Jeremiah 8:1-6

1 in tempore illo ait Dominus eicient ossa regis Iuda et ossa principum eius et ossa sacerdotum et ossa prophetarum et ossa eorum qui habitaverunt Hierusalem de sepulchris suis

2 et pandent ea ad solem et lunam et omnem militiam caeli quae dilexerunt et quibus servierunt et post quae ambulaverunt et quae quaesierunt et adoraverunt non colligentur et non sepelientur in sterquilinium super faciem terrae erunt

3 et eligent magis mortem quam vitam omnes qui residui fuerint de cognatione hac pessima in universis locis quae derelicta sunt ad quae eieci eos dicit Dominus exercituum

4 et dices ad eos haec dicit Dominus numquid qui cadet non resurget et qui aversus est non revertetur

5 quare ergo aversus est populus iste in Hierusalem aversione contentiosa adprehenderunt mendacium et noluerunt reverti

6 adtendi et auscultavi nemo quod bonum est loquitur nullus est qui agat paenitentiam super peccato suo dicens quid feci omnes conversi sunt ad cursum suum quasi equus impetu vadens in proelio

Jeremiah 8:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 8

In this chapter the prophet goes on to denounce grievous calamities upon the people of the Jews; such as would make death more eligible than life; and that because of their idolatry, Jer 8:1-3 and also because of their heinous backslidings in other respects, and continuance in them, Jer 8:4,5 likewise their impenitence and stupidity, Jer 8:6,7 their vain conceit of themselves and their own wisdom; their false interpretation of Scripture, and their rejection of the word of God, Jer 8:8,9 their covetousness, for which it is said their wives and fields should be given to others, Jer 8:10, their flattery of the people, and their impudence, on account of which, ruin and consumption, and a blast on their vines and fig trees, are threatened, Jer 8:11-13, their consternation is described, by their fleeing to their defenced cities; by their sad disappointment in the expectation of peace and prosperity; and the near approach of their enemies; devouring their land, and all in it; who are compared to serpents and cockatrices that cannot be charmed, Jer 8:14-17 and the chapter is closed with the prophet's expressions of sorrow and concern for his people, because of their distress their idolatry had brought upon them; and because of their hopeless, and seemingly irrecoverable, state and condition, Jer 8:18-22.