Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 22:5
But if ye will not hear these words, I swear by myself, saith the LORD, that this house shall become a desolation.
5. I swear by myself ] For comment on this as the most solemn and binding form of oath, see Heb 6:13-18. The form is repeated in Jer 49:13, and occurs besides in Gen 22:16; Isa 45:23, and a cognate expression is found Jer 51:14; Amo 6:8.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
By hearing the prophet meaneth hearkening to and obeying. God accounteth us to hear no more than we practise. If (saith the prophet) you will not execute judgment, &c., I give you the greatest assurance imaginable that this noble house of David shall become a desolation. The apostle saith that God, because he could swear by no greater, sware by himself. The end of an oath is, the confirmation of a thing where any doubt of the truth of it, or any have strife about it. Sinners finding in themselves a difficulty to believe God upon his word, revealing his will against the interests of their lusts, the Lord is brought in as swearing, not by a greater, (that is impossible,) but by himself, that the house of David, or the house of Israel, or his own house, the temple, (though the first seems most probable to be here meant, which seemeth to be the house mentioned Jer 22:4, through the gates of which kings should enter, riding in chariots and on horses,) should be made desolate.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
5. I swear by myself (Heb 6:13;Heb 6:17). God swears because itseemed to them incredible that the family of David should be castoff.
this housethe king’s,where Jeremiah spake (Jer 22:4).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
But if ye will not hear these words,…. Will give no attention, and yield no obedience to them:
I swear by myself, saith the Lord; and by a greater he cannot swear; and that is the reason why he swears by himself, Heb 6:13; and as, when he swears to a promise, it shows the immutability of it, the certainty of its performance, and that it is irreversible, and never repented of, nor revoked; so it is when he swears to a threatening. The Targum is,
“by my word I swear:”
that this house shall become a desolation; meaning not the temple, nor the city, but the king’s palace.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
We explained yesterday the declaration of the Prophet, — that the kingdom would again be restored by the Lord, if the king and his servants and the whole people repented. He now introduces a commination, — that if they heard not, it was all over with the palace and the city. But the word house, or palace is often repeated; for though the defenses of the city gave courage to the people, yet what made them especially proud was the confidence they felt that the kingdom had been promised to be for ever. Hence, they thought, that the royal dignity could not possibly fall as long as the sun and moon continued in the heavens. (Psa 89:38.) This false confidence is what the Prophet now meets, and he says, If ye will not hear these words, etc. He changes the number: he had said before this word, את הדבר הזה , at edeber eze; but he now says these words, את הדברים, at edeberim. But the singular number includes the whole of his doctrine; yet he now uses the plural number, because he had exhorted them to change their life. (39)
And that they might not think that they were for no good reason terrified, he declares that God had sworn by himself We indeed know that when God makes an oath, either when he promises anything, or when he denounces punishment on sinners, it is done on account of men’s sloth and dullness. For our hearts through unbelief will hardly receive a simple truth, unless God removes the impediments; and this is the design of making an oath, when God does not only speak, but in order to render us more certain of our salvation, he confirms his promise by introducing his own name as a pledge. The reason is similar as to threatenings; for so great is the false security of sinners, that they are deaf until God, as it were, with force penetrates into their hearts. Hence he says, that God made an oath by himself; for it seemed incredible to the Jews, that the family which had been set apart by God from the world, would ever perish. It now follows:
(39) “These words” include the “word” of message contained in the second verse, and the “word” of precept in the third verse; and “this word” or thing, at the beginning of the fourth verse, is the latter — the word of precept. — Ed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(5) I swear by myself.The formula is an exceptionally rare one, but meets us in Gen. 22:16. In Deu. 32:40 the came thought is embodied in the language of the loftiest poetry. The principle in both cases is that on which the writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews dwells in Jer. 6:13. Men swear by the greater, but God can swear by nothing greater than Himself.
This house.The context determines the application of the word as meaning the kings palace, not the Temple.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
5. I swear by myself See Heb 6:13; Heb 6:17. In this instance God is represented as swearing, as if to overcome the antecedent incredibility that the family of David should be cast off.
This house The royal palace, where Jeremiah was then speaking.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jer 22:5 But if ye will not hear these words, I swear by myself, saith the LORD, that this house shall become a desolation.
Ver. 5. That this house shall become a desolation. ] This stately edifice, the place of thy royal residence. Note here the prophet’s boldness, and learn that truth must be spoken, however it be taken.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
saith the LORD = [is] Jehovah’s oracle.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
if: Jer 17:27, 2Ch 7:19, 2Ch 7:22, Isa 1:20
I: Gen 22:16, Num 14:28-30, Deu 32:40-42, Psa 95:11, Amo 6:8, Amo 8:7, Amo 8:8, Heb 3:18, Heb 6:13, Heb 6:17
that: Jer 7:13, Jer 7:14, Jer 26:6-9, Jer 39:8, Mic 3:12
Reciprocal: Lev 26:31 – and bring Isa 45:23 – sworn Jer 13:17 – if
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 22:5. If ye will not should be taken to mean since ye did not.” As a punishment for it the house in Jerusalem was to become desolate.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
22:5 But if ye will not hear these words, I {b} swear by myself, saith the LORD, that this house shall become a desolation.
(b) Showing that there is no one greater than he is, Heb 6:13 and that he will most certainly perform his oath.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
If they disobeyed, God swore by Himself to destroy the palace.
Jer 22:6-7 appear to be another oracle, in poetic form, against an unnamed Judean king.