Jeremiah 8:15

15 We looked for peace and no good came: for a time of healing, and behold fear.

Jeremiah 8:15 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 8:15

We looked for peace
Outward prosperity, affluence of temporal blessings, peace with enemies, and safety from them, which the false prophets had given them reason to expect; or which last they concluded and hoped for, from their being in the defenced cities: but no good came;
they were disappointed in their expectation; the good that was promised them, and they looked for, never came, but all the reverse: and for a time of health;
or, of healing ^F12; the political wounds of the commonwealth of Israel: and behold trouble!
or "terror" ^F13; at the approach of the enemy, described in the following verses. The Targum is,

``a time of pardon of offences, and, lo, a punishment of sins.''

Healing, in Scripture, signifies pardon of sin; see ( Psalms 41:4 ) ( 103:3 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F12 (hprm) "medelae, [vel] sanationis", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus, Schmidt.
F13 (hteb) "terror", Pagninus, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Schmdit.

Jeremiah 8:15 In-Context

13 Gathering I will gather them together, saith the Lord, there is no grape on the vines, and there are no figs on the fig tree, the leaf is fallen: and I have given them the things that are passed away.

14 Why do we sit still? assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the fenced city, and let us be silent there: for the Lord our God hath put us to silence, and hath given us water of gall to drink: for we have sinned against the Lord.

15 We looked for peace and no good came: for a time of healing, and behold fear.

16 The snorting of his horses was heard from Dan, all the land was moved at the sound of the neighing of his warriors: and they came and devoured the land, and all that was in it: the city and its inhabitants.

17 For behold I will send among you serpents, basilisks, against which there is no charm: and they shall bite you, saith the Lord.