Jeremiah 4:14-24

14 O Jerusalem, 1wash your heart from evil, that you may be saved. How long shall your wicked thoughts lodge within you?
15 For a voice 2declares from Dan and proclaims trouble from 3Mount Ephraim.
16 Warn the nations that he is coming; announce to Jerusalem, "Besiegers come 4from a distant land; they shout against the cities of Judah.
17 Like keepers of a field 5are they against her all around, because she has rebelled against me, declares the LORD.
18 Your ways and your deeds have brought this upon you. This is your doom, and 6it is bitter; it has reached your very heart."

Anguish over Judah's Desolation

19 7My anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain! Oh the walls of my heart! My heart is beating wildly; I cannot keep silent, for I hear the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.
20 8Crash follows hard on crash; the whole land is laid waste. 9Suddenly my tents are laid waste, my curtains in a moment.
21 How long must I see the standard and hear the sound of the trumpet?
22 "For 10my people are foolish; they know me not; they are stupid children; they have no understanding. 11They are 'wise'--in doing evil! But how to do good they know not."
23 I looked on the earth, and behold, it was 12without form and void; 13and to the heavens, and they had no light.
24 I looked on 14the mountains, and behold, they were quaking, and all the hills moved to and fro.

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.

Cross References 14

  • 1. Psalms 51:2, 7; Isaiah 1:16; James 4:8
  • 2. Jeremiah 8:16
  • 3. See Joshua 24:33
  • 4. Jeremiah 5:15
  • 5. Jeremiah 6:3; See 2 Kings 25:1-4
  • 6. Jeremiah 2:19
  • 7. Isaiah 16:11; Habakkuk 3:16; [Jeremiah 9:1; Isaiah 22:4]
  • 8. Ezekiel 7:26
  • 9. Jeremiah 10:20; Jeremiah 49:29
  • 10. Psalms 82:5; Isaiah 1:3
  • 11. Psalms 36:3; Isaiah 1:16, 17; Romans 16:19
  • 12. Genesis 1:2
  • 13. Isaiah 5:30
  • 14. Nahum 1:5
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.