Jeremiah (1-31) 5:4 Commentary and Bible Study

Jeremiah is inspired to reflect: ‘Therefore I said, Surely these [people],’ who are in this hardened state and condition, ‘these are [the] poor; they are foolish: for they know not the way of the LORD, nor the judgment of their God.’ These people who swear falsely and who have responded so inadequately to the message of the prophet, these people who have been unearthed by this initial search of the streets of Jerusalem (verse 1); perhaps they belong to a class of men who are not typical of all. He had looked so far among the uninstructed and the shallow ones, not the more sophisticated members of Judah. Perhaps there are others who are capable of responding in a better way. Perhaps he has been looking in the wrong place, and needs to consider others who are more disposed to his message. So he says, ‘I will get me unto the great men,’ – the princes of the people, the nobles, the priests – ‘and will speak unto them; for they have known the way of the LORD, and the judgment of their God.’ They are trained and educated in the rabbinical schools. Perhaps something better can be found in this group of men. When it comes to recognizing the sinful state of man, yes, some people may accept that there is a degree of depravity among the really rough end of society, and among people who have no education: you can almost hear it being said. This open reflection is going to be his graphic way of showing that the whole human race is depraved, that there are none who are any better than others. This is the shocking and extraordinary conclusion. Each class of men has its own peculiar forms of sin, but none are free of it; mankind is totally depraved. ‘I will get me unto the great men,’ but these are even worse. ‘These have altogether broken the yoke, and burst the bonds.’ They are the ringleaders; they are the ones who spread evil practices from the top down.