Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 3:17
At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart.
17. all the nations ] Gentile peoples shall be gathered into the Church of God, which shall thus become Universal. But see introd. note on Jer 3:14-18.
stubbornness ] a favourite word in this Book.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The throne of the Lord – Yahwehs throne shall not be the ark, but Jerusalem, i. e., the Christian Church Rev 21:2; Gal 4:26.
To Jerusalem – The Septuagint and Syriac are probably right in omitting this word.
Imagination … – Stubbornness (margin). A word always used in a bad sense, for obstinacy.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Jer 3:17
The throne of the Lord.
The Church Christs throne
1. Jerusalem had been of old the throne of God: the symbol of God rested on the ark. Hence called the city of the Great King.
2. Jerusalem became the throne of God as never before when Emmanuel visited her. Yet she rejected her King.
3. Christ by His death founded a kingdom in which His Church has become the true throne of God.
I. In the conversion of sinners the kingly power and authority of Christ is manifested. Each case is a victory of Christ over the enmity of the carnal mind and the resistance of hellish foes.
II. In maintaining his ascendency over the lives and affections of His converts. Law in their members at war with Him. The world strives to wrest them from His rule. Satan strives to recover his lost power. But they are held in obedience to Christ, and kept by the power of God unto salvation.
III. In governing the world providentially for His Churchs advantage. Christ reigns as mediator: works all things for our good and His glory; and by, and for, and from His Church He puts forth His power, that shall subdue all enemies under His feet. How does Christs rule affect individual members of His Church?
1. To what extent can and may they enjoy personally the presence of their King? Sits enthroned in their heart and affections individually.
2. Christ must hold unrivalled and unlimited sway and sovereignty over their liven His kingship absolute: their affections undivided: they habitually and entirely under the constraining influences of His love.
3. They will recognise that His care extends to every individual believer, sending expressions of His kindness and love to each, and never–save in faithfulness–afflicting them. (R. Gordon, D. D.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 17. They shall call Jerusalem the throne of the Lord] The new Jerusalem, the universal Church of Christ, shall be God’s throne: and wherever he is acknowledged as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, there God sits on his throne, and holds his court.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
They shall call Jerusalem the throne of the Lord; instead of the ark, whereon was the mercy-seat, now the church, typified by Jerusalem, Gal 4:26; Rev 21:2, shall be the place of Gods residence, where by his Spirit he will rule and act in his word and ordinances, and in special the Messias. See Jer 14:21, and Jer 3:16.
All the nations shall be gathered unto it; intimating both their readiness to come in, and their number, according to first prophecy of Jacob, Gen 49:10. See Isa 2:2. By
nations here understand either the ten tribes, who are called many people, both Israel and Judah united, their distance being taken away; see Jer 3:18; or rather some of all nations, that shall flock into the gospel church; for when the prophets foretell this state, they generally usher it in with the return of this people, at which time the church shall be greatly enlarged.
To the name of the Lord, to Jerusalem, i.e. dwelling in Jerusalem, or where the Lord placed his name, viz. of old in Jerusalem, Psa 122:2,3, &c., but now in the church, Rev 21:2,3, without ark or temple, Rev 21:22, where he will be known as it were by his proper name, Isa 60:9, or as manifest in the flesh.
Neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart; both Jew and Gentile shall now conform themselves to the will of God, Isa 2 3.
The word imagination here comes from a root that signifies to see, and thus it is sometimes applied to the judgment, Psa 17:2, and sometimes to the affection, Psa 66:18; here it may comprehend both, they will follow neither their own judgment nor affection, but wholly the word of God. The word is thus phrased Num 15:39; Ecc 11:9; some read it after the hardness, Deu 29:19.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
17. Jerusalemthe wholecity, not merely the temple. As it has been the center of theHebrew theocracy, so it shall be the point of attraction tothe whole earth (Isa 2:2-4;Zec 2:10; Zec 2:11;Zec 14:16-21).
throne of . . . LordTheShekinah, the symbol of God’s peculiar nearness to Israel (De4:7) shall be surpassed by the antitype, God’s own throne inJerusalem (Psa 2:6; Psa 2:8;Eze 34:23; Eze 34:24;Zec 2:5).
imaginationrather, asMargin, “the obstinacy” or stubbornness.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the Lord,…. That is, the Gospel church, the heavenly Jerusalem, the Jerusalem above, that is free, and the mother of us all; which is Christ’s kingdom, where he has his throne and subjects, and where he sits and reigns as King of saints; and where they yield a cheerful and ready subjection to him, signified by calling the church his throne:
and all the nations shall be gathered unto it: which shows that Jerusalem, literally understood, cannot be meant, but the church of Christ; to which the Gentiles, being converted, should join themselves in great numbers in all nations, as they have done; and which will be more largely accomplished and verified in the latter day, Isa 2:2
to the name of the Lord, to Jerusalem; to name his name, to trust in his name, to call upon it, and to worship him in Jerusalem, in his church, and among his people; and so the Targum,
“and all nations shall give themselves to worship in it the name of the Lord, in Jerusalem:”
neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart; for the Gospel being preached to all nations, according to Christ’s commission, by the pastors he promises, and that being blessed to the turning of the Gentiles from their idols to serve the living God, they shall no more worship the gods they chose for themselves, and their evil hearts devised.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
We now understand more clearly what I have already said, — that the Prophet promises here that there would be concord between the ten tribes and the kingdom of Judah, when both returned from exile; as though he had said, that their condition would be better than it ever had been; for the seed of Abraham had been torn as it were asunder; and the people whom God intended that they should continue in a holy union had become divided in the most shameful manner. We indeed know that there had been inveterate hatred between the Jews and the Israelites. As then there had been such disgraceful division for a long time between the children of Abraham, the Prophet now shews what would be the fruit of exile; for after having been for a time chastised by the Lord, they would return to their own country, not to entertain the same emulation as had existed, but to unite together in calling on God, in order that the Jews might be as brethren to the Israelites, and the Israelites might cultivate mutual concord with the tribe of Judah.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(17) They shall call Jerusalem the throne of the Lord.Up to Jeremiahs time that title, the throne of God, though the language of the Old Testament had referred it to the heavens (Psa. 11:4; Psa. 103:19), had probably been applied, in popular language, to the ark where the Lord dwelt between the cherubim (1Sa. 4:4; 2Ki. 19:15). The prophet extends it to the whole city, in that future of which he was doubtless thinking. To him, as to Micah (Mic. 4:1-2) and Isaiah (Isa. 2:1-3), there came a vision of the holy city as the centre of the divine Kingdom. It was not given to him to see what even the Apostles were slow to understand, that there is no holy city upon earth, and that his hopes would only be fulfilled in the heavenly Jerusalem which is the Church or family of God.
The imagination.Better, stubbornness, as in the margin.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
17. All the nations shall be gathered Let this passage, the meaning of which is so unmistakable, explain all similar passages. The sense in which the nations of the earth shall gather to Jerusalem, according to this golden vision, is doubtless that in which the Jewish people shall gather there. It only means that the spiritual Jerusalem shall be the capital of the world, and all nations shall “bring their glory and honour into it.”
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jer 3:17 At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart.
Ver. 17. They shall call Jerusalem, ] i.e., The Church Christian.
The throne of the Lord.
Neither shall they walk any more, &c.,
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
At that time. Referring to the future Restoration.
call Jerusalem, &c. Compare Psa 87:2-7. Isa 60:1; Isa 65:18; Isa 66:7-13, Isa 66:20.
throne. Compare Jer 14:21. 1Sa 2:8. Psa 47:8 with Mat 25:31 and Zep 3:8.
all the nations. This shows that the prophecy refers to the yet future Restoration. Compare Jer 1:5, Jer 1:10.
the name, &c. See note on Psa 20:1.
imagination = stubbornness. The word is used eight times by Jeremiah, but is found nowhere else outside the Pentateuch, except in Psa 81:12. Compare Jer 7:24. The reference to Pent, is in Deu 29:19.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the throne: Jer 14:21, Jer 17:12, Jer 31:23, Psa 87:3, Isa 6:1, Isa 66:1, Eze 1:26, Eze 43:7, Gal 4:26
and all the nations: Isa 2:2-4, Isa 49:18-23, Isa 60:3-9, Isa 66:20, Mic 4:1-5, Zec 2:11, Zec 8:20-23
to the name: Isa 26:8, Isa 56:6, Isa 59:19
walk: Jer 7:24, Jer 9:14, Jer 11:8, Jer 16:12, Jer 18:12, Gen 8:21, Num 15:39, Rom 1:21, Rom 6:14, 2Co 10:4, 2Co 10:5, Eph 4:17-19
imagination: or, stubbornness, Deu 29:29, *marg. Jdg 2:19, Psa 78:8
Reciprocal: Deu 29:19 – imagination Ezr 7:19 – the God of Jerusalem Isa 60:9 – unto Isa 65:2 – after Jer 13:10 – imagination Jer 16:19 – Gentiles Jer 23:17 – imagination Eze 48:35 – The Lord Zec 8:8 – and they shall dwell Rom 11:26 – all Heb 3:12 – an Rev 7:9 – a great
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
THE SACRED METROPOLIS
They shall call Jerusalem the throne of the Lord; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it.
Jer 3:17
Jerusalem is now to be in relation to the nations.
I. All Jerusalem is now to be the throne of the Lord.The prophets glance penetrates to the remotest distance, without distinguishing the progressive stages into which the final period itself is divided. While this prophecy in itself requires limitation, it may be used also in a wider sense, so that the heathen, in so far as Jerusalem is also their centre, may be reckoned together with Israel. All then, Israel and the heathen, will finally lose their stony heart and receive a heart soft and filled with the Spirit (Eze 11:19; Eze 36:26), and not outwardly only, but with the whole heart will they be subject to the Lord and His kingdom.If we once more look over this section we are struck above all by the sublimely rapt progress of the prophets discourse from the circumstances of the present to the remotest future. The prophet proceeds from the comparison of the Judah of the present with the Israel in a certain sense belonging already to the past. This comparison issues favourably to Israel. Thus a prophecy is called forth which sets in prospect before Israel the highest material and spiritual prosperity.
II. With this two questions are connected.Since the realisation of this prosperity is connected with the condition of Israels conversion, the question arises, Will this conversion take place? and when? The prophetic gaze can in the inconceivably distant ages perceive no element of religious or political restoration in the Israel of the ten tribes, as these are in fact unknown even to the present day. It must then be reserved for the final period to bring back the lost ten tribes to the lightthe light of knowledge and of salvation. But here another question also arises, Will not Judah also participate in this light of knowledge and salvation? These two questions then: What will become of Judah? and, How is it as to the conversion required in Eze 36:13? still wait for a solution. We may indeed read this solution from Eze 36:14 between the lines. But the sublime haste of the prophets flight hindered him from giving it in express words; he adds it therefore in the following strophe.
Illustrations
(1) Here is a great deal of Gospel in these verses, both that which was always gospel, Gods readiness to pardon sin, and to receive and entertain returning, repenting sinners, and those blessings which were in a special manner reserved for gospel times, the forming and founding of the gospel-church by bringing into it the children of God that were scattered abroad, the superseding of the ceremonial law, and the uniting of Jews and Gentiles, typified by the uniting of Israel and Judah in their return out of captivity.
(2) Sin may come in between a man and his wife, severing marriage ties; but though our sin be more inveterate and repeated than woman ever perpetrated against man, or man against woman, it cannot cut off that love which is from everlasting. O, blessed love! into the inner circle of which even prodigals may be readmitted.
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
Jer 3:17. When spiritual Israel comes into being the people of God will regard Jerusalem (not Sinai) as the place from which their law was given. All nations is a prediction that the Gentiles as well as the Jews will be included in the new system of salvation, This is what Peter taught by “all flesh In Act 2:17 and every nation” in Act 10:35.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Jer 3:17. At that time Of reformation, , emendation, (Heb 9:10,) when things should be put into a better state by the coming of the Messiah; they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the Lord Instead of the ark, the Christian Church, typified by Jerusalem, shall be the place of Gods special residence, power, and glory; where he will rule and act, and display his glory, in and by his word and ordinances, and especially in and by the Messiah. And all the nations shall be gathered unto it Not only the Jews and Israelites, but many of all nations: many of the heathen shall be brought to worship the true God, and to embrace the Christian faith. To the name of the Lord Which shall be both manifested and called upon in his church, as formerly at Jerusalem. Neither shall they walk, &c. Both Jews and Gentiles shall now conform themselves to the will of God. The word , here rendered imagination, is derived from a root that signifies to see, and is sometimes applied to the judgment, and sometimes to the affections. Here it may comprehend both: they shall neither follow their own corrupt judgment nor affection, but wholly the word of God.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
3:17 At that time they shall call Jerusalem {r} the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered to it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart.
(r) Meaning, the Church, where the Lord will be present to the world’s end, Mat 28:20 .
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
The reason for these future Israelites’ lack of interest in the ark, in that day, will be: the Lord Himself will be enthroned in Jerusalem. The whole city will be known as "The Throne of the LORD," not just the ark (cf. Lev 16:2; Lev 16:13; 2Ki 19:15; Psa 80:1; Eze 48:35).
"There is unquestionably a Messianic expectation here (cf. Jer 5:18; Jer 31:1; Jer 33:16; Hos 3:5, etc.)." [Note: Harrison, Jeremiah and . . ., p. 66.]
People from the Gentile nations would also come to Jerusalem, as God would draw them, because of the reputation of Yahweh (cf. Isa 2:2-3; Isa 56:6-8; Isa 60:11-14; Mic 4:1-2). Their hearts would be different then, and they would comply with God’s will rather than stubbornly resist it (cf. Jer 31:33-34).