Jeremiah 2:36

36 "Why do you 1go around so much Changing your way? Also, 2you will be put to shame by Egypt As you were put to shame by 3Assyria.

Jeremiah 2:36 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 2:36

Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way?
&c.] Or, "by changing thy way" F20; sometimes going one way, and sometimes another; sometimes to Egypt, and then to Assyria; seeking sometimes to the one for help, and sometimes to the other; at one time serving the gods of the one, in order to curry favour with them, and then the gods of the other, like a lascivious woman that gads about from place to place to increase her lovers, and satisfy her lust. The Vulgate Latin version is, "how exceeding vile art thou become, changing thy ways"; and so Jarchi says, the word (ylzt) signifies "contempt", or "vileness": deriving it from (lwz) , or (llz) , to be "vile" or "contemptible"; and to this sense are the Septuagint and Arabic versions; but Kimchi derives it from (lza) , to go; to which our version and others agree: thou also shalt be ashamed of Egypt;
as they were in the times of Jehoahaz and Jehoiakim, when Pharaohnecho king of Egypt took the former, and put him in bands, and carried him into Egypt; and set the latter upon the throne, and took tribute of him, for which the land was taxed, ( 2 Kings 23:33-35 ) as thou wast ashamed of Assyria;
in the times of Ahaz, who sent to the king of Assyria for help, when Judah was smitten by the Edomites, and invaded by the Philistines; but when he came to him, he distressed him, and strengthened and helped him not, ( 2 Chronicles 28:16-21 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F20 (Kykrd twnvl) "mutando viam tuam", Vatablus, Piscator, Junius & Tremellius.

Jeremiah 2:36 In-Context

34 "Also on your skirts is found The lifeblood of the innocent poor; You did not find them breaking in. But in spite of all these things,
35 Yet you said, 'I am innocent; Surely His anger is turned away from me.' Behold, I will enter into judgment with you Because you say, 'I have not sinned.'
36 "Why do you go around so much Changing your way? Also, you will be put to shame by Egypt As you were put to shame by Assyria.
37 "From this place also you will go out With your hands on your head; For the LORD has rejected those in whom you trust, And you will not prosper with them."

Cross References 3

  • 1. Jeremiah 2:23; Jeremiah 31:22; Hosea 12:1
  • 2. Isaiah 30:3
  • 3. 2 Chr 28:16, 20, 21
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