Jeremiah 4:14-24

14 Wash the evil from your heart,[a] 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.
16 Warn the nations: Look! Proclaim to Jerusalem: Those who besiege are coming from a distant land; they raise their voices against the cities of Judah.
17 They have her surrounded like those who guard a field, because she has rebelled against Me. [This is]*The bracketed text has been added for clarity. the Lord's declaration.
18 Your way of life and your actions have brought this on you. This is your punishment. It is very bitter, because it has reached your heart!

Jeremiah's Lament

19 My anguish, my anguish![b] I writhe in agony! Oh, the pain in[c] my heart! My heart pounds; I cannot be silent. For you, my soul, have heard the sound of the ram's horn- the shout of battle.
20 Disaster after disaster is reported, for the whole land is destroyed. Suddenly my tents are destroyed, my tent curtains, in a moment.
21 How long must I see the signal flag and hear the sound of the ram's horn?
22 For My people are fools; they do not know Me. They are foolish children, without understanding. They are skilled in doing what is evil, but they do not know how to do what is good.
23 I looked at the earth, and it was formless and empty.[d] [I looked] to the heavens, and their light was gone.
24 I looked at the mountains, and they were quaking; all the hills shook.

Jeremiah 4:14-24 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 4

This chapter begins with several exhortations to repentance; first to Israel, or the ten tribes, to return to the Lord with their whole hearts, and put away their abominations, and serve him in sincerity and uprightness of soul; with promises of rest and safety to themselves; and that it would have a happy influence on the Gentiles, and issue in their conversion; who would hereupon bless themselves in the Lord, and glory in him, Jer 4:1,2, and next to the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem, to show a concern for renewing and sanctifying grace, signified by various metaphors, lest they should be consumed with the fire of divine wrath, Jer 4:3,4 and then the destruction of that land and city is foretold and described, partly by what was introductory to it, and the proclamation of it, signified by blowing the trumpet, and setting up the standard, Jer 4:5,6,15,19,20, by an account of the destroyers, their cruelty, swiftness, and diligence, Jer 4:7,13,16,17, and of the destruction itself, compared to a violent wind, Jer 4:11,12, by the effect it should have upon the inhabitants of all sorts, high and low, Jer 4:8,9, and had upon the prophet himself, Jer 4:10,19,21, and by the cause and ground of it, the sins of the people, which they are called upon to repent of, Jer 4:14,17,18,22 and by a vision the prophet had of the dreadful desolation of the land, Jer 4:23-29 and by the vain and false hopes the people would have of their recovery, and the great anxiety and distress they would be in, Jer 4:30,31.

Footnotes 4

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