John Gill Commentary Jeremiah 13:22

"And if thou say in thy heart, Wherefore are these things come upon me? for the greatness of thine iniquity are thy skirts uncovered, and thy heels suffer violence." — Jeremiah 13:22 (ASV)

And if you say in your heart: Not daring to express it with the mouth; and which, notwithstanding, God, that knows the heart, was privy to, and could discern all the secret workings of it; putting such a question as this:

Why come these things upon me? All these calamities, the invasion and siege of the enemy, famine, sword, captivity: the answer returned is, for the greatness of your iniquity; the enormous crimes the Jews were guilty of, such as idolatry, blasphemy which were attended with aggravated circumstances: or, "for the multitude of your iniquity" {h}; their sins being so many, as well as great:

Are your skirts discovered, and your heels made bare? Being obliged to walk naked and barefoot, their buttocks uncovered, and their legs and feet naked, without stockings or shoes, as captives used to be led, to their great shame and disgrace; see (Isaiah 20:2–4) . The phrases are expressive of captivity, and the manner of it; the cause of which was the greatness and multitude of their sins.

The Targum is, ``because your sins are multiplied, your confusion is revealed, your shame is seen.''

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FOOTNOTES:

• F8: (Knwe brb) "propter multitudinem iniquitatis tuae", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus, Schmidt.