Jeremiah 3:9

“And it came to pass, through the lightness of her whoredom, etc.] Or the “swiftness”f74 of it; when it was once set on foot, it ran through the land presently one taking it from and following the example of another; or it became a light thing with her to commit idolatry; it was looked upon as a small thing, a trivial offence at most: so the Targum, “it came to pass that her idols were light in her eyes;” not lightly esteemed of, but it was a light thing to commit idolatry with them; interpreting the word as the Masora, which it follows: and to the same sense the Septuagint version, “her fornication was for nothing”; it stood for nothing, it was not reckoned as a sin: the Arabic version is,…”

“it--Some take this verse of Judah, to whom the end of Jer 3:8 refers. But Jer 3:10 puts Judah in contrast to Israel in this verse. "Yet for all this," referring to the sad example of Israel; if Jer 3:9 referred to Judah, "she" would have been written in Jer 3:10, not "Judah." Translate, "It (the putting away of Israel) had come to pass through . . . whoredom; and (that is, for) she (Israel) had defiled the land" &c. [MAURER]. English Version, however, may be explained to refer to Israel. lightness--"infamy." [EWALD]. MAURER not so well takes it from the Hebrew root, "voice," "fame."”

“Lightness - Others render as in the margin. Defiled - Rather, profaned. The land especially consecrated to Yahweh’s service was treated by Judah as a common land. return to 'Top of Page'”

“3:9 land has been polluted: As a result of Israel’s apostasy, fertile fields no longer produced crops and sheep did not graze on green grass (Isa 57:6).”

“lightness: or, fame, Eze 23:10 she defiled: Jer 3:2, Jer 2:7 committed: Jer 2:27, Jer 10:8; Isa 57:6; Eze 16:17; Hos 4:12; Hab 2:19 Jeremiah 3:10”