Jeremiah 23:19

19 Look! The LORD ’s anger bursts out like a storm, a whirlwind that swirls down on the heads of the wicked.

Jeremiah 23:19 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 23:19

Behold, a whirlwind of the Lord is gone forth in fury
Or, "behold, a whirlwind of the Lord, of the fury is gone forth" F2; which latter clause explains the former; and, hews, that by "the whirlwind of the Lord" is meant his "fury" or "wrath"; which, like a whirlwind, would come suddenly, and at an unawares, and be very boisterous and powerful, and carry all before it; and which was gone forth from the Lord in the decree and commission; and would quickly break out and appear in the Chaldean army that would invade Judea and besiege Jerusalem, compared to a full and fanning wind, and its chariots to a whirlwind, ( Jeremiah 4:11-13 ) ; from whence it would appear, that these men, the false prophets, were not in the counsel of God; had seen no vision from him, nor had marked his word: since they prophesied of peace and prosperity, when a blustering storm was coming: even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of
the wicked;
or "rest" F3 thereon; even on the head of the wicked prophets, and all such wicked persons as give heed unto them; on them it would fall with its full weight, and give excessive pain, and there continue to their utter ruin. Kimchi says this refers to the days of the Messiah, when all the wicked shall be consumed. It may refer to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, at least include it; which was a grievous whirlwind indeed.


FOOTNOTES:

F2 (hauy hmh hwhy treo hnh) "ecce turbo Domini exandescentia", Montanus, Junius & Tremellius; "en procella Jehovae! ira exivit", Schmidt.
F3 (lwxy) "manebit", Montanus, Cocceius; "permanebit", Junius & Tremellius; "residebit", Targ. "requiescet", Syr.

Jeremiah 23:19 In-Context

17 They keep saying to those who despise my word, ‘Don’t worry! The LORD says you will have peace!’ And to those who stubbornly follow their own desires, they say, ‘No harm will come your way!’
18 “Have any of these prophets been in the LORD ’s presence to hear what he is really saying? Has even one of them cared enough to listen?
19 Look! The LORD ’s anger bursts out like a storm, a whirlwind that swirls down on the heads of the wicked.
20 The anger of the LORD will not diminish until it has finished all he has planned. In the days to come you will understand all this very clearly.
21 “I have not sent these prophets, yet they run around claiming to speak for me. I have given them no message, yet they go on prophesying.
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