Jer 31:19 | Clarke | e4.org | Verse 19. After that I was turned ] Converted from my sin, folly, and idolatry. I repented ] To conviction of sin , I now added contrition for sin . Conviction, in this sense of the word, must precede contrition or repentance. As soon as a man sees himself lost and undone, he is convicted of sin; when convicted , he begins to mourn . Thus contrition follows conviction . I smote upon my thigh ] My sorrow grew deeper and deeper; I smote upon my thigh through the extremity of my distress. This was a usual sign of deep affliction. See . It was the same among the ancient Greeks. So Homer:- ωςεφαταυταραρηςθαλερωπεπληγετομηρω χερσικαταπρηνεσσολοφυρομενοςδεπροσηυδα IL. lib. xv. 113. "She spake: and with expanded arms, his thighs Smiting , thus sorrowful , the god exclaimed." COWPER. ____________________αυταραχιλλευς μηρωπληξαμενοςπατροκληαπροσεειπεν IL. lib. xvi. 124. "Achilles saw it, smote his thigh , and said -----." COWPER. I have often seen persons in deep grief act thus.

‏ Jeremiah 31:19

Verse 19. After that I was turned] Converted from my sin, folly, and idolatry.

I repented] To conviction of sin, I now added contrition for sin. Conviction, in this sense of the word, must precede contrition or repentance. As soon as a man sees himself lost and undone, he is convicted of sin; when convicted, he begins to mourn. Thus contrition follows conviction.

I smote upon my thigh] My sorrow grew deeper and deeper; I smote upon my thigh through the extremity of my distress. This was a usual sign of deep affliction. See Eze 21:12. It was the same among the ancient Greeks. So Homer:-

ωςεφαταυταραρηςθαλερωπεπληγετομηρω

χερσικαταπρηνεσσολοφυρομενοςδεπροσηυδα

IL. lib. xv. 113.

"She spake: and with expanded arms, his thighs Smiting, thus sorrowful, the god exclaimed."

COWPER.

____________________αυταραχιλλευς

μηρωπληξαμενοςπατροκληαπροσεειπεν

IL. lib. xvi. 124.

"Achilles saw it, smote his thigh, and said -----."

COWPER.

I have often seen persons in deep grief act thus.