Jeremiah 17:4 - Exposition

(Comp. Jeremiah 15:14 .) Even thyself ; literally, even with thyself , i.e. with thy bare life (if the text, which is here evidently rather out of order, is correct). Shalt discontinue . The word involves an allusion to the Law in Exodus 23:11 and (especially) Deuteronomy 15:2 (see the Hebrew). The latter passage suggests a correction of the difficult "even with thyself," just preceding, into "thy hand." Thus we get for the opening of this verse, "And thou shalt let loose thy hand" (i.e. as Authorized Version, "shalt discontinue").