John Gill's Exposition on Jeremiah 9:8

A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.

Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.

Their tongue is as an arrow shot out, etc.] As an arrow out of a bow, which moves swiftly, and comes with great force; or, “drawn out”f188; as out of a quiver. The word is used of gold, and rendered “beaten gold”, (<111016>1 Kings 10:16), gold drawn out into plates; and here of an arrow drawn out of a quiver; and so it is interpreted in the Talmudf189; or is “wounding”, as the Septuagint, or “slaying”f190; denoting the mischief and injury done to the characters of men, by a deceitful, detracting, and calumniating tongue. The Targum is, “as a sharp arrow their tongue”; which pierces deep, and is deadly; (see Gill on “<240903>Jeremiah 9:3”), it speaketh deceit; deceitful words, by which men are imposed upon, and are led into wrong ways of thinking and acting: one speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth; salutes him in a friendly manner; wishes him all health, peace, and prosperity; professes a sincere and cordial friendship for him, and pretends a strong affection to him: but in his heart he layeth wait; to draw him into snares, and circumvent, trick, and defraud him.

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