Jeremiah 11:4

4 the terms I commanded your ancestors when I brought them out of Egypt, out of the iron-smelting furnace.’ I said, ‘Obey me and do everything I command you, and you will be my people, and I will be your God.

Jeremiah 11:4 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
4 Which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so shall ye be my people, and I will be your God:
English Standard Version (ESV)
4 that I commanded your fathers when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Listen to my voice, and do all that I command you. So shall you be my people, and I will be your God,
New Living Translation (NLT)
4 For I said to your ancestors when I brought them out of the iron-smelting furnace of Egypt, “If you obey me and do whatever I command you, then you will be my people, and I will be your God.”
The Message Bible (MSG)
4 The terms are clear. I made them plain to your ancestors when I delivered them from Egypt, out of the iron furnace of suffering.
American Standard Version (ASV)
4 which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the iron furnace, saying, Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so shall ye be my people, and I will be your God;
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
4 I made this promise to your ancestors when I brought them out of Egypt, which was an iron smelter. I said, "Obey me, and do everything that I have told you to do. Then you will be my people, and I will be your God.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
4 which I commanded your ancestors when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the iron furnace. I declared: 'Obey Me, and do everything that I command you, and you will be My people, and I will be your God,'
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
4 I gave those terms to your people long ago. That was when I brought them out of Egypt. I saved them out of that furnace that melts iron down and makes it pure.' I said, 'Obey me. Do everything I command you to do. Then you will be my people. And I will be your God.

Jeremiah 11:4 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 11:4

Which I commanded your fathers
To observe and keep: in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt:
that is, quickly after, when they were in the wilderness, and before they came into the land of Canaan. The "day" seems to include the whole time from their coming out of Egypt, to their entrance into Canaan's land; it was in the first year of their coming out from thence that the law was given them on Mount Sinai, ( Exodus 19:1-11 ) , and it was in the fortieth year, and when they were upon the borders of Canaan, that the covenant was made with them in the land of Moab, ( Deuteronomy 1:3 ) ( 29:1 ) : "from the iron furnace"; meaning Egypt, and their bondage and affliction in it, compared to an iron furnace for the grievousness of it, its long continuance, and the use of it to try and prove them; see ( Deuteronomy 4:20 ) ( 1 Kings 8:51 ) : saying, obey my voice;
in the law: and do them;
the commands of it, the words of the covenant: according to all which I command you;
everything was to be done that was commanded, and as it was commanded; a perfect and uniform obedience is to be yielded to the law, in order to enjoy the blessing, or a penalty is incurred: so shall ye be my people, and I will be your God;
this is the tenor of the covenant of works; covenant interest in God, according to the law, depends upon obedience; that is the condition of it; but the covenant of grace is not clogged with such a condition; but runs absolutely, they shall be my people, and I will be their God,
( Jeremiah 32:39 ) .

Jeremiah 11:4 In-Context

2 “Listen to the terms of this covenant and tell them to the people of Judah and to those who live in Jerusalem.
3 Tell them that this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Cursed is the one who does not obey the terms of this covenant—
4 the terms I commanded your ancestors when I brought them out of Egypt, out of the iron-smelting furnace.’ I said, ‘Obey me and do everything I command you, and you will be my people, and I will be your God.
5 Then I will fulfill the oath I swore to your ancestors, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey’—the land you possess today.” I answered, “Amen, LORD.”
6 The LORD said to me, “Proclaim all these words in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem: ‘Listen to the terms of this covenant and follow them.

Cross References 4

  • 1. ver 7
  • 2. Deuteronomy 4:20; S 1 Kings 8:51
  • 3. S Exodus 24:8; Jeremiah 7:23
  • 4. Jeremiah 7:23; Jeremiah 31:33; Ezekiel 11:20
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