1 The word that came to Ieremiah from the Lord, saying,
2 Thus speaketh the Lord God of Israel, saying; Write thee all the wordes that I haue spoken vnto thee, in a booke.
3 For loe, the dayes come, saith the Lord, that I will bring againe the captiuitie of my people Israel and Iudah, saith the Lord, and I wil cause them to returne to the land, that I gaue to their fathers, and they shall possesse it.
4 ¶ And these are the words that the Lord spake concerning Israel, and concerning Iudah.
5 For thus sayth the Lord, Wee haue heard a voice of trembling, of feare, and not of peace.
6 Aske yee now and see whether a man doeth trauaile with child? wherefore doe I see euery man with his handes on his loynes, as a woman in trauaile, and all faces are turned into palenesse?
7 Alas, for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is euen the time of Iacobs trouble, but he shall be saued out of it.
8 For it shall come to passe in that day, saith the Lord of hostes, that I will breake his yoke from off thy necke, and will burst thy bondes, and strangers shall no more serue themselues of him.
9 But they shall serue the Lord their God, and Dauid their King whom I will raise vp vnto them.
10 ¶ Therefore feare thou not, O my seruant Iacob, saith the Lord, neither be dismayed, O Israel; for loe, I will saue thee from afarre, and thy seede from the land of their captiuitie, and Iacob shall returne, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid.
11 For I am with thee, sayeth the Lord, to saue thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I haue scattered thee, yet will I not make a full ende of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leaue thee altogether vnpunished.
12 For thus saith the Lord, Thy bruise is incurable, and thy wound is grieuous.
13 There is none to pleade thy cause, that thou mayest bee bonnd vp: thou hast no healing medicines.
14 All thy louers haue forgotten thee: they seeke thee not, for I haue wounded thee with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruell one, for the multitude of thine iniquitie: because thy sinnes were increased.
15 Why cryest thou for thine affliction? thy sorrow is incurable, for the multitude of thine iniquitie: because thy sinnes were increased, I haue done these things vnto thee.
16 Therefore all they that deuoure thee shalbe deuoured, and all thine aduersaries euery one of them shall goe into captiuitie: and they that spoile thee shall be a spoile, and all that pray vpon thee, will I giue for a pray.
17 For I will restore health vnto thee, and I will heale thee of thy wounds, sayth the Lord, because they called thee an outcast, saying; This is Zion whom no man seeketh after.
18 ¶ Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will bring againe the captiuitie of Iacobs tents, and haue mercie on his dwelling places: and the citie shall be builded vpon her owne heape, and the palace shall remaine after the manner thereof.
19 And out of them shall proceede thankesgiuing, and the voice of them that make merry; and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few: I will also glorifie them, and they shall not be small.
20 Their children also shall be as aforetime, and their congregation shalbe established before me, and I will punish all that oppresse them.
21 And their nobles shall be of themselues, and their gouernour shall proceede from the middest of them, and I will cause him to draw neere, and hee shall approch vnto me: for who is this that engaged his heart to approch vnto me, sayth the Lord ?
22 And yee shall be my people, and I will be your God.
23 Behold, the whirlewinde of the Lord goeth foorth with furie, a continuing whirlewinde, it shall fall with paine vpon the head of the wicked.
24 The fierce anger of the Lord shall not returne, vntill hee haue done it, and vntill he haue performed the intents of his heart: in the latter dayes ye shall consider it.
Troubles which shall be before the restoration of Israel. (1-11) Encouragement to trust Divine promises. (12-17) The blessings under Christ, and the wrath on the wicked. (18-24)1-11 Jeremiah is to write what God had spoken to him. The very words are such as the Holy Ghost teaches. These are the words God ordered to be written; and promises written by his order, are truly his word. He must write a description of the trouble the people were now in, and were likely to be in. A happy end should be put to these calamities. Though the afflictions of the church may last long, they shall not last always. The Jews shall be restored again. They shall obey, or hearken to the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of David, their King. The deliverance of the Jews from Babylon, is pointed out in the prophecy, but the restoration and happy state of Israel and Judah, when converted to Christ their King, are foretold; also the miseries of the nations before the coming of Christ. All men must honour the Son as they honour the Father, and come into the service and worship of God by him. Our gracious Lord pardons the sins of the believer, and breaks off the yoke of sin and Satan, that he may serve God without fear, in righteousness and true holiness before him all the remainder of his days, as the redeemed subject of Christ our King.
12-17 When God is against a people, who will be for them? Who can be for them, so as to do them any kindness? Incurable griefs are owing to incurable lusts. Yet, though the captives suffered justly, and could not help themselves, the Lord intended to appear for them, and to punish their oppressors; and he will still do so. But every effort to heal ourselves must prove fruitless, so long as we neglect the heavenly Advocate and sanctifying Spirit. The dealings of His grace with every true convert, and every returning backslider, are the same in effect as his proceedings to the Jews.
18-24 We have here further intimations of the favour of God for them after the days of their calamity have expired. The proper work and office of Christ, as Mediator, is to draw near unto God, for us, as the High Priest of our profession. His own undertaking, in compliance with his Father's will, and in compassion to fallen man, engaged him. Jesus Christ was, in all this, truly wonderful. They shall be taken again into covenant with the Lord, according to the covenant made with their fathers. "I will be your God:" it is his good-will to us, which is the summary of that part of the covenant. The wrath of God against the wicked is very terrible, like a whirlwind. The purposes of his wrath, as well as the purposes of his love, will all be fulfilled. God will comfort all that turn to him; but those who approach him must have their hearts engaged to do it with reverence, devotion, and faith. How will they escape who neglect so great salvation?
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.