John Gill Commentary Jeremiah 4:30

John Gill Commentary

Jeremiah 4:30

1697–1771
Reformed Baptist
John Gill
John Gill

John Gill Commentary

Jeremiah 4:30

1697–1771
Reformed Baptist
SCRIPTURE

"And thou, when thou art made desolate, what wilt thou do? Though thou clothest thyself with scarlet, though thou deckest thee with ornaments of gold, though thou enlargest thine eyes with paint, in vain dost thou make thyself fair; [thy] lovers despise thee, they seek thy life." — Jeremiah 4:30 (ASV)

And when you are spoiled, what will you do ?
&c.] Or, "O you spoiled" F11 , wasted, and undone creature, how will you help yourself? by what means do you think you can be delivered? it suggests that her ruin was inevitable; that she could not be recovered from it by herself, or any other:

though you clothe yourself with crimson ;
and so look like some rich and noble person; hoping thereby to find mercy, and to have quarter given and kindness shown: though you deck yourself with ornaments of gold ;
as a person of high and princely dignity:

or rather all this is to be understood of the manner of harlots, who dress rich and grand, in order to allure men; since it follows, though you rend your face with painting ;
or, eyes F12 ; which painting dilates as Jezebel did, (2 Kings 9:30) , in vain shall you make yourself fair ;
so as to be loved and admired: far from it:

your lovers will despise you ;
as an old harlot is despised by her former gallants, notwithstanding all her dressing and painting; yea, their love is often turned into hatred and abhorrence, as would be the case here, they will seek your life ;
to take it away; so far would there be from being any ground of expectations of help and deliverance from them.


FOOTNOTES:

  • F11: (dwdv ytaw) "et tu vastata", Pagninus, Montanus "et tu, res vastata", Cocceius.
  • F12: (Kynye Kwpb yerqx) "scindes in fuco oculos tuos", Montanus; "rumpes stibio oculos tuos", Schmidt.