Jeremiah 4:23-31

23 I looked on the earth, and behold, it was 1formless and void; And to the heavens, and they had no light.
24 I looked on the mountains, and behold, they were 2quaking, And all the hills moved to and fro.
25 I looked, and behold, there was no man, And all the 3birds of the heavens had fled.
26 I looked, and behold, the 4fruitful land was a wilderness, And all its cities were pulled down Before * the LORD, before * His fierce anger.
27 For thus says the LORD, "The 5whole land shall be a desolation, Yet I will 6not execute a complete destruction.
28 "For this the 7earth shall mourn And the 8heavens above * be dark, Because * I have 9spoken, I have purposed, And I will not change My mind, nor will I turn from it."
29 At the sound of the horseman and bowman * 10every city flees; They 11go into the thickets and climb among the rocks; 12Every city is forsaken, And no man dwells in them.
30 And you, O desolate one, 13what will you do? Although you dress in scarlet, Although you decorate yourself with ornaments of gold, Although you 14enlarge your eyes with paint, In vain you make yourself beautiful. Your 15lovers despise you; They seek your life.
31 For I heard a cry as of a woman in labor, The anguish as of one giving birth to her first child, The cry of the daughter of Zion 16gasping for breath, 17Stretching out her hands, saying, "Ah, woe is me, for I faint before murderers."

Jeremiah 4:23-31 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 17

  • 1. Genesis 1:2; Isaiah 24:19
  • 2. Isaiah 5:25; Jeremiah 10:10; Ezekiel 38:20
  • 3. Jeremiah 9:10; Jeremiah 12:4; Zephaniah 1:3
  • 4. Jeremiah 9:10
  • 5. Jeremiah 12:11, 12; Jeremiah 25:11
  • 6. Jeremiah 5:10, 18; Jeremiah 30:11; Jeremiah 46:28
  • 7. Jeremiah 12:4, 11; Jeremiah 14:2; Hosea 4:3
  • 8. Isaiah 5:30; Isaiah 50:3; Joel 2:30, 31
  • 9. Numbers 23:19; Jeremiah 23:20; Jeremiah 30:24
  • 10. 2 Kings 25:4
  • 11. Isaiah 2:19-21; Jeremiah 16:16
  • 12. Jeremiah 4:7
  • 13. Isaiah 10:3; Isaiah 20:6; Jeremiah 13:21
  • 14. 2 Kings 9:30; Ezekiel 23:40
  • 15. Jeremiah 22:20, 22; Lamentations 1:2, 19; Ezek 23:9, 10, 22
  • 16. Isaiah 42:14
  • 17. Isaiah 1:15; Lamentations 1:17

Footnotes 9

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