THEOSISEphraem the Syrian
"Consider, I establish you... as an unwavering city." This is a city that cannot be overtaken by violence or deceit.
Jeremiah 1:18Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers
For behold I have made thee this day a fortified city, and a pillar of iron, and a wall of brass, over all the land, to the kings of Juda, to the princes thereof, and to the priests, and to the people of the land.
וַאֲנִ֞י הִנֵּ֧ה נְתַתִּ֣יךָ הַיּ֗וֹם לְעִ֨יר מִבְצָ֜ר וּלְעַמּ֥וּד בַּרְזֶ֛ל וּלְחֹמ֥וֹת נְחֹ֖שֶׁת עַל־כָּל־הָאָ֑רֶץ לְמַלְכֵ֤י יְהוּדָה֙ לְשָׂרֶ֔יהָ לְכֹהֲנֶ֖יהָ וּלְעַ֥ם הָאָֽרֶץ׃
The Church Fathers on this verse
3 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Jerome of Stridon
The divine proclamation illustrates the reasons why the prophet need not be afraid. The Lord declares, I will provide you today, meaning in this life, as it is said today, not merely as a single house, a tower, or a fortification, but rather as a magnificent city, situated upon a hill that cannot be concealed, of which it is written: Glorious things have been spoken of you, O city of God (Psalm 86:3) and: I am a fortified city, a city of warfare (Isaiah 27:3). He also refers to a pillar, of iron—a concept echoed by the Apostle when he states that the church is a pillar and foundation of truth (1 Timothy 3:15). This is why Peter and John, recognized as pillars of the church, extended their right hands in fellowship to Paul and Barnabas.
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Furthermore, the Lord mentions a wall made of brass, which remains impervious to decay or the ravages of rain, and is instead fortified by the passage of time. You shall stand strong against kings, princes, and all peoples—not just from a particular location, but across the entire earth. You shall confront those wise in worldly matters, yet ignorant of heavenly truths, who bear only the earthly imprint rather than the divine. He asserts that they will fight against you, but ultimately, they shall not overcome you. But why is this strength assured? What grants such omnipotence that neither kings, nor princes, nor religious leaders, nor nations can prevail against a single individual? The answer follows: For I am with you, says the Lord, to rescue you. When the kings of Judah—symbolizing confession—along with their princes, priests, and the nations, representing bishops, presbyters, deacons, as well as the common and humble folk, rise up against the holy man, they must maintain unwavering faith and cast aside fear, for with God's assistance, he shall triumph.
Theodoret of Cyrus
By remembering the promises that have been realized, he dispels fear in the Prophet and declares that he will establish him as ‘a pillar of iron, a wall of brass, a solid city;’ thereby rendering him formidable not just to the priests and rulers of the Jews, but also to the kings and all their multitude of subjects.
Cross references
Passages read together with this verse.
- Isa 50:7The Lord God is my helper, therefore am I not confounded: therefore have I set my face as a most hard rock, and I know that I shall not be confounded.
- Ezek 3:8Behold I have made thy face stronger than their faces: and thy forehead harder than their foreheads.
- Ezek 3:9I have made thy face like an adamant and like flint: fear them not, neither be thou dismayed at their presence: for they are a provoking house.
- Jer 15:20And I will make thee to this people as a strong wall of brass: and they shall fight against thee, and shall not prevail: for I am with thee to save thee, and to deliver thee, saith the Lord.
- Jer 6:27I have set thee for a strong trier among my people: and thou shalt know, and prove their way.
- Mic 3:8But yet I am filled with the strength of the spirit of the Lord, with judgment and power: to declare unto Jacob his wickedness and to Israel his sin.
- Mic 3:9Hear this, ye princes of the house of Jacob, and ye judges of the house of Israel: you that abhor judgment and pervert all that is right.
- Jer 37:7And the Chaldeans shall come again, and fight against this city, and take it, and burn it with fire.