Jeremiah 4:13

13 Look, he advances like clouds; his chariots are like a storm.^[a] His horses are swifter than eagles.^[b] Woe to us, for we are ruined!

Jeremiah 4:13 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 4:13

Behold, he shall come up as clouds
Meaning the lion, Nebuchadnezzar, ( Jeremiah 4:7 ) ,

``the king with his army (as the Targum paraphrases it); he shall come up against them as a cloud that ascendeth and covers the earth.''

``come up against them as a cloud that ascendeth and covers the earth.''

The metaphor denotes the swiftness of his coming, and the multitudes he should come with, and that darkness and distress he should bring with him upon the people of the Jews: and his chariots shall be as a whirlwind;
for swiftness, power, and violence: chariots for war are intended; see ( Isaiah 5:28 ) : his horses are swifter than eagles:
the swiftest of birds. The same thing is designed as by the other metaphors; the swiftness and suddenness of the Jews' destruction: woe unto us, for we are spoiled;
their destruction was inevitable, there was no escaping it; and therefore their case was woeful and miserable.

Jeremiah 4:13 In-Context

11 At that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem, "A searing wind [blows] from the barren heights in the wilderness on the way to My dear people. [It comes] not to winnow or to sift;

12 a wind too strong for this comes at My call. Now I will also pronounce judgments against them."

13 Look, he advances like clouds; his chariots are like a storm. His horses are swifter than eagles. Woe to us, for we are ruined!

14 Wash the evil from your heart, Jerusalem, so that you will be delivered. How long will you harbor malicious thoughts within you?

15 For a voice announces from Dan, proclaiming malice from Mount Ephraim.

Footnotes

• [a]. Isa 5:28; 66:15
• [b]. 2 Sm 1:23; Jb 9:26; Lm 4:19