Jeremiah 4:2

2 and if you swear, 'As the LORD lives,' in truth, in justice, and in uprightness, then nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory."

Jeremiah 4:2 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 4:2

And thou shalt swear, the Lord liveth
Or by the living Lord, by him and him only; not by the creatures, but by the God of truth. This is sometimes put for the whole worship and service of God, ( Deuteronomy 6:13 ) and for a confession of Christ, and profession of faith in him, ( Isaiah 45:23 ) , compared with ( Romans 14:11 ) and which ought to be done, in truth, in righteousness, and in judgment;
in sincerity, integrity, and uprightness of soul; in spirit and in, truth; in righteousness and true holiness: and the nations shall bless themselves in him,
not in Israel, as the Targum, Jarchi, and Kimchi, interpret it; but in the Lord, even in the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom all the nations of the earth were to be blessed with all spiritual blessings; with which being blessed, they call and count themselves happy, being pardoned through the blood of Christ, justified by his righteousness, and having peace, life, and salvation by him, ( Genesis 22:18 ) : and in him shall they glory;
not in themselves, nor in any creature, or creature enjoyment; but in the Lord, and in what he is to them, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption; in whom all the seed of Israel, being justified, glory; see ( 1 Corinthians 1:30 1 Corinthians 1:31 ) ( Isaiah 45:25 ) . The sense of the words seems to be, that upon the Gospel being preached by Christ and his apostles to the Israelites, and some of them being converted, and their abominations put away, and they cleaving to the Lord, and to his worship; the Gentiles should have the Gospel sent to them, and receive it, and place all their blessedness in Christ, and glory in him.

Jeremiah 4:2 In-Context

1 "If you return, O Israel, says the LORD, to me you should return. If you remove your abominations from my presence, and do not waver,

2 and if you swear, 'As the LORD lives,' in truth, in justice, and in uprightness, then nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory."

3 For thus says the LORD to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem: "Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.

4 Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, remove the foreskin of your hearts, O men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem; lest my wrath go forth like fire, and burn with none to quench it, because of the evil of your doings."

5 Declare in Judah, and proclaim in Jerusalem, and say, "Blow the trumpet through the land; cry aloud and say, 'Assemble, and let us go into the fortified cities!'