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Selected Verse: Jeremiah 1:17 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Jer 1:17	Strong Concordance	Thou therefore gird up [0247] thy loins [04975], and arise [06965], and speak [01696] unto them all that I command [06680] thee: be not dismayed [02865] at their faces [06440], lest I confound [02865] thee before [06440] them.
	King James	Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
gird . . . loins--resolutely prepare for thy appointed task. Metaphor from the flowing robes worn in the East, which have to be girt up with a girdle, so as not to incommode one, when undertaking any active work (Job 38:3; Luk 12:35; Pe1 1:13). dismayed . . . confound--the same Hebrew word; literally, "to break." Be not dismayed at their faces (before them), lest I make thee dismayed before their faces (before them), that is, "lest I should permit thee to be overcome by them" (compare Jer 49:37).

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

gird . . . loins--resolutely prepare for thy appointed task. Metaphor from the flowing robes worn in the East, which have to be girt up with a girdle, so as not to incommode one, when undertaking any active work (Job 38:3; Luk 12:35; Pe1 1:13).

dismayed . . . confound--the same Hebrew word; literally, "to break." Be not dismayed at their faces (before them), lest I make thee dismayed before their faces (before them), that is, "lest I should permit thee to be overcome by them" (compare Jer 49:37).

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Gird up thy loins - A symbol of preparation for earnest exertion, and implying also firm purpose, and some degree of alacrit Be not dismayed ... - literally, "be not dismayed at their faces, lest I dismay thee before their faces." Naturally despondent and self-distrustful, there was yet no feebleness in Jeremiah's character. There was in him a moral superiority of the will, which made him, at any cost to himself, faithfully discharge whatever his conscience told him was his duty.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
The interpretation of the symbols is followed by a charge to Jeremiah to address himself stoutly to his duties, and to discharge them fearlessly, together with still further and fuller assurance of powerful divine assistance. "But thou, gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak to them all that I command thee: be not dismayed before them, lest I dismay thee before them. Jer 1:18. And I, behold I make thee this day a strong city, an iron pillar, a brazen wall against the whole land, the kings of Judah its princes, its priests, and the people of the land. Jer 1:19. They shall strive against thee, but not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith Jahveh, to save thee." To gird up the loins, i.e., to fasten or tuck up with the girdle the long wide garment, in order to make oneself fit and ready for labour, for a journey, or a race (Exo 12:11; Kg1 18:46; Kg2 4:29; Kg2 9:1), or for battle (Job 38:3; Job 40:7). Meaning: equip thyself and arise to preach my words to the inhabitants of the land. In 'אל־תּחת and ' אחתּך לthere is a play on words. The Niph. sig. broken in spirit by terror and anxiety; the Hiph. to throw into terror and anguish. If Jeremiah appears before his adversaries in terror, then he will have cause to be terrified for them; only if by unshaken confidence in the power of the word he preaches in the name of the Lord, will he be able to accomplish anything. Such confidence he has reason to cherish, for God will furnish him with the strength necessary for making a stand, will make him strong and not to be vanquished. This is the meaning of the pictorial statement in Jer 1:18. A strong city resists the assaults of the foes; the storm cannot shatter an iron pillar; and walls of brass defy the enemy's missiles. Instead of the plural חמות, the parallel passage Jer 15:20 has the sing. חומת, the plural being used as frequently as the singular to indicate the wall encircling the city; cf. Kg2 25:10 with Kg1 3:1; Neh 2:13; Neh 4:1 with Neh 1:3, and Neh 2:17; Neh 4:10. With such invincible power will God equip His prophet "against the whole land," i.e., so that he will be able to hold his own against the whole land. The mention of the component parts of "all the land," i.e., the several classes of the population, is introduced by למלכי, so that "the kings," etc., is to be taken as an apposition to "against all the land." Kings in the plural are mentioned, because the prophet's labours are to extend over several reigns. שׂרים are the chiefs of the people, the heads of families and clans, and officers, civil and military. "The people of the land" is the rest of the population not included in these three classes, elsewhere called men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, Jer 17:25; Jer 32:32, and frequently. אליך for עליך; so in Jer 15:20, and often. With the promise in Jer 15:19, cf. Jer 1:8.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]

The interpretation of the symbols is followed by a charge to Jeremiah to address himself stoutly to his duties, and to discharge them fearlessly, together with still further and fuller assurance of powerful divine assistance.

"But thou, gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak to them all that I command thee: be not dismayed before them, lest I dismay thee before them. Jer 1:18. And I, behold I make thee this day a strong city, an iron pillar, a brazen wall against the whole land, the kings of Judah its princes, its priests, and the people of the land. Jer 1:19. They shall strive against thee, but not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith Jahveh, to save thee." To gird up the loins, i.e., to fasten or tuck up with the girdle the long wide garment, in order to make oneself fit and ready for labour, for a journey, or a race (Exo 12:11; Kg1 18:46; Kg2 4:29; Kg2 9:1), or for battle (Job 38:3; Job 40:7). Meaning: equip thyself and arise to preach my words to the inhabitants of the land. In 'אל־תּחת and ' אחתּך לthere is a play on words. The Niph. sig. broken in spirit by terror and anxiety; the Hiph. to throw into terror and anguish. If Jeremiah appears before his adversaries in terror, then he will have cause to be terrified for them; only if by unshaken confidence in the power of the word he preaches in the name of the Lord, will he be able to accomplish anything. Such confidence he has reason to cherish, for God will furnish him with the strength necessary for making a stand, will make him strong and not to be vanquished. This is the meaning of the pictorial statement in Jer 1:18. A strong city resists the assaults of the foes; the storm cannot shatter an iron pillar; and walls of brass defy the enemy's missiles. Instead of the plural חמות, the parallel passage Jer 15:20 has the sing. חומת, the plural being used as frequently as the singular to indicate the wall encircling the city; cf. Kg2 25:10 with Kg1 3:1; Neh 2:13; Neh 4:1 with Neh 1:3, and Neh 2:17; Neh 4:10. With such invincible power will God equip His prophet "against the whole land," i.e., so that he will be able to hold his own against the whole land. The mention of the component parts of "all the land," i.e., the several classes of the population, is introduced by למלכי, so that "the kings," etc., is to be taken as an apposition to "against all the land." Kings in the plural are mentioned, because the prophet's labours are to extend over several reigns. שׂרים are the chiefs of the people, the heads of families and clans, and officers, civil and military. "The people of the land" is the rest of the population not included in these three classes, elsewhere called men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, Jer 17:25; Jer 32:32, and frequently. אליך for עליך; so in Jer 15:20, and often. With the promise in Jer 15:19, cf. Jer 1:8.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Gird up - It is a speech taken from the custom of the countries where they wore long garments; and therefore they girt them up about them, that they might not hinder them in any work that required expedition. Consume thee - Lest I destroy thee even in their sight, to become their reproach.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
Gird up thy loins - Take courage and be ready, lest I confound thee; take courage and be resolute, פן pen, lest by their opposition thou be terrified and confounded. God is often represented as doing or causing to be done, what he only permits or suffers to be done. Or, do not fear them, I will not suffer thee to be confounded. So Dahler, Ne crains pas que je te confonde a leurs yeux, "Do not fear that I shall confound thee before them." It is well known that the phrase, gird up thy reins, is a metaphor taken from the long robes of the Asiatics; which, on going a journey, or performing their ordinary work, they were obliged to truss up under their girdles, that the motions of the body might not be impeded.

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³⁷ For I will cause Elam [05867] to be dismayed [02865] before [06440] their enemies [0341], and before [06440] them that seek [01245] their life [05315]: and I will bring [0935] evil [07451] upon them, even my fierce [02740] anger [0639], saith [05002] the LORD [03068]; and I will send [07971] the sword [02719] after [0310] them, till I have consumed [03615] them:

¹³ Wherefore [1352] gird up [328] the loins [3751] of your [5216] mind [1271], be sober [3525], and hope [1679] to the end [5049] for [1909] the grace [5485] that is to be brought [5342] unto you [5213] at [1722] the revelation [602] of Jesus [2424] Christ [5547];

³⁵ Let [2077] your [5216] loins [3751] be [2077] girded about [4024], and [2532] your lights [3088] burning [2545];

³ Gird up [0247] now thy loins [02504] like a man [01397]; for I will demand [07592] of thee, and answer [03045] thou me.

⁸ Be not afraid [03372] of their faces [06440]: for I am with thee to deliver [05337] thee, saith [05002] the LORD [03068].

¹⁹ Therefore thus saith [0559] the LORD [03068], If thou return [07725], then will I bring thee again [07725], and thou shalt stand [05975] before [06440] me: and if thou take forth [03318] the precious [03368] from the vile [02151], thou shalt be as my mouth [06310]: let them return [07725] unto thee; but return [07725] not thou unto them.

²⁰ And I will make [05414] thee unto this people [05971] a fenced [01219] brasen [05178] wall [02346]: and they shall fight [03898] against thee, but they shall not prevail [03201] against thee: for I am with thee to save [03467] thee and to deliver [05337] thee, saith [05002] the LORD [03068].

³² Because of all the evil [07451] of the children [01121] of Israel [03478] and of the children [01121] of Judah [03063], which they have done [06213] to provoke me to anger [03707], they, their kings [04428], their princes [08269], their priests [03548], and their prophets [05030], and the men [0376] of Judah [03063], and the inhabitants [03427] of Jerusalem [03389].

²⁵ Then shall there enter [0935] into the gates [08179] of this city [05892] kings [04428] and princes [08269] sitting [03427] upon the throne [03678] of David [01732], riding [07392] in chariots [07393] and on horses [05483], they, and their princes [08269], the men [0376] of Judah [03063], and the inhabitants [03427] of Jerusalem [03389]: and this city [05892] shall remain [03427] for ever [05769].

¹⁰ And Judah [03063] said [0559], The strength [03581] of the bearers of burdens [05449] is decayed [03782], and there is much [07235] rubbish [06083]; so that we are not able [03201] to build [01129] the wall [02346].

¹⁷ Then said [0559] I unto them, Ye see [07200] the distress [07451] that we are in, how Jerusalem [03389] lieth waste [02720], and the gates [08179] thereof are burned [03341] with fire [0784]: come [03212], and let us build up [01129] the wall [02346] of Jerusalem [03389], that we be no more a reproach [02781].

³ And they said [0559] unto me, The remnant [07604] that are left [07604] of the captivity [07628] there in the province [04082] are in great [01419] affliction [07451] and reproach [02781]: the wall [02346] of Jerusalem [03389] also is broken down [06555], and the gates [08179] thereof are burned [03341] with fire [0784].

¹ But it came to pass, that when Sanballat [05571] heard [08085] that we builded [01129] the wall [02346], he was wroth [02734], and took great [07235] indignation [03707], and mocked [03932] the Jews [03064].

¹³ And I went out [03318] by night [03915] by the gate [08179] of the valley [01516], even before [06440] the dragon [08577] well [05869] [05886], and to the dung [0830] port [08179], and viewed [07663] [07665] the walls [02346] of Jerusalem [03389], which were broken down [06555], and the gates [08179] thereof were consumed [0398] with fire [0784].

¹ And Solomon [08010] made affinity [02859] with Pharaoh [06547] king [04428] of Egypt [04714], and took [03947] Pharaoh's [06547] daughter [01323], and brought [0935] her into the city [05892] of David [01732], until he had made an end [03615] of building [01129] his own house [01004], and the house [01004] of the LORD [03068], and the wall [02346] of Jerusalem [03389] round about [05439].

¹⁰ And all the army [02428] of the Chaldees [03778], that were with the captain [07227] of the guard [02876], brake down [05422] the walls [02346] of Jerusalem [03389] round about [05439].

¹⁸ For, behold, I [0589] have made [05414] thee this day [03117] a defenced [04013] city [05892], and an iron [01270] pillar [05982], and brasen [05178] walls [02346] against the whole land [0776], against the kings [04428] of Judah [03063], against the princes [08269] thereof, against the priests [03548] thereof, and against the people [05971] of the land [0776].

⁷ Gird up [0247] thy loins [02504] now like a man [01397]: I will demand [07592] of thee, and declare [03045] thou unto me.

³ Gird up [0247] now thy loins [02504] like a man [01397]; for I will demand [07592] of thee, and answer [03045] thou me.

¹ And Elisha [0477] the prophet [05030] called [07121] one [0259] of the children [01121] of the prophets [05030], and said [0559] unto him, Gird up [02296] thy loins [04975], and take [03947] this box [06378] of oil [08081] in thine hand [03027], and go [03212] to Ramothgilead [07433] [01568]:

²⁹ Then he said [0559] to Gehazi [01522], Gird up [02296] thy loins [04975], and take [03947] my staff [04938] in thine hand [03027], and go thy way [03212]: if thou meet [04672] any man [0376], salute [01288] him not; and if any [0376] salute [01288] thee, answer him not again [06030]: and lay [07760] my staff [04938] upon the face [06440] of the child [05288].

⁴⁶ And the hand [03027] of the LORD [03068] was on Elijah [0452]; and he girded up [08151] his loins [04975], and ran [07323] before [06440] Ahab [0256] to the entrance [0935] of Jezreel [03157].

¹¹ And thus [03602] shall ye eat [0398] it; with your loins [04975] girded [02296], your shoes [05275] on your feet [07272], and your staff [04731] in your hand [03027]; and ye shall eat [0398] it in haste [02649]: it is the LORD'S [03068] passover [06453].

¹⁹ And they shall fight [03898] against thee; but they shall not prevail [03201] against thee; for I am with thee, saith [05002] the LORD [03068], to deliver [05337] thee.