Discovery BoxJeremiah 11:5
Context11:5 Then I will keep the promise I swore on oath to your ancestors to give them a land flowing with milk and honey.” 1 That is the very land that you still live in today.’” 2 And I responded, “Amen! Let it be so, 3 Lord!”
Jeremiah 11:7
Context11:7 For I solemnly warned your ancestors to obey me. 4 I warned them again and again, 5 ever since I delivered them out of Egypt until this very day.
Jeremiah 11:10
Context11:10 They have gone back to the evil ways 6 of their ancestors of old who refused to obey what I told them. They, too, have paid allegiance to 7 other gods and worshiped them. Both the nation of Israel and the nation of Judah 8 have violated the covenant I made with their ancestors.
[11:5] 1 tn The phrase “a land flowing with milk and honey” is very familiar to readers in the Jewish and Christian traditions as a proverbial description of the agricultural and pastoral abundance of the land of Israel. However, it may not mean too much to readers outside those traditions; an equivalent expression would be “a land of fertile fields and fine pastures.” E. W. Bullinger (Figures of Speech, 626) identifies this as a figure of speech called synecdoche where the species is put for the genus, “a region…abounding with pasture and fruits of all kinds.”
[11:5] 2 tn Heb “‘a land flowing with milk and honey,’ as at this day.” However, the literal reading is too elliptical and would lead to confusion.
[11:5] 3 tn The words “Let it be so” are not in the text; they are an explanation of the significance of the term “Amen” for those who may not be part of the Christian or Jewish tradition.
[11:7] 4 tn Heb “warned them…saying, ‘Obey me.’” However, it allows the long sentence to be broken up easier if the indirect quote is used.
[11:7] 5 tn For the explanation for this rendering see the note on 7:13.
[11:10] 6 tn Or “They have repeated the evil actions of….”
[11:10] 7 tn Heb “have walked/followed after.” See the translator’s note at 2:5 for the idiom.
