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1
A Spiritual Sickness
Commentators agree that Jeremiah is using a parable. The famous 'balm of Gilead' and its physicians are metaphors for God's spiritual remedies for Israel's sin. The 'physicians' were the prophets and priests, and the 'balm' was God's law, righteousness, and the call to repentance. The nation was spiritually sick, yet the cure was readily available.
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Book Overview
Jeremiah
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Commentaries
6
Albert Barnes
On Jeremiah 8:22
18th Century
Theologian
No physician there—that is, in Gilead. Balm used to grow in Israel for the healing of the nations; her priests and prophets were the physici…
Charles Ellicott
On Jeremiah 8:22
19th Century
Bishop
Is there no balm in Gilead...? —The resinous gums of Gilead, identified by some naturalists with those of the terebinth, …
Charles Spurgeon
On Jeremiah 8:22
19th Century
Preacher
Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there?
No; there is none. There is balm in Christ, there is a Physician who once …
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John Calvin
On Jeremiah 8:22
16th Century
Theologian
The Prophet implies in these words that the slaughter of the people would be so fatal that they would seek remedies in vain; as if he had said that…
John Gill
On Jeremiah 8:22
17th Century
Pastor
Is there no balm in Gilead? &c.] Which was famous for it; see (Genesis 37:25), or rather turpentine or rosin,…
Matthew Henry
On Jeremiah 8:14–22
17th Century
Minister
Finally, they begin to see the hand of God lifted up. And when God appears against us, everything that is against us appears formidable. As salvati…