John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 14:17

"And thou shalt say this word unto them, Let mine eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease; for the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous wound." — Jeremiah 14:17 (ASV)

God shows here again how slow, indeed, how dull the people were, whom no threats could persuade to return to a right mind. Therefore, when they daringly neglected all threats, God commands a sad spectacle to be presented to them, justly calculated to fill them with fear and shame. He commands his Prophet to speak thus to them: “Behold, I shall be wholly dissolved into tears, and that on your account.”

The Prophet, no doubt, wept sincerely when he saw his own people willfully drawing upon themselves the wrath of God and their final destruction; nor could he divest himself of his human feelings. But he does not speak here only of his own concern; God himself commands him to speak this way, so that the Jews might be ashamed of their carelessness, as they ridiculed or despised, with dry eyes, the calamity which was near them, while the Prophet alone wept for them.

We have spoken of this in the ninth chapter and in other places. There indeed the Prophet wished that his eyes were fountains of tears. His object was, no doubt, not only to show his concern for his own nation, but also by this to try whether they could be turned to repentance, their hardness being so great. In this place, the same thing is shown still more clearly, for God commands the Prophet to weep, not in secret, but to declare this to the whole people: Behold, my eyes come down into tears, and there shall be no rest, no cessation.

We now perceive the design of the Holy Spirit. For as the obstinacy of the people was so great that they shed no tears, though God often terrified them with the most dreadful threats, it was necessary that this coming calamity should be set before their eyes, in the person of Jeremiah, as in a mirror, so that they might at length learn to fear.

Whenever such passages occur, let us remember that even today people are equally dull, so that they ought to be urged no less sharply. God, in the gospel, adds vehemence and sharp goads to the truth. For such is not only the sloth of our hearts, but also their hardness, that it is necessary to compel those who will not allow themselves to be drawn and led.

Some render the words, “Descend shall tears from mine eyes;” but more correct is the other version, “Mine eyes shall descend into tears,” as ב, beth, is to be prefixed to דמעה, damoe, or ל, lamed. And it is added, night and day, because the daughter of my people is broken with a great breach.

At that time, the Jews were indeed existing as a nation. But the Prophet here gives a striking representation, as though the scene were present, so that they might know that a sudden destruction was near, though they still trusted in their own allies. Nor indeed could they have been led to fear God in any degree until their peace was disturbed.

He calls them the virgin daughter of his people, not for honor's sake, but because God had until then spared the Jews. The term 'virgin' is sometimes taken in a good sense, for God, when speaking of the holy marriage by which he had bound the Jews to himself, compares his people to a virgin.

But the daughter of Babylon is also often called a virgin, because the Chaldeans, through long peace, had accustomed themselves to delicacies. So also in this place the Prophet, by way of concession, says that his own nation was soft and tender, because they had been patiently endured through the indulgence of God.

But as in war virgins are exposed to violations, and the lust of men rages without shame and beyond all limits, so God intended here to set forth the fierceness of his vengeance. It is as if he had said, “Now indeed you are tender and delicate young women, but in a short time your condition will be changed; nor is there any reason why the constant happiness which you have enjoyed until now should deceive you.”

And for the same purpose he adds that the smiting would be very bitter. It was indeed necessary, using many words, to emphasize that vengeance, which the people disregarded.