Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 5:14
Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.
14. “Ye” (the people) “thy” (Jeremiah’s). Cp. Jer 23:39.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Jer 5:14
I will make My words in thy mouth fire.
The potential word
Three elements of the power of the Gospel are here found.
I. The I will of the Almighty. That will is an ocean deep and wide as eternity and infinity. In that shoreless deep all the mighty orbs, suns, systems floated first by mere will of Jehovah. To that will every line of inspiration becomes either a ray of light, law, and peace, or a thunderbolt of justice.
II. the words of thy mouth. The language is human, but Divine in its source. In all the dealings of heaven with our race, created instruments have been used. A long line of prophets and patriots have been guided with the authority and power from the eternal throne. So that whether Jehovah will to rouse all the stormy elements of clouds above, and waters beneath, as by a shepherds staff, and styled the rod of God, on the kingdom of Egypt, or drive a broad dusty highway through the waves of the sea,–it is the same glorious God that is present in this sacred book. Ten thousand angels of the lifeguard around heavens throne could not change the heart of the weakest child. But aided by the will of the eternal majestic I of the text, a babe in the manger at Bethlehem will awaken a song that shall ring out in anthem heard far up among the golden spheres of heaven, and echo round and round our redeemed and regenerated world.
III. A fire purifies but consumes the chaff. (W. H. Van Doren, D. D.)
Gods Word as fire
seems to me that the Word of God in our churches is too much like a sight which you not infrequently see in our streets in winter: a heap of coals cast down from a cart in front of a house upon the frosty ground, with the snow lying all around it, and falling upon it from the bosom of the storm. It is a remarkable conjunction when you come to think of it–a heap of coals and a heap of snow. The snow lies upon the heap of coals as cold and unmoved as it could lie over a heap of granite stones; and yet that heap of coal contains a vast quantity of potential heat, heat enough to melt all the snow in the street and convert for the time being the winter around into summer. But so long as the coal is as cold as the snow, so long does it produce no effect. Supposing you were able to apply a burning coal from your kitchen fire to the cold coal outside, what a wonderful change you would produce. You would let loose the potential heat; you would transform that cold inert mass of coal into a fiery furnace, which would melt and evaporate all the snow around it. And more marvellous still would the effect of the Word of God be upon you, coming to your cold, hard, frost-bound heart, with power from on high kindled with the fire of Gods Holy Spirit. The potential heat in it would be set free, and it would transform your whole nature and life. (H. Macmillan.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 14. Because ye speak this word] Because ye thus treat my message, “I will make my words in thy mouth fire.” They have said they are but air; but I will make them fire, and a fire too that shall devour them. And how this was to be done, and by whom, is mentioned in the next verse.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Wherefore thus saith the Lord: these vile wretches having now done speaking, God begins to speak; and because they had thus slighted the prophet, and God speaking by him, (as in the next words,
Because ye speak this word, ) here tells them what he will do; or rather, turns himself abruptly to the prophet, as men usually do in a passion.
The Lord God of hosts; he makes his majesty and power known, to clothe his words with the greater terror. Because ye speak this word, viz. at the rate they discoursed in the former verse.
It shall devour them, i.e. it shall take place suddenly, and irresistibly, and fiercely, as fire is wont to take in dry wood, to their utter ruin and overthrow, Psa 83:14,15; Isa 9:18,19. They shall be but fuel to my wrath, which shall be executed by the Chaldean army, that shall consume and eat them up like fire; they shall find my words to be more than wind.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
14. ye . . . thy . . . thispeopleHe turns away from addressing the people to the prophet;implying that He puts them to a distance from Him, and onlycommunicates with them through His prophet (Jer5:19).
fire . . . woodThydenunciations of judgments shall be fulfilled and shall consume themas fire does wood. In Jer 23:29it is the penetrating energy of fire which is the point ofcomparison.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Wherefore thus saith the Lord God of hosts, because ye speak this word,…. That it is not the Lord; it is not he that speaks; it is no prophecy of him, and therefore shall become wind, and come to nothing:
behold, I will make my word in thy mouth fire: it shall have its effect, and a dreadful one; it shall not become wind, but be as fire, not to enlighten the understanding, to purify the conscience, and warm the heart; but to torture, distress, and destroy, as the fire of the word out of the mouths of the two witnesses, Re 11:5:
and this people wood, and it shall devour them; as wood is devoured by fire, so shall this people be destroyed by sword and famine, as the word of the prophecy has declared they should; and which was done by the following means.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
But the people is to have proof of the truth of the word of the Lord. Because it, despising the threatening of punishment, says: Misfortune shall not light upon us, the Lord will make the word in the mouth of Jeremiah a fire, and the people wood, that the fire may consume it. On this figure, cf. Isa 1:31; Isa 10:17. Jer 5:15. explain this, and announce the inroad of a dreadful enemy that is to lay waste the land and consume the people. “A people from far,” as in Jer 4:16. Judah is called “house of Israel,” not so much because it is what remains of Israel, but because, after the captivity of the ten tribes, Judah regarded itself as the only true Israel or people of God. Further description of the hostile people is intended to show its formidable power, and to inspire dread. , enduring, firm, strong; cf. Gen 49:24; Mic 6:2. , dating from eternity, i.e., very ancient, not of recent origin, but become mighty in immemorial antiquity. A people speaking a language unfamiliar to the Jews, to comprehend whom is impossible, i.e., barbarous; cf. Deu 28:49. Further (Jer 5:16), it is a race of very heroes, fully furnished with deadly weapons. J. D. Mich. took objection to the figure, “its quiver is as an open grave;” but his conjecture put nothing better in place of it. The link of comparison is this: as an open grave is filled with dead men, so the quiver of this enemy is filled with deadly missiles.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
God shews here how intolerable to him was their wantonness in despising the prophets, through whom he would have himself attended to. Though Christ did not refer to this passage, when he said,
“
He who hears you hears me, and he who despises you despises me,” (Luk 10:16)
yet it contains an eternal law; for God’s will from the beginning has been, that his servants should be obeyed, as though he himself had come down from heaven. Hence the Jews dealt no less contumeliously with God in despising his prophets, than if they had dared to treat God himself with contempt. God then now shews how much he abhorred that madness, through which they rendered void all the labors of his servants.
Therefore thus saith Jehovah, the God of hosts Jeremiah made this preface, that he might more effectually rouse the Jews; for if he had omitted Thus saith Jehovah, and had begun thus, “Because ye have announced this word, behold, as fire shall be the word of God, “his doctrine would have been objected to, and treated with contempt. But now, by alleging the name of God, and that not simply, but by adorning it with a high attribute, and calling him “the God of hosts, “he makes known his power in order to strike them with fear. He then says, “Thus saith Jehovah, the God of hosts, Because ye have spoken this word, “ etc. Here he changes the persons often; and it behooved him to do so, that there might be more force and point in what he said. He ought to have said in the third person, “Because they have spoken thus, Behold, I will make my words in thy mouth, “etc.: but he now addresses the people, and then he turns to his servant Jeremiah. He therefore says, “Ye have indeed spoken thus;” that is, “Ye have scoffingly spoken, as though my prophets had nothing but the empty sound of words;” Behold, he says, I will make my words in thy mouth like fire, (he thus addresses the Prophet,) and this people shall be wood, and the fire shall devour them
God compares his own word to fire, not as in other places, nor for the same reason; but this similitude has a particular meaning, — that the prophetic word would consume the people as fire consumes dry wood or straw. In other places the word of God is called fire, because it kindles the hearts of men, because it cleanses or burns the filth within. But he treats not here of the benefit or the fruit which the faithful derive from God’s word: but God declares only that the doctrine of the Prophet would prove fatal to the people; and hence he expressly says, “I make my words in thy mouth like fire.” Had he said, “Behold, my words shall be like fire, and this people shall be stubble, “it would not have been sufficiently expressive. But as the people had been accustomed to scoff and say, “Ah! what are these prophets, and what are their words? they beat the air only;” as then the Jews had been wont to speak in this manner, he now replies to them, and says, “I will make my words in thy mouth like fire;” that is, Thy tongue alone shall be more than sufficient to destroy the whole people. Jeremiah teaches here the same thing with Paul, when he said,
“
We have vengeance in readiness against all altitude which rises against the gospel.” (2Co 10:4)
For it has ever been an evil, common to all ages, either to neglect, or wholly to despise the servants of God. When Paul saw that the gospel was despised by many, he said that he and other ministers had vengeance in readiness; as though he had said, “As many words as we speak shall be so many swords to slay all the ungodly; and though their hardness now reject the judgment of God, their perverseness shall avail them nothing. Let them now then know that there is so much power in my word, as though God were openly to put forth his hand from heaven, as though he were to dart forth his lightnings.” The same thing is what Jeremiah means here, Behold, he says, I will make my words in thy mouth fire; that is, there will be so much power in thy words, that the ungodly shall know to their own loss that thou art the executioner of my vengeance.
This passage ought to be carefully observed by us, lest by our ingratitude we shall so provoke God’s wrath against us, as that his word, which is destined for our food, shall be turned to be a fire to us. For why has God appointed the ministers of his gospel, except to invite us to become partakers of his salvation, and thus sweetly to restore and refresh our souls? And thus the word of God is to us like water to revive our hearts: it is also a fire, but for our good, a cleansing, and not a consuming fire: but if we obstinately reject this fire, it will surely turn to answer another end, even to devour us, and wholly to consume us.
But he says that this people would be wood: as the ungodly set up an iron front against God, they think they can thus drive to a distance his vengeance; the Prophet now laughs to scorn this madness, and says that they would be like wood or straw. It follows —
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(14) The Lord God of hosts.The solemn name (Jehovah Elohim Zebaoth) used for the second time in Jeremiahs teaching (Jer. 2:19). The message is partly to the peopleBecause ye speak this word, partly to the prophet who was sent to bear his witness against themI will make my words in thy mouth.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
14. My words Still God’s, though spoken by Jeremiah.
Fire Rather, as a fire. The words, and the things expressed by them, are taken together. This threatening of judgments would be fulfilled, and so this word will be like the “fire” as to its devouring energy. See also Isa 1:31; Isa 10:17.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Reader! do as the Psalmist did, after reading these verses, and say, I will sing of mercy and judgment. And let your song as his was, be dedicated to the Lord: for to the Lord alone the praise and glory is due. Psa 101:1 . And do not overlook the sweet nevertheless the Lord puts in. Yes: there is this blessed nevertheless in the Covenant. In Jesus his people are pardoned, though as Jesus’s children, justly corrected for their sins. The Lord hereby proclaims his holiness, and his utter displeasure against sin, while sparing the sinner. Psa 89:30-35 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jer 5:14 Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.
Ver. 14. Because ye speak this word. ] Ungodly men shall one day answer, with all the world on fire about their ears, for all their hard and haughty speeches. Jdg 1:15 They shall find that neither their own words are wind, but such as they shall give a sad account of; nor the prophet’s words wind, unless it be to blow them into the bottomless lake, and to torment their consciences, haply in the meanwhile more than wind doth men’s bodies, when gotten once into the veins or bowels.
Behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Jer 5:14-17
14Therefore, thus says the LORD, the God of hosts,
Because you have spoken this word,
Behold, I am making My words in your mouth fire
And this people wood, and it will consume them.
15Behold, I am bringing a nation against you from afar,
O house of Israel, declares the LORD.
It is an enduring nation,
It is an ancient nation,
A nation whose language you do not know,
Nor can you understand what they say.
16Their quiver is like an open grave,
All of them are mighty men.
17They will devour your harvest and your food;
They will devour your sons and your daughters;
They will devour your flocks and your herds;
They will devour your vines and your fig trees;
They will demolish with the sword your fortified cities in which you trust.
Jer 5:14-17 YHWH (the LORD, the God of hosts, see Special Topic at Jer 1:2) discloses what He will do in response to His people’s rebellion and specifically because of their words in Jer 5:12.
God is bringing a foreign pagan nation to judge His people (cf. Isa 5:26-30). Apparently Jer 5:14 is YHWH speaking to Jeremiah (UBS Handbook, p. 163). Notice the description of this nation.
1. from afar
2. an enduring nation (or strong, cf. Jer 5:15)
3. an ancient nation
4. a nation with a different language (cf. Isa 28:11)
5. a nation with a mighty army
a. devour your current harvest
b. devour your children
c. devour your herds
d. devour your fields
e. demolish your walled cities and forts
Jer 5:16 The MT has (BDB 80), which means quiver. However, the previous line in Jer 5:15 speaks of a language; , which means his lip (cf. NEB, REB). The UBS Text Project gives option #1 a B rating (some doubt), which is followed by most English translations.
The LXX of this verse has only all are strong for Jer 5:16.
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
the LORD God of hosts. Hebrew. Jehovah.the Elohim of Zebaioth. Occurs in Jeremiah only here, Jer 15:16; Jer 35:17; and Jer 49:5.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
I will make: Jer 1:9, Jer 23:29, Jer 28:15-17, 2Ki 1:10-14, Hos 6:5, Zec 1:6, Rev 11:5, Rev 11:6
Reciprocal: 2Sa 22:9 – went Jer 21:12 – lest Jer 39:16 – Behold Eze 23:45 – the righteous Act 5:5 – hearing
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 5:14. The singular pronouns ye and thy refer to Jeremiah who was a true prophet and spoke this word which came from the Lord. Fire and icood are used figuratively and refer to the severe predictions which the prophet was inspired to make. His fiery threatenings w-ere to be against this people who had been so unfaithful to God. This suggested the figure of wood because the unrighteous people will be as fuel for the burning wrath of God.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Jer 5:14-18. Wherefore, thus saith the Lord God of hosts The prophet now, in the name of God, answers the blasphemous speeches of these infidels, ascribing to Jehovah that power and supremacy which were calculated to give his words the greater influence. Because you speak this word because these scoffers express themselves in this manner; I will make my words in thy mouth fire, &c. Thy words shall take effect, and thy predictions begin to be accomplished suddenly and unexpectedly, irresistibly and fiercely, (as fire is wont to kindle upon and consume dry wood,) to their utter overthrow and ruin. They shall be but fuel to my wrath, which shall be executed upon them by the Chaldean army. I will bring a nation upon you from far The prophet, in the two following verses, marks out the Chaldeans by their distance; by their power and valour; by their antiquity; by their language, unknown to the Jews; by their arms, their might, and their cruelty. And they shall eat up thy harvest In the field; and thy bread In the house; which thy sons and thy daughters should eat Necessary for the sustenance of thy own offspring. They shall consume all, leaving thee no supports of life, but bringing an utter famine upon thee. Here is a plain allusion to the predictions of Moses, Deu 28:49-51. They shall eat up thy flocks and thy herds Out of which thou hast taken sacrifices for thine idols. They shall eat up thy vines and thy fig-trees They shall leave thee no part of the produce of thy vineyards or fields. They shall empoverish thy fenced cities, &c. After besieging, they shall take and destroy thy cities, though defended by high and strong walls; wherein thou trustedst For the protection of the country; slaying the garrisons and inhabitants thereof with the sword, and leaving them desolate. See this also foretold, Deu 28:52.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
5:14 Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in {n} thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.
(n) Meaning, Jeremiah.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Yahweh, the ultimate power and authority in the universe, promised to make the messages that He had put in Jeremiah’s mouth for the people like "fire," not just hot air. His words would consume them in the sense that they would result in the people’s destruction-if repentance did not follow.