Jeremiah 22:26Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

At the conclusion of this prophecy, he speaks to Jehoiachin, the son of Jehoiakim and grandson of Josiah, also known as Joachin. Jehoiachin, alongside his mother, princes, skilled workers, and many nobles, was taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar and transported to Chaldea, where he died. This is affirmed as Jechoniah is likened to a ring that one wears on the finger that can hardly be removed; yet, I will cast it off and deliver him to the king of Babylon, where he shall perish with his mother and companions, never to see the land of Judah again.

The unfortunate Grunnius, who maligned the holy men and trained his tongue in deceit, dared to translate one book of Sextus Pythagoreanus, a notable pagan, into Latin, dividing it into two volumes, and publishing it under the name of the holy martyr Xystus, Bishop of Rome. These volumes make no reference to Christ, the Holy Spirit, God the Father, nor to the patriarchs, prophets, and apostles. This text, widely read particularly by those who advocate impassibility and blamelessness, has been misleadingly titled The Finger (Appilite). Just as the Lord threatens to discard Jechoniah like a ring from His hand, I urge the reader to dismiss this worthless book and consider it as they would any philosophical work, rather than as a sacred text.

In discussions and explanations where various interpretations are considered, I typically use the phrases, ‘some propose this, others believe that, some comprehend it as such.’ Because of this, the unfortunate Grunnius and, years later, his followers and Ioviniana, have slandered me, suggesting I attribute my own opinions to others, a claim I dismiss as I aim to avoid offense by naming individuals directly. Consequently, as my sincere intentions have been turned against me, I address both the deceased and this contemporary individual striving to resurrect that heresy—recognizing that their teacher, Origen, applies this scripture to Christ, interpreting that He was taken from the hand of God the Father, symbolized as a ring, and was sent into captivity, descending into sorrow, delivered to the cross, while His mother, undoubtedly referring to the synagogue, was also led into exile. The one conveying all these insights is not fearful to elaborate on the Lord of glory and the subsequent proclamation: earth, earth, earth! Hear the word of the Lord. The Lord states, Write this man down as an abomination, or barren, and so forth. He records this to ensure his followers would not dare to refute it in the fifth book of the Stromata.