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,

2and 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.”

3For 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.

4Circumcise 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 2:12Classic cross-references Zechariah 1:3Classic cross-references Jeremiah 3:22Classic cross-references Hosea 14:1Classic cross-references Ezekiel 43:9Classic cross-references

Original words

Ifאִם־H518Conjunctionyou will returnתָּשׁ֨וּבH7725Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularO Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֧ל׀H3478Noun - proper - masculine singularreturnתָּשׁ֑וּבH7725Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularto Meאֵלַ֖יH413Preposition | first person common singulardeclaresנְאֻם־H5002Noun - masculine singular constructthe LORDיְהוָ֛הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularIfוְאִם־H518Conjunctionyou will removeתָּסִ֧ירH5493Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singularyour detestable idolsשִׁקּוּצֶ֛יךָH8251Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singularfrom My sightמִפָּנַ֖יH6440Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singularand no longerוְלֹ֥אH3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particlewaverתָנֽוּד׃H5110Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular

Verse 2

Cross-references

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

Original words

and if you can swearוְנִשְׁבַּ֙עְתָּ֙H7650Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singularAs surely as the LORDיְהוָ֔הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularlivesחַי־H2416Noun - masculine singularin truthבֶּאֱמֶ֖תH571Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singularin justiceבְּמִשְׁפָּ֣טH4941Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singularand in righteousnessוּבִצְדָקָ֑הH6666Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singularthen the nationsגּוֹיִ֖םH1471Noun - masculine pluralwill be blessedוְהִתְבָּ֥רְכוּH1288Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Conjunctive perfect - third person common pluralby Himוּב֥וֹConjunctive waw | Preposition | third person masculine singularand in Himב֛וֹPreposition | third person masculine singularthey will gloryיִתְהַלָּֽלוּ׃סH1984Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine plural

Verse 3

Cross-references

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

Original words

Forכִּי־H3588Conjunctionthis is whatכֹ֣ה׀H3541Adverbthe LORDיְהֹוָ֗הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularsaysאָמַ֣רH559Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularto the menלְאִ֤ישׁH376Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular constructof Judahיְהוּדָה֙H3063Noun - proper - masculine singularand Jerusalemוְלִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔םH3389Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - proper - feminine singularBreak upנִ֥ירוּH5214Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluralyourלָכֶ֖םPreposition | second person masculine pluralunplowed groundנִ֑ירH5215Noun - masculine singularand do notוְאַֽל־H408Conjunctive waw | Adverbsowתִּזְרְע֖וּH2232Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralamongאֶל־H413Prepositionthe thornsקוֹצִֽים׃H6975Noun - masculine plural

Verse 4

Cross-references

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

Original words

Circumcise yourselvesהִמֹּ֣לוּH4135Verb - Nifal - Imperative - masculine pluralto the LORDלַיהֹוָ֗הH3068Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singularand removeוְהָסִ֙רוּ֙H5493Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine pluralthe foreskinsעָרְל֣וֹתH6190Noun - feminine plural constructof your heartsלְבַבְכֶ֔םH3824Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine pluralO menאִ֥ישׁH376Noun - masculine singular constructof Judahיְהוּדָ֖הH3063Noun - proper - masculine singularand peopleוְיֹשְׁבֵ֣יH3427Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural constructof Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִָ֑םH3389Noun - proper - feminine singularOtherwiseפֶּן־H6435ConjunctionMy wrathחֲמָתִ֗יH2534Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singularwill break outתֵּצֵ֨אH3318Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singularlike fireכָאֵ֜שׁH784Preposition-k, Article | Noun - common singularand burnוּבָעֲרָה֙H1197Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singularwith noוְאֵ֣יןH369Conjunctive waw | Adverbone to extinguish itמְכַבֶּ֔הH3518Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singularbecause ofמִפְּנֵ֖יH6440Preposition-m | Noun - common plural constructyour evilרֹ֥עַH7455Noun - masculine singular constructdeedsמַעַלְלֵיכֶֽם׃H4611Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural

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