Jeremiah 8:4

“Moreover, thou shalt say unto them, etc.] The Jews, in Jeremiah’s time, in order to leave them inexcusable, though the Lord had before assured that they would not hearken to him, (<240727>Jeremiah 7:27): thus saith the Lord, shall they fall, and not rise? men, when they fall, endeavour to get up again, and generally they do: shall he turn away, and not return? when a man turns out of the right way into a wrong one, as soon as he is sensible of his mistake, he returns back; this is usually done among men. This is generally the case in a natural sense, and might be expected in a moral sense; that whereas these people had fallen into sin, they would rise again by repentance; and, having turned…”

“"Is it not a natural instinct, that if one falls, he rises again; if one turns away (that is, wanders from the way), he will return to the point from which he wandered? Why then does not Jerusalem do so?" He plays on the double sense of return; literal and metaphorical (Jer 3:12; Jer 4:1).”

“The prophet here resumes from Jeremiah 7:28 the main subject of his prophecy. He again invites the Jews to repentance. Shall they fall? - The argument is that when men fall, they do not lie upon the ground, but endeavor to get up again: and when a man loses his way, he does not persist in going on, but turns round, and retraces his steps. Israel then will be only following the dictates of comnon sense in desisting from that which she now knows to be her ruin. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Not arise - Will they never think of rising again? Not return - Will he wander for ever? Jeremiah 8:5”

“8:4-17 These three short poems were probably delivered during Jehoiakim’s reign. 8:4-7 These verses itemize the evidence of Judah’s sins. The people had fallen into idolatrous ritual sex and followed the ways of idol worship. They remained in their delusions because their minds and hearts were trapped by lies, a term that is often applied to idols (5:3, 6; 7:24; 9:6; Prov 24:16; Isa 44:20; Amos 5:2; Mic 7:8).”

“Moreover: Blayney justly observes, that the change of speakers here requires to be carefully attended to. The prophet first, in the name of God, reproves the people, and threatens them with grievous calamities, Jer 8:4-13. Then, apostrophising his countrymen, he advises them to retire with him to some fortified city, Jer 8:14-16. God then threatens to bring foes against them, that are irresistible, Jer 8:17. The prophet next commiserates the daughter of his people, who is heard bewailing her forlorn case; whilst the voice of God breaks in upon her complaints, and shows that all this ruin is brought upon her by her infidelities, Jer 8:18-20. The prophet regrets that her wounds had not been…”

“The People's Obstinacy in Wickedness, and the Dreadfulness of the Judgment. - Since the people cleaves stedfastly to its sin ( Jer 8:4-13), the Lord must punish sorely ( Jer 8:14 -23). - Jer 8:4-13. "And say to them, Thus hath the Lord said: Doth one fall, and not rise again? or doth one turn away, and not turn back again? Jer 8:5. Why doth this people of Jerusalem turn itself away with a perpetual turning? They hold fast by deceit, they refuse to return. Jer 8:6. I listened and heard: they speak not aright; no one repenteth him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? They all turn to their course again, like a horse rushing into the battle. Jer 8:7. Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth…”