Jeremías 13:1-11

1 Así me dijo el SEÑOR: Ve, y cómprate un cinto de lino, y cíñelo sobre tus lomos, y no lo meterás en agua.

2 Y compré el cinto conforme a la palabra del SEÑOR, y lo puse sobre mis lomos.

3 Y vino a mí segunda vez palabra del SEÑOR, diciendo:

4 Toma el cinto que compraste, que está sobre tus lomos, y levántate, y ve al Eufrates, y escóndelo allá en una caverna de una peña.

5 Y fui, y lo escondí en el Eufrates, como el SEÑOR me mandó.

6 Y sucedió que al cabo de muchos días me dijo el SEÑOR: Levántate, y ve al Eufrates, y toma de allí el cinto que te mandé escondieses allá.

7 Entonces fui al Eufrates, y cavé, y tomé el cinto del lugar donde lo había escondido; y he aquí que el cinto se había podrido; para ninguna cosa era bueno.

8 Y vino palabra del SEÑOR a mí, diciendo:

9 Así dijo el SEÑOR: Así haré podrir la soberbia de Judá, y la mucha soberbia de Jerusalén,

10 A este pueblo malo, que no quiere oír mis palabras, que anda en las imaginaciones de su corazón, y se fue en pos de dioses ajenos para servirles, y para encorvarse a ellos; y vendrá a ser como este cinto, que para ninguna cosa es bueno.

11 Porque como el cinto se junta a los lomos del hombre, así hice juntar a mí toda la Casa de Israel y toda la Casa de Judá, dice el SEÑOR, para que me fuesen por pueblo y por fama, y por alabanza y por honra; pero no escucharon.

Jeremías 13:1-11 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 13

In this chapter, under the similes of a girdle and bottles of wine, the destruction of the Jews is set forth. Some exhortations are given them to repent and humble themselves, even men of all ranks and degrees among them; and their sins, the source of their calamities, are pointed out to them. An order is given to the prophet to get him a linen girdle, with instructions what to do with it, and which he observed, Jer 13:1,2, a fresh order to take it and hide it in the hole of a rock by the river Euphrates, which he accordingly did, Jer 13:3-5 and he is bid a third time to go and take it from thence, which he did; when he found it spoiled, and good for nothing, Jer 13:6,7, then follows the application of this simile, or the signification of this sign; that in like manner the pride of Judah and Jerusalem should be marred, and for their wickedness and idolatry should become good for nothing, like that girdle; whereas they ought to have cleaved to the Lord, as a girdle does to a man's loins, and to have been an honourable people to him, Jer 13:8-11. By the simile of bottles filled with wine is signified that all the inhabitants of the land, king, priests, prophets, and common people, should be like drunken men, that should dash one against another, and destroy each other, which the mercy of God would not prevent, Jer 13:12-14, some exhortations are made to the people in general, to be humble, and confess their sins, and give glory to God, before it was too late; which are enforced by the prophet's affectionate concern for them, Jer 13:15-17 and to the king and queen in particular, since their crown and kingdom were about to be taken from them; the cities, in the southern parts, going to be shut up, and not opened; and even the whole land of Judea, and all its inhabitants, in a little time would be carried captive, Jer 13:18,19, and, to certify them of the truth of these things, they are bid to look to the north, from whence the enemy was coming to carry them captive, even the beautiful flock committed to their care, Jer 13:20, and to consider what they could say for themselves, when their punishment should come upon them suddenly, as the sorrows of a woman in travail, Jer 13:21 and should they ask the reason of this, it was owing to the multitude of their iniquities, and to their habit and custom of sinning, which made their case desperate, Jer 13:22,23, wherefore a resolution is taken to disperse them among the nations, and that this should be their lot and portion, because of their many abominations, and yet not without some concern that they might be purged from their iniquities, Jer 13:24-27.