John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 50:33-34

"Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: The children of Israel and the children of Judah are oppressed together; and all that took them captive hold them fast; they refuse to let them go. Their Redeemer is strong; Jehovah of hosts is his name: he will thoroughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the earth, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon." — Jeremiah 50:33-34 (ASV)

Our Prophet returns to his former subject—that God, in destroying the Babylonian monarchy, would show regard for His chosen people. But the comparison made here is very important, for in the first place, the Prophet refers to a cause for lack of confidence and even despair, which might have obstructed the path for all his prophecies.

For this objection could always have been made: “We are driven into exile, we are in a distant country, and in places far from one another; it is as though we were in another world, and we can hardly move a foot without our conquerors becoming enraged against us.” Thus the Jews, considering the circumstances at that time, could only despair of returning to their own country.

This, then, is the reason why the Prophet says here, as a concession, “It is indeed true that the children of Judah and the children of Israel are oppressed with cruel tyranny.” Just as when we wish to secure faith, we state what seems to oppose us, and then dispel it, so the Prophet does here. It is as if he had said, “I see what might occur to everyone: that the children of Judah, as well as the children of Israel, are held captive and confined by such strongholds that no way of escape is available to them.”

When he speaks of the children of Israel and the children of Judah, we must remember that the ten tribes had been led into exile, and also that the whole kingdom had been destroyed. Eventually, after a considerable time, the Chaldeans also took possession of the kingdom of Judah. Thus it was that both the Israelites and the Jews became subject to cruel oppression.

He therefore adds, They who led them captive have prevailed, or, as some translate the last word, “have held them”; for חזק, chesek, means to hold, to lay hold. But the Prophet seems to mean something else: namely, that their conquerors prevailed to such an extent that they could securely rule over them. And hence it is added, they have refused to let them go. We learn the same thing from the next verse, in which the strength and power of God is contrasted with the power of their enemies.

From a human perspective, there was certainly no way of deliverance for the people. The Prophet then concedes what might have taken away all hope from them.

But he immediately afterwards removes this ground of despair, and says, Their Redeemer is strong. He then sets this strong, חזק, chesek, in opposition to the verb used before, “prevailed” or ruled, החזיקו בם, echesiku beem, “prevailed” or domineered “over them,” so that they were stronger. But now, on the other hand, he calls the Redeemer of Israel strong; for if you were only to consider, he seems to say, how great the power of Babylon is, you might despair. But can God, meanwhile, do nothing? Is there any power on earth that can overrule Him? Since, then, their Redeemer was strong, He would prove superior to the Chaldeans.

He afterwards adds something to the same effect: His name is Jehovah of hosts; that is, neither Babylon nor all other nations have so much power as can resist the infinite power of God, for He is always consistent with Himself, and perfect; He is the God of hosts.

He finally adds, Their strife by litigating he will litigate, or, by pleading he will plead the cause of His people, even so as to cut off or destroy the land.

The verb רגע, rego, indeed sometimes means to rest, and so almost all translate it as, “so as to make the land rest.” But since I understand “land” and “the inhabitants of Babylon” to be the same, I do not doubt that this verb should be taken here in its proper sense.

Then it is, so as to cut off or destroy the land, and to make the inhabitants of Babylon tremble. He then speaks of the Chaldeans in mentioning the land, and afterwards explains himself by adding, the inhabitants of Babylon.

Prayer:

Grant, Almighty God, that, as You have deigned once to take us under Your protection, we may always raise our eyes to Your infinite power. And that when we see all things not only in turmoil but also trodden underfoot by the world, we may still not doubt that Your power is sufficient to deliver us, so that we may perpetually call on Your name and fight with such firm constancy against all temptations that we may at last enjoy in Your celestial kingdom the fruit of our victory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. — Amen.