Jeremiah 15:10

Authorized King James Version

Woe is me, my mother, that thou hast borne me a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have neither lent on usury, nor men have lent to me on usury; yet every one of them doth curse me.

Word-by-Word Analysis

אֽוֹי

H188

Woe

lamentation; also interjectionally oh!

לִ֣י

אִמִּ֔י

H517

is me my mother

a mother (as the bond of the family); in a wide sense (both literally and figuratively [like father])

כִּ֣י

H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

יְלִדְתִּ֗נִי

H3205

that thou hast borne

to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage

וְאִ֥ישׁ

H376

and a man

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

רִ֛יב

H7379

of strife

a contest (personal or legal)

וְאִ֥ישׁ

H376

and a man

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

מָד֖וֹן

H4066

of contention

a contest or quarrel

#10

לְכָל

H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

#11

הָאָ֑רֶץ

H776

to the whole earth

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

#12

לֹֽא

H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

#13

נָֽשׁוּ

H5383

I have neither lent on usury

to lend or (by reciprocity) borrow on security or interest

#14

וְלֹא

H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

#15

נָֽשׁוּ

H5383

I have neither lent on usury

to lend or (by reciprocity) borrow on security or interest

#16

בִ֖י

#17

כֻּלֹּ֥ה

H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

#18

מְקַלְלַֽונִי׃

H7043

yet every one of them doth curse

to be (causatively, make) light, literally (swift, small, sharp, etc.) or figuratively (easy, trifling, vile, etc.)

Analysis

This verse develops the salvation theme central to Jeremiah. The concept of divine revelation reflects the development of salvation within biblical theology. The literary structure and word choice here contribute to biblical literature contributing to the canon's theological witness, advancing the author's theological argument. The original language emphasizes careful word choice that would have carried specific theological weight for the original audience, providing deeper understanding of the author's theological intention.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the political and social structures of the biblical period. The author writes to address believers seeking to understand God's will and purposes, making the emphasis on salvation particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection

How does the salvation theme in this verse connect to the overarching narrative of Scripture, and what does this reveal about God's character and purposes?
What systematic theological implications arise from this verse's treatment of salvation, and how does it contribute to a biblical theology of soteriology and the doctrine of salvation?
How does this passage contribute to our understanding of from physical deliverance in the Old Testament to spiritual redemption in the New, and what implications does this have for Christian discipleship?

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