Jeremiah 4:5-18

Disaster from the North

5 Declare in Judah, and proclaim in Jerusalem, and say, 1"Blow the trumpet through the land; cry aloud and say, 2'Assemble, and let us go into the fortified cities!'
6 3Raise a standard toward Zion, flee for safety, stay not, for I bring disaster from 4the north, 5and great destruction.
7 6A lion has gone up from his thicket, a destroyer of nations has set out; he has gone out from his place to make your land a waste; your cities will be ruins 7without inhabitant.
8 For this 8put on sackcloth, lament and wail, for 9the fierce anger of the LORD has not turned back from us."
9 "In that day, declares the LORD, 10courage shall fail both king and officials. The priests shall be appalled and the prophets astounded."
10 Then I said, "Ah, Lord GOD, 11surely you have utterly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, 'It shall be well with you,' whereas the sword has reached their very life."
11 At that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem, "A hot wind from 12the bare heights in the desert toward the daughter of my people, not to winnow or cleanse,
12 a wind too full for this comes for me. Now it is I who 13speak in judgment upon them."
13 Behold, he comes up like clouds; 14his chariots like the whirlwind; his horses are 15swifter than eagles-- woe to us, 16for we are ruined!
14 O Jerusalem, 17wash your heart from evil, that you may be saved. How long shall your wicked thoughts lodge within you?
15 For a voice 18declares from Dan and proclaims trouble from 19Mount Ephraim.
16 Warn the nations that he is coming; announce to Jerusalem, "Besiegers come 20from a distant land; they shout against the cities of Judah.
17 Like keepers of a field 21are they against her all around, because she has rebelled against me, declares the LORD.
18 Your ways and your deeds have brought this upon you. This is your doom, and 22it is bitter; it has reached your very heart."

Jeremiah 4:5-18 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 22

  • 1. [Jeremiah 6:1; Hosea 5:8; Joel 2:1]
  • 2. Jeremiah 8:14
  • 3. [Jeremiah 50:2; Jeremiah 51:12, 27]
  • 4. See Jeremiah 1:13
  • 5. [Isaiah 1:28]
  • 6. Jeremiah 2:15; Jeremiah 5:6; Jeremiah 49:19
  • 7. Jeremiah 33:10; Jeremiah 34:22; Jeremiah 46:19; Isaiah 5:9; Isaiah 6:11
  • 8. Jeremiah 6:26; Isaiah 22:12; Isaiah 32:11
  • 9. Numbers 25:4; Psalms 78:49; See Isaiah 13:9-13
  • 10. [Psalms 48:4, 5]
  • 11. Ezekiel 14:9; [1 Kings 22:22]
  • 12. See Jeremiah 3:2
  • 13. Jeremiah 1:16
  • 14. Isaiah 5:28
  • 15. 2 Samuel 1:23; Lamentations 4:19
  • 16. Jeremiah 9:19
  • 17. Psalms 51:2, 7; Isaiah 1:16; James 4:8
  • 18. Jeremiah 8:16
  • 19. See Joshua 24:33
  • 20. Jeremiah 5:15
  • 21. Jeremiah 6:3; See 2 Kings 25:1-4
  • 22. Jeremiah 2:19
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.