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Jeremiah 4

Jer 4, Je 4, Jr 4


Jeremiah 4

1 If thou wilt return, O Israel, saith the LORD, return unto me: and if thou wilt put away thine abominations out of my sight, then shalt thou not remove.

2 And thou shalt swear, The LORD liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.

3 For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.

4 Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.

5 Declare ye in Judah, and publish in Jerusalem; and say, Blow ye the trumpet in the land: cry, gather together, and say, Assemble yourselves, and let us go into the defenced cities.

6 Set up the standard toward Zion: retire, stay not: for I will bring evil from the north, and a great destruction.

7 The lion is come up from his thicket, and the destroyer of the Gentiles is on his way; he is gone forth from his place to make thy land desolate; and thy cities shall be laid waste, without an inhabitant.

8 For this gird you with sackcloth, lament and howl: for the fierce anger of the LORD is not turned back from us.

9 And it shall come to pass at that day, saith the LORD, that the heart of the king shall perish, and the heart of the princes; and the priests shall be astonished, and the prophets shall wonder.

10 Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! surely thou hast greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall have peace; whereas the sword reacheth unto the soul.

11 At that time shall it be said to this people and to Jerusalem, A dry wind of the high places in the wilderness toward the daughter of my people, not to fan, nor to cleanse,

12 Even a full wind from those places shall come unto me: now also will I give sentence against them.

13 Behold, he shall come up as clouds, and his chariots shall be as a whirlwind: his horses are swifter than eagles. Woe unto us! for we are spoiled.

14 O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee?

15 For a voice declareth from Dan, and publisheth affliction from mount Ephraim.

16 Make ye mention to the nations; behold, publish against Jerusalem, that watchers come from a far country, and give out their voice against the cities of Judah.



17 As keepers of a field, are they against her round about; because she hath been rebellious against me, saith the LORD.

18 Thy way and thy doings have procured these things unto thee; this is thy wickedness, because it is bitter, because it reacheth unto thine heart.

19 My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; my heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.

20 Destruction upon destruction is cried; for the whole land is spoiled: suddenly are my tents spoiled, and my curtains in a moment.

21 How long shall I see the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet?

22 For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.

23 I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light.

24 I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly.

25 I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled.

26 I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, and by his fierce anger.

27 For thus hath the LORD said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end.

28 For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black; because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and will not repent, neither will I turn back from it.

29 The whole city shall flee for the noise of the horsemen and bowmen; they shall go into thickets, and climb up upon the rocks: every city shall be forsaken, and not a man dwell therein.

30 And when thou art spoiled, what wilt thou do? Though thou clothest thyself with crimson, though thou deckest thee with ornaments of gold, though thou rentest thy face with painting, in vain shalt thou make thyself fair; thy lovers will despise thee, they will seek thy life.

31 For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, and the anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion, that bewaileth herself, that spreadeth her hands, saying, Woe is me now! for my soul is wearied because of murderers.

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Summary and the meaning of Chapter 4 of the Book of Jeremiah in the KJV Holy Bible

The fourth chapter of the biblical book of Jeremiah in the King James Version (KJV) is a poignant and powerful passage that presents a vivid picture of impending judgment and destruction. It is a chapter that explores themes of repentance, divine wrath, and the consequences of turning away from God. In this essay, we will delve deeply into these themes and uncover the meaning and messages contained within this chapter.

Repentance and Return to Righteousness

The chapter begins with a call to repentance. Jeremiah, speaking on behalf of God, calls on the people of Israel to return to the Lord. He urges them to "circumcise themselves to the Lord, and take away the foreskins of their heart" (Jeremiah 4:4). Here, circumcision is used metaphorically to represent the act of repentance and the need for a spiritual transformation. In the Bible, the heart often symbolizes the center of one's being, the source of thoughts and attitudes. Therefore, the call for the circumcision of the heart is a call for a deep, inward change.

The Israelites are implored to abandon their idols and false gods, to break up their fallow ground, and not to sow among thorns. These agricultural metaphors are used to illustrate the need for spiritual renewal and growth. Just as a farmer prepares the ground for sowing by removing weeds and rocks, so too must the Israelites prepare their hearts by removing sin and idolatry. This call to repentance is a recurring theme in the prophetic books of the Bible, emphasizing God's desire for His people to turn from their wicked ways and return to Him.

The Wrath of God and The Impending Judgment

However, Jeremiah also delivers a dire warning of the wrath of God. The prophet describes a coming disaster from the north, a great destruction that will descend upon the land. The impending judgment is presented as a direct consequence of the people's disobedience and unfaithfulness to God. This impending disaster is a recurring theme in Jeremiah's prophecies, reflecting the prophet's role as a messenger of God's judgment.

The description of the coming judgment is vivid and terrifying. Jeremiah speaks of a lion coming up from his thicket, and a destroyer of nations set out, moving swiftly to turn the cities of Judah into desolate ruins. The earth mourns and the heavens above grow black, because God has spoken and will not relent, He has decided and will not turn back (Jeremiah 4:7,28). These images of destruction and desolation serve to underscore the severity of God's wrath and the dire consequences of turning away from Him.

The Lament of Jeremiah

In the latter part of Jeremiah 4, the tone shifts from warning to lamentation. Jeremiah mourns the devastation and destruction that is to come. His heart pounds, he cannot keep silent, for he hears the trumpet and the battle cry (Jeremiah 4:19). The prophet's anguish is palpable as he laments over the coming destruction, reflecting his deep love for his people and his sorrow over their impending suffering.

Jeremiah's lament also serves to humanize the prophet, showing his emotional response to the divine message he is tasked with delivering. It highlights the tension between his role as a prophet and his identity as a member of the community he is prophesying against. This tension is a common theme in the prophetic literature, as the prophets often struggled with the burden of delivering messages of judgment and destruction to their own people.

The Meaning and Message of Jeremiah 4

What then, is the meaning and message of Jeremiah 4? At its core, this chapter is a call to repentance and a warning of the consequences of disobedience. It underscores the seriousness of sin and the dire consequences of turning away from God. It highlights God's desire for His people to return to Him, and His readiness to forgive those who repent and turn from their wicked ways.

However, Jeremiah 4 also serves as a sobering reminder of the reality of divine judgment. It reminds us that God is not only a God of love and mercy, but also a God of justice and righteousness. He will not overlook sin and rebellion, but will bring judgment upon those who persist in their wickedness.

Finally, Jeremiah's lament reminds us of the human cost of disobedience. It underscores the sorrow and pain that sin brings, not just upon the individual sinner, but also upon the community as a whole. It reminds us that the prophets were not detached messengers of doom, but deeply compassionate individuals who grieved over the suffering of their people.

In conclusion, Jeremiah 4 is a powerful and poignant chapter that explores themes of repentance, divine wrath, and the human cost of disobedience. It serves as a stark reminder of the seriousness of sin, the reality of divine judgment, and the urgent need for repentance and return to God. It is a chapter that challenges us to examine our own hearts, to turn away from sin and idolatry, and to seek God with sincerity and humility.



This article is informed by the King James Version of the Holy Bible, the authors' personal knowledge, considerations and experience, and additional materials and resources available in internet.

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