Jeremiah 4:13-23

13 "Behold, he 1goes up like clouds, And his 2chariots like the whirlwind; His horses are 3swifter than eagles. Woe to us, for 4we are ruined!"
14 Wash your heart from evil, O Jerusalem, That you may be saved. How long * will your 5wicked thoughts Lodge within you?
15 For a voice declares from 6Dan, And proclaims wickedness from Mount Ephraim.
16 "Report it to the nations, now! Proclaim over Jerusalem, 'Besiegers come from a 7far country, And 8lift their voices against the cities of Judah.
17 'Like watchmen of a field they are 9against her round about, Because she has 10rebelled against Me,' declares the LORD.
18 "Your 11ways and your deeds Have brought these things to you. This is your evil. How 12bitter! How it has touched your heart!"

Lament over Judah's Devastation

19 13My soul, my soul! I am in anguish! Oh, my heart! My 14heart is pounding in me; I cannot be silent, Because you have heard, O my soul, The 15sound of the trumpet, The alarm of war.
20 16Disaster on disaster is proclaimed, For the 17whole land is devastated; Suddenly my 18tents are devastated, My curtains in an instant.
21 How long * must I see the standard And hear the sound of the trumpet?
22 "19For My people are foolish, They know Me not; They are stupid children And have no understanding. They are shrewd to 20do evil, But to do good they do not know."
23 I looked on the earth, and behold, it was 21formless and void; And to the heavens, and they had no light.

Jeremiah 4:13-23 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 21

  • 1. Isaiah 19:1; Nahum 1:3
  • 2. Isaiah 5:28; Isaiah 66:15
  • 3. Lamentations 4:19; Habakkuk 1:8
  • 4. Isaiah 3:8
  • 5. Proverbs 1:22; Jeremiah 6:19; Jeremiah 13:27; James 4:8
  • 6. Jeremiah 8:16
  • 7. Isaiah 39:3; Jeremiah 5:15
  • 8. Ezekiel 21:22
  • 9. 2 Kings 25:1, 4
  • 10. Isaiah 1:20, 23; Jeremiah 5:23
  • 11. Psalms 107:17; Isaiah 50:1; Jeremiah 2:17, 19
  • 12. Jeremiah 2:19
  • 13. Isaiah 15:5; Isaiah 16:11; Isaiah 21:3; Isaiah 22:4; Jeremiah 9:1, 10; Jeremiah 20:9
  • 14. Habakkuk 3:16
  • 15. Numbers 10:9
  • 16. Psalms 42:7; Ezekiel 7:26
  • 17. Jeremiah 4:27
  • 18. Jeremiah 10:20
  • 19. Jeremiah 5:4, 21; Jeremiah 10:8; Romans 1:22
  • 20. Jeremiah 9:3; Jeremiah 13:23; Romans 16:19; 1 Corinthians 14:20
  • 21. Genesis 1:2; Isaiah 24:19

Footnotes 6

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