Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 51:16
When he uttereth [his] voice, [there is] a multitude of waters in the heavens; and he causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth: he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.
16. his voice ] in thunder. Cp. Jer 10:13.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 16. When he uttereth his voice] Sends thunder.
There is a multitude of waters] For the electric spark, by decomposing atmospheric air, converts the hydrogen and oxygen gases, of which it is composed, into water; which falls down in the form of rain.
Causeth the vapours to ascend] He is the Author of that power of evaporation by which the water is rarified, and, being lighter than the air, ascends in form of vapour, forms clouds, and is ready to be sent down again to water the earth by the action of his lightnings, as before. And by those same lightnings, and the agency of heat in general, currents of air are formed, moving in various directions, which we call winds.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
When he uttereth [his] voice, [there is] a multitude of waters in the heavens; and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth: he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures. [See comments on Jer 10:13].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
This, then, is the reason why the Prophet, after having briefly touched on what we have seen, adds, as evidences of God’s power and wisdom, those things which appear to us in their various changes. He then says, that by his voice alone he gives abundance of waters in the heavens, and then that he raises vapors from the extremity of the earth, that he creates lightnings and the rain, which yet seem to be contrary things. At last he says, that he brings the winds out of his treasures Philosophers indeed mention the causes of these things, but we ought to come to the fountain itself, and the original cause, even this, that things are so arranged in the world, that though there are intermediate and subordinate causes, yet the primary cause ever appears eminently, even the wisdom and power of God. Winds arise from the earth, even because exhalations proceed from it; but exhalations, by whom are they created? not by themselves: it hence follows, that God is their sole author. And he calls hidden places treasures: as when one draws out this or that from his storehouse, so he says that winds come forth from hidden places, not of themselves, but through God, who holds them as though they were shut up. I pass by these things by only touching on them, because I have already reminded you that we have before explained, in the tenth chapter (Jer 10:0), what is here literally repeated. It now follows, —
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
Jer 51:16 When he uttereth [his] voice, [there is] a multitude of waters in the heavens; and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth: he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.
Ver. 16. When he uttereth his voice, &c. ] See Jer 10:13 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
multitude = noise.
lightnings, &c. Compare Jer 10:13.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
he uttereth: Jer 10:12, Jer 10:13, Job 37:2-11, Job 40:9, Psa 18:13, Psa 29:3-10, Psa 46:6, Psa 68:33, Psa 104:7, Eze 10:5
there is: Job 36:26-33, Job 37:13, Job 38:34-38, Psa 135:7, Amo 9:7
multitude: or, noise
and he causeth: Psa 135:7
bringeth: Gen 8:1, Exo 10:13, Exo 10:19, Exo 14:21, Job 38:22, Psa 78:26, Psa 135:7, Psa 147:18, Jon 1:4, Jon 4:8, Mat 8:26, Mat 8:27
Reciprocal: Gen 7:11 – all Psa 29:4 – powerful Jer 14:22 – Art Amo 4:13 – and createth Zec 10:1 – bright clouds
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 51:16. The thought. In this verse is on God’s control over the rain and other elements of the universe. Since the entire workings of the universe are subject to the divine power, then
surely such a comparatively email thing as a human monarchy cannot resist that power successfully.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
This verse describes His present activity. He is the one who gathers clouds together and sends rainstorms on the earth with lightning and wind. The Babylonian storm-god Bel was not responsible for this (Jer 50:2).