Jeremiah 12:11

12:11 They will lay it waste.

It will lie parched ¹  and empty before me.

The whole land will be laid waste.

But no one living in it will pay any heed. ² 

Jeremiah 15:16

15:16 As your words came to me I drank them in, ³ 

and they filled my heart with joy and happiness

because I belong to you. ⁴ 

Jeremiah 46:11

46:11 Go up to Gilead and get medicinal ointment, ⁵ 

you dear poor people of Egypt. ⁶ 

But it will prove useless no matter how much medicine you use; ⁷ 

there will be no healing for you.

[12:11]  ¹ tn For the use of this verb see the notes on 12:4. Some understand the homonym here meaning “it [the desolated land] will mourn to me.” However, the only other use of the preposition עַל (’al) with this root means “to mourn over” not “to” (cf. Hos 10:5). For the use of the preposition here see BDB 753 s.v. עַל II.1.b and compare the use in Gen 48:7.

[12:11]  ² tn Heb “But there is no man laying it to heart.” For the idiom here see BDB 525 s.v. לֵב II.3.d and compare the usage in Isa 42:25; 47:7.

[15:16]  ³ sn Heb “Your words were found and I ate them.” This along with Ezek 2:8–3:3 is a poetic picture of inspiration. The prophet accepted them, assimilated them, and made them such a part of himself that he spoke with complete assurance what he knew were God’s words.

[15:16]  ⁴ tn Heb “Your name is called upon me.”

[46:11]  ⁵ tn Heb “balm.” See 8:22 and the notes on this phrase there.

[46:11]  ⁶ sn Heb “Virgin Daughter of Egypt.” See the study note on Jer 14:17 for the significance of the use of this figure. The use of the figure here perhaps refers to the fact that Egypt’s geographical isolation allowed her safety and protection that a virgin living at home would enjoy under her father’s protection (so F. B. Huey, Jeremiah, Lamentations [NAC], 379). By her involvement in the politics of Palestine she had forfeited that safety and protection and was now suffering for it.

[46:11]  ⁷ tn Heb “In vain you multiply [= make use of many] medicines.”