Focused Passage

Jeremiah 4:1-4

Return with Circumcised Hearts Before Disaster Comes from the North

The chapter moves from conditional return and heart circumcision, to urgent alarm over invasion from the north, to Jeremiah's anguished response, to a creation-reversal vision of devastation, and finally to Jerusalem's helpless self-presentation before unavoidable judgment.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

1 “If you will return, O Israel, return to Me,” declares the LORD. “If you will remove your detestable idols from My sight and no longer waver,

2 and if you can swear, ‘As surely as the LORD lives,’ in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, then the nations will be blessed by Him, and in Him they will glory.”

3 For this is what the LORD says to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: “Break up your unplowed ground, and do not sow among the thorns.

4 Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and remove the foreskins of your hearts, O men of Judah and people of Jerusalem. Otherwise, My wrath will break out like fire and burn with no one to extinguish it, because of your evil deeds.”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Cross-references

Joel 2:12 Classic cross-references Zechariah 1:3 Classic cross-references Jeremiah 3:22 Classic cross-references Hosea 14:1 Classic cross-references Ezekiel 43:9 Classic cross-references

Original words

If אִם־ H518 Conjunction you will return תָּשׁ֨וּב H7725 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular O Israel יִשְׂרָאֵ֧ל׀ H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular return תָּשׁ֑וּב H7725 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular to Me אֵלַ֖י H413 Preposition | first person common singular declares נְאֻם־ H5002 Noun - masculine singular construct the LORD יְהוָ֛ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular If וְאִם־ H518 Conjunction you will remove תָּסִ֧יר H5493 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular your detestable idols שִׁקּוּצֶ֛יךָ H8251 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular from My sight מִפָּנַ֖י H6440 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular and no longer וְלֹ֥א H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle waver תָנֽוּד׃ H5110 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular

Verse 2

Cross-references

Jeremiah 12:16 Classic cross-references Exodus 20:7 Classic cross-references Isaiah 65:16 Classic cross-references Zechariah 8:8 Classic cross-references 1 Corinthians 1:31 Classic cross-references

Original words

and if you can swear וְנִשְׁבַּ֙עְתָּ֙ H7650 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular As surely as the LORD יְהוָ֔ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular lives חַי־ H2416 Noun - masculine singular in truth בֶּאֱמֶ֖ת H571 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular in justice בְּמִשְׁפָּ֣ט H4941 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular and in righteousness וּבִצְדָקָ֑ה H6666 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular then the nations גּוֹיִ֖ם H1471 Noun - masculine plural will be blessed וְהִתְבָּ֥רְכוּ H1288 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural by Him וּב֥וֹ Conjunctive waw | Preposition | third person masculine singular and in Him ב֛וֹ Preposition | third person masculine singular they will glory יִתְהַלָּֽלוּ׃ס H1984 Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine plural

Verse 3

Cross-references

Hosea 10:12 Classic cross-references 1 Samuel 7:3 Classic cross-references Luke 8:14 Classic cross-references Luke 8:7 Classic cross-references Galatians 6:7 Classic cross-references

Original words

For כִּי־ H3588 Conjunction this is what כֹ֣ה׀ H3541 Adverb the LORD יְהֹוָ֗ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular says אָמַ֣ר H559 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular to the men לְאִ֤ישׁ H376 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct of Judah יְהוּדָה֙ H3063 Noun - proper - masculine singular and Jerusalem וְלִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם H3389 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - proper - feminine singular Break up נִ֥ירוּ H5214 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural your לָכֶ֖ם Preposition | second person masculine plural unplowed ground נִ֑יר H5215 Noun - masculine singular and do not וְאַֽל־ H408 Conjunctive waw | Adverb sow תִּזְרְע֖וּ H2232 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural among אֶל־ H413 Preposition the thorns קוֹצִֽים׃ H6975 Noun - masculine plural

Verse 4

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 10:16 Classic cross-references Romans 2:29 Classic cross-references Acts 7:51 Classic cross-references Colossians 2:11 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 30:6 Classic cross-references

Original words

Circumcise yourselves הִמֹּ֣לוּ H4135 Verb - Nifal - Imperative - masculine plural to the LORD לַיהֹוָ֗ה H3068 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular and remove וְהָסִ֙רוּ֙ H5493 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural the foreskins עָרְל֣וֹת H6190 Noun - feminine plural construct of your hearts לְבַבְכֶ֔ם H3824 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine plural O men אִ֥ישׁ H376 Noun - masculine singular construct of Judah יְהוּדָ֖ה H3063 Noun - proper - masculine singular and people וְיֹשְׁבֵ֣י H3427 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct of Jerusalem יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם H3389 Noun - proper - feminine singular Otherwise פֶּן־ H6435 Conjunction My wrath חֲמָתִ֗י H2534 Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular will break out תֵּצֵ֨א H3318 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular like fire כָאֵ֜שׁ H784 Preposition-k, Article | Noun - common singular and burn וּבָעֲרָה֙ H1197 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular with no וְאֵ֣ין H369 Conjunctive waw | Adverb one to extinguish it מְכַבֶּ֔ה H3518 Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular because of מִפְּנֵ֖י H6440 Preposition-m | Noun - common plural construct your evil רֹ֥עַ H7455 Noun - masculine singular construct deeds מַעַלְלֵיכֶֽם׃ H4611 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural

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