Jeremiah 4:1-6

1 "If you return, O Israel, declares the LORD, 1to me you should return. If you remove your detestable things from my presence, 2and do not waver,
2 3and if you swear, 'As the LORD lives,' in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, then 4nations shall bless themselves in him, 5and in him shall they glory."
3 For thus says the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: 6"Break up your fallow ground, and 7sow not among thorns.
4 8Circumcise yourselves to the LORD; remove the foreskin of your hearts, O men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem; 9lest my wrath go forth like fire, and burn with none to quench it, 10because of the evil of your deeds."

Disaster from the North

5 Declare in Judah, and proclaim in Jerusalem, and say, 11"Blow the trumpet through the land; cry aloud and say, 12'Assemble, and let us go into the fortified cities!'
6 13Raise a standard toward Zion, flee for safety, stay not, for I bring disaster from 14the north, 15and great destruction.

Jeremiah 4:1-6 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.

Cross References 15

  • 1. Joel 2:12
  • 2. [1 Kings 14:15]
  • 3. Deuteronomy 6:13
  • 4. Isaiah 65:16
  • 5. 1 Corinthians 1:31; 2 Corinthians 10:17
  • 6. Hosea 10:12
  • 7. Matthew 13:7, 22; Mark 4:7, 18; Luke 8:7, 14
  • 8. Deuteronomy 10:16; [Jeremiah 9:26; Romans 2:28, 29]
  • 9. Jeremiah 21:12
  • 10. Deuteronomy 28:20
  • 11. [Jeremiah 6:1; Hosea 5:8; Joel 2:1]
  • 12. Jeremiah 8:14
  • 13. [Jeremiah 50:2; Jeremiah 51:12, 27]
  • 14. See Jeremiah 1:13
  • 15. [Isaiah 1:28]
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.