Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 23:19

Behold, a whirlwind of the LORD is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked.

19, 20. See introd. summary to section. These vv. agree substantially with Jer 30:23 f., and are probably introduced here from that passage. They have no apparent connexion with the preceding or following vv., and may have been inserted here as a declaration of Jehovah’s real purpose as opposed to the predictions of the false prophets.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Rather, Behold, the tempest of Yahweh, even hot anger hath gone forth and a whirlwind shall burst upon the head of the wicked.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Verse 19. Behold, a whirlwind] The simoom: the hot pestilential wind blowing from the south, frequently mentioned or referred to in the sacred writings; see Jer 23:10.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

A severe judgment of God, that should resemble a whirlwind, for the sudden and utter destruction that it shall bring. See Jer 30:23,24. The same word is elsewhere translated a storm, Psa 83:15; Amo 1:14; Jon 1:4. It is called a whirlwind of the Lord, either to denote the greatness of it, as Psa 36:6, or to let us know that the judgment came forth from God, and was of his sending. And whatever these flattering teachers said, it should fall upon wicked men, so as they should have no peace, but evil should most certainly come upon them.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

19. So far from all prosperityawaiting the people as the false prophets say (Jer23:17), wrath is in store for them.

grievousliterally,”eddying,” whirling itself about, a tornado. In Jer30:23, “continuing” is substituted for “grievous.”

fall grievouslyitshall be hurled on.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Behold, a whirlwind of the Lord is gone forth in fury,…. Or, “behold, a whirlwind of the Lord, of the fury is gone forth” b; which latter clause explains the former; and, hews, that by “the whirlwind of the Lord” is meant his “fury” or “wrath”; which, like a whirlwind, would come suddenly, and at an unawares, and be very boisterous and powerful, and carry all before it; and which was gone forth from the Lord in the decree and commission; and would quickly break out and appear in the Chaldean army that would invade Judea and besiege Jerusalem, compared to a full and fanning wind, and its chariots to a whirlwind, Jer 4:11; from whence it would appear, that these men, the false prophets, were not in the counsel of God; had seen no vision from him, nor had marked his word: since they prophesied of peace and prosperity, when a blustering storm was coming:

even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked; or “rest” c thereon; even on the head of the wicked prophets, and all such wicked persons as give heed unto them; on them it would fall with its full weight, and give excessive pain, and there continue to their utter ruin. Kimchi says this refers to the days of the Messiah, when all the wicked shall be consumed. It may refer to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, at least include it; which was a grievous whirlwind indeed.

b “ecce turbo Domini exandescentia”, Montanus, Junius Tremellius “en procella Jehovae! ira exivit”, Schmidt. c “manebit”, Montanus, Cocceius; “permanebit”, Junius Tremellius “residebit”, Targ. “requiescet”, Syr.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

The verse which I read at the end of my last Lecture must be now repeated to you, Behold, the tempest (or whirlwind) of Jehovah! it shall go forth with fury; even the impending whirlwind! on the head of the ungodly shall it abide, or fall; for יחול, ichul, means both. The Prophet now assails with more vehemence the false teachers, for they were almost stupid. None, indeed, can betray so much audacity as to oppose God, except when wholly blinded by Satan. Hence our Prophet deals with the false teachers as with fanatics or those wholly stupified: he tells them that God would come like a whirlwind Whether we render it a whirlwind or a storm, there is not much difference. (99) And he adds, that they could not escape, for the wrath of God was impending over them, and would at length remain on them.

Now, it is usual in Scripture to deal very sharply with hypocrites, and especially with false teachers, because Satan rules in them to an awful extent. And doubtless, as I have already said, except a person be fascinated with illusions, he could not dare to oppose God. There is, then, no wonder that the Prophet fulminates against these ungodly teachers; for it was nothing but play and sport to them to pretend God’s sacred name that they might deceive the people. He afterwards adds, —

(99) “Storm,” or tempest, is the most suitable here. The word חמה, after Jehovah, seems to belong to it — “hot tempest;” the reference is to the burning winds of the south. See Jer 4:11. The verse may be thus rendered, —

Behold the burning tempest of Jehovah! It shall go forth, yea, a pregnant tempest; On the head of the wicked shall it burst.

The tempest or storm would be “burning,” and also “pregnant,” or in travail, as the word means; and being as it were in labor, it would “burst,” or literally bring forth on the head of the wicked. The verb is not from יחל, but from חול, which means not only to be in labor but also to bring forth. “It shall come,” is the Sept. and the Vulg.; our version is the Targum. — Ed

Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary

(19) Behold, a whirlwind . . .Better, Behold, the storm of Jehovah, wrath is gone forth, a whirling storm, upon the heads of the wicked shall it whirl down. The word translated whirlwind is properly more generic in its meaning (tempest in Isa. 29:6). and gets its specific force here from the associated word rendered in the Authorised Version grievous, but rightly, as above, whirling.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

19. A whirlwind So far from this vision of peace and prosperity being true, the tempest of Jehovah even fury goeth forth, and a whirlwind shall hurl itself upon the head of the wicked.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments