1. The prophet is turning to Hashem, and noting that He is his source of strength. When trouble comes, Yirmiyahu runs to Hashem for refuge. (Metzudat David)

2. Hashem is the strength of Yirmiyahu when he is fleeing from those who try to harm him. These are people who refuse to listen when he admonishes them for their idol-worship. Yirmiyahu notes that one day even the nations of the world will believe in the power of Hashem. (Radak)

3.* Yirmiyahu is praying to Hashem not to punish the people for their worshiping of idols. He tells Hashem that everyone is ultimately aware of the power - עוז - of Hashem. (Malbim)

4. The day will come that Hashem will be the stronghold for everyone. At that time the nations will also realize the power of Hashem. (Mahari Kra)

1. Yirmiyahu notes that ultimately the nations of the world will realize the power of Hashem, and declare that their gods were useless. (Metzudat David)

2.* In the future the nations will realize the greatness of Hashem, and the futility of their gods. Therefore, Hashem has no reason to be jealous of idols, which are "things without substance, like the silliness of children". (Malbim)

1. Is it feasible for man to create a god, when man himself is finite? (Metzudat David)

2. This is part of the realization that the nations will have, when they realize the powerlessness of their gods. (Radak)

3.* Why should one be jealous of things like this? (Malbim)

1. Yirmiyahu is telling them now that in the future the hand of Hashem will be revealed, and all doubts will vanish. (Metzudat David)

2. Hashem is proclaiming to those who refuse to do teshuvah that He will show them His strength. (Radak)

3.* Hashem is responding that He is not jealous of the idols, which are worthless, rather he is angry at the Jews because they leave Him to serve these idols. Therefore Hashem wants to punish them, so that they will realize the power of Hashem. (Malbim)

1. Although eventually even the nations of the world will recognize Hashem, now the sins of Yehudah are an integral part of their hearts, as if etched into them with an iron point. (Metzudat David)

Their sin is deeply plowed into their hearts. (Metzudat David)

2.* It does not get any sustenance from above. (Malbim)

2.* It does not get any nutrients from its surroundings. It is surrounded by thorns. (Malbim)

3. A person who does not rely on Hashem will become dried up and will prefer to die. (Radak)

1. If a person trusts Hashem, than Hashem becomes his trust, and therefore he needn't fear any evil. (Radak)

2.* A person who puts his faith in some medium to save him, and places his trust in Hashem, is a neutral person. The highest level is that there is no medium outside of Hashem. One should place one's entire faith in Hashem. (Malbim)

1. The heart is the most deceitful of all organs. A person can show an outward appearance of good, but inwardly be evil. The only one who knows the truth is Hashem. (Radak)

2.* A person has to haveinternal as well as external faith. Therefore, one cannot know who really has true faith, and who is just putting on a show of beli.(Malbim)

1. Likewise, a person who accumulates money dishonestly will ultimately lose it in the middle of his lifetime. (Metzudat David)

2. This is a response to those who claim that Hashem does not act justly with the wicked people, and they prosper. These people will get the punishment they deserve. (Radak)

1. Although Hashem is found in the uppermost heavens, His glory is also found within the Temple. One can't argue that Hashem is not involved in our world and does not punish the wicked. (Radak)

2. This is another response to the claim of רשע וטוב לו. The ultimate reward will be granted to the person in the World to Come, when the person's soul will rest under כיסא הכבוד. (Abarbanel)

See Appendix for worksheet on the Abarbanel.

3.* This section returns to the theme of having faith in Hashem. These verses describe the greatness of Hashem. (Malbim)

4. The כיסא הכבוד and the Temple are two of the seven things that were created before the world. The other five are: Torah, teshuvah, Gan Eden, Gehinnom and the name of the Mashiach (Nedarim 39a; see also Metzudat David on Tehillim 93). (Radak)

We learn from this verse that the Temple is parallel to the כסא הכבוד in heaven. (Radak)

1. Since the Shechinah resides with the people, it is proper that the hopes of the people should be placed in Hashem. (Metzudat David)

2. The greatest reward a person can hope for is to dwell eventually under the wings of the Shechinah. (Abarbanel)

Therefore those who rely solely on people should be embarrassed. (Metzudat David)

1. These are the words of Hashem as spoken through the prophet: Those that leave Hashem will be written in the books as going to gehinnom. (Metzudat David)

2. The people who leave Hashem will have their reward written in this world: They will be successful in this world, so that in the next world they will be punished. (Abarbanel)

3.* These people will become famous for the curses they have experienced. It is as if they were written in a book to announce to the whole world that they left Hashem. (Malbim)