Jeremiah 2:31

A wilderness. As in v. 5 God challenges the people to tell what unkindness He has shown them that has caused them to turn their backs upon Him. Was God ever to them a barren place of no sustenance? Actually God had been Judah’s source of supply for all life’s necessities (see on Deut. 32:13, 14; Neh. 9:15).

We are lords. This phrase translates a single Hebrew word. However, there is considerable uncertainty as to the exact meaning of the word thus translated. According to the Masoretic tradition the root is md, which means “to roam,” or “to wander aimlessly.” The statement would then imply a casting off of God’s authority (see on v. 20) and would be an assertion of independence and self-sufficiency. The people would be saying in effect: “We will rove at will. We will do what we please. We are our own masters, and will regard no laws, human or divine.”

However, the root may be radad instead of rud, in which case the clause would read, “we are subjugated.” The LXX has “we shall not be ailed over.” One of the manuscripts of the LXX reads “we shall not be enslaved.” Aquila’s Greek translation and the Vulgate support the reading “we are rebelling.”