Jeremiah 5:20-31 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

Reader Related Verse
Bible Comments

Let Evil-doers Fear Yahweh. The folly of not fearing Yahweh is rebuked by a reminder of the power of Him who has set an impassable limit even to the sea (cf. the rebuke of Job's presumption by the description of Nature as Yahweh's work, Job 38-41). Because they have not feared Him who gives the regular rains (the former in October, the latter in March-April), and the resultant harvest (Jeremiah 5:24), they have lost these gifts. Punishment is brought down on the nation by evil-doers, who fill their houses with (the gains of) deceit, as bird-catchers their cages with birds, and by the same arts; evil-doers who are prosperous and sleek, and unjust to the helpless. Horrible in Yahweh's eyes is the degeneracy of the prophets who ought to teach the truth, and of the priests who follow the suggestions of the prophets (Jeremiah 5:31 mg.), and of the people who are satisfied with all this; what of the issue?

Jeremiah 5:24. The dependence of Palestine on the periodic rains for its fertility was felt to link it to Yahweh in a unique degree; cf. Deuteronomy 11:10-12.

Jeremiah 5:28. shine: i.e. with fat; cf. Job 15:27; Psalms 73:7).

Related Commentaries of Jeremiah 5:20

Jeremiah 5:20-31

20 Declare this in the house of Jacob, and publish it in Judah, saying,

21 Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding;b which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not:

22 Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?

23 But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone.

24 Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.

25 Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you.

26 For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men.

27 As a cagec is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich.

28 They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge.

29 Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?

30 A wonderfuld and horrible thing is committed in the land;

31 The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?