Jeremiah 32:7 - Exposition

Hanameel . Another form of Hananeel; comp. γεσάμ , in the Septuagint = Goshen, ΄αδιάμ = Midian. In Jeremiah 31:38 the Authorized Version has Hananeel, and the Septuagint ἀναμεήλ (of course, the persons referred to are different). The son of Shallum thine uncle. It is strange that Hanameel should be called at once Jeremiah's uncle's son and his uncle; and yet this is the case—the former in verses 8, 9, the latter in verse 12. There is, therefore, no reason why we should deviate (as most commentators do) from the ordinary Hebrew usage, and suppose "thine uncle" in this verse to refer to Shallum, and not rather to Hanameel. But how are we to explain this singular variation in phraseology? Either from the fact that the Hebrew for "uncle" is simply a word expressive of affection (it means "beloved," see e.g. Isaiah 5:1 ), and might, therefore, just as well be applied to a cousin as to an uncle: or else. upon the supposition that the word for "son (of)" has fallen out of the text before "mine uncle," both in this verse and in verse 12.