Jer 6:18-19 | JFB | STEP | 18. congregation —parallel to "nations"; it therefore means the gathered peoples who are invited to be witnesses as to how great is the perversity of the Israelites ( ), and that they deserve the severe punishment about to be inflicted on them ( ). what is among them —what deeds are committed by the Israelites ( ) [MAURER ]. Or, "what punishments are about to be inflicted on them" [CALVIN ].

Jeremiah 6:18-19

18. congregation—parallel to "nations"; it therefore means the gathered peoples who are invited to be witnesses as to how great is the perversity of the Israelites (Jer 6:16, 17), and that they deserve the severe punishment about to be inflicted on them (Jer 6:19).

what is among them—what deeds are committed by the Israelites (Jer 6:16, 17) [MAURER]. Or, "what punishments are about to be inflicted on them" [CALVIN].

19. (Isa 1:2).

fruit of . . . thoughts— (Pr 1:31).

nor to my law, but rejected it—literally, "and (as to) My law they have rejected it." The same construction occurs in Ge 22:24.

20. Literally, "To what purpose is this to Me, that incense cometh to Me?"

incense . . . cane— (Isa 43:24; 60:6). No external services are accepted by God without obedience of the heart and life (Jer 7:21; Ps 50:7-9; Isa 1:11; Mic 6:6, &c.).

sweet . . . sweet—antithesis. Your sweet cane is not sweet to Me. The calamus.