John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 5:2

"And though they say, As Jehovah liveth; surely they swear falsely." — Jeremiah 5:2 (ASV)

This is added to anticipate an objection. For the Jews, as is well known, thought they had a cover for all their vices, since they had God’s name continually in their mouths. Because they professed to worship the God of Abraham, they believed this pretext was sufficient to cover all their wickedness.

The Prophet counters this objection and shows that this disguise was useless because, in using God’s name this way, they profaned it. He goes still further, for he shows that the Jews, not only in common practice, were entirely lacking the fear of God, but also that when anything of a religious kind appeared among them, it was sacrilegious.

This is far worse than when God’s name is forgotten, and wretched people give themselves full permission to sin, as if they could not hide their wickedness. For when they openly provoke God and, as it were, dishonor Him to His face, how detestable and how monstrous is their impiety! This, then, is what Jeremiah sets forth: Though they say, Live does Jehovah, yet in this they swear falsely.

We now understand the Prophet’s meaning. In the first place, he strips hypocrites of their vain confidence in thinking that God would be favorable to them, provided they professed His name. They did this without considering how precious God’s name is, instead regarding it as a trivial matter to swear carelessly by His name.

But the Prophet not only condemns the hypocrisy of the Jews, but, as I have said, he also emphasizes the severity of their wickedness. For they did not hesitate to profane God’s sacred name and to carry on, so to speak, an open war with Him by abusing His name in swearing.

By mentioning, Live does Jehovah, he refers to the words that godly people also use when they take an oath. For when they appeal to the living God, it is as if they stood before His tribunal. At the same time, they declare their knowledge that even though God may delay His vengeance, an account must still be given, because He lives forever.

Thus, godly people acknowledge that if they swear falsely, nothing is gained by any delay, even if God suspends His vengeance. But the Prophet, as I have already said, applies this to hypocrites, who seemed to ascribe great honor to God—for nothing is more specious than their words. Gall indeed was in their heart, while honey was on their lips.

Therefore, the Prophet derides this false pretense and says, “Even when they swear most solemnly as to the words used, and show a high concern for religion, nevertheless they swear falsely.” Some translate לכן, lacen, as “surely” or “certainly,” but the meaning will be clearer if we translate it as “nevertheless.”