Matthew Poole and continuators on Jeremiah 2:21

21 Yet I had planted thee a noble vine wholly a right seed : how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me.

An usual metaphor for the Church, Psal. 80.8, 9. &c. see on Isa. 5.1. The Heb. is Sorek and may refer to the place, or to the plant; with reference to the place it may be taken, either for a proper name, as Carmel for any fruitful place, so here noting▪ either the place whence, viz. A Vine of the same kind with those, that come from Sorek, possibly that Country where Sampson saw Dalilah, Iudg. 16.4. Or, the place where Planted viz. in a fruitful Land, Exod. 15.17. See on Isa. 1.2. If it be referred to the plant, then it points at the excellency of its kind, and this the next clause seems to favour, and thus it notes both Gods care, he had as great a care of it as of the choicest Plant, see on Isa. 27.2, 3. and also his expectation, that it should prove so, Isa. 5.4 and the sense is, I Planted thee, that thou shouldst bring forth choice fruit to me.

Viz. The Ordinances of his Church, which are said to be the Plants, or Seed, that God furnisheth it with all, Matth. 13.24. and these are called right, Neh. 9.13. not false, or counterfeit, Thus it was Planted in the dayes of the Patriarchs Abra[illegible: 1 letter]am, Isaac, and Iacob, &c. a right Seed of true Believers.

Though there be only degenerate or declining in the Heb. Text, yet the supplement is necessary in regard of the Metaphor.

This must here be taken, in a bad sense as the word degenerate going before intimates, though it be sometimes for what is rare, and excellent; here it notes their Apostacy, and infidelity, and other wickednesses; where God speaks after the manner of man, both in a way of wonder, and reproof.

Marginal references: Exod. 15.17. Psal. 44.2. Matth. 21.33. Mark 12.1. Luk. 20.9.; Deut. 32.3[illegible: 1 letter].