Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 20:13
Sing unto the LORD, praise ye the LORD: for he hath delivered the soul of the poor from the hand of evildoers.
13. This exclamation of praise may be compared with those which break out from time to time in the course, or at the conclusion, of many even among the most mournful and despondent of the Psalms, e.g. Psa 35:9-10; Psa 35:28.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 13. Sing unto the Lord] He was so completely delivered from all fear, that although he remained in the same circumstances, yet he exults in the Divine protection, and does not fear the face of any adversary.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The prophet here riseth higher, from prayer to praise: it is not certain whether this was a rejoicing of faith or of sense; a thanksgiving to God upon his deliverance out of the hand of Pashur, or some other enemies, or a rejoicing in the sure belief that God would deliver his life out of the hands of these wicked men. If we take it in the latter sense, it teacheth us our duty, to give God the honour of all our deliverances from the hands of wicked men. If in the former sense, it showeth us the power of faith, which being the substance of things not seen, and evidence of things but hoped for, showeth us things to come as if already present, and teacheth us to rejoice in the hope of those things of which we have no present possession.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
13. delivered . . . soulThisdeliverance took place when Zedekiah succeeded Jeconiah.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Sing unto the Lord, praise ye the Lord,…. The prophet, from prayer, proceeds to praise; and from expressions of faith and confidence in the Lord, having committed his cause to him, being assured of success, rises up to a holy triumph and joy; and calls upon his soul, and upon others, to join with him in praising, and singing praises to the Lord: this is said, as Kimchi observes, with respect to the saints in Jerusalem; for there were some good people doubtless there at this time, a remnant according to the election of grace; who had a regard for the prophet, and wished well to him, and were ready to join with him in acts of devotion, prayer, or praise;
for he hath delivered the soul of the poor from the hand of evil doers; or, “the life of the poor”; meaning himself, a poor destitute person, few or none to stand by him but the Lord, who had delivered him out of the hand of Pashur and his accomplices; and out of the hand of those that watched for his halting; and out of the hands of all his persecutors: or this may respect not past deliverances, but what was to come; which the prophet had such a believing view of, that he calls upon himself and others to praise God for beforehand.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Here the Prophet breaks out into an open expression of joy, and not only gives thanks himself to God, that he had been freed from the intrigues and violence of the wicked, but he also summons others, and encourages them to sing praises to God; as though he had said, that his deliverance was such a favor, that not only he should be thankful to God for it, but that all should join to celebrate it, according to what is said by Paul in 2Co 1:11, that thanks might be given by many to God. The Prophet no doubt had experienced God’s help, yea, that help which he had before so highly extolled. As, then, he had really found that God was victorious, and that his safety had been defended against all the ungodly by God’s invincible power, he in full confidence expressed his thanks, and wished all God’s servants to join with him. (16)
Whenever, then, we are reduced into straits, and seem to be, as it were, rejected by God himself, let us still wait patiently until he may be pleased to free us from the hand of the wicked; without misery and distress preceding, we should never sufficiently acknowledge the power of God in preserving us. Thus Jeremiah confesses that he was for a time miserable and oppressed, but that he was at length delivered, even when the ungodly and wicked thought themselves victorious. Now follows an outcry, which seems to be of a very different character, —
(16) The “poor” here does not mean him who is in low circumstances, but him who is helpless or defenseless; and this is the meaning of the word often in other parts, especially in the Psalm. The word “soul,” too, here and in other places, means life, —
Sing ye to Jehovah, praise Jehovah, For he hath rescued the life of the helpless From the hand of malignants.
—
Ed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(13) Sing unto the Lord . . .It was as though heaviness had endured for a night, and joy had come in the morning. As with so many of the Psalms (Psa. 22:22 is, perhaps, the most striking parallel), what began in a cry De profundis ends in a Hallelujah.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Jer 20:13 Sing unto the LORD, praise ye the LORD: for he hath delivered the soul of the poor from the hand of evildoers.
Ver. 13. Sing unto the Lord, praise ye the Lord. ] Nota hic alternantis animi motus aestusque. Here the Spirit triumpheth over the flesh; as in the next verses, the flesh again gets the wind and hill of the Spirit. Every good man is a divided man.
For he hath delivered the soul of the poor,
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
soul. Heb, nephesh. App-13.
poor = helpless. Hebrew. ‘ebyon. See note on Pro 6:11.
evildoers. Hebrew. ra’a’. App-44.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
for: Psa 34:6, Psa 35:9-11, Psa 69:33, Psa 72:4, Psa 109:30, Psa 109:31, Isa 25:4, Jam 2:5, Jam 2:6
Reciprocal: 2Sa 11:15 – Set ye Psa 41:11 – because Act 4:24 – they
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 20:13. Jeremiah could personally express these sentiments because he appreciated the many favors that the Land had given him. But he likewise wished his brethren to see the propriety of giving God all praise for their blessings.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
The prophet closed this lament with a call to praise the Lord in song because He had delivered Jeremiah from those who wanted to do him evil.