Jeremiah 8:19

Authorized King James Version

Behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people because of them that dwell in a far country: Is not the LORD in Zion? is not her king in her? Why have they provoked me to anger with their graven images, and with strange vanities?

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
הִנֵּה
lo!
#2
ק֞וֹל
Behold the voice
a voice or sound
#3
שַֽׁוְעַ֣ת
of the cry
a hallooing
#4
בַּת
of the daughter
a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
#5
עַמִּ֗י
of my people
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
#6
מֵאֶ֙רֶץ֙
country
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
#7
מַרְחַקִּ֔ים
because of them that dwell in a far
remoteness, i.e., (concretely) a distant place; often (adverbially) from afar
#8
הַֽיהוָה֙
Is not the LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
#9
אֵ֣ין
a nonentity; generally used as a negative particle
#10
בְּצִיּ֔וֹן
in Zion
tsijon (as a permanent capital), a mountain of jerusalem
#11
אִם
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
#12
מַלְכָּ֖הּ
is not her king
a king
#13
אֵ֣ין
a nonentity; generally used as a negative particle
#14
בָּ֑הּ
H0
#15
מַדּ֗וּעַ
what (is) known?; i.e., (by implication) (adverbially) why?
#16
הִכְעִס֛וּנִי
in her Why have they provoked me to anger
to trouble; by implication, to grieve, rage, be indignant
#17
בִּפְסִלֵיהֶ֖ם
with their graven images
an idol
#18
בְּהַבְלֵ֥י
vanities
emptiness or vanity; figuratively, something transitory and unsatisfactory; often used as an adverb
#19
נֵכָֽר׃
and with strange
foreign, or (concretely) a foreigner, or (abstractly) heathendom

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine sovereignty contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of salvation within the theological tradition of Jeremiah Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine sovereignty in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

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