Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
set thee over--literally, "appointed thee to the oversight." He was to have his eye upon the nations, and to predict their destruction, or restoration, according as their conduct was bad or good. Prophets are said to do that which they foretell shall be done; for their word is God's word; and His word is His instrument whereby He doeth all things (Genesis 1:3; Psalms 33:6, Psalms 33:9). Word and deed are one thing with Him. What His prophet saith is as certain as if it were done. The prophet's own consciousness was absorbed into that of God; so closely united to God did he feel himself, that Jehovah's words and deeds are described as his. In Jeremiah 31:28, God is said to do what Jeremiah here is represented as doing (compare Jeremiah 18:7; 1 Kings 19:17; Ezekiel 43:3).
root out-- (Matthew 15:13).
pull down--change of metaphor to architecture (2 Corinthians 10:4). There is a play on the similar sounds, lintbosh, linthotz, in the Hebrew for "root out . . . pull down."
build . . . plant--restore upon their repenting. His predictions were to be chiefly, and in the first instance, denunciatory; therefore the destruction of the nations is put first, and with a greater variety of terms than their restoration.
Jeremiah's call to the prophetical office.
unto me--other manuscripts read "to him"; but English Version probably represents the true Hebrew text; this inscription was doubtless made by Jeremiah himself.
Other commentary entries containing this verse:
Job 19:10
Isaiah 38:12
Jeremiah 44:27
Ezekiel 32:18
Ezekiel 37:4
Hosea 6:5
2 Corinthians 10:4
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