YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE JEREMIAH BOB UTLEY PROFESSOR OF HERMENEUTICS (BIBLE INTERPRETATION) STUDY GUIDE COMMENTARY SERIES OLD TESTAMENT, VOL. 13A BIBLE LESSONS INTERNATIONAL MARSHALL, TEXAS 2012 www.BibleLessonsIntl.com www.freebiblecommentary.org Copyright ©2001 by Bible Lessons International, Marshall, Texas (Revised 2006, 2012) All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any way or by any means without the written permission of the publisher. Bible Lessons International P. O. Box 1289 Marshall, TX 75671-1289 1-800-785-1005 ISBN 978-1-892691-45-3 The primary biblical text used in this commentary is: New American Standard Bible (Update, 1995) Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation P. O. Box 2279 La Habra, CA 90632-2279 The paragraph divisions and summary captions as well as selected phrases are from: 1. The New King James Version, Copyright ©1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 2. The New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, Copyright ©1989 by the Division of Christian Education of National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U. S. A. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 3. Today’s English Version is used by permission of the copyright owner, The American Bible Society, ©1966, 1971. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 4. The New Jerusalem Bible, copyright ©1990 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd. and Doubleday, a division of Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.freebiblecommentary.org The New American Standard Bible Update — 1995 Easier to read: } Passages with Old English “thee’s” and “thou’s” etc. have been updated to modern English. } Words and phrases that could be misunderstood due to changes in their meaning during the past 20 years have been updated to current English. } Sentences beginning with “And” have often been retranslated for better English, in recognition of differences in style between the ancient languages and modern English. The original Greek and Hebrew did not have punctuation as is found in English, and in many cases modern English punctuation serves as a substitute for “and” in the original. In some other cases, “and” is translated by a different word such as “then” or “but” as called for by the context, when the word in the original language allows such translation. More accurate than ever: } Recent research on the oldest and best Greek manuscripts of the New Testament has been reviewed, and some passages have been updated for even greater fidelity to the original manuscripts. } Parallel passages have been compared and reviewed. } Verbs that have a wide range of meaning have been retranslated in some passages to better account for their use in the context. And still the NASB: } The NASB update is not a change-for-the-sake-of-change translation. The original NASB stands the test of time, and change has been kept to a minimum in recognition of the standard that has been set by the New American Standard Bible. } The NASB update continues the NASB’s tradition of literal translation of the original Greek and Hebrew without compromise. Changes in the text have been kept within the strict parameters set forth by the Lockman Foundation’s Fourfold Aim. } The translators and consultants who have contributed to the NASB update are conservative Bible scholars who have doctorates in Biblical languages, theology, or other advanced degrees. They represent a variety of denominational backgrounds. Continuing a tradition: The original NASB has earned the reputation of being the most accurate English Bible translation. Other translations in recent years have sometimes made a claim to both accuracy and ease of reading, but any reader with an eye for detail eventually discovers that these translations are consistently inconsistent. While sometimes literal, they frequently resort to paraphrase of the original, often gaining little in readability and sacrificing much in terms of fidelity. Paraphrasing is not by nature a bad thing; it can and should clarify the meaning of a passage as the translators understand and interpret. In the end, however, a paraphrase is as much a commentary on the Bible as it is a translation. The NASB update carries on the NASB tradition of being a true Bible translation, revealing what the original manuscripts actually say—not merely what the translator believes they mean. —The Lockman Foundation TABLE OF CONTENTS Brief Explanations of the Technical Resources used in This Commentary.................. i Brief Definitions of Hebrew Verbal Forms that Impact Exegesis........................ iii Abbreviations Used in This Commentary.......................................... ix A Word From the Author: How Can This Commentary Help You? ..................... xi A Guide to Good Bible Reading: A Personal Search for Verifiable Truth ................ xiii Commentary Introduction to Jeremiah ....................................................1 Jeremiah 1 ...............................................................7 Jeremiah 2 ..............................................................25 Jeremiah 3 ..............................................................49 Jeremiah 4 ..............................................................65 Jeremiah 5 ..............................................................87 Jeremiah 6 .............................................................101 Jeremiah 7 .............................................................115 Jeremiah 8 .............................................................135 Jeremiah 9 .............................................................145 Jeremiah 10 ............................................................155 Jeremiah 11 ............................................................167 Jeremiah 12 ............................................................181 Jeremiah 13 ............................................................189 Jeremiah 14 ............................................................201 Jeremiah 15 ............................................................211 Jeremiah 16 ............................................................229 Jeremiah 17 ............................................................235 Jeremiah 18 ............................................................245 Jeremiah 19 ............................................................257 Jeremiah 20 ............................................................263 Jeremiah 21 ............................................................269 Jeremiah 22 ............................................................275 Jeremiah 23 ............................................................285 Jeremiah 24 ............................................................305 Jeremiah 25 ............................................................309 Jeremiah 26 ............................................................319 Jeremiah 27 ............................................................325 Jeremiah 28 ............................................................331 Jeremiah 29 ............................................................335 Jeremiah 30 ............................................................345 Jeremiah 31 ............................................................359 Jeremiah 32 ............................................................375 Jeremiah 33 ............................................................385 Jeremiah 34 ............................................................395 Jeremiah 35 ............................................................401 Jeremiah 36 ............................................................405 Jeremiah 37 ............................................................413 Jeremiah 38 ............................................................417 Jeremiah 39 ............................................................423 Jeremiah 40 ............................................................427 Jeremiah 41 ............................................................431 Jeremiah 42 ............................................................435 Jeremiah 43 ............................................................441 Jeremiah 44 ............................................................445 Jeremiah 45 ............................................................451 Jeremiah 46 ............................................................453 Jeremiah 47 ............................................................463 Jeremiah 48 ............................................................467 Jeremiah 49 ............................................................481 Jeremiah 50 ............................................................499 Jeremiah 51 ............................................................513 Jeremiah 52 ............................................................531 Appendix One: Introduction to Hebrew Poetry .....................................537 Appendix Two: Introduction to OT Prophecy ......................................541 Appendix Three: A Brief Historical Survey .......................................547 Appendix Four: Charts 1. OT Time Line.......................................................553 2. Kings and Events of the Babylonian, Persian, and Greek Dynasties.............557 3. Kings of the divided Monarchy.........................................563 Appendix Five: Doctrinal Statement.............................................567 SPECIAL TOPICS