
Text -- Jeremiah 15:19-21 (NET)




Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics



collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)
Wesley: Jer 15:19 - -- These are God's words to the prophet, rebuking his distrust in God, and promising him, that if he did return from his distrust in God's providence, he...
These are God's words to the prophet, rebuking his distrust in God, and promising him, that if he did return from his distrust in God's providence, he would restore him to the former favour he had with him, and he should be his prophet to reveal his mind to the people; and that if he would separate the precious truths of God from the vile conceits of men, then God would continue him as his prophet, to speak in his name to the people.

He charges the prophet to keep his ground, and not to go over to wicked men.

And the power of the terrible Chaldeans.
God's reply to Jeremiah.

JFB: Jer 15:19 - -- Jeremiah, by his impatient language, had left his proper posture towards God; God saith, "If thou wilt return (to thy former patient discharge of thy ...
Jeremiah, by his impatient language, had left his proper posture towards God; God saith, "If thou wilt return (to thy former patient discharge of thy prophetic function) I will bring thee back" to thy former position: in the Hebrew there is a play of words, "return . . . turn again" (Jer 8:4; Jer 4:1).


JFB: Jer 15:19 - -- Image from metals: "If thou wilt separate what is precious in thee (the divine graces imparted) from what is vile (thy natural corruptions, impatience...
Image from metals: "If thou wilt separate what is precious in thee (the divine graces imparted) from what is vile (thy natural corruptions, impatience, and hasty words), thou shall be as My mouth": my mouthpiece (Exo 4:16).

JFB: Jer 15:19 - -- Let not them lead you into their profane ways (as Jeremiah had spoken irreverently, Jer 15:18), but lead thou them to the ways of godliness (Jer 15:16...
Let not them lead you into their profane ways (as Jeremiah had spoken irreverently, Jer 15:18), but lead thou them to the ways of godliness (Jer 15:16-17). Eze 22:26 accords with the other interpretation, which, however, does not so well suit the context, "If thou wilt separate from the promiscuous mass the better ones, and lead them to conversion by faithful warnings," &c.

JFB: Jer 15:20-21 - -- The promise of Jer 1:18-19, in almost the same words, but with the addition, adapted to the present attacks of Jeremiah's formidable enemies, "I will ...
The promise of Jer 1:18-19, in almost the same words, but with the addition, adapted to the present attacks of Jeremiah's formidable enemies, "I will deliver thee out of . . . wicked . . . redeem . . . terrible"; the repetition is in order to assure Jeremiah that God is the same now as when He first made the promise, in opposition to the prophet's irreverent accusation of unfaithfulness (Jer 15:18).
Clarke: Jer 15:19 - -- If thou return - By repentance unto me, -
Then will I bring thee again - Restore thee to thy own country. But some think the words are spoken t...
If thou return - By repentance unto me, -
Then will I bring thee again - Restore thee to thy own country. But some think the words are spoken to the prophet in reference to his ministry. He had greatly repined because of the persecutions which he endured. The Lord reprehends him, and is about to take from him the prophetic gift; but exhorts him first to take the precious from the vile - not to attend to the deceitful words of the people, but boldly declare the message he had given him; not to return unto the people, but let the people return unto him. And then he should be as God’ s mouth - his words should appear to be what they were, the genuine words of God; and the people should be obliged to acknowledge them as such.

Clarke: Jer 15:20 - -- I will make thee - a fenced brazen wall - While thou art faithful to me, none of them shall be able to prevail against thee.
I will make thee - a fenced brazen wall - While thou art faithful to me, none of them shall be able to prevail against thee.

Clarke: Jer 15:21 - -- I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked - From the power of this evil people
I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked - From the power of this evil people

Clarke: Jer 15:21 - -- And I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible - Out of the power of the Chaldean armies. Every thing took place as God had promised, for no...
And I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible - Out of the power of the Chaldean armies. Every thing took place as God had promised, for no word of his can ever fall to the ground.
Calvin: Jer 15:19 - -- From this answer of God we may gather more clearly the design of the Prophet, for his purpose was, in order more fully to prove the people guilty, to...
From this answer of God we may gather more clearly the design of the Prophet, for his purpose was, in order more fully to prove the people guilty, to set before their eyes as it were his own perverseness. Had he spoken only according to the heroic elevation of his own mind, so as not to appear touched by any human feeling, they might have derided him as hardhearted or a fanatic, for so we find that the proud of this world speak and think of the faithful servants of Christ. They call them melancholy, they consider them as unfeeling, and as they neither dread death, nor are drawn away by the allurements of this life, they think that all this proceeds from brutal savageness. Had then the Prophet only performed the duties of his office, the ungodly might have derided his insensibility, but he wished to set forth his own infirmity, his sorrows, his fears, and his anxieties, that he might thus lead the Jews to view things aright. This answer of God ought then to be connected with the complaint of the Prophet, and we may hence learn the meaning of the whole.
God gives this answer, If thou wilt be turned, I will turn thee, that thou mayest stand before me It is the same as though he had said, that he was reproved by the Lord because he fluctuated amidst the commotions of the people. A similar passage is found in the eighth chapter of Isaiah. The Lord there exhorts his Prophet to separate himself from the people, and not to connect himself with those who might have often easily disturbed him, because they continued not in his word; then he says,
“Seal my law for my disciples, sign the testimony,”
(Isa 8:12)
as though he had said, “Have now nothing to do with so perverse a people.” So also now the Lord speaks, If thou wilt be turned, that is, if thou wilt not be guided by the false judgments of the people, nor heed what they say of thee, but boldly despise them and persevere in thy separation from them, I will turn thee, that is, I will by my spirit so strengthen thee, that they may perceive at length that thou art my faithful servant. Then he adds, that thou mayest stand before me. We hence see more plainly what is the meaning of the word “turn” in the second clause, even that the Prophet would render his office approved of God, however clamorous the Jews might be; though they even rose up tumulmously against him, yet he says, thou shalt stand before me. There is implied here a contrast in the word “stand,” for though the Prophet should be most violently assailed by the false words of men, yet God would support and sustain him. The rest we defer until to-morrow.

Calvin: Jer 15:20 - -- As Jeremiah might have objected and said, that the burden was too heavy for him, if he only attempted to break down the contumacy of the people, for ...
As Jeremiah might have objected and said, that the burden was too heavy for him, if he only attempted to break down the contumacy of the people, for he was alone, and we have seen how great was the ferocity and also the cruelty of his adversaries, — as he might have shunned his commission, it being too much for his strength, hence God comes to his aid and bids him to take courage, for he was fortified by a help from heaven, I have set thee, he says, for a brazen fortified wall to this people The word for “fortified” is from
We see then what God meant by these words: As the Prophet was almost alone, and God had bidden him to contend with many and powerful enemies, he promises to stand on his side; as though he had said, — “Though thou art defenceless and unarmed, and they are furnished with wealth and great power, thou shalt yet be like a well-fortified city; thou shalt indeed be impregnable, notwithstanding all their assaults and whatever they may attempt against thee.”
But God proceeds lay degrees; for he first declares that his Prophet would be like a brazen and a fortified wall, that is, like an invincible city: for by stating a part for the whole, a wall means a city that is impregnable. It then follows, They indeed will fight against thee. This warning was very necessary; for Jeremiah was doubtless willing to serve God in exercising authority over teachable and humble men, and in gently inducing them to render obedience to God; but he is reminded here that he would have many hard contests with a rebellious people, They will fight, he says, against thee We see how God does not promise ease to Jeremiah, nor gives him a hope of a better lot in future; but, on the centrary, he exhorts him to fight; and why? because the people would not bear the yoke of God, but kindled into rage against him. But another promise follows, They shall not prevail against thee, or overcome thee.
It was indeed necessary for Jeremiah of his own self to disturb the Jews; for nothing would have been more agreeable to them than his silence; and the object of all their attempts was to drive him to despair. But it is not without reason that they are said to fight with him; for it is contrary to nature for men to resist God and to set themselves against him when he invites them to himself; for what can be more natural than for the whole world to hasten to God? It is then something monstrous for men to oppose God, nay, furiously to rise up against hhn, when he kindly calls them to himself. Hence it is that God here makes the Jews the authors of all this disturbance. For since they loaded the Prophet with the most wicked calumnies, as we have seen, and said, that he was a turbulent man and confounded all things by his morosity, God here shews, on the other hand, that all the commotions and the rightings ought to be attributed to them, because they ought to have obediently received the doctrine set before them.
But though this was said only once to Jeremiah, yet the condition of all God’s servants is here set before us as in a mirror; for they cannot perform what God commands them without having to encounter many and grievous assaults; for the world is never so prepared to obey God, but the greater part furiously resists, and, as far as it can, stifles the word of God and checks his ministers.
He states the reason, For I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee 154 By these words God exhorts his Prophet to prayer; for we know how dangerous is self-security to all the children of God, and especially to teachers. As then they have at all times need of God’s aid, they are to be exhorted to have recourse to solitude and prayer. This is the import of the words which God uses, I am with thee; as though he had said, “Thou indeed wilt not stand by thyself, or through thine own painstaking, nor wilt thou be a conqueror by carrying on war thyself; but thou must learn to flee to me.” It afterwards follows —

Calvin: Jer 15:21 - -- This verse contains nothing new, but is a confirmation of the promise which we have seen. God had promised to be with the Prophet; he now shews that ...
This verse contains nothing new, but is a confirmation of the promise which we have seen. God had promised to be with the Prophet; he now shews that there was sufficient strength in his hand to deliver him. How much soever then the Jews might oppose him, God declares here that he alone would be sufficient to break them down. We hence see that there is more expressed in these words than in what he had said before, I will be with thee to deliver thee; he now shews the act itself as by the finger. I will deliver thee He had promised his aid; he now says, that his aid would be strong enough to deliver him from the hands of his enemies.
He says first, from the hand of the wicked, that the Jews might know that all their disguises would avail them nothing, for they were condemned by the mouth of God. In the second place, he calls them strong, that the Prophet might not be terrified by their power, as was usually the case. For it is very difficult for us not to be disturbed, when we are assailed on every side, and when threats and dangers are in our way. God then here reminds Jeremiah in time, that he would have to fight with the strong and valiant, but that all their strength in opposing him would be unavailing, for divine aid would be much stronger. Now follows —
TSK: Jer 15:19 - -- return : Jer 15:10-18, Jer 20:9; Exo 6:29, Exo 6:30; Jon 3:2
stand : Jer 15:1; 1Ki 17:1; Pro 22:29; Zec 3:7; Luk 1:19, Luk 21:36; Jud 1:24
take : Lev ...
return : Jer 15:10-18, Jer 20:9; Exo 6:29, Exo 6:30; Jon 3:2
stand : Jer 15:1; 1Ki 17:1; Pro 22:29; Zec 3:7; Luk 1:19, Luk 21:36; Jud 1:24
take : Lev 10:10; Isa 32:5, Isa 32:6; Eze 22:26, Eze 44:23; Heb 5:14
as my : Exo 4:12, Exo 4:15, Exo 4:16; Luk 10:16, Luk 12:12, Luk 21:15
let them : Jer 38:20,Jer 38:21; Eze 2:7, Eze 3:10,Eze 3:11; Act 20:27; 2Co 5:16; Gal 1:10, Gal 2:5

TSK: Jer 15:20 - -- I will : Jer 1:18, Jer 1:19, Jer 6:27; Eze 3:9; Act 4:8-13, Act 4:29-31, Act 5:29-32
but : Jer 20:11, Jer 20:12; Psa 124:1-3, Psa 129:1, Psa 129:2; Ro...
I will : Jer 1:18, Jer 1:19, Jer 6:27; Eze 3:9; Act 4:8-13, Act 4:29-31, Act 5:29-32
but : Jer 20:11, Jer 20:12; Psa 124:1-3, Psa 129:1, Psa 129:2; Rom 8:31-39
for : Jer 20:11; Psa 46:7, Psa 46:11; Isa 7:14, Isa 8:9, Isa 8:10, Isa 41:10; Act 18:9, Act 18:10; 2Ti 4:16; 2Ti 4:17, 2Ti 4:22

TSK: Jer 15:21 - -- deliver : Gen 48:16; Psa 27:2, Psa 37:40; Isa 49:24, Isa 49:25, Isa 54:17; Mat 6:13; Rom 16:20; 2Co 1:10
the terrible : Isa 25:3-5, Isa 29:5, Isa 29:2...

collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)
Barnes -> Jer 15:19
Barnes: Jer 15:19 - -- Jeremiah had questioned God’ s righteousness (see Jer 12:1 note); he is told, "If thou return,"if thou repent thee of thy doubts, and think onl...
Jeremiah had questioned God’ s righteousness (see Jer 12:1 note); he is told, "If thou return,"if thou repent thee of thy doubts, and think only of thy duty, "then will I bring thee again, then will I cause thee again to stand before Me."To stand before a person means to be his chief officer or vicegerent. It implies therefore the restoration of Jeremiah to the prophetic office.
If thou take forth the precious from the vile - i. e., if thou cause the precious metal to come forth from the dross. Jeremiah was to separate in himself what was divine and holy from the dross of human passion. Let him abandon this mistrust, this sensitiveness, this idea that God did not deal righteously with him, and then "he shall be as God’ s mouth, i. e., as the organ by which God speaks.
Let them return ... - Rather, "they shall return unto thee, but thou shalt not return unto them."A flattering prophet perishes with the people whom his soft speeches have confirmed in their sin: but the truthful speaking of God’ s word saves both.
Poole: Jer 15:19 - -- If thou return, then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before me: at the first reading of these words, one would take them to be a promis...
If thou return, then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before me: at the first reading of these words, one would take them to be a promise of God to restore this people to their former state, if they would reform; but upon a more wise and diligent consideration of what follows, both in this and in the following verse, they seem rather God’ s words unto the prophet, rebuking his diffidence and distrust in God, and promising him, that if he did return from that his diffidence and distrust in God’ s promise and providence, he would restore him to the former favour he had had with him, and he should be his prophet to reveal his mind to the people. And if he would separate the precious truths of God from the vile conceits of men, or rather preach so as to distinguish good and bad men one from another, then God would continue him as his prophet, to speak in his name unto the people.
Let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them: he chargeth the prophet to keep his ground, and not to go over unto wicked men, but to use his endeavour to reduce them to that obedience which he yielded to him.

Poole: Jer 15:20 - -- And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brazen wall: these words are expounded by those that follow.
They shall fight against thee, but they ...
And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brazen wall: these words are expounded by those that follow.
They shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee: look, as men may throw stones or strike at a brazen wall, but do it no hurt; so, saith God, though thou shalt have enemies that will be offering at thee, yet if thou continuest steady in the doing of thy duty, they shall do thee no harm; for thou shalt have my power engaged for thee, to deliver and save thee from their malice.

Poole: Jer 15:21 - -- I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked the wicked Jews;
and out of the hand of the terrible and the power of the terrible Chaldeans, int...
I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked the wicked Jews;
and out of the hand of the terrible and the power of the terrible Chaldeans, into whose hands thou shalt come, but be preserved from any harm by the workings of my providence for thee.
PBC -> Jer 15:19
PBC: Jer 15:19 - -- See Philpot: THE PRECIOUS AND THE VILE
See Philpot: THE PRECIOUS TAKEN FORTH FROM THE VILE
See Philpot: THE PRECIOUS AND THE VILE
See Philpot: THE PRECIOUS TAKEN FORTH FROM THE VILE
Haydock: Jer 15:19 - -- Converted, and cease to fear the people; (Calmet) and confide in my precious words, (Haydock) despising the vile threats of the people. (Menochi...
Converted, and cease to fear the people; (Calmet) and confide in my precious words, (Haydock) despising the vile threats of the people. (Menochius) ---
Mouth; interpreter, Exodus iv. 16. Chaldean, "If thou wilt recall the wicked into the way of justice, though shalt fulfill my will." See St. Jerome in Psalm cv. 32. ---
To thee. Thus Sedecias and the people acted, chap. xxi. 1., and xlii. 2. (Calmet) ---
The prophet must not give way to sinners, but hey must be reclaimed. (Worthington)

Haydock: Jer 15:21 - -- Mighty; Chaldeans. Providence watched over Jeremias, amid all his enemies. (Calmet)
Mighty; Chaldeans. Providence watched over Jeremias, amid all his enemies. (Calmet)
Gill: Jer 15:19 - -- Therefore thus saith the Lord, if thou return,.... From thine unbelief, diffidence, and impenitence, and repent of them; expressed in the preceding ve...
Therefore thus saith the Lord, if thou return,.... From thine unbelief, diffidence, and impenitence, and repent of them; expressed in the preceding verses:
then will I bring thee again; or, "restore thee s"; pardon his sin, and return him to his post and place, to his office and ministry in it, and confirm and establish him therein:
and thou shalt stand before me; not only as a petitioner for the people; see Jer 15:1, but as a servant of the Lord, attending to his word, and waiting his orders, and ready to execute them. It denotes his stability in his office:
and if thou wilt take forth the precious from the vile; take precious truths, comparable to gold, silver, and precious stones; truths more valuable and desirable than thousands of gold and silver, from those doctrines which are worthless and contemptible, comparable to wood, hay, and stubble, and everything that is mean and vile; these faithful ministers should separate one from the other, and not mix and blend them together: or precious souls, truly gracious ones, who are precious in the sight of God, are redeemed by Christ, by his precious blood, and are adorned with the graces of the Spirit; these are to be distinguished from the vile, from sinners impenitent and unbelieving, that live in sin, in defiance of the law, and in contempt of the Gospel; a difference is to be made between them; delivering out comfortable words to the one, and denouncing severe threatenings to the other; doing the reverse of the false prophets, Eze 13:22,
thou shalt be as my mouth; to the people; speak what I command thee, and whatsoever thou sayest shall be as if I had spoken it myself:
let them return unto thee, but return not thou unto them; this is said of the people of the Jews, to whom the prophet was sent; and the sense is, that he should not at all comply with them, or conform to their humours, or flatter and sooth them in their sins, as the false prophets did; but if they returned to him, attended on his ministry, received his words and messages, and agreed and conformed to him, and followed his directions and example, it would be very well; but otherwise he was not in the least to give way to them, or go into any sinful compliance with them, either with respect to doctrine or practice,

Gill: Jer 15:20 - -- And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brasen wall,.... As he had promised him, when he first called him to his office, Jer 1:18, and so would...
And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brasen wall,.... As he had promised him, when he first called him to his office, Jer 1:18, and so would not be as a liar to him:
and they shall fight against thee; by words and blows, by menaces and imprisonment:
but they shall not prevail against thee; so as to cause him to call in his words, and contradict his prophecies; or so as to take away his life:
for I am with thee, to save thee, and deliver thee, saith the Lord; the presence of God with his ministers is sufficient to save and deliver them out of all their troubles, and to protect and defend them against all their enemies; see Mat 28:20.

Gill: Jer 15:21 - -- And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked,.... The wicked Jews, Zedekiah and his courtiers, who imprisoned him:
and I will redeem thee ...
And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked,.... The wicked Jews, Zedekiah and his courtiers, who imprisoned him:
and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible; as kings and great men of the earth seem to be; or, "the violent", or "strong" t, and mighty; that were stronger than he, that would use him with violence, and inject terror into him.

expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes: Jer 15:19 Once again the root “return” (שׁוּב, shuv) is being played on as in 3:1–4:4. See the threefold call to...

NET Notes: Jer 15:20 See 1:18. The Lord renews his promise of protection and reiterates his call to Jeremiah.
Geneva Bible: Jer 15:19 Therefore thus saith the LORD, If thou shalt ( s ) return, then will I bring thee again, [and] thou shalt stand before me: and if thou shalt separate ...

Geneva Bible: Jer 15:20 And I will make thee to this people a fortified brasen wall: and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not ( y ) prevail against thee: for I [...

expand allCommentary -- Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis -> Jer 15:1-21
TSK Synopsis: Jer 15:1-21 - --1 The utter rejection and manifold judgments of the Jews.10 Jeremiah, complaining of their spite, receives a promise for himself;12 and a threatening ...
MHCC -> Jer 15:15-21
MHCC: Jer 15:15-21 - --It is matter of comfort that we have a God, to whose knowledge of all things we may appeal. Jeremiah pleads with God for mercy and relief against his ...
Matthew Henry -> Jer 15:15-21
Matthew Henry: Jer 15:15-21 - -- Here, as before, we have, I. The prophet's humble address to God, containing a representation both of his integrity and of the hardships he underwen...
Keil-Delitzsch -> Jer 15:10-21
Keil-Delitzsch: Jer 15:10-21 - --
Complaint of the Prophet, and Soothing Answer of the Lord. - His sorrow at the rejection by God of his petition so overcomes the prophet, that he gi...
Constable: Jer 2:1--45:5 - --II. Prophecies about Judah chs. 2--45
The first series of prophetic announcements, reflections, and incidents th...

Constable: Jer 2:1--25:38 - --A. Warnings of judgment on Judah and Jerusalem chs. 2-25
Chapters 2-25 contain warnings and appeals to t...

Constable: Jer 15:10--26:1 - --3. Warnings in view of Judah's hard heart 15:10-25:38
This section of the book contains several ...
