Jer 2:5, 31 | JFB | STEP | 5. iniquity — wrong done to them ( ; compare ). walked after vanity —contrasted with " walkest after me in the wilderness" ( ): then I was their guide in the barren desert; now they take idols as their guides. vanity . . . vain —An idol is not only vain (impotent and empty), but vanity itself. Its worshippers acquire its character, becoming vain as it is ( ). A people's character never rises above that of its gods, which are its "better nature" [BACON ] ( ).

Jeremiah 2:5

5. iniquity—wrong done to them (Isa 5:4; Mic 6:3; compare De 32:4).

walked after vanity—contrasted with "walkest after me in the wilderness" (Jer 2:2): then I was their guide in the barren desert; now they take idols as their guides.

vanity . . . vain—An idol is not only vain (impotent and empty), but vanity itself. Its worshippers acquire its character, becoming vain as it is (De 7:26; Ps 115:8). A people's character never rises above that of its gods, which are its "better nature" [BACON] (2Ki 17:15; Jon 2:8).

Jeremiah 2:31

31. The Hebrew collocation is, "O, the generation, ye," that is, "O ye who now live." The generation needed only to be named, to call its degeneracy to view, so palpable was it.

wilderness—in which all the necessaries of life are wanting. On the contrary, Jehovah was a never-failing source of supply for all Israel's wants in the wilderness, and afterwards in Canaan.

darkness—literally, "darkness of Jehovah," the strongest Hebrew term for "darkness; the densest darkness"; compare "land of the shadow of death" (Jer 2:6).

We are lords—that is, We are our own masters. We will worship what gods we like (Ps 12:4; 82:6). But it is better to translate from a different Hebrew root: "We ramble at large," without restraint pursuing our idolatrous lusts.