Jeremiah 4:26-31

26 I looked, and the fruitful land was a desert; all its towns lay in ruins before the LORD, before his fierce anger.
27 This is what the LORD says: “The whole land will be ruined, though I will not destroy it completely.
28 Therefore the earth will mourn and the heavens above grow dark, because I have spoken and will not relent, I have decided and will not turn back.”
29 At the sound of horsemen and archers every town takes to flight. Some go into the thickets; some climb up among the rocks. All the towns are deserted; no one lives in them.
30 What are you doing, you devastated one? Why dress yourself in scarlet and put on jewels of gold? Why highlight your eyes with makeup? You adorn yourself in vain. Your lovers despise you; they want to kill you.
31 I hear a cry as of a woman in labor, a groan as of one bearing her first child— the cry of Daughter Zion gasping for breath, stretching out her hands and saying, “Alas! I am fainting; my life is given over to murderers.”

Jeremiah 4:26-31 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 23

  • 1. S Genesis 13:10; Jeremiah 12:4; Jeremiah 23:10
  • 2. S Isaiah 6:11
  • 3. Jeremiah 12:13; Jeremiah 25:38
  • 4. S ver 13
  • 5. S Leviticus 26:44; Jeremiah 5:10,18; Jeremiah 12:12; Jeremiah 30:11; Jeremiah 46:28; Ezekiel 20:17; Amos 9:8
  • 6. Jeremiah 12:4,11; Jeremiah 14:2; Hosea 4:3
  • 7. S ver 23; Isaiah 5:30; Isaiah 50:3
  • 8. S Numbers 23:19
  • 9. ver 8; Jeremiah 23:20; Jeremiah 30:24
  • 10. S ver 13; Jeremiah 6:23; Jeremiah 8:16
  • 11. 2 Kings 25:4
  • 12. S Exodus 33:22; S 1 Samuel 26:20
  • 13. S ver 7; S Isaiah 6:12
  • 14. Isaiah 10:3-4
  • 15. Ezekiel 16:11; Ezekiel 23:40
  • 16. S 2 Kings 9:30
  • 17. Job 19:14; Lamentations 1:2; Ezekiel 23:9,22
  • 18. S Psalms 35:4
  • 19. S Genesis 3:16; Jeremiah 6:24; Jeremiah 13:21; Jeremiah 22:23; Jeremiah 30:6; Micah 4:10
  • 20. S Psalms 9:14
  • 21. Isaiah 42:14
  • 22. Isaiah 1:15; Lamentations 1:17
  • 23. S Deuteronomy 32:25; Lamentations 2:21
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