Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 19:15
Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring upon this city and upon all her towns all the evil that I have pronounced against it, because they have hardened their necks, that they might not hear my words.
15. all her towns ] all the others belonging to Judah. Cp. Jer 34:1. have made their neck stiff ] See on Jer 7:26.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 15. Because they have hardened their necks] A metaphor taken from unruly and unbroken oxen, who resist the yoke, break and run away with their gears. So this people had broken and destroyed the yoke of the law.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
He assureth the people from God that he would most certainly justify all his words, and bring to pass all his threats against that city. and that they must thank themselves for it, for hardening their heart, so as all that he had said made no impression upon them, nor found any place with them.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
15. her townsthe suburbanvillages and towns near Jerusalem, such as Bethany.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel,….
[See comments on Jer 19:3];
behold, I will bring upon this city, and upon all her towns: the city of Jerusalem, and all the cities and towns near it, even all the cities and towns in Judea; of which Jerusalem was the metropolis, and therefore called hers:
all the evil that I have pronounced against it; or decreed against it, as the Targum; all that he had purposed, and all that he had threatened, or spoke of by the Prophet Jeremiah, or any other of his prophets; for whatever he has said he will do, and whatsoever he has solved upon, and declared he will do, he assuredly brings to pass:
because they have hardened their necks, that they might not hear my words; they turned their backs upon him, pulled away the shoulder, stopped their ears that they might not hear what was said by the prophets from the Lord; they neither inclined their ears to hearken to, nor bowed their necks to receive the yoke of his precepts; but, on the contrary, were, as was their general character, a stiffnecked people, and uncircumcised in heart and ears, obstinate and disobedient; and this was the cause of their ruin, by which it appeared to be just and righteous.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The reason is subjoined, Because they have hardened their neck. He again confirms what we have before observed, — that they had fallen, not through ignorance, but through perverseness; for they had learned with sufficient clearness from the law what was right, and they had also been often warned by the prophets. Hence then their wickedness appeared and their untameable spirit, for they had heard the sound doctrine of the law, and had many to warn them.
Now this passage teaches us that there is no pardon left for us, when we, as it were, avowedly reject the yoke of God. And this ought to be carefully noticed, for we see how difficult it is to subdue men, even when they confess that the word of God is what they hear. Since then there is in all mankind an innate perverseness, that hardly one in a hundred allows himself to be ruled by God’s word, it behoves us seriously to consider what is here said, — that they are unworthy of mercy who harden their neck. Hence it is said in Psa 95:8,
“
Harden not your hearts like your fathers.”
And a clearer definition follows, That they might not hear my words. Though there be hardness in all mortals, yet when the doctrine of salvation is made known and not received, then a greater impiety and pride shew themselves; for in that case, men hear God speaking, and yet rob him of his authority. It then follows, that the more clearly God makes known his truth, the less ground of excuse there is; for then especially comes to light the impiety of men, and their disdain seems incapable of being subdued.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(15) Thus saith the Lord of hosts.The address to the people could hardly have been confined to the limits of a single verse, and it is probable, therefore, that we have here but the summary of a discourse, so like in substance to what had been given before that the prophet did not think it necessary to report it at length.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
REFLECTIONS
WHAT a most lovely and engaging representation is here made in the character of the Prophet, of a faithful minister. Oh? that it were the Lord’s will, that all who stand to minister in the things of salvation, and stand up between an holy God, and unholy sinners had the salvation of souls at heart as Jeremiah had, and felt no less a zeal for the Lord’s honour and glory. How truly ought they to be affected with the awful responsibility of their commission! How unweariedly ought they to labour, night and day in such a service! And in those instances, where, like the Prophet, their labours are despised, and their persons abased, deeply to feel the want of success, and to weep between the porch and the altar, with cries to God in prayer!
Precious Jesus! let that compassion of thine, which filled thy tender heart, when weeping over Jerusalem, constrain thee Lord now, in beholding the state of sin, and the impending Tophet of destruction, to send faithful labourers into thy service. Oh! Lord! commission them: ordain them: fill their mouth with arguments, and their hearers hearts with grace, that they may not spend their strength in vain, and their labour for nought. Yea Lord! come thy self in the power of thy blessed Spirit, and turn to thyself a people of a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent. Amen.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jer 19:15 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring upon this city and upon all her towns all the evil that I have pronounced against it, because they have hardened their necks, that they might not hear my words.
Ver. 15. Because they have hardened their necks. ] Which may seem possessed with an iron sinew, so stiff they are and sturdy, having manum in aure, aurem in cervice, cervicem in corde, cor in obstinatione, a their hand on their ear, their ear in their neck, their neck in their heart, and their heart in obstinace, &c.
a A Lapide.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
because: Jer 7:26, Jer 17:23, Jer 35:15-17, 2Ch 36:16, 2Ch 36:17, Neh 9:17, Neh 9:29, Zec 7:11-14, Act 7:51, Act 7:52
hardened: This is a metaphor taken from unruly and unbroken oxen, who resist the yoke, and break and run away with their gears.
that they: Psa 58:2-5
Reciprocal: 2Ch 34:24 – I will bring Neh 9:16 – hardened Isa 48:4 – obstinate Jer 11:11 – I will bring Jer 11:17 – pronounced Jer 20:2 – smote Jer 20:4 – I will give Jer 25:2 – General Jer 25:4 – ye Jer 36:7 – for Jer 36:31 – will bring Dan 5:20 – hardened Act 5:20 – stand Act 19:9 – divers
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 19:15. At the place designated in the preceding verse the prophet repeated the prediction he had uttered in the valley. Hardened their necks is a figure of speech, meaning they became stubborn and refused to listen to the words of the Lord. This characteristic was prominent all through the history of that nation.