Jeremiah 4:20

20 Destruction on destruction is proclaimed, for all of the land is devastated. Suddenly my tents are devastated, my tent curtains in a moment.

Jeremiah 4:20 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 4:20

Destruction upon destruction is cried;
&c.] Or, "breach upon breach" F7; as soon as one affliction is over, another comes on; and upon the news of one calamity, tidings are brought of another, as in Job's case: it signifies, that distress and troubles would come thick and fast, and that there would be no end of them, until there was an utter destruction, as this phrase signifies, and the following words show. Kimchi interprets it of the destruction of the ten tribes which came first, and of the destruction of Judah that came now. For the whole land is spoiled,
or "wasted" F8; that is, the land of Judea: suddenly are my tents spoiled, and my curtains in a moment:
meaning either the armies of his people, which dwelt in tents, and were destroyed at once; or the cities, towns, and habitations of his countrymen, which he compares to tents, as being easily beat down or overthrown; and so the Targum interprets it of cities; and the prophet seems to intimate that this destruction would reach to Anathoth, where his tent; cottage, and curtains were. So sudden destruction some times comes, when men are crying Peace, peace, ( 1 Thessalonians 5:3 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F7 (rbv le rbv) "contritio super contritionem", Pagninus, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius.
F8 (hddv) "vastata", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus.

Jeremiah 4:20 In-Context

18 "You obtained this for yourself [because of] your way and your deeds. This [is] your doom, for [it is] bitter, yes, it has reached up to your heart."
19 My bowels, my bowels! I writhe! The walls of my heart! My heart is restless within me, I cannot keep silent, for I hear [in] my inner self the sound of a horn, [the] alarm of war.
20 Destruction on destruction is proclaimed, for all of the land is devastated. Suddenly my tents are devastated, my tent curtains in a moment.
21 How long must I see [the] banner, [and] hear [the] sound of a horn?
22 "For my people [are] foolish, they have not known me. They [are] foolish children, and they do not have insight. They [are] skillful at doing evil, and they do not know [how] to do good."
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.