Jeremiah 2:33

33 "What an impressive start you made to get the most out of life. You founded schools of sin, taught graduate courses in evil!

Jeremiah 2:33 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 2:33

Why trimmest thou thy way to seek love?
&c.] To seek the love, and gain the affections and esteem, of the idolatrous nations; as a lascivious woman dresses herself out in the best manner to excite the lust and move the affections of her lovers; and as Jezebel, who painted her face, and tired her head, ( 2 Kings 9:30 ) or dressed it in the best manner, where the same word is used as here; so the Targum,

``why dost thou make thy way beautiful, to procure loves (or lovers) to be joined to the people?''

or the sense is, why art thou so diligent and industrious to make thy way, which is exceeding bad, look a good one, by sacrifices and ceremonies, oblations and ablutions, in order to seek and obtain my love and favour, which is all in vain? it is not to be gained by such methods: therefore hast thou also taught the wicked ones thy ways;
the wicked idolatrous nations, to whom they joined themselves; these they taught their ways of sacrificing, their rites, ceremonies, and superstitions; or, as Jarchi interprets it, thou hast taught thyself the worst way among them all; that is, thou hast used thyself to it: there is a double reading in this clause. The Cetib, or writing, is (ytdml) , "I have taught"; as if they were the words of God, saying, "wherefore I have taught"; or, "will teach"; that is, by punishing thee; that thy ways are evil;
or, as Kimchi explains it,

``I have taught thee by thy ways that they are evil, and evil shall come unto thee because of them.''

The Keri, or reading, is (tdml) , "thou hast taught"; which is confirmed by the Targum; and is followed by the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, and other versions. It is by some rendered, "seeing thou hast taught others thy evil ways" ^F16; not content to sin themselves, but taught others to do so, and yet would be thought good.

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FOOTNOTES:

F16 "Quandoquidem etiam (alios) malas docuisti vias tuas", Noldius, p. 507. vid. No. 1998.

Jeremiah 2:33 In-Context

31 "What a generation you turned out to be! Didn't I tell you? Didn't I warn you? Have I let you down, Israel? Am I nothing but a dead-end street? Why do my people say, 'Good riddance! From now on we're on our own'?

32 Young women don't forget their jewelry, do they? Brides don't show up without their veils, do they? But my people forget me. Day after day after day they never give me a thought.

33 "What an impressive start you made to get the most out of life. You founded schools of sin, taught graduate courses in evil!

34 And now you're sending out graduates, resplendent in cap and gown - except the gowns are stained with the blood of your victims! All that blood convicts you. You cut and hurt a lot of people to get where you are.

35 And yet you have the gall to say, 'I've done nothing wrong. God doesn't mind. He hasn't punished me, has he?' Don't look now, but judgment's on the way, aimed at you who say, 'I've done nothing wrong.'