Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 5:2
And though they say, The LORD liveth; surely they swear falsely.
2. Though, as professed servants of Jehovah, they take the most solemn form of oath, yet they use it to give weight to a lie. Cp. Isa 48:1.
surely ] This rendering is obtained by the change of one letter in MT., which has “therefore” in defiance of the sense.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Though they take the most binding form of oath, they do so only as a means of deceiving others.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 2. The Lord liveth] Though they profess to bind themselves by Jehovah, as if they acknowledged him their God and only Lord, yet they swore falsely; for not believing in him, they took a false oath; one by which they did not believe themselves bound, not acknowledging him as their Lord. See on Jer 4:2.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Though they say, The Lord liveth; though when they swear, they use the form of an oath, and say, The
Lord liveth, Jer 5:2, or, By the living God. By swearing here we may understand all their service of God, by a synecdoche, swearing being a part of Gods worship. Surely they swear falsely; yet, or therefore, they swear falsely; either they swear to that which is false; or if to that which is true, they are so perfidious to me, that they do it deceitfully, not in sincerity, and in reverence to that holy name by which they swear: possibly they may often speak of God, and not swear by false gods, Jer 5:7, but it is all but hypocrisy and deceit, Isa 48:1; Jer 12:2; 42:5,20; 2Ti 3:5. It is neither in truth nor righteousness, two of the principal qualifications of a lawful oath. Thus they prostitute the name of God, making themselves guilty, not of hypocrisy only, but sacrilege.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
2. (Tit1:16).
swear falselynot ajudicial oath; but their profession of the worship of Jehovah isinsincere (Jer 5:7; Jer 4:2).The reformation under Josiah was merely superficial in the case ofthe majority.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And though they say, the Lord liveth,…. It might be said, that there were multitudes that made mention of the name of the Lord, that professed it, and swore by it; which sometimes is put for the worship and service of God, De 10:20 and therefore it could not be so difficult a matter to find a man of integrity and uprightness among them; this is answered by allowing there were persons that did do so: but then it must be observed,
that surely they swear falsely; they abused the name of God, and were guilty of perjury: or the sense is, they were only nominal professors, hypocritical worshippers; in words professed to know God, but in works denied him; had a form of religion and godliness, but without the power of it.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
This is added by way of anticipation; for the Jews, as it is well known, thought that they had a cover for all their vices, inasmuch as they had God’s name continually in their mouths. Since then they professed to worship the God of Abraham, they thought that this pretext was sufficient to cover all their wickedness. The Prophet obviates this objection, and shews that this disguise was of no avail, because in thus using God’s name, they profaned it: and he goes still further; for he shews that the Jews, not only in common practice, were wholly destitute of the fear of God, but that when anything of a religious kind appeared among them, it was sacrilegious; and this is far worse than when God’s name is forgotten, and wretched men allow themselves a full license in sinning, as though they could not conceal their wickedness: for when they openly provoke God, and as it were dishonor him to his face, how detestable and how monstrous is their impiety! This then is what Jeremiah sets forth, Though they say, Live does Jehovah, yet in this they swear falsely
We now perceive the Prophet’s meaning: In the first place, he takes away from hypocrites their vain confidence in thinking that God would be propitious to them, provided they avowed his name, without considering how precious God’s name is, but regarding it as nothing to swear carelessly by his name: but the Prophet not only condemns the hypocrisy of the Jews, but, as I have said, he enhances their wickedness; for they hesitated not to profane God’s sacred name, and to carry on, as it were, an open war with him, by abusing his name in swearing.
By mentioning, Live does Jehovah, he refers to the words which the godly also use when they make an oath; for when they appeal to the living God, it is the same thing as though they stood before his tribunal; and at the same time said, that they knew that though God may defer his vengeance, yet an account must be given, because he ever lives. Thus the godly acknowledge that there is nothing gained by delay, in case God suspends his vengeance, if they swear falsely. But the Prophet, as I have already said, applies this to hypocrites, who seemed to ascribe great honor to God, for nothing is more specious than their words: gall indeed was in their heart, while honey was on their lips. Hence the Prophet derides this false pretense, and says, “Even when they swear most solemnly as to the words used, and shew a high concern for religion, nevertheless they swear falsely.” Some render לכן, lacen, surely, or certainly; but the meaning will be plainer, if we render it “nevertheless.” (129) It follows —
(129) There are many MSS. which have אכן, “surely, “but לכן may also be so rendered; yet, as “nevertheless” is its meaning, in Jer 16:14, and other places, it may be so taken here. The Septuagint must have read לא כן, and the sentence is a question, “Do they not thus swear falsely?” But the early versions favor the present reading; and it gives a suitable meaning, —
And though “Live does Jehovah, “they say, Nevertheless falsely do they swear.
The verbs are in the future tense, but used to express present acts, as is the case often in Hebrew, and also very commonly in Welsh. The words in the latter language might be expressed exactly as in the former, and be understood as speaking of what is present, —
(lang. cy) Ac er “Byw yw Jehova” a ddywedant, Etto yn gelwyddog y tyngant.
—
Ed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(2) The Lord liveth.The words imply that a distinction between the binding powers of different formul of adjuration, like that of the later scribes (Mat. 23:16), was already in some degree prevalent. The guilt of the men of Jerusalem was that they took the most solemn formula of all, Jehovah liveth, and yet were guilty of perjury. In Jer. 5:7 we find traces of the practice of swearing by other gods, with which this oath of Jehovah is apparently contrasted.
Falsely.Literally, upon falsehood.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2. Falsely Implying an outward confession of Jehovah, but combining with it spiritual hypocrisy, falling in perfectly with the intimations which came in other ways, that these were times of outward rather than inward religion.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jer 5:2. Surely they swear falsely Nevertheless, &c. See Jer 5:7 and ch. Jer 4:2. Let what we say be ever so true, if we believe it not to be so, we have not spoken truth. Custom has brought many to church and to meeting, who forget why they came thither when they are there; and too frequently do many of us find ourselves at our prayers, when we least think of Him, to whom we pretend to direct those prayers. And as they whom we trust, and are familiar with, have much more power to do us hurt, to betray us, and expose us to ruin, than our open and professed enemies, towards whom we stand upon our guard, and whom the world looks upon as unjust, or at least as disaffected towards us; so God himself suffers more dishonour from those who pretend to his service, profess the religion enjoined by him, and in their lives and actions practise those things which are inconsistent with, and destructive to that religion, than from those who really understand him not, and therefore never make a shew of looking after him. Let us flatter ourselves as we may, with an opinion of the saving power of our true and right ideas of God, and our Saviour, and of his Holy Spirit; of our being Christians and true members of the church of Christ, it is to be very reasonably feared, that the pure confest atheist, who does not know God at all, and therefore never thinks of pleasing him; who believes that there are no such places as heaven and hell, and so considers not the ways which lead to either; but determines all his hopes and fears within that span of life which nature allows us in this world; who either has not seen those books which we call the Scripture, or, if he have, looks upon them as the invention, or fancy, or speculation of men, and so no further the objects of his faith, than they are the objects of his reason: I say, we may reasonably believe this direct plain Atheist to be less condemnable, than the practical, hypocritical Atheist, the proud false traducer of the fame and reputation of his neighbour, or the cruel and rebellious oppressor of the innocent; who, while with his lips he acknowledges God to be the Creator of heaven and earth, and his Holy Scriptures to be the voice of his mouth, does yet foolishly in his heart deny the being of a God, by neglecting to do all that his divine majesty hath enjoined, and doing all that he hath expressly forbidden to be done. As good parts and education, example and good conversation, are so many aggravations against him whose mind is not improved by these extraordinary advantages; so, doubtless, they who should be found atheists in Christian congregations, who magnify God in their opinions and discourses, and contemn him in their practices, have a more dismal account to make, than the most impious men who have only breathed in heathen and barbarous climates.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Jer 5:2 And though they say, The LORD liveth; surely they swear falsely.
Ver. 2. And though they say, The Lord liveth, ] i.e., Albeit they talk religiously, as those pretenders also did, Isa 66:5 and make a great flaunt, as if some great matter, with Simon Magus, Act 8:9 yet they are arrant hypocrites, and therefore odious to me who desire “truth in the inward parts.” Psa 51:6 These neither “say the truth,” nor “do” it. 1Jn 3:10
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
though: Jer 4:2, Jer 7:9, Lev 19:12, Isa 48:1, Hos 4:1, Hos 4:2, Hos 4:15, Hos 10:4, Zec 5:3, Zec 5:4, Mal 3:5, 1Ti 1:10, 2Ti 3:5, Tit 1:16
Reciprocal: Gen 42:15 – By the life Lev 6:3 – sweareth Deu 6:13 – shalt swear 1Sa 19:6 – sware 1Sa 20:21 – as the 1Ki 17:12 – As the Lord Job 27:2 – God liveth Psa 24:4 – sworn Isa 29:13 – Forasmuch Isa 59:15 – truth Jer 2:6 – Where Jer 12:16 – my name Jer 42:5 – The Lord be Jer 44:26 – The Lord God Eze 17:13 – taken an oath of him Eze 17:19 – surely
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 5:2. Mere professions of respect for God do not count for anything. The people of Judah were outwardly very liberal with their compliments even as they appeared to be very active in the sacrificial services. But God knows the heart and he declares the professions of his people are false.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Jer 5:2. And though they say, The Lord liveth, &c. Though, when they swear, they use the common form of an oath, and say, The Lord liveth, or, as the Lord liveth, or, by the living God. Surely, or rather, nevertheless, they swear falsely That is, either, 1st, They are not sincere in the profession they make of respect to God, but are false to him; they honour him with their lips, but their hearts are far from him, nor have they any proper conviction or sense that he lives and sees them, Gen 16:13-14. Or, 2d, Though they appeal to God only, they make no conscience of calling him to witness a lie: though they do not swear by idols, they forswear themselves, which is no less an affront to Jehovah, as the God of truth, than the other is to him, as the only true God.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
5:2 And though they say, The {b} LORD liveth; surely they swear falsely.
(b) Though they pretend religion and holiness, yet all is but hypocrisy: for under this kind of swearing is contained the true religion.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
The Jerusalemites used the Lord’s name to swear by, but then they showed no respect for Him-by breaking their promises made in His name. When a person swore by Yahweh’s name, he or she called on the Lord to punish him or her, if the person swearing later violated the terms of the oath.