The word against all the Jews that dwell in the land of Egypt: the men know their wives burn incense to the queen of heaven, and they will not hearken — 'therefore My name shall no more be named in the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt... yet a small number shall return.'
Tap any Hebrew word to reveal its root, value, and meanings.
The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews that dwelt in the land of Egypt, that dwelt at Migdol, and at Tahpanhes, and at Noph, and in the country of Pathros, saying:
verse value 4749
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 81 letters. The shortest word is "to" (אֶ֚ל, 2 letters) and the longest is "all·Jew" (כׇּל־הַיְּהוּדִ֔ים, 9 letters). Words sharing gematria 367: that·dwell, that·dwell. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "at·Migdol" (בְּמִגְדֹּל֙), "and·at·Noph" (וּבְנֹ֔ף), "Pathros" (פַּתְר֖וֹס). The root ישב appears 2 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "saying" (root אמר, 476x in Jeremiah); "that" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah); "to·Jeremiah" (root איל, 293x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Egypt', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 7 words.
Metzudat David
"Those dwelling in the land of Egypt." And he returned and explained, "Those dwelling in Migdol, etc.," that they are from the land of Egypt.
Metzudat Zion
"Bemigdol," etc. [These are] the names of places in the land of Egypt:
’Thus says Hashem of hosts, the God of Israel: You have seen all the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, and upon all the cities of Judah; and, behold, this day they are a desolation, and no man dwells therein;
verse value 6098
Insights
Verse structure: 22 words, 94 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֤ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "you" (אַתֶּ֣ם, 3 letters) and the longest is "upon·Jerusalem" (עַל־יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 330: all·the·evil, all·the·cities·of. 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "you·have·seen" (רְאִיתֶ֗ם), "and·they" (וְהִנָּ֤ם). The root על appears 2 times in this verse. 20 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 725x in Jeremiah); "thus·said" (root אמר, 476x in Jeremiah); "that" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Judah', dividing the verse into phrases of 15 and 7 words.
Metzudat Zion
And they. Behold, they are:
Chorbah. From the word churban:
Malbim
Thus says the Lord: “You have seen.” When a person perceives some novel occurrence, he should inquire after its cause. And if he sees that prior to this novelty something else preceded it, then he should investigate whether that preceding thing was the cause of the later thing that came into being, or not. But if a prophet comes to him and says to him, “Know that this thing which is happening now will be the cause of so-and-so a thing that will come into being after it,” and indeed the thing comes to pass according to the prophet’s prophecy, then he will not at all doubt that the preceding thing was the cause of the later thing. And this is what it says: “You have seen all the evil that I brought upon Jerusalem,” in which a great matter came into being, namely that many evils came upon it, and they are continuous in time, as it is stated: “And behold, it lies desolate this day.”
because of their wickedness which they have committed to provoke Me, in that they went to offer, and to serve other gods, whom they knew not, neither they, nor you, nor your fathers.
verse value 4944
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 67 letters. The shortest word is "not" (לֹ֣א, 2 letters) and the longest is "to·provoke·me" (לְהַכְעִסֵ֔נִי, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 501: that, that. 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "they·had·known·them" (יְדָע֔וּם), "and·your·fathers" (וַאֲבֹתֵיכֶֽם). The root אשר appears 2 times in this verse. 15 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah); "not" (root לא, 307x in Jeremiah); "they·did" (root עשה, 147x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'another', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 6 words.
Radak
"Because of their evil." The evil of their inhabitants:
"They, you, and your fathers." 'They' are the inhabitants of the cities mentioned, who died or were exiled — not you and your fathers. You did not know them [i.e., the foreign gods].
Metzudat David
"Which they did not know." That is, they were not familiar with them from of old.
"You and your fathers." Both you and your fathers did evil.
Malbim
"Because also you have seen the preceding cause before the evil, which is their evil that they did to anger Me by serving other gods; and also it is impossible that you have any doubt at all whether your evil deeds were the cause of the evil that came upon you, for I sent to you all My servants the prophets who told you urgently, time and again, not to do this abominable thing, which is idolatry; and also you have seen that just as the prophets said, so it was, for by means of their not listening and even not inclining their ear, neither to return from their evil to do repentance for the past, nor to refrain from burning incense to other gods in the future, therefore:"
However I sent to you all My servants the prophets, sending them betimes and often, saying: Oh, do not this abominable thing that I hate.
verse value 5713
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 68 letters. The shortest word is "that" (אֲשֶׁ֥ר, 3 letters) and the longest is "all·my·servants" (אֶת־כׇּל־עֲבָדַ֣י, 8 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "rising·early" (הַשְׁכֵּ֥ים), "please·not" (אַל־נָ֣א), "matter·of·the·abomination" (דְּבַֽר־הַתֹּעֵבָ֥ה). The root שלח appears 2 times in this verse. 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "saying" (root אמר, 476x in Jeremiah); "that" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah); "please·not" (root איל, 293x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'saying', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 7 words.
Metzudat David
"He rose early and sent." I used to rise early and send with great alacrity.
"Please do not do." As if to say: If until now you have done evil, do not do so now.
"This abomination" refers to idolatry.
Wherefore My fury and Mine anger was poured forth, and was kindled in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem; and they are wasted and desolate, as at this day.
verse value 4708
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 62 letters. The shortest word is "this" (הַזֶּֽה, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·they·became" (וַתִּהְיֶ֛ינָה, 7 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "and·was·poured·out" (וַתִּתַּ֤ךְ), "and·my·anger" (וְאַפִּ֔י), "and·she·burned" (וַתִּבְעַר֙). 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·they·became" (root היה, 250x in Jeremiah); "Judah" (root יהודה, 134x in Jeremiah); "as·the·day" (root יום, 133x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Jerusalem', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 5 words. Full calculation: וַתִּתַּ֤ךְ [and·was·poured·out] (826) + חֲמָתִי֙ [My·wrath] (458) + וְאַפִּ֔י [and·my·anger] (97) + וַתִּבְעַר֙ [and·she·burned] (678) + בְּעָרֵ֣י [in·cities·of] (282) + יְהוּדָ֔ה [Judah] (30) + וּבְחֻצ֖וֹת [and·in·streets·of] (512) + יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם [Jerusalem] (586) + וַתִּהְיֶ֛ינָה [and·they·became] (486) + לְחׇרְבָּ֥ה [to·ruin] (245) + לִשְׁמָמָ֖ה [for·desolation] (415) + כַּיּ֥וֹם [as·the·day] (76) + הַזֶּֽה [this] (17) = 4708.
Metzudat David
"And it was poured out." And because of this, My wrath was poured out:
"As on this day." For they are desolate:
Metzudat Zion
"And it poured forth" (ותתך). The matter of emptying and pouring out:
Malbim
"My fury and My anger were poured out," and this was the cause of the evil that came upon you, "and it burned," meaning: behold, until now the fire burned in the cities of Judah and they became a desolation, and the Lord had exhausted His anger upon the timber and the stones, but:
Therefore now thus says Hashem, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: Wherefore commit you this great evil against your own souls, to cut off from you man and woman, infant and suckling, out of the midst of Judah, to leave you none remaining;
verse value 8361
Insights
Verse structure: 24 words, 109 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָה֩) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "why" (לָמָה֩, 3 letters) and the longest is "to·your·souls" (אֶל־נַפְשֹׁ֣תֵכֶ֔ם, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 90: to·you, to·you. 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "to·your·souls" (אֶל־נַפְשֹׁ֣תֵכֶ֔ם), "man·burnt-offering" (אִישׁ־וְאִשָּׁ֛ה), "and·the·suckling" (וְיוֹנֵ֖ק). The root אלהים appears 2 times in this verse. 21 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 725x in Jeremiah); "thus·said" (root אמר, 476x in Jeremiah); "to·your·souls" (root איל, 293x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Judah', dividing the verse into phrases of 20 and 4 words.
Metzudat David
"lest you bring destruction upon yourselves." This means: you will do harm to yourselves, for He will cut off from among you a man and a woman, etc.
Metzudat Zion
“Olel.” Tender children:
Malbim
"And now, why do you do this great evil to your souls? Now the wrath shall not be spent upon the cities and the buildings as it was until now, but rather upon the souls, to cut off from you man and woman, so as not to leave you any remnant (whereas at first, at least, a remnant remained). This is because of what you do to anger Me with the work of your hands, by burning incense in the land of Egypt, where you are not residents there as in the land of Judah, but only where you come to sojourn there; and thus the evil will be twofold: A. in order to cut you off, that you be cut off completely; and B. in order that you become a curse among all the nations of the land, since you are among the nations and they will see your deeds and your punishments."
in that you provoke Me with the works of your hands, offering to other gods in the land of Egypt, whither you are gone to sojourn; that you may be cut off, and that you may be a curse and a reproach among all the nations of the earth?
verse value 6195
Insights
Verse structure: 22 words, 101 letters. The shortest word is "there" (שָׁ֑ם, 2 letters) and the longest is "to·provoke·me" (לְהַכְעִסֵ֙נִי֙, 7 letters). 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "in·the·works·of" (בְּמַעֲשֵׂ֣י), "to·cut·off" (הַכְרִ֣ית), "and·for·the·sake·of" (וּלְמַ֤עַן). The root ארץ appears 2 times in this verse. 20 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "whom·you" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah); "your·being" (root היה, 250x in Jeremiah); "in·land·of" (root ארץ, 245x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'there', dividing the verse into phrases of 12 and 10 words.
Metzudat David
"To anger Me." Now he will explain in what way they do evil to themselves, saying: "In that you anger Me with your deeds," etc.
To a curse. They will say in their curse: "May they be like you."
And for reproach. They shall all reproach you:
Have you forgotten the wicked deeds of your fathers, and the wicked deeds of the kings of Judah, and the wicked deeds of their wives, and your own wicked deeds, and the wicked deeds of your wives, which they committed in the land of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem?
verse value 9923
Insights
Verse structure: 20 words, 92 letters. The shortest word is "and" (וְאֵת֙, 3 letters) and the longest is "your·fathers" (אֲבוֹתֵיכֶ֜ם, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 407: and, and, and. 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "you·forgot" (הַֽשְׁכַחְתֶּם֩), "wicked·deeds·of" (אֶת־רָע֨וֹת), "and·evils·of" (וְאֶת־רָע֣וֹת). The root רע appears 3 times in this verse. 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah); "kings·of" (root מלך, 253x in Jeremiah); "in·land·of" (root ארץ, 245x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'your·wives', dividing the verse into phrases of 14 and 6 words.
Radak
"Have you forgotten?" – The shin is light [i.e., vocalized with a short vowel], and the he is without a ga'ya [secondary stress mark]; and there are manuscripts in which the he has a ga'ya.
"And the wicked deeds of his wives." [Referring to] the wives of every king; and so we find regarding the wife of Abijah, who made a detestable image for the Asherah.
Metzudat David
"Have you forgotten?" – Meaning: Have you forgotten? I.e., surely you have not yet forgotten.
“His wives.” The wives of each of those kings.
Malbim
“Have you forgotten?”—this implies asking them: Did they truly forget the cause that brought about the evil, namely, “you have forgotten the evils of your fathers and the evils of the kings of Judah,” etc.—the evils committed by the kings and the entire people, openly in the cities of Judah, which is impossible to forget? Or, do they deny the consequence, which is the evil that befell them as a result thereof? And with this in mind, the verse states:
They are not humbled even to this day, neither have they feared, nor walked in My law, nor in My statutes, that I set before you and before your fathers.
verse value 4356
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 66 letters. Verse gematria: 4356 = 66². The shortest word is "not" (לֹ֣א, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·not·walked" (וְלֹא־הָלְכ֤וּ, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 31: not, they·were·crushed. 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "they·were·crushed" (דֻכְּא֔וּ), "and·in·my·statutes" (וּבְחֻקֹּתַ֔י). The root לא appears 2 times in this verse. 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that·I·gave" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah); "not" (root לא, 307x in Jeremiah); "day" (root יום, 133x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'this', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 9 words. Full calculation: לֹ֣א [not] (31) + דֻכְּא֔וּ [they·were·crushed] (31) + עַ֖ד [until] (74) + הַיּ֣וֹם [day] (61) + הַזֶּ֑ה [this] (17) + וְלֹ֣א [and·not] (37) + יָֽרְא֗וּ [feared] (217) + וְלֹא־הָלְכ֤וּ [and·not·walked] (98) + בְתֽוֹרָתִי֙ [in·my·law] (1018) + וּבְחֻקֹּתַ֔י [and·in·my·statutes] (526) + אֲשֶׁר־נָתַ֥תִּי [that·I·gave] (1361) + לִפְנֵיכֶ֖ם [to·your·face] (230) + וְלִפְנֵ֥י [and·before] (176) + אֲבוֹתֵיכֶֽם [your·fathers] (479) = 4356.
Rashi
"They have not been crushed [humbled]." [Meaning: their] heart [was not humbled] away from their wickedness.
Radak
"They were not subdued until this day." They were not humbled and did not consider themselves subdued because of the punishment that befell them for the evil they had done.
Metzudat David
“Not subdued.” Their hearts were not subdued; that is to say, they were not yet humbled up to this day, and they did not stand in awe of the Lord.
Metzudat Zion
"Duku" (דֻּכְּאוּ) — the matter of pounding/crushing, and it is used metaphorically for humbling, as in: "a broken and contrite heart" (Psalms 51:19).
Malbim
"Not that they were subdued on this day; rather, the afflictions did not succeed in subduing you completely. Therefore, you did not fear the punishment, nor did you walk in My Torah by seeing the punishment that comes upon the transgressor of the Torah."
Therefore thus says Hashem of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will set My face against you for evil, even to cut off all Judah.
verse value 3592
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 58 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֤ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "there" (שָׂ֥ם, 2 letters) and the longest is "all·Judah" (אֶת־כׇּל־יְהוּדָֽה, 9 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "and·to·cut·off" (וּלְהַכְרִ֖ית), "all·Judah" (אֶת־כׇּל־יְהוּדָֽה). 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 725x in Jeremiah); "thus·said" (root אמר, 476x in Jeremiah); "the·God·of" (root אלהים, 140x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'for·evil', dividing the verse into phrases of 11 and 2 words. Full calculation: לָכֵ֗ן [therefore] (100) + כֹּה־אָמַ֞ר [thus·said] (266) + יְהֹוָ֤ה [Hashem] (26) + צְבָאוֹת֙ [hosts] (499) + אֱלֹהֵ֣י [the·God·of] (46) + יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל [Israel] (541) + הִנְנִ֨י [they] (115) + שָׂ֥ם [there] (340) + פָּנַ֛י [my·face] (140) + בָּכֶ֖ם [in·you] (62) + לְרָעָ֑ה [for·evil] (305) + וּלְהַכְרִ֖ית [and·to·cut·off] (671) + אֶת־כׇּל־יְהוּדָֽה [all·Judah] (481) = 3592.
Metzudat David
"I set My face." I will direct My attention against you, to bring the evil.
Malbim
Therefore, I will set My face against you for evil, because in the destruction of Jerusalem, the face of the Lord and His intention were for good, and that they would be like a sowing, in which the loss of the seed brings forth fruit and produce (as stated above, section 32), but with you I will set My face only for evil, not like a sowing, but only to uproot all of Judah.
And I will take the remnant of Judah, that have set their faces to go into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, and they shall all be consumed; in the land of Egypt shall they fall; they shall be consumed by the sword and by the famine; they shall die, from the least even to the greatest, by the sword and by the famine; and they shall be an execration, and an astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach.
verse value 8728
Insights
Verse structure: 27 words, 126 letters. The shortest word is "there" (שָׁם֒, 2 letters) and the longest is "land·Egypt" (אֶרֶץ־מִצְרַ֘יִם֮, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 456: they·shall·be·finished·off, they·shall·die. 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "land·Egypt" (אֶרֶץ־מִצְרַ֘יִם֮). The root תמם appears 2 times in this verse. 24 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that·set" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah); "and·they·shall·be" (root היה, 250x in Jeremiah); "in·land·of" (root ארץ, 245x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'they·shall·die', dividing the verse into phrases of 22 and 5 words.
Metzudat David
"And I will take." This means: I will take them to calamity.
And they shall be consumed. All of them shall perish.
"To an execration, etc.": They will swear by them, marvel at their downfall, their curses will fall upon them, and they will revile them.
Metzudat Zion
And they shall be consumed. The matter of destruction and completion:
"Le'alah" – the matter of an oath.
"Leshammah." [Meaning] to astonishment:
Malbim
"And I will take" — because there were among them two factions: one faction that came to Egypt to settle there, namely the officers of the troops and the arrogant ones; and another faction that came against their will, together with the officials, as it is stated, "And Johanan son of Kareah took all the remnant of Judah" (above, 43:5), and it was in their mind to return to the land of Judah. He said that the first faction, which set their faces to come to the land of Egypt, whose primary intent was to be in the land of Egypt, they shall perish completely, for by sword and by famine they shall perish. And He adds, "from the least to the greatest, by sword and by famine shall they die," because for the most part the great ones would fall by the sword of war, for they are the warriors, but not by famine, for they would seek food for themselves; and the small ones would fall by famine due to poverty, but not by the sword, for they do not fight. And now, the small and the great are equalized in death, whether by sword or by famine. And besides this, "they shall become a curse, a desolation," for:
For I will punish them that dwell in the land of Egypt, as I have punished Jerusalem, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence;
verse value 4247
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 54 letters. The shortest word is "upon" (עַ֤ל, 2 letters) and the longest is "upon·Jerusalem" (עַל־יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם, 8 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "the·dwellers" (הַיּֽוֹשְׁבִים֙). The root פקד appears 2 times in this verse. 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "as" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah); "upon" (root על, 276x in Jeremiah); "and·in·the·pestilence" (root דבר, 270x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'upon·Jerusalem', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 3 words. Full calculation: וּפָקַדְתִּ֗י [and·I·will·punish] (600) + עַ֤ל [upon] (100) + הַיּֽוֹשְׁבִים֙ [the·dwellers] (373) + בְּאֶ֣רֶץ [in·land·of] (293) + מִצְרַ֔יִם [Egypt] (380) + כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר [as] (521) + פָּקַ֖דְתִּי [I·punished] (594) + עַל־יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם [upon·Jerusalem] (686) + בַּחֶ֖רֶב [in·the·sword] (212) + בָּרָעָ֥ב [in·the·famine] (274) + וּבַדָּֽבֶר [and·in·the·pestilence] (214) = 4247.
Metzudat David
"And I will take vengeance." I will watch to exact retribution and return recompense to those who dwell, etc.
“With the sword, etc.” – This means: With these [instruments] I will render recompense to take vengeance upon them.
Metzudat Zion
"And I will visit." This refers to the matter of Divine providence.
Malbim
“And I will visit upon them…” – Just as I visited upon Jerusalem, meaning that their destruction will be by My providence, through which I will visit upon them the sword, famine, and pestilence by means of My providence. And the meaning is that those who went to remain in Egypt joined the army of Pharaoh to fight against Nebuchadnezzar; therefore, they will fall among the fallen.
so that none of the remnant of Judah, that are gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, shall escape or remain, that they should return into the land of Judah, to which they have a desire to return to dwell there; for none shall return save such as shall escape.’
verse value 7560
Insights
Verse structure: 23 words, 106 letters. Verse gematria: 7560 is divisible by 18, the value of chai ('life'). The shortest word is "there" (שָׁ֔ם, 2 letters) and the longest is "not·will·return" (לֹֽא־יָשׁ֖וּבוּ, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 30: it·will·be, Judah, Judah, for, for. 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "refugee" (פָּלִ֤יט), "and·survivor" (וְשָׂרִיד֙), "to·remnant·of" (לִשְׁאֵרִ֣ית). The root שוב appears 3 times in this verse. 16 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that·they" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah); "for" (root כי, 318x in Jeremiah); "and·not" (root לא, 307x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Egypt', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 13 words.
Rashi
“But fugitives.” Jeremiah and Baruch returned to the place to which Nebuchadnezzar had exiled [Israel], when the land of Egypt was given into his hand in the twenty-seventh year of his reign (Ezekiel 29). This is stated in Seder Olam.
Metzudat David
"And there shall be no survivor." There shall not remain from them in Egypt any remnant.
"And to return." And to return to the land of Judah, which they anticipate, exalt, and promise their souls to return and dwell there—behold, it shall not be so, for only the refugees from the sword of the enemy shall return. And this is a concise verse, and its omission is understood from itself.
Metzudat Zion
“Palit v’sarid.” Rescue and remnant.
"Menasim." The matter of lifting, that is to say, they assure [themselves].
"Fleeing ones." They flee and are saved.
Malbim
And there shall not be any fugitive or remnant of the second group as well, who did not come to Egypt with the intention of settling down, but rather their intent was to return to the Land of Judah. And this is what it says: “there shall not be any fugitive or remnant of those who come to dwell there temporarily, in order to return to the Land of Judah,” which is the land to which they long to return. For even from among them, none will return except as fugitives, since although they did not fight with Nebuchadnezzar, they perished entirely by famine and plague.
Then all the men who knew that their wives offered to other gods, and all the women that stood by, a great assembly, even all the people that dwelt in the land of Egypt, in Pathros, answered Jeremiah, saying:
verse value 6368
Insights
Verse structure: 17 words, 103 letters. The shortest word is "assembly" (קָהָ֣ל, 3 letters) and the longest is "in·the·land·of·Egypt" (בְּאֶרֶץ־מִצְרַ֖יִם, 9 letters). 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "and·answered" (וַיַּעֲנ֣וּ), "that·know" (הַיֹּֽדְעִים֙), "that·offering·incense" (כִּֽי־מְקַטְּר֤וֹת). The root אשה appears 2 times in this verse. 16 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "saying" (root אמר, 476x in Jeremiah); "and·all·the·people" (root כל, 167x in Jeremiah); "all·the·men" (root איש, 153x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'great', dividing the verse into phrases of 12 and 5 words.
Metzudat David
"And all the women who were standing" – these were the women who were standing at that assembly, and there was a great gathering.
"And all the people, etc."—They too were drawn after them.
"In Pathros." That is, it is part of the land of Egypt.
Metzudat Zion
Qahal. A matter of gathering a congregation:
Malbim
“And all the men who knew answered Jeremiah, etc.” This means that all the women were burning incense to other gods, but many of them did so without the knowledge of their husbands. Therefore, only the men who knew that their wives were burning incense to other gods answered, since they were directly involved in the matter. And all the women answered as well. Likewise, all the people living in Pathros answered, since both the men and the women among them had burned incense.
’As for the word that you have spoken to us in the name of Hashem, we will not hearken to you.
verse value 2421
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 37 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֑ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "in·name·of" (בְּשֵׁ֣ם, 3 letters) and the longest is "that·you·spoke" (אֲשֶׁר־דִּבַּ֥רְתָּ, 7 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "that·you·spoke" (אֲשֶׁר־דִּבַּ֥רְתָּ). The root אל appears 2 times in this verse. 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 725x in Jeremiah); "that·you·spoke" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah); "the·word" (root דבר, 270x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Hashem', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 3 words. Full calculation: הַדָּבָ֛ר [the·word] (211) + אֲשֶׁר־דִּבַּ֥רְתָּ [that·you·spoke] (1107) + אֵלֵ֖ינוּ [to·us] (97) + בְּשֵׁ֣ם [in·name·of] (342) + יְהֹוָ֑ה [Hashem] (26) + אֵינֶ֥נּוּ [nothing] (117) + שֹׁמְעִ֖ים [hearing] (460) + אֵלֶֽיךָ [to·you] (61) = 2421.
Malbim
(16-17) “The matter is thus…” – “For when we made an offering and burned incense to the Queen of Heaven, we had bread to eat and were well off…” – They rejected the very substance of his proof, which had demonstrated that the incense offering was the cause of the evils that had befallen them. Rather, they argued the opposite: Was it not in the days of Ahaz and Manasseh, when they consistently engaged in idolatry, that no evil came? Only in the days of Zedekiah, when they did not consistently engage in idolatry—for the majority of the people served the Lord and heeded the words of the prophets—did evil befall them? From this, they proved the opposite: that the incense offering was beneficial and served as a protection for them. And when they became lax and ceased to burn incense to the Queen of Heaven, evil came upon them. For the incense offering was regarded by them as akin to astrological practices, which are deemed capable of drawing down upon their land the abundance of the stars and constellations from the bounty of heaven, namely dew and rains of blessing. They believed that since they had ceased to burn incense, they lacked everything. This is what is stated: “For when we made an offering and burned incense to the Queen of Heaven, as we did, and our fathers, we had bread to eat and were well off.” And since we ceased to burn incense, we have lacked everything. Secondly, they claimed that they do not prostrate themselves to the Queen of Heaven for the sake of divinity, for they believe in the Lord, in His providence, and in His prophets. Rather, this practice is useful in their opinion regarding matters of efficacious remedies. This is what is stated: “For when we made an offering and burned incense to the Queen of Heaven, we did so only as we and our fathers did in the cities of Judah, merely to burn incense to the Queen of Heaven as an efficacious remedy alone, akin to a work intended to draw down abundance from the aspect that the sun is the ruler in the heavens, and from it come the grain and the fruits.” For experience had proven that it was beneficial, as it states: “and we had bread to eat,” meaning that through this came the abundance of dew and rain and the fertility of the grain. And despite all this, “we were well off,” meaning well off in the eyes of God, for there was in this no denial of the God on High, and therefore we saw no evil.
But we will certainly perform every word that is gone forth out of our mouth, to offer to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink-offerings to her, as we have done, we and our fathers, our kings and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem; for then had we plenty of food, and were well, and saw no evil.
verse value 8763
Insights
Verse structure: 27 words, 137 letters. The shortest word is "for" (כִּי֩, 2 letters) and the longest is "all·the·word" (אֶֽת־כׇּל־הַדָּבָ֣ר, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 30: for, Judah. 11 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "all·the·word" (אֶֽת־כׇּל־הַדָּבָ֣ר), "that·went·out" (אֲשֶׁר־יָצָ֣א), "from·our·mouth" (מִפִּ֗ינוּ). The root עשה appears 3 times in this verse. 23 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that·went·out" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah); "for" (root כי, 318x in Jeremiah); "not" (root לא, 307x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Jerusalem', dividing the verse into phrases of 21 and 6 words.
Radak
"to the Queen of Heaven." This means, to the work of the heavens, which are the stars, the work of God, blessed be He; and it is spelled defective, lacking an aleph. So too are the other instances in this passage. And there are those who explain that "to the Queen" derives from the root melekh (king), and from its sense — namely, a great star in the heavens that reigns over the others, which is the sun. And Targum Yonatan renders it lechokhevat shemaya ["to the star of heaven"].
"And we were well-off." That we were in tranquility and goodness.
Metzudat David
That which went forth from our mouths: That which we undertook upon ourselves to offer incense to the Queen of Heaven, meaning to the greatest star in the heavens, which is the sun, as if it were reigning over them all.
"And pour [libations] to her." [I.e.,] "and to pour [libations] to her."
"And we were sated with bread." And then we were full of bread.
"And we were well-off." This means: wealthy and full of good.
Metzudat Zion
"To the Queen of Heaven." This refers to the sun. And similarly, "to make cakes for the Queen of Heaven" (above, 7):
But since we let off to offer to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink-offerings to her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine.
verse value 3130
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 56 letters. The shortest word is "all" (כֹ֑ל, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·to·pour·out·to·her" (וְהַסֵּֽךְ־לָ֥הּ, 6 letters). 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "and·from·then" (וּמִן־אָ֡ז), "we·stopped" (חָדַ֜לְנוּ), "and·to·pour·out·to·her" (וְהַסֵּֽךְ־לָ֥הּ). The root נסך appears 2 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "all" (root כל, 167x in Jeremiah); "and·by·the·sword" (root חרב, 87x in Jeremiah); "and·in·the·famine" (root רעב, 34x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'all', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 3 words. Full calculation: וּמִן־אָ֡ז [and·from·then] (104) + חָדַ֜לְנוּ [we·stopped] (98) + לְקַטֵּ֨ר [to·burn·incense] (339) + לִמְלֶ֧כֶת [to·queen·of] (520) + הַשָּׁמַ֛יִם [heaven] (395) + וְהַסֵּֽךְ־לָ֥הּ [and·to·pour·out·to·her] (126) + נְסָכִ֖ים [libations] (180) + חָסַ֣רְנוּ [we·lacked] (324) + כֹ֑ל [all] (50) + וּבַחֶ֥רֶב [and·by·the·sword] (218) + וּבָרָעָ֖ב [and·in·the·famine] (280) + תָּֽמְנוּ [we·was·complete] (496) = 3130.
Radak
"And from that time we ceased." But they did not cease; rather, they would say: "If any evil has befallen us, it has come only because we have discontinued the incense offering and were not as diligent as we were at first." Therefore, the prophet answered them: "Is it not the incense [that you burned]?"
Metzudat David
"And from that time." From the time when we ceased to offer incense, etc., we lacked all the good that had been with us.
Metzudat Zion
"Tamnu" (we were consumed). The matter of consumption/annihilation:
Malbim
And from that time we ceased to offer incense, and we lacked everything; thus, the experiment demonstrated the opposite of your words.
And is it we that offer to the queen of heaven, and pour out drink-offerings to her? did we make her cakes in her image, and pour out drink-offerings to her, without our husbands?’
verse value 3484
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 78 letters. Verse gematria: 3484 is divisible by 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "to·her" (לָ֖הּ, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·when·we" (וְכִֽי־אֲנַ֤חְנוּ, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 180: libations, libations. 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "and·when·we" (וְכִֽי־אֲנַ֤חְנוּ), "is·it·apart·from" (הֲמִֽבַּלְעֲדֵ֣י), "our·men" (אֲנָשֵׁ֗ינוּ). The root נסך appears 4 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·when·we" (root כי, 318x in Jeremiah); "our·men" (root איש, 153x in Jeremiah); "we·have·done" (root עשה, 147x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'libations', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 9 words.
Rashi
"Is it without our husbands." [Meaning:] without their knowledge:
"Cakes, to fashion her image." [I.e.,] molds in the shape of images (images in the form of a young woman, as above, [chapter] 22).
Radak
Mekatterim. It comes with a yod and a mem for feminine nouns, such as nashim, pilagshim, levanim, chittim, se'orim, and their like.
"Is it without our husbands['knowledge]?" The statement of the women, for they are the primary [agents] of the deed.
"Kavanim [cakes]." These are types of foods that were prepared and presented to the Queen of Heaven, and Jonathan['s Targum] translated [the word] as "kardutin."
"To make her mourn." By way of the pronominal suffix, it means "to [her] joy"; and the he is soft [without dagesh], though its rule calls for a mapik, because it stands for a pronominal suffix, and the pronominal suffix refers to the work of Heaven, for in the feminine language it refers to her, as it said "to her" — and the he is soft, and its rule calls for a mapik. We have written cases similar to this in the book Mikhlol [Sefer Mikhlol], in the first part of it.
Metzudat David
"And is it we?" This is the statement of the women who offer incense by themselves, who said: "As for what we offer incense and are careful to pour libations to her, is it without our husbands' knowledge that we have made various kinds of food for the Queen of Heaven?"
"To sadden her." This means: to gladden her; he spoke it euphemistically, as if [the women] were saying: "What would this prove against our husbands, that they should protest against us? Is their mind not with us?"
Metzudat Zion
The word "ha-mivla'adi" (the exclusive). Its meaning is like "zulah" (except), and similarly, "mivla'adi ishekh" (except your husband) (Numbers, ch. 5):
Our men. Our husbands:
Konim [cakes]. A type of food, and it is possible that it is called so because they made them with intent of the heart and much preparation, and likewise, "to make konim" (above, 7):
"To fashion her [image]." This is from the term "atzavon" [sorrow], and it is a euphemistic way of referring to joy:
Malbim
"And do we burn incense?"—this means: Do you perhaps think that these foolish women perform this act of their own accord, such that out of their folly they do it for the sake of divinity and worship? And do you think that apart from our men we made for her cakes? Rather, we did this with the knowledge of our men, who are wise and understanding. And it was not for the sake of divinity, but rather the cakes we made were an image directed toward the abundance of the star, to serve as a kind of mold and pattern for the star, so that it would pour out its blessing upon it. And with this intention we poured out libations—not with the intention of divinity or for the sake of worship.
Then Jeremiah said to all the people, to the men, and to the women, even to all the people that had given him that answer, saying:
verse value 2925
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 57 letters. Verse gematria: 2925 is divisible by 13, the value of echad ('one') and ahavah ('love'). The shortest word is "him" (אֹת֛וֹ, 3 letters) and the longest is "upon·the·men" (עַל־הַגְּבָרִ֤ים, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 271: Jeremiah, and·to·all·the·people, saying. 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "upon·the·men" (עַל־הַגְּבָרִ֤ים), "and·to·the·women" (וְעַל־הַנָּשִׁים֙), "and·to·all·the·people" (וְעַל־כׇּל־הָעָ֔ם). The root אמר appears 2 times in this verse. 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 476x in Jeremiah); "to·all·the·people" (root איל, 293x in Jeremiah); "a·word" (root דבר, 270x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·all·the·people', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 7 words. Full calculation: וַיֹּ֥אמֶר [and·said] (257) + יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ [Jeremiah] (271) + אֶל־כׇּל־הָעָ֑ם [to·all·the·people] (196) + עַל־הַגְּבָרִ֤ים [upon·the·men] (360) + וְעַל־הַנָּשִׁים֙ [and·to·the·women] (511) + וְעַל־כׇּל־הָעָ֔ם [and·to·all·the·people] (271) + הָעֹנִ֥ים [that·answer] (175) + אֹת֛וֹ [him] (407) + דָּבָ֖ר [a·word] (206) + לֵאמֹֽר [saying] (271) = 2925.
Metzudat David
"Concerning the men." [Meaning] "to the men"—and they are the ones who know that their wives make offerings; they were the first to open in reply.
"And upon all the people." They are those who follow after them.
The matter. The matter stated above:
Malbim
And Jeremiah said: “Concerning the men” — these are those who knew that their wives were burning incense; “and concerning all the women, and all the people” — these are those dwelling in Pathros, as stated above in verse 15; “who answer this word” — for at this point he had not yet spoken a prophecy in the name of the Lord, but only afterward; rather, he spoke his own words in response to their answer.
’The offering that you offered in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, you and your fathers, your kings and your princes, and the people of the land, did not Hashem remember them, and came it not into His mind?
verse value 6834
Insights
Verse structure: 19 words, 89 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֔ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "that" (אֲשֶׁ֨ר, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·your·fathers" (וַאֲבוֹתֵיכֶ֛ם, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 441: you, them. 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "the·offering" (אֶת־הַקִּטֵּ֗ר), "your·kings" (מַלְכֵיכֶ֥ם), "and·your·princes" (וְשָׂרֵיכֶ֖ם). The root קטר appears 2 times in this verse. 17 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 725x in Jeremiah); "that" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah); "did·not" (root לא, 307x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'earth', dividing the verse into phrases of 14 and 5 words.
Radak
"The incense [offering]." [It is] a noun on the pattern of [a comparandum]; and the matter is: I have no vengeance among them, but I will repay them.
"The LORD remembered [them]." All the incense offerings that you burned, for the deities were many, as it is written, "for your gods have become as many as your cities..." [cf. Jeremiah 2:28], and each one had its own particular incense offering, for the term "incense" is a general term.
"And it came up into His heart/mind." That is, the incense-offering, for "ketoret" and "ketter" are one [and the same word], and they expressed it in the masculine and in the feminine.
Metzudat David
"Those whom the Lord remembered." This means that even though He had not yet taken vengeance upon them, He had not forgotten them; rather, He remembered them and they came to His mind. (And it says "those," for they offered incense to many deities, and what is stated is that "incense" is the general term, but for each one there was a specific incense.)
Malbim
"Behold, [as to] 'the incense'"—he replied to them: 1. As you stated that they do not offer incense for the sake of divinity, but only for a matter of segula [talismanic efficacy], behold, even in the cities of Judah there was such incense as you offer, and nevertheless the anger of the Lord burned. It is clear that this incense is an abomination in the eyes of the Lord. 2. As for your claim: Why did the Lord not punish them while they persisted in idolatry, but punished them when they became negligent in this matter? "Behold, the incense which you and your fathers offered"—for you too offered incense just as your fathers did. Although in the days of Jehoiakim and Zedekiah they did not persist in idolatry as in the days of Manasseh, the incense was continuously offered by them always. And the reason He did not punish you immediately in the days of Ahaz and Manasseh is because the Lord remembered those [generations].
So that Hashem could no longer bear, because of the evil of your doings, and because of the abominations which you have committed; therefore is your land become a desolation, and an astonishment, and a curse, without an inhabitant, as at this day.
verse value 6130
Insights
Verse structure: 20 words, 90 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֨ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. Verse gematria: 6130 is divisible by 613, the number of the commandments (mitzvot). The shortest word is "evil" (רֹ֣עַ, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·not·able" (וְלֹא־יוּכַל֩, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 180: from·face·of, from·face·of. 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "and·not·able" (וְלֹא־יוּכַל֩), "to·carry" (לָשֵׂ֗את), "the·abominations" (הַתּוֹעֵבֹ֖ת). The root פנים appears 2 times in this verse. 19 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 725x in Jeremiah); "that" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah); "and·it·was" (root היה, 250x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'you·have·done', dividing the verse into phrases of 11 and 9 words.
Rashi
"And the Lord could no longer bear it." Like "and He could not."
Metzudat David
"And the Lord could not": He could no longer endure and continue holding back His anger on account of the evil of your deeds, etc.; therefore your land became a desolation, etc.
"As on this day." For it is in ruins.
Metzudat Zion
"To carry." From the language of burden and load:
“Your deeds.” Your deeds:
"And a ruin." From the language of destruction/ruin:
"And a waste [desolation]." And an astonishment:
Malbim
And He could no longer bear it, for the Lord waited until the measure was filled, and the burden of sins was exceedingly great and heavy, so that He could not bear it because of its heaviness. And then, when the measure was filled, the punishment came, and your land became a desolation. And this very fact is proof of the greatness of the sin in the eyes of the Lord, that He did not punish immediately, for this is from the attribute of mercy, as it is stated, "Only you have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will visit upon you all your iniquities." But regarding the sin of idolatry, which is exceedingly great, He waited until the measure was filled, in order to consume them and cut them off in His anger and fury.
Because you have offered, and because you have sinned against Hashem, and have not hearkened to the voice of Hashem, nor walked in His law, nor in His statutes, nor in His testimonies; therefore this evil is happened to you, as at this day.’
verse value 8196
Insights
Verse structure: 22 words, 97 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֔ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "not" (לֹ֣א, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·in·his·testimonies" (וּבְעֵדְוֺתָ֖יו, 8 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "and·in·his·law" (וּבְתֹרָת֧וֹ), "and·in·his·statutes" (וּבְחֻקֹּתָ֛יו), "and·in·his·testimonies" (וּבְעֵדְוֺתָ֖יו). The root אשר appears 2 times in this verse. 19 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "to·Hashem" (root יהוה, 725x in Jeremiah); "that" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah); "and·not" (root לא, 307x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'you·traveled', dividing the verse into phrases of 15 and 7 words.
Radak
"And regarding his testimonies." With a shva under the dalet and a cholam over the vav.
Metzudat David
“Because of...” – This means to say: The evil did not befall you because you ceased to offer incense, but rather because of the fact that you did offer it from then on, and because of the sin that you committed...; therefore, this evil occurrence happened to you.
"As on this day." That you are in distress:
Metzudat Zion
"Befell [you]." From the language of "mikreh" (an occurrence, a happening):
Malbim
“Because” — meaning, and what He placed before you as a stumbling block to error, that evil comes by chance, and He did not punish you immediately in the days of Manasseh, so that you would know that evil comes by providence — He answered this: A. “Because you burned incense” — in such a great sin, the punishment is concealed from man and hardens his heart to destroy him; B. “And you have sinned also in all the other transgressions”; C. “And you did not listen to the voice of the Lord” — the prophets informed you that the punishment would come by providence upon the sin; D. “And in His Torah... you did not walk” — for if you had known the Torah, it would have been known to you that the Lord punishes the sinner. Therefore, He brought upon you evil on this day. From all these reasons, you would think today that evil came to you by chance and not by providence. For if not so, the Lord would have punished you in a manner that you would perceive that evil is not accidental but providential.
Moreover Jeremiah said to all the people, and to all the women: ‘Hear the word of Hashem, all Judah that are in the land of Egypt:
verse value 3118
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 58 letters. The shortest word is "and·to" (וְאֶ֖ל, 3 letters) and the longest is "to·all·the·people" (אֶל־כׇּל־הָעָ֔ם, 7 letters). 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "the·word·of·Hashem" (root יהוה, 725x in Jeremiah); "and·said" (root אמר, 476x in Jeremiah); "that" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'all·the·women', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 6 words. Full calculation: וַיֹּ֤אמֶר [and·said] (257) + יִרְמְיָ֙הוּ֙ [Jeremiah] (271) + אֶל־כׇּל־הָעָ֔ם [to·all·the·people] (196) + וְאֶ֖ל [and·to] (37) + כׇּל־הַנָּשִׁ֑ים [all·the·women] (455) + שִׁמְעוּ֙ [hear] (416) + דְּבַר־יְהֹוָ֔ה [the·word·of·Hashem] (232) + כׇּל־יְהוּדָ֕ה [all·Judah] (80) + אֲשֶׁ֖ר [that] (501) + בְּאֶ֥רֶץ [in·land·of] (293) + מִצְרָֽיִם [Egypt] (380) = 3118.
Malbim
Jeremiah said: “Until now, he had answered from his own understanding and contended with them; now, however, he told them a prophecy in the name of the Lord.” And this is what is meant by: “Hear the word of the Lord.”
Thus says Hashem of hosts, the God of Israel, saying: You and your wives have both spoken with your mouths, and with your hands have fulfilled it, saying: We will surely perform our vows that we have vowed, to offer to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink-offerings to her; you shall surely establish your vows, and surely perform your vows.
verse value 11557
Insights
Verse structure: 29 words, 149 letters. Verse gematria: 11557 is divisible by 13, the value of echad ('one') and ahavah ('love'). The shortest word is "to·her" (לָ֖הּ, 2 letters) and the longest is "Hashem·of·hosts" (יְהֹוָֽה־צְבָאוֹת֩, 9 letters). Words sharing gematria 725: your·vows, your·vows. 10 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "Hashem·of·hosts" (יְהֹוָֽה־צְבָאוֹת֩), "and·your·women" (וּנְשֵׁיכֶ֜ם), "and·spoke" (וַתְּדַבֵּ֣רְנָה). The root עשה appears 4 times in this verse. 19 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem·of·hosts" (root יהוה, 725x in Jeremiah); "thus·said" (root אמר, 476x in Jeremiah); "that" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah). First appearance of the root נדר ("our·vows") in Jeremiah. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'libations', dividing the verse into phrases of 23 and 6 words.
Radak
"And they spoke with your mouth." The vav [in "ותדברנה"] has the sense of "as/when," like the vav in "if they are not sated, they murmur" (Psalms 59:16), and "and my mouth shall praise [You] with lips of glad song" (Psalms 63:6). He means: [it is] as if it said, "as you spoke with your mouth."
“And you have filled your hands” – meaning, indeed you have filled your hands, and afterward he explained the speech and the deed, and he said it in reference to the women. And even though he said “you and your wives,” the primary action was performed by the women, as it is stated:
Metzudat David
"You and your wives." This means: you are like your wives — you are of one mind [with them].
"And they spoke in your mouth." This means that what the women speak is as if it were spoken in your mouth, for thus you commanded them to speak.
“And with your hands you have fulfilled it.” This means: Through the action of your hands, you will complete this matter, to bring it to fruition.
"To say: 'Do,' etc. What you will say, 'We will do,' etc., behold, I know that you will fulfill your vows to offer incense to Her again from now on."
"And you shall surely do, etc." This is a repetition of the matter [already] stated in what is written.
Metzudat Zion
“You have fulfilled.” The matter of completion and conclusion:
“And you shall surely fulfill.” This is the language of “fulfillment” (or “establishment”):
Malbim
Thus says the Lord: “You and your wives”—meaning, you have no excuse to claim that only your wives committed this act, for you were involved in idolatry together with your wives. Likewise, you have no excuse to claim that your deeds did not align with your words, for “you spoke with your mouth, and with your hands you fulfilled it,” indicating that the entire household, both man and woman, consented to the transgression, encompassing both speech and action. Furthermore, “and to say, ‘We will do what we have vowed’”—meaning, as stated in verse 17, “We will do what has gone forth from our mouths,” it is clear that they regarded this as a vow to perform a mitzvah, not to violate their word. It is evident that they served the idols for the sake of sanctity and divinity, and it was not merely speech, for “you will establish your vows”—meaning, a vow can be annulled through regret if one does not fulfill it, thereby being uprooted from its foundation. But you will establish it, and indeed, “you will do” to fulfill it in practice.
Therefore hear you the word of Hashem, all Judah that dwell in the land of Egypt: Behold, I have sworn by My great name, says Hashem, that My name shall no more be named in the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt saying: As the Lord Hashem lives.
verse value 5890
Insights
Verse structure: 25 words, 115 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֔ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "therefore" (לָכֵן֙, 3 letters) and the longest is "the·word·of·Hashem" (דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֔ה, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 380: Egypt, Egypt. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "in·mouth·of" (בְּפִ֣י), "lives·Lord" (חַי־אֲדֹנָ֥י), "in·all·the·land·of" (בְּכׇל־אֶ֥רֶץ). The root יהוה appears 3 times in this verse. 19 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "the·word·of·Hashem" (root יהוה, 725x in Jeremiah); "said" (root אמר, 476x in Jeremiah); "if·it·will·be" (root היה, 250x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Egypt', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 18 words.
Radak
"If My name is still called upon." Since they do not heed what the prophet says to them in My name, My name will no longer be mentioned on their lips.
"For the sword and famine shall consume them." This is the opposite of what he said: "We shall not see war, and we shall not hunger for bread."
"In the mouth of every man of Judah." In the mouth of the majority of them, for there were righteous ones among them, such as Jeremiah and Baruch son of Neriah. And he said "until they were finished," after having said "and they perished," in order to add clarity and strength to the matter. And what he said "every" means the majority, as he stated "the fugitives from the sword." And what he said "until they were finished" is an expression of hyperbole.
Metzudat David
"If My name is still called upon, etc." The meaning is: I will not extend My patience any longer, waiting until they repent and call upon My name, for all the men of Judah who came to Egypt will perish from the world without ever returning.
He says: Let him say in his oath, "As the Lord lives."
"In all the land of Egypt." But the survivors of the sword, few in number, will say, "As the Lord lives," when they return to the land of Judah.
Malbim
"Therefore, etc., 'I have sworn': This is a decree that contains an oath, namely, if My Name will still be called [by you], meaning that you will truly forget the Lord until you become like complete idolaters in all your speech."
Behold, I watch over them for evil, and not for good; and all the men of Judah that are in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword and by the famine, until there be an end of them.
verse value 4147
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 66 letters. Verse gematria: 4147 is divisible by 13, the value of echad ('one') and ahavah ('love'). The shortest word is "almond tree" (שֹׁקֵ֧ד, 3 letters) and the longest is "in·the·land·of·Egypt" (בְּאֶֽרֶץ־מִצְרַ֛יִם, 9 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "until·they·were·finished" (עַד־כְּלוֹתָֽם). 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah); "and·not" (root לא, 307x in Jeremiah); "upon·them" (root על, 276x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'for·good', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 8 words. Full calculation: הִנְנִ֨י [they] (115) + שֹׁקֵ֧ד [almond tree] (404) + עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם [upon·them] (155) + לְרָעָ֖ה [for·evil] (305) + וְלֹ֣א [and·not] (37) + לְטוֹבָ֑ה [for·good] (52) + וְתַ֩מּוּ֩ [and·they·will·be·complete] (452) + כׇל־אִ֨ישׁ [all·man] (361) + יְהוּדָ֜ה [Judah] (30) + אֲשֶׁ֧ר [that] (501) + בְּאֶֽרֶץ־מִצְרַ֛יִם [in·the·land·of·Egypt] (673) + בַּחֶ֥רֶב [in·the·sword] (212) + וּבָרָעָ֖ב [and·in·the·famine] (280) + עַד־כְּלוֹתָֽם [until·they·were·finished] (570) = 4147.
Metzudat David
"Behold, I am watchful." I will strive and hasten against you, to do evil to them and not to do good with them.
Metzudat Zion
Shoked. The matter of swiftness and exertion, as it is said: "They hastened and kept watch" (Ezra 8:29).
And they will be finished. They will end and be completed:
Malbim
"Behold, I am intent upon them" – in contrast to what was said regarding the people who desired to return from the Land of Israel to Egypt, that the general evil which befalls the Egyptians will befall them, he adds that I am intent upon them to bring about a specific evil for them, until they are completely destroyed.
And they that escape the sword shall return out of the land of Egypt into the land of Judah, few in number; and all the remnant of Judah, that are gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, shall know whose word shall stand, Mine, or theirs.
verse value 5703
Insights
Verse structure: 20 words, 93 letters. The shortest word is "there" (שָׁ֔ם, 2 letters) and the longest is "to·land·of·Egypt" (לְאֶֽרֶץ־מִצְרַ֙יִם֙, 9 letters). Words sharing gematria 380: Egypt, number. 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "and·refugees·of" (וּפְלִיטֵ֨י), "they·will·return" (יְשֻׁב֨וּן), "from·land" (מִן־אֶ֧רֶץ). The root ארץ appears 2 times in this verse. 18 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "whose·word" (root דבר, 270x in Jeremiah); "from·land" (root ארץ, 245x in Jeremiah); "who·came" (root בוא, 211x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'number', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 11 words.
Radak
"[But] a few in number." Like Jeremiah the prophet and Baruch son of Neriah, and a few other righteous individuals who were among them.
Metzudat David
And the survivors of the sword. Those who flee from the sword, who will return from Egypt to the land of Judah, will be few in number; that is to say, a small number of people.
"And they shall know," etc. Then they shall know whose words will be fulfilled: if the words are from Me, Who said that they would come to an end and cease in Egypt; or if the words are from them, who said that they would dwell securely in Egypt, and they would be fulfilled there.
Metzudat Zion
And the refugees. The matter of rescue:
Metei. Men of:
To dwell. To reside:
Malbim
“And the refugees from the sword shall return” – the refugees mentioned above who shall return shall be few in number. “And they shall know [whose] word shall stand, Mine or theirs” – that is to say: will their word stand up against mine, or will my word stand up against theirs? That is to say: it will be seen to whom belongs the power to establish his word — will they fulfill the vow that they vowed, or will I fulfill the decree that I decreed?
And this shall be the sign to you, says Hashem, that I will punish you in this place, that you may know that My words shall surely stand against you for evil;
verse value 3382
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 70 letters. The shortest word is "for" (כִּי֩, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·this·to·you" (וְזֹאת־לָכֶ֤ם, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 170: upon·you, upon·you. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "and·this·to·you" (וְזֹאת־לָכֶ֤ם), "sign" (הָאוֹת֙), "that·I·punish" (כִּי־פֹקֵ֥ד). The root על appears 2 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "says·Hashem" (root יהוה, 725x in Jeremiah); "for" (root כי, 318x in Jeremiah); "upon·you" (root על, 276x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'this', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 8 words.
Radak
"And this shall be the sign for you." For when you see that Nebuchadnezzar is coming against Pharaoh soon, as I have prophesied to you, you will know that your end is to be destroyed in the land of Egypt.
"For they shall surely stand." [The word] "kum" with a cholam is an infinitive, like "ve-shuv elai" ("and return to Me").
Metzudat David
"And this shall be the sign for you." This is stated in the verse that follows it, that Pharaoh will be delivered into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar; this shall be the sign for you, that I will take heed to repay recompense upon you in this place.
"So that you may know." By the fact that Pharaoh will be delivered into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, you will know by this that My words against you for evil will be fulfilled. And this is a repetition of the matter [already] stated.
Metzudat Zion
"Takes note." The matter of providence:
Malbim
(29-30) “And this shall be the sign for you,” meaning that if the king of Babylon had conquered the king of Egypt in battle outside his land, he would not have destroyed the inhabitants of the country. But because I am visiting punishment upon you in this place, that Nebuchadnezzar came as far as Egypt and Pharaoh was besieged like Zedekiah, therefore when they conquered, he killed all the men of the place by means of the captain of the guard [rav tabbachim], just as he did in Jerusalem. And this is what He says: “Behold, I am giving Pharaoh as I gave Zedekiah.”
thus says Hashem: Behold, I will give Pharaoh Hophra king of Egypt into the hand of his enemies, and into the hand of them that seek his life; as I gave Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, his enemy, and that sought his life.’
verse value 7179
Insights
Verse structure: 23 words, 110 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֗ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "thus" (כֹּ֣ה, 2 letters) and the longest is "Nebuchadrezzar" (נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֧ר, 9 letters). Words sharing gematria 436: his·soul, his·soul. 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "Hophra" (חׇפְרַ֤ע), "enemy" (אֹֽיְבָ֔יו), "enemy" (אֹיְב֖וֹ). The root יד appears 3 times in this verse. 16 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 725x in Jeremiah); "said" (root אמר, 476x in Jeremiah); "as" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'his·soul', dividing the verse into phrases of 13 and 10 words.
Rashi
"Pharaoh Hophra." [The name] 'Pharaoh' in broken/altered form; and this chet (ח) serves in place of a heh (ה).
Radak
Pharaoh Hophra [is spelled] with a chet. And so was the name by which that Pharaoh who lived in those days was known. And some say that the chet stands in place of a heh, and it is "Pharaoh" with the letters reversed, meaning that he would be exposed/thrown into disorder, from [the phrase] "for Aaron had let them get out of control" [Exodus 32:25]. And Jonathan translated [it]: "Pharaoh, the broken one."
Metzudat David
“Thus says the Lord”: This means that “Thus says the Lord” etc.
Pharaoh, Chafra. All the kings of Egypt are called Pharaoh, and the one who was in those days had his own name Tefra.
“in the hand of his enemies.” They are the Chaldeans.
"And with the hand, etc." The matter is repeated in different words.
Metzudat David
Metzudat Zion