1If thou wilt returnH7725, O IsraelH3478, saithH5002 the LORDH3068, returnH7725 unto me: and if thou wilt put awayH5493 thine abominationsH8251 out of my sightH6440, then shalt thou not removeH5110 . 2And thou shalt swearH7650, The LORDH3068 livethH2416, in truthH571, in judgmentH4941, and in righteousnessH6666; and the nationsH1471 shall blessH1288 themselves in him, and in him shall they gloryH1984 . 3For thus saithH559 the LORDH3068 to the menH376 of JudahH3063 and JerusalemH3389, Break upH5214 your fallow groundH5215, and sowH2232 not among thornsH6975. 4CircumciseH4135 yourselves to the LORDH3068, and take awayH5493 the foreskinsH6190 of your heartH3824, ye menH376 of JudahH3063 and inhabitantsH3427 of JerusalemH3389: lest my furyH2534 come forthH3318 like fireH784, and burnH1197 that none can quenchH3518 it, becauseH6440 of the evilH7455 of your doingsH4611. 5DeclareH5046 ye in JudahH3063, and publishH8085 in JerusalemH3389; and sayH559, BlowH8628 ye the trumpetH7782 in the landH776: cryH7121, gather togetherH4390, and sayH559, AssembleH622 yourselves, and let us goH935 into the defencedH4013 citiesH5892. 6Set upH5375 the standardH5251 toward ZionH6726: retireH5756, stayH5975 not: for I will bringH935 evilH7451 from the northH6828, and a greatH1419 destructionH7667. 7The lionH738 is come upH5927 from his thicketH5441, and the destroyerH7843 of the GentilesH1471 is on his wayH5265 ; he is gone forthH3318 from his placeH4725 to makeH7760 thy landH776 desolateH8047; and thy citiesH5892 shall be laid wasteH5327, without an inhabitantH3427 . 8For this girdH2296 you with sackclothH8242, lamentH5594 and howlH3213 : for the fierceH2740 angerH639 of the LORDH3068 is not turned backH7725 from us. 9And it shall come to pass at that dayH3117, saithH5002 the LORDH3068, that the heartH3820 of the kingH4428 shall perishH6, and the heartH3820 of the princesH8269; and the priestsH3548 shall be astonishedH8074, and the prophetsH5030 shall wonderH8539 . 10Then saidH559 I, AhH162, LordH136 GODH3069! surelyH403 thou hast greatlyH5377 deceivedH5377 this peopleH5971 and JerusalemH3389, sayingH559, Ye shall have peaceH7965; whereas the swordH2719 reachethH5060 unto the soulH5315. 11At that timeH6256 shall it be saidH559 to this peopleH5971 and to JerusalemH3389, A dryH6703 windH7307 of the high placesH8205 in the wildernessH4057 towardH1870 the daughterH1323 of my peopleH5971, not to fanH2219, nor to cleanseH1305, 12Even a fullH4392 windH7307 from those places shall comeH935 unto me: now also will I giveH1696 sentenceH4941 against them. 13Behold, he shall come upH5927 as cloudsH6051, and his chariotsH4818 shall be as a whirlwindH5492: his horsesH5483 are swifterH7043 than eaglesH5404. WoeH188 unto us! for we are spoiledH7703 . 14O JerusalemH3389, washH3526 thine heartH3820 from wickednessH7451, that thou mayest be savedH3467 . How long shall thy vainH205 thoughtsH4284 lodgeH3885 withinH7130 thee? 15For a voiceH6963 declarethH5046 from DanH1835, and publishethH8085 afflictionH205 from mountH2022 EphraimH669. 16Make ye mentionH2142 to the nationsH1471; behold, publishH8085 against JerusalemH3389, that watchersH5341 comeH935 from a farH4801 countryH776, and give outH5414 their voiceH6963 against the citiesH5892 of JudahH3063. 17As keepersH8104 of a fieldH7704, are they against her round aboutH5439; because she hath been rebelliousH4784 against me, saithH5002 the LORDH3068. 18Thy wayH1870 and thy doingsH4611 have procuredH6213 these things unto thee; this is thy wickednessH7451, because it is bitterH4751, because it reachethH5060 unto thine heartH3820. 19My bowelsH4578, my bowelsH4578! I am painedH2342 H3176 at my veryH7023 heartH3820; my heartH3820 maketh a noiseH1993 in me; I cannot hold my peaceH2790, because thou hast heardH8085, O my soulH5315, the soundH6963 of the trumpetH7782, the alarmH8643 of warH4421. 20DestructionH7667 upon destructionH7667 is criedH7121 ; for the whole landH776 is spoiledH7703 : suddenlyH6597 are my tentsH168 spoiledH7703, and my curtainsH3407 in a momentH7281. 21How long shall I seeH7200 the standardH5251, and hearH8085 the soundH6963 of the trumpetH7782? 22For my peopleH5971 is foolishH191, they have not knownH3045 me; they are sottishH5530 childrenH1121, and they have none understandingH995 : they are wiseH2450 to do evilH7489, but to do goodH3190 they have no knowledgeH3045 . 23I beheldH7200 the earthH776, and, lo, it was without formH8414, and voidH922; and the heavensH8064, and they had no lightH216. 24I beheldH7200 the mountainsH2022, and, lo, they trembledH7493, and all the hillsH1389 moved lightlyH7043 . 25I beheldH7200, and, lo, there was no manH120, and all the birdsH5775 of the heavensH8064 were fledH5074 . 26I beheldH7200, and, lo, the fruitful placeH3759 was a wildernessH4057, and all the citiesH5892 thereof were broken downH5422 at the presenceH6440 of the LORDH3068, and by his fierceH2740 angerH639. 27For thus hath the LORDH3068 saidH559, The whole landH776 shall be desolateH8077; yet will I not makeH6213 a full endH3617. 28For this shall the earthH776 mournH56, and the heavensH8064 aboveH4605 be blackH6937 : because I have spokenH1696 it, I have purposedH2161 it, and will not repentH5162, neither will I turn backH7725 from it. 29The whole cityH5892 shall fleeH1272 for the noiseH6963 of the horsemenH6571 and bowmenH7198 H7411 ; they shall goH935 into thicketsH5645, and climb upH5927 upon the rocksH3710: every cityH5892 shall be forsakenH5800, and not a manH376 dwellH3427 thereinH2004. 30And when thou art spoiledH7703, what wilt thou doH6213 ? Though thou clothestH3847 thyself with crimsonH8144, though thou deckestH5710 thee with ornamentsH5716 of goldH2091, though thou rentestH7167 thy faceH5869 with paintingH6320, in vainH7723 shalt thou make thyself fairH3302 ; thy loversH5689 will despiseH3988 thee, they will seekH1245 thy lifeH5315. 31For I have heardH8085 a voiceH6963 as of a woman in travailH2470, and the anguishH6869 as of her that bringeth forth her first childH1069, the voiceH6963 of the daughterH1323 of ZionH6726, that bewailethH3306 herself, that spreadethH6566 her handsH3709, saying, WoeH188 is me now! for my soulH5315 is weariedH5888 because of murderersH2026 .
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 CONTINUATION OF ADDRESS TO THE TEN TRIBES OF ISRAEL. (
Jer 4:1-
Jer 4:2). THE PROPHET TURNS AGAIN TO JUDAH, TO WHOM HE HAD ORIGINALLY BEEN SENT (Jer. 4:3-31). (Jer. 4:1-31)
return . . . return--play on words. "If thou wouldest return to thy land (thou must first), return (by conversion and repentance) to Me."
not remove--no longer be an unsettled wanderer in a strange land. So Cain (
Gen 4:12,
Gen 4:14).
2 And thou--rather, "And if (carried on from
Jer 4:1) thou shalt swear, 'Jehovah liveth,' in truth, &c.", that is, if thou shalt worship Him (for we swear by the God whom we worship; compare
Deut 6:13;
Deut 10:20;
Isa 19:18;
Amos 8:14) in sincerity, &c.
and the nations--Rather, this is apodosis to the "if"; then shall the nations bless themselves in (by) Him" (
Isa 65:16). The conversion of the nations will be the consequence of Israel's conversion (
Ps 102:13,
Ps 102:15;
Rom 11:12,
Rom 11:15).
3 Transition to Judah. Supply mentally. All which (the foregoing declaration as to Israel) applies to Judah.
and Jerusalem--that is, and especially the men of Jerusalem, as being the most prominent in Judea.
Break . . . fallow ground--that is, Repent of your idolatry, and so be prepared to serve the Lord in truth (
Hos 10:12;
Matt 13:7). The unhumbled heart is like ground which may be improved, being let out to us for that purpose, but which is as yet fallow, overgrown with weeds, its natural product.
4 Remove your natural corruption of heart (
Deut 10:16;
Deut 30:6;
Rom 2:29;
Col 2:11).
5 cry, gather together--rather, "cry fully" that is, loudly. The Jews are warned to take measures against the impending Chaldean invasion (compare
Jer 8:14).
6 Zion--The standard toward Zion intimated that the people of the surrounding country were to fly to it, as being the strongest of their fortresses.
7 lion--Nebuchadnezzar and the Chaldeans (
Jer 2:15;
Jer 5:6;
Dan 7:14).
his thicket--lair; Babylon.
destroyer of the Gentiles--rather, "the nations" (
Jer 25:9).
8 Nothing is left to the Jews but to bewail their desperate condition.
anger . . . not turned back-- (
Isa 9:12,
Isa 9:17,
Isa 9:21).
9 heart--The wisdom of the most leading men will be utterly at a loss to devise means of relief.
10 thou hast . . . deceived--God, having even the false prophets in His hands, is here said to do that which for inscrutable purposes He permits them to do (
Exod 9:12;
2Thess 2:11; compare
Jer 8:15; which passage shows that the dupes of error were self-prepared for it, and that God's predestination did not destroy their moral freedom as voluntary agents). The false prophets foretold "peace," and the Jews believed them; God overruled this to His purposes (
Jer 5:12;
Jer 14:13;
Ezek 14:9).
soul--rather, "reacheth to the life."
11 dry wind--the simoom, terrific and destructive, blowing from the southeast across the sandy deserts east of Palestine. Image of the invading Babylonian army (
Hos 13:15). Babylon in its turn shall be visited by a similar "destroying wind" (
Jer 51:1).
of . . . high places--that is, that sweeps over the high places.
daughter--that is, the children of my people.
not to fan--a very different wind from those ordinary winds employed for fanning the grain in the open air.
12 full . . . from those places--rather, "a wind fuller (that is, more impetuous) than those winds" (which fan the corn) (
Jer 4:11) [ROSENMULLER].
unto me--"for Me," as My instrument for executing My purpose.
sentence--judgments against them (
Jer 1:16).
13 clouds--continuing the metaphor in
Jer 4:11-
Jer 4:12. Clouds of sand and dust accompany the simoom, and after rapid gyrations ascend like a pillar.
eagles-- (
Deut 28:49;
Hab 1:8).
Woe unto us--The people are graphically presented before us, without it being formally so stated, bursting out in these exclamations.
14 Only one means of deliverance is left to the Jews--a thorough repentance.
vain thoughts--namely, projects for deliverance, such as enlisting the Egyptians on their side. GESENIUS translates, "How long wilt thou harbor vain thoughts?"
15 For . . . from Dan--The connection is: There is danger in delay; for the voice of a messenger announces the approach of the Chaldean enemy from Dan, the northern frontier of Palestine (
Jer 8:16; compare
Jer 4:6;
Jer 1:14).
Mount Ephraim--which borders closely on Judah; so that the foe is coming nearer and nearer. Dan and Beth-el in Ephraim were the two places where Jeroboam set up the idolatrous calves (
1Kgs 12:29); just retribution.
16 The neighboring foreign "nations" are summoned to witness Jehovah's judgments on His rebel people (
Jer 6:18-
Jer 6:19).
watchers--that is, besiegers (compare
2Sam 11:16); observed or watched, that is, besieged.
their voice--the war shout.
17 keepers of a field--metaphor from those who watch a field, to frighten away the wild beasts.
18 (
Jer 2:17,
Jer 2:19;
Ps 107:17).
this is thy wickedness--that is, the fruit of thy wickedness.
19 The prophet suddenly assumes the language of the Jewish state personified, lamenting its affliction (
Jer 10:19-
Jer 10:20;
Jer 9:1,
Jer 9:10;
Isa 15:5; compare
Luke 19:41).
at my very heart--Hebrew, "at the walls of my heart"; the muscles round the heart. There is a climax, the "bowels," the pericardium, the "heart" itself.
maketh . . . noise--moaneth [HENDERSON].
alarm--the battle shout.
20 Destruction . . . cried--Breach upon breach is announced (
Ps 42:7;
Ezek 7:26). The war "trumpet" . . . the battle shout . . . the "destructions" . . . the havoc throughout "the whole land" . . . the spoiling of the shepherds "tents" (
Jer 10:20; or, "tents" means cities, which should be overthrown as easily as tents [CALVIN]), form a gradation.
21 Judah in perplexity asks, How long is this state of things to continue?
22 Jehovah's reply; they cannot be otherwise than miserable, since they persevere in sin. The repetition of clauses gives greater force to the sentiment.
wise . . . evil . . . to do good . . . no knowledge--reversing the rule (
Rom 16:19) "wise unto . . . good, simple concerning evil."
23 Graphic picture of the utter desolation about to visit Palestine. "I beheld, and lo!" four times solemnly repeated, heightens the awful effect of the scene (compare
Isa 24:19;
Isa 34:11).
without form and void--reduced to the primeval chaos (
Gen 1:2).
24 mountains-- (
Isa 5:25).
moved lightly--shook vehemently.
25 no man . . . birds--No vestige of the human, or of the feathered creation, is to be seen (
Ezek 38:20;
Zeph 1:3).
26 fruitful place--Hebrew, Carmel.
a wilderness--Hebrew, "the wilderness," in contrast to "the fruitful place"; the great desert, where Carmel was, there is now the desert of Arabia [MAURER].
cities--in contrast to the fruitful place or field.
27 full end--utter destruction: I will leave some hope of restoration (
Jer 5:10,
Jer 5:18;
Jer 30:11;
Jer 46:28; compare
Lev 26:44).
28 For this--on account of the desolations just described (
Isa 5:30;
Hos 4:3).
not repent-- (
Num 23:19).
29 whole city--Jerusalem: to it the inhabitants of the country had fled for refuge; but when it, too, is likely to fall, they flee out of it to hide in the "thickets." HENDERSON translates, "every city."
noise--The mere noise of the hostile horsemen shall put you to flight.
30 when thou art spoiled--rather, "thou, O destroyed one" [MAURER].
rentest . . . face with painting--Oriental women paint their eyes with stibium, or antimony, to make them look full and sparkling, the black margin causing the white of the eyes to appear the brighter by contrast (
2Kgs 9:30). He uses the term "distendest" in derision of their effort to make their eyes look large [MAURER]; or else, "rentest," that is, dost lacerate by puncturing the eyelid in order to make the antimony adhere [ROSENMULLER]. So the Jews use every artifice to secure the aid of Egypt against Babylon.
face--rather, thy eyes (
Ezek 23:40).
31 anguish--namely, occasioned by the attack of the enemy.
daughter of Zion--There is peculiar beauty in suppressing the name of the person in trouble, until that trouble had been fully described [HENDERSON].
bewaileth herself--rather, "draweth her breath short" [HORSLEY]; "panteth."
spreadeth . . . hands-- (
Lam 1:17).
