/4/27)).
**battlements**—rather,
*tendrils* [MAURER]:
the state being compared to a *vine* ([Jeremiah 4:27](../../../kjv/jeremiah/4/27)), the stem of which was to be spared, while the tendrils
(the chief men) were to be removed.

**11.** ().

**12. belied**—denied.
**It is not he**—rather,
"(Jehovah) is not HE,"
that is, the true and only God ([Jeremiah 14:22](../../../kjv/jeremiah/14/22);
[Deuteronomy 32:39](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/32/39); [Isaiah 43:10](../../../kjv/isaiah/43/10);
[Isaiah 43:13](../../../kjv/isaiah/43/13)). By their idolatry
they virtually denied Him. Or, referring to what follows, and to [Isaiah 43:13](../../../kjv/isaiah/43/13), "(Jehovah) is not," namely, about to be the
punisher of our sins ([Jeremiah 14:13](../../../kjv/jeremiah/14/13);
[Isaiah 28:15](../../../kjv/isaiah/28/15)).

**13.** Continuation of the
unbelieving language of the Jews.
**the prophets**—who
prophesy punishment coming on us.
**the word**—the Holy
Spirit, who speaks through true prophets, is not in them [MAURER].
Or else, "There is no word (divine communication) in them"
([Hosea 1:2](../../../kjv/hosea/1/2)) [ROSENMULLER].
**thus,** &c.—Their
ill-omened prophecies shall fall on themselves.

**14. ye . . . thy . . . this
people**—He turns away from addressing the people to the prophet;
implying that He puts them to a distance from Him, and only
communicates with them through His prophet ().
**fire . . . wood**—Thy
denunciations of judgments shall be fulfilled and shall consume them
as fire does wood. In [Jeremiah 23:29](../../../kjv/jeremiah/23/29)
it is the *penetrating energy* of fire which is the point of
comparison.

**15.** ([Jeremiah 1:15](../../../kjv/jeremiah/1/15);
[Jeremiah 6:22](../../../kjv/jeremiah/6/22)). Alluding to [Jeremiah 6:22](../../../kjv/jeremiah/6/22), c.
**Israel**—that is, Judah.
**mighty**—from an *Arabic*
root, "enduring." The fourfold repetition of "nation"
heightens the force.
**ancient**—The Chaldeans
came originally from the Carduchian and Armenian mountains north of
Mesopotamia, whence they immigrated into Babylonia like all
mountaineers, they were brave and hardy (see on [Jeremiah 6:22](../../../kjv/jeremiah/6/22)).
**language . . . knowest not**—
[Isaiah 36:11](../../../kjv/isaiah/36/11) shows that *Aramaic*
was not understood by the "multitude," but only by the
educated classes [MAURER].
HENDERSON refers it to the
*original language* of the Babylonians, which, he thinks, they
brought with them from their native hills, akin to the Persic, not to
the *Aramaic,* or any other Semitic tongue, the parent of the
modern *Kurd.*

**16. open sepulchre**—(Compare ). Their quiver is all-devouring, as the grave opened to
receive the dead: as many as are the arrows, so many are the deaths.

**17.** ().

**18.** *Not even* in those
days of judgments, will God utterly exterminate His people.
**I will not make a full end
with you**— ([Jeremiah 5:10](../../../kjv/jeremiah/5/10);
[Jeremiah 4:27](../../../kjv/jeremiah/4/27)).

**19.** Retribution in kind. As ye
have forsaken Me ([Jeremiah 2:13](../../../kjv/jeremiah/2/13)), so
shall ye be forsaken by Me. As ye have served strange (foreign) gods
in your land, so shall ye serve strangers (foreigners) in a land not
yours. Compare the similar retribution in [Deuteronomy 28:47](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/28/47);
[Deuteronomy 28:48](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/28/48).

**21. eyes . . . ears, and**—Translate,
"and yet" (compare [Deuteronomy 29:4](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/29/4);
[Isaiah 6:9](../../../kjv/isaiah/6/9)). Having powers of
perception, they did not use them: still they were responsible for
the exercise of them.

**22. sand**—Though made up of
particles easily shifting about, I render it sufficient to curb the
violence of the sea. Such is your monstrous perversity, that the
raging, senseless sea sooner obeys Me, than ye do who profess to be
intelligent [CALVIN],
([Job 26:10](../../../kjv/job/26/10); [Job 38:10](../../../kjv/job/38/10);
[Job 38:11](../../../kjv/job/38/11); [Proverbs 8:29](../../../kjv/proverbs/8/29);
[Revelation 15:4](../../../kjv/revelation/15/4)).

**23.** ().

**24. rain . . . former . . .
latter**—The "former" falls from the middle of October
to the beginning of December. The "latter," or spring rain
in Palestine, falls before harvest in March and April, and is
essential for ripening the crops ([Deuteronomy 11:14](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/11/14);
[Joel 2:23](../../../kjv/joel/2/23)).
**weeks of . . . harvest**—the
seven weeks between passover and pentecost, beginning on the
sixteenth of Nisan ([Deuteronomy 16:9](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/16/9)). By
God's special providence no rain fell in Palestine during the harvest
weeks, so that harvest work went on without interruption (see [Deuteronomy 16:9](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/16/9)).

**25.** National guilt had caused
the suspension of these national mercies mentioned in (compare [Jeremiah 3:3](../../../kjv/jeremiah/3/3)).

**26.** ([Proverbs 1:11](../../../kjv/proverbs/1/11);
[Proverbs 1:17](../../../kjv/proverbs/1/17); [Proverbs 1:18](../../../kjv/proverbs/1/18);
[Habakkuk 1:15](../../../kjv/habakkuk/1/15)).
**as he that setteth
snares**—rather, "as fowlers crouch" [MAURER].
**trap**—literally,
"destruction": the instrument of destruction.
**catch men**—not as Peter,
to save ([Luke 5:10](../../../kjv/luke/5/10)), but to
destroy men.

**27. full of deceit**—full of
treasures got by deceit.
**rich**— ([Psalms 73:12](../../../kjv/psalms/73/12);
[Psalms 73:18-20](../../../kjv/psalms/73/18-20)).

**28. shine**—the effect of
fatness on the skin ([Deuteronomy 32:15](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/32/15)).
They live a life of self-indulgence.
**overpass . . . the
wicked**—exceed even the Gentiles in wickedness ([Jeremiah 2:33](../../../kjv/jeremiah/2/33);
[Ezekiel 5:6](../../../kjv/ezekiel/5/6); [Ezekiel 5:7](../../../kjv/ezekiel/5/7)).
**judge not . . . fatherless**—
([Isaiah 1:23](../../../kjv/isaiah/1/23)).
**yet . . . prosper**— ([Isaiah 1:23](../../../kjv/isaiah/1/23)).

**29.** ([Jeremiah 5:9](../../../kjv/jeremiah/5/9);
[Malachi 3:5](../../../kjv/malachi/3/5)).

**30.** ([Jeremiah 23:14](../../../kjv/jeremiah/23/14);
[Hosea 6:10](../../../kjv/hosea/6/10)).

**31. bear rule by their
means**—literally, "according to their hands," that is,
under their guidance ([1 Chronicles 25:3](../../../kjv/1-chronicles/25/3)).
As a sample of the priests lending themselves to the deceits of the
false prophets, to gain influence over the people, see [1 Chronicles 25:3](../../../kjv/1-chronicles/25/3).
**love to have it so**—
([Micah 2:11](../../../kjv/micah/2/11)).
**end thereof**—the fatal
issue of this sinful course when divine judgments shall come.

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