Jeremias 22:5

5 But if ye will not perform these words, by myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, that this house shall be to desolation.

Jeremias 22:5 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 22:5

But if ye will not hear these words
Will give no attention, and yield no obedience to them: I swear by myself, saith the Lord;
and by a greater he cannot swear; and that is the reason why he swears by himself, ( Hebrews 6:13 ) ; and as, when he swears to a promise, it shows the immutability of it, the certainty of its performance, and that it is irreversible, and never repented of, nor revoked; so it is when he swears to a threatening. The Targum is,

``by my word I swear:''

that this house shall become a desolation;
meaning not the temple, nor the city, but the king's palace.

Jeremias 22:5 In-Context

3 thus saith the Lord; Execute ye judgment and justice, and rescue the spoiled out of the hand of him that wrongs him: and oppress not the stranger, and orphan, and widow, and sin not, and shed no innocent blood in this place.

4 For if ye will indeed perform this word, then shall there enter in by the gates of this house kings sitting upon the throne of David, and riding on chariots and horses, they, and their servants, and their people.

5 But if ye will not perform these words, by myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, that this house shall be to desolation.

6 For thus saith the Lord concerning the house of the king of Juda; Thou art Galaad to me, the head of Libanus: surely I will make thee a desert, cities that shall not be inhabited:

7 and I will bring upon thee a destroying man, and his axe: and they shall cut down thy choice cedars, and cast into the fire.