Jeremiah 12 Footnotes

12:8 How could the Lord say he hated his chosen people? The prophet used strong language to communicate that God’s attitude toward Judah had changed as a result of the Judeans’ disdain for him; they could expect his actions to reflect that change. It is typical of biblical writers to express emphasis with extremes, or polar opposites, leaving no “gray area” between them (Mal 1:2-3; Lk 14:26); such expressions are sometimes called “rhetorical Hebraisms.” Other passages, however, including Jr 12:15, make it clear that God continued to love his chosen people in spite of their unfaithfulness (e.g., 3:12; Ezr 3:11; Hs 11:7-9; Mt 23:37).