Jeremiah 7:16

16 Therefore do not thou pray for this people, nor take to thee praise and supplication for them: and do not withstand me: for I will not hear thee.

Jeremiah 7:16 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 7:16

Therefore pray not thou for this people
These are the words of the Lord to the Prophet Jeremiah, forbidding him to pray for the people of the Jews; which he either was doing, or about to do, and which, from the great affection he had for them, he was inclined unto; wherefore, to show how much the Lord was displeased with them, and how determined he was to punish them with captivity, he orders the prophet not to make any supplication for them: neither lift up cry nor prayer for them;
referring to the gestures of lifting up the eyes and hands in prayer, and also to the frame of the heart, in the exercise of faith and holy confidence: "cry" and "prayer" are put together, because prayer is sometimes made, especially when persons are in great distress, with strong cryings and tears; see ( Hebrews 5:7 ) : neither make intercession to me;
or, "meet me" ^F15; or come between him and this people, and so act the part of a mediator, of which office intercession is a branch; it properly belongs to Christ. The Jews say

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FOOTNOTES:

F16 there is no (heygp) , "meeting", but prayer, or that is always intended by it; for proof of which they cite this passage: for I will not hear thee;
on the behalf of them, being so highly provoked by them, and determined they should go into captivity; see ( Jeremiah 15:1 ) .
F15 (yb egpt law) "et ne oecurras mihi", Calvin; "et ne obsistas mihi", V. L. "et ne intervenias apud me", Tigurine version.
F16 T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 26. 2. Taanith, fol. 7. 2. & 8. 1. Sota, fol. 14. 1. & Sanhedrin, fol. 95. 2.

Jeremiah 7:16 In-Context

14 I will do to this house, in which my name is called upon, and in which you trust, and to the place which I have given you and your fathers, as I did to Silo.

15 And I will cast you away from before my face, as I have cast away all your brethren, the whole seed of Ephraim.

16 Therefore do not thou pray for this people, nor take to thee praise and supplication for them: and do not withstand me: for I will not hear thee.

17 Seest thou not what they do in the cities of Juda, and in the streets of Jerusalem?

18 The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead the dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to offer libations to strange gods, and to provoke me to anger.