Jeremiah 4 Footnotes

4:2 Some people believe the Bible forbids the taking of oaths. Scripture permits oaths in certain cases and explains how they should be taken (Dt 6:13; 10:20). Paul often emphasized his statements with oaths (Rm 1:9; 2Co 1:23; Gl 1:20; Php 1:8; 1Tm 5:21; 2Tm 2:14; 4:1). The Bible does warn against misuse and abuse of oaths, however. Some passages caution against taking oaths because, once uttered, they cannot be taken back (Lv 19:12; Nm 30; Dt 23:21-23; Pr 20:25; Ec 5:4-5), but these texts do not prohibit oaths entirely. Jesus dismissed the idea that different oaths carry different standards for truthfulness (Mt 23:16-22); no believer should have to swear an oath to authenticate their truthful testimony (Mt 5:33-37; see Jms 5:12). Here Jeremiah declared that the Lord is to be the only God in the hearts and minds of the people. He does not want them to turn to other gods for any reason: for inquiry (2Kg 1:3), for prayer (1Kg 8:48; Is 45:20), or for oaths.

4:28 God said he would not relent in his devastating judgment, but later in the prophecy (26:3; 42:10) he indicated a willingness to relent if the people would return to him. Where God’s own people are concerned, the prophetic announcement of God’s judgment is always conditional; upon their genuine repentance, he will relent. Here this possibility of forgiveness is raised in 5:1.