John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 49:15

"For, behold, I have made thee small among the nations, and despised among men." — Jeremiah 49:15 (ASV)

Interpreters for the most part give this exposition: that the people of Edom would be contemptible because God had determined to cast them down from their dignity, which they possessed for a time. Then they connect the next verse, in which the reason for this is given, "Your terror deceived you, the pride of your heart, etc."

But this passage may be taken otherwise—that God derides the pride of that nation, which ought to have restrained itself, because it contended against nature when it wished to elate itself so much. And it seems to me that this is the real meaning of the Prophet. I do not, indeed, pronounce the other view wrong, yet I should state what I prefer.

I then think that an implied comparison between the Israelites and the children of Edom is to be understood here, which is more clearly expressed by Malachi (Malachi 1:2–3); for God there extols his kindness towards the Israelites, because he gave them a rich and fruitful land, and sent away the posterity of Esau, and confined them within rough mountains.

Since the Idumeans, then, ejected from such a pleasant and desirable an inheritance as had been given to the children of Abraham, were confined, as it were, to rugged mountains, the Prophet derides their pride because they tried in a way contrary and repugnant to nature to elevate themselves: I made you small among the nations, and contemptible among men.

And we know that such pride is less easily borne when there is no reason for boasting. When anyone obscure from the lowest rank exalts himself above the most noble, all regard him with contempt, for it is a monstrous thing.

It is for this reason that the Prophet now says, "What have you, O Idumeans, that you are so proud! What do you possess? What is your glory? For God has humbled you. It is then the same as though a fly wished to exceed in bulk the elephant."

But if the other exposition is preferred, the meaning would be as follows: "Behold, I will make you small and contemptible among the nations, because you have been very proud." But I have stated what I approve: that God here brings against the Idumeans their folly, because they ought not to have boasted without reason. "Behold," he says; he shows, as if pointing with his finger, how lowly and abject their condition was; I have made you small among the nations, and contemptible among men.

And, doubtless, if it were a threat, it would not have been sufficiently forceful, for the Prophet has up to this point been thundering against the Idumeans, and he continues in the same vein. If then he had now included what we read, referring to their smallness, it would have lacked impact.

I do not doubt, then, that the Prophet describes the state of that nation as it had been in comparison with that of the chosen people, and even of other nations. For though they were rich, had always been free from disturbance, and suffered no losses, yet they lived, as it has been stated, in mountains by no means fertile.