Jeremiah 15:17

17 I sat not in the council of players, and I had glory for the face of thine hand; I sat alone, for thou filledest me with bitterness. (I sat not in the company of scorners, or of mockers, and I took no glory with them/and I made not merry with them; because of thy hand, or in obedience to thee, I sat alone; for thou hast filled me with anger.)

Jeremiah 15:17 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 15:17

I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced
With them, the mockers; or, "those that make merry" ^F18; as the word is rendered in ( Jeremiah 30:19 ) ( 31:4 ) , and so the Targum,

``those that sing;''

and dance and live jovially; with these the prophet did not associate himself; such levity being unsuitable to his character as a prophet, and to those grievous messages he was charged with; and though he had joy, it was of another kind; it was not carnal, but spiritual; not outward, but inward; and what arose from the word of the Lord, being found and eaten by him. Moreover, there were some things which he was obliged by his office to deliver, that were very distressing to him, and made him very melancholy; so that he shunned all company and diversion, which might have been lawfully enjoyed: for this is not to be understood of the assembly or council of the wicked governors of the nation, and much less of the refuse of the people, that mocked at the word of God, and scoffed at the prophets and people of God; but of Jeremiah's friends and acquaintance, that met and made merry together; with whom he could not join, because of the sorrowful case in which he was, on account of the people he was sent unto: I sat alone, because of thine hand;
not because he was obliged to it, being deserted by men, but of choice; he withdrew from company, kept himself retired at home in his own house, there meditating upon the word of God, and mourning over the case of his people; and this he did, because the afflicting hand of God was upon him, or because the hand and spirit of prophecy was upon him, and he was charged to denounce very grievous things against the people; and because the hand of divine power and authority was over him, to which he ought to be subject, and was ready to obey: for thou hast filled me with indignation;
either with the indignation of the people against him, because of his prophecies; or with indignation against them, because of their sins; or with denunciations of wrath he was to deliver to them; and so the Targum,

``for thou hast filled me with a prophecy of cursing.''

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FOOTNOTES:

F18 (Myqxvm) "ludentium", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Cocceius; "jocantium", Vatablus; "hilaria agentium", Gataker.

Jeremiah 15:17 In-Context

15 Lord, thou knowest, have thou mind on me, and visit me, and deliver me from them that pursue me; do not thou take me (away) in thy patience, know thou, that I suffered shame for thee. (Lord, thou knowest, remember thou me, and visit me, and rescue me, or save me, from those who pursue me; yea, in thy patience, do not thou take me away, that is, do not let me perish, and know thou, that I have suffered shame for thee.)

16 Thy words be found, and I ate those; and thy word was made to me into joy, and into gladness of mine heart; for thy name, Lord God of hosts, is called to help on me (for thy name, the Lord God of hosts, is called on to help me/for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts).

17 I sat not in the council of players, and I had glory for the face of thine hand; I sat alone, for thou filledest me with bitterness. (I sat not in the company of scorners, or of mockers, and I took no glory with them/and I made not merry with them; because of thy hand, or in obedience to thee, I sat alone; for thou hast filled me with anger.)

18 Why is my sorrow made everlasting, and my wound despaired (to heal?), (why) forsook (it) to be cured? it is made to me, as a leasing of unfaithful waters (it is made to me like a lie, like summer waters that fail, or that dry up).

19 For this thing the Lord saith these things (to me), If thou turnest (back to me), (then) I shall turn (back to) thee, and thou shalt stand before my face (again); and if thou partest precious thing from vile thing, (then) thou shalt be as my mouth (again); and they shall be turned to thee, and thou shalt not be turned to them (and if thou separatest precious words from vile ones, then thou shalt be like my mouth again; and the people shall return to thee, and thou shalt not need to go to them).