Jeremiah 17:6

“For he shall be like the heath in the desert, etc.] The Vulgate Latin version renders it, “myrice”: and so the Latin interpreter of the Targum; but the word that paraphrase makes use of according to R. Hai, mentioned by Kimchi, signifies something that is thorny without, and eatable within; but this is not likely to be intended here. The Septuagint version renders it, “wild myrice”; it seems to be the same that is called “erice”, or “ling”, and “heath”; which delights to grow in wild and waste places; hence such with us are called “heaths”, whether this grows upon them or not. It is a low shrub, fruitless and useless; and, because neither bears fruit nor seed, is reckoned by Plinyf352 among…”

“heath--In Psa 102:17; Isa 32:11; Hab 3:9, the Hebrew is translated, "bare," "naked," "destitute"; but as the parallel in Jer 17:8 is "tree," some plant must be meant of which this is the characteristic epithet (Jer 48:6, Margin), "a naked tree." ROBINSON translates, "the juniper tree," found in the Arabah or Great Valley, here called "the desert," south of the Dead Sea. The "heath" was one of the plants, according to PLINY (13.21; 16.26), excluded from religious uses, because it has neither fruit nor seed, and is neither sown nor planted. not see . . . good-- (Job 20:17). salt land-- (Deu 29:23), barren ground.”

“In the rest of the prophecy Jeremiah dwells upon the moral faults which had led to Judah’s ruin. Jeremiah 17:6 Like the heath - Or, “like a destitute man” Psalms 102:17. The verbs “he shall see” (or fear) and “shall inhabit” plainly show that a man is here meant and not a plant. Jeremiah 17:8 The river - Or, “water-course” Isaiah 30:25, made for purposes of irrigation. Shall not see - Or, “shall not fear Jeremiah 17:6.” God’s people feel trouble as much as other people, but they do not fear it because they know (1) that it is for their good, and (2) that God will give them strength to bear it. Jeremiah 17:9 The train of thought is apparently this: If the man is so blessed Jeremiah 17:7-8 who…”

“17:6 The people of Judah would be utterly helpless in the time of calamity because they had switched their trust from the Lord to human capabilities. The people of Judah would be just like shrubs in the desert that are stunted because they lack water.”

“like: Jer 48:6; Job 8:11-13, Job 15:30-34; Psa 1:4, Psa 92:7, Psa 129:6-8; Isa 1:30 and shall: Kg2 7:2, Kg2 7:19, Kg2 7:20; Job 20:17 a salt: Deu 29:23; Jdg 9:45; Eze 47:11; Zep 2:9 Jeremiah 17:7”