Commentary on Jeremiah Volume 1 John Calvin
COMMENTARY ON JEREMIAH
from overflowing the whole earth, but the command of God which it obeys. In the mean time the perpetuity of which the Prophet speaks remains generally the same: for though many storms arise every year, yet the fury of the sea is still quieted, but not otherwise than by the command of God. True then is this --- that the sea has prescribed limits, over which its waves are not permitted to pass. And hence he says, Move themselves and not prevail shall its waves; and again, Resound, or tumultuate shall they, and shall not pass over 150
We now apprehend the design of this verse: God complains, that there was so much madness and stupidity in the people, that they did not obey him as much as the sea, even the stormy sea. He then condemns here the Jews, as though they were monsters; for nothing can be more contrary to nature than for the tempestuous sea to have more understanding than man, created in God's image and endued with reason. He then adds ---
Jeremiah 5:23
23. But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone.
23. Atqui populo huic fuit cor perversum et rebelle; deflexerunt et abierunt
Here the previous verse is completed; for what is said here is connected with the question which we have noticed. But God now proves more clearly why he adduced what he said of the sea. The copulative {,}וvau, is to be taken here as an adversative, and to be thus rendered, But this people have a perverse heart: for {,}סוררsurer, means ``perverse;'' some render it ``revolting, ``but improperly; for it appears from many other passages that it is something more: besides, the other meaning is more suitable to the context here; for he says first, that the people had a perverse heart; 151 and then, that they had a rebellious or an untamable heart.
He no doubt compares the obstinacy with the obedience of the sea, or sets one in contrast with the other, and conveys simply this truth, that there was more fury and stupidity in that people than in the raging sea.
And he proves that the people had a perverse heart by the effect; for they had fallen away and departed Had he said only that they had fallen away, the proof would not have been so complete; but by adding ``departed, ``he points out their 150The reference seems to be to the decree or ordinance, and not to the boundary: therefore "transgress" is the most suitable word. I would render the verse thus, — 22. Should you not fear me? saith Jehovah; Ought you not at my presence to tremble? Who have set the sand a boundary to the sea. — An ordinance perpetual, and it transgresses it not; Though toss themselves and prevail not, and roar do its waves, Yet it does not transgress it. The future tense in Hebrew may be often rendered subjunctively or potentially, and especially in questions. The non-transgressor is the sea — the non-transgressor of the decree, notwithstanding the tumult of its waves. "An ordinance perpetual" is rendered "{πρόσταγμα} {αἰώνιον} --- an everlasting command,'' by the Septuagint, --- ``praeceptum sempiternum --- a sempiternal precept,`` by the Vulgate and the Targum, --- and ``lege perpetua --- by a perpetual law,`` by the Syriac. A perpetual ordinance is the version of Blayney. --- Ed.
151It is true that the idea of perverseness is conveyed by this word; but it means one bent on turning away from God. To turn away, or to apostatize, is its primary meaning, as in the latter clause of this verse; but here it is a participle in a reduplicate form, which has ever an expansive meaning. It means here either a heart continually turning away from God, or a heart resolutely determined to turn away from him. The last seems to be the meaning, as it appears to correspond with the next line, — But in this people has been a heart, Thoroughly revolting and disobedient; They have revolted and gone away. When they turned away from God or revolted, they were remonstrated with and exhorted to return; but they disobeyed; hence their thorough revolt and their going away. — Ed.