Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 29:19
Because they have not hearkened to my words, saith the LORD, which I sent unto them by my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending [them]; but ye would not hear, saith the LORD.
A contempt of the word of the Lord was the cause of this peoples ruin, and will be the cause of ruin to any people. See Jer 7:26; 11:7,8; 17:23. Lest they should say that they only disobeyed the prophets, God mindeth them that in not hearkening to them they did not hearken to him. The same thing Christ saith of the gospel ministers, Luk 10:16. The not believing, or not obeying, what ministers teach not in a due discharge of their office of revealing the will of God, is no contempt of God, but of them, who for that cause deserve to be contemned; but supposing that what ministers deliver be the mind and will of God revealed in holy writ, and but a true explication and application of that, not to hearken to God and not to hearken to them is the same thing.
Ye would not hear, saith the Lord; ye wilfully refused to believe them, speaking the truth to you in my name, and to obey those monitions they gave you by my direction. All this was a not hearing God.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Because they have not hearkened to my words, saith the Lord,…. Which were spoken to them by the prophets; not hearkening to them, but despising them, were the same as not hearkening to him, and despising him; contempt of God, and his word, was the cause of their ruin; see 2Ch 36:15;
which I sent unto them by my servants the prophets; such as Hosea, Isaiah, Micah, Jeremiah, and others:
rising up early, and sending [them]; which denotes the frequency of their mission; the diligent care of God towards them; and his earnest solicitude for their welfare; and the plenty of means they were favoured with; all which were aggravations of their sin:
but ye would not hear, saith the Lord; the words of the Lord by his prophets; the counsel and admonitions he gave them; but pursued their own ways and counsels, and listened to the false prophets.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The Prophet, after having denounced God’s judgment on those who remained in their own country as well as on the exiles, subjoins this reason, because they hearkened not to the word of the Lord; and this was a most grievous sin. Though ignorance is no excuse before God, for those who are without the Law must perish; yet the servant who knew his Lord’s will and did it not, shall be beaten with many stripes. And the more abundant God’s grace is in calling us to the right way of salvation, the more base is our ingratitude when we close our ears and disregard the concern and care which he manifests for our salvation. Let us then know that nothing is less tolerable than the rejection of the prophetic word.
And we must notice what follows, which I sent them by my servants the prophets The Jews might have otherwise objected and said, that they did not intend to be rebellious against God, but that there were many contentions among the prophets. Lest, then, they should seek an evasion by a pretense of this kind, he says that the word, brought by his ministers and witnesses the prophets, was worthy of no less reverence than if angels came down from heaven to them. And this passage serves to shew the use of external doctrine, which fanatical men despise, thinking the hidden word sufficient, that is, whatever they may dream. But God thus proves the obedience of our faith, while he rules us by the hand and labor of men. Whosoever then rejects the faithful teachers of the word, shews that he is a despiser of God himself. The meaning is, that God defines his word, not as an oracle of any kind, but as the doctrine which has been deposited with faithful teachers.
He afterwards adds, rising up early and sending The metaphor is taken from men who are sedulous and diligent. We indeed know that God never awakes and never changes place; but he could not otherwise express his paternal care toward his people, as though he had said, that he was sedulously engaged in admonishing them. And thus the more inexcusable was rendered the sloth of the people; for God hastened as it were to rise up early, as they who spare no labor, but willingly deprive themselves of some portion of their sleep, that they may complete their work or their journey. As God then manifested so much diligence in securing the wellbeing of men, the more shameful is the sloth of men, when they become deaf, or are not moved, but remain in their indifference. It now follows, —
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
19. Ye would not hear The prophet classes those in exile with those among whom he has laboured at home, and says of them all, “ye would not hear.” But it is probable that to many of these leading captives he had personally ministered, and received from them only resistance and persecution.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jer 29:19 Because they have not hearkened to my words, saith the LORD, which I sent unto them by my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending [them]; but ye would not hear, saith the LORD.
Ver. 19. Because they have not hearkened. ] See Jer 7:23 ; Jer 7:26 ; Jer 11:7-8 ; Jer 13:11 ; Jer 17:23 ; Jer 25:4 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
unto them. Some codices, with four early printed editions, read “unto you”.
rising up early, &c. See note on Jer 7:13.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Jer 6:19, Jer 7:13, Jer 7:24-26, Jer 25:3-7, Jer 26:5, Jer 32:33, Jer 34:17, Jer 35:14-16, Jer 44:4, Jer 44:5, Zec 1:4-6, Zec 7:11-13, Heb 12:25
Reciprocal: Neh 9:34 – nor hearkened Jer 7:26 – they hearkened Jer 25:4 – rising Jer 44:22 – your land Dan 9:6 – have we
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 29:19. God always gives man an opportunity to know what is right before punishing him for wrongdoing. He had sent his inspired prophets to the people to instruct and admonish them but they would not. give heed. Rising up early is from SHAKAM and Strong defines it, “Literally to load up (on the back of a man or beast), i.e. to start early in the morning. The meaning here is that God was prompt in starting his prophets on their mission of admonition to bis people.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
29:19 Because they have not hearkened to my words, saith the LORD, which I sent to them by my servants the prophets, {l} rising early and sending [them]; but ye would not hear, saith the LORD.
(l) Read Jer 7:13; Jer 25:3; Jer 26:5 .