11 At that time H6256 shall it be said H559 to this people H5971 and to Jerusalem, H3389 A dry H6703 wind H7307 of the high places H8205 in the wilderness H4057 toward H1870 the daughter H1323 of my people, H5971 not to fan, H2219 nor to cleanse, H1305
Though he be fruitful H6500 among his brethren, H251 an east wind H6921 shall come, H935 the wind H7307 of the LORD H3068 shall come up H5927 from the wilderness, H4057 and his spring H4726 shall become dry, H954 and his fountain H4599 shall be dried up: H2717 he shall spoil H8154 the treasure H214 of all pleasant H2532 vessels. H3627
Yea, behold, being planted, H8362 shall it prosper? H6743 shall it not utterly H3001 wither, H3001 when the east H6921 wind H7307 toucheth H5060 it? it shall wither H3001 in the furrows H6170 where it grew. H6780
Mine eyes H5869 do fail H3615 with tears, H1832 my bowels H4578 are troubled, H2560 my liver H3516 is poured H8210 upon the earth, H776 for the destruction H7667 of the daughter H1323 of my people; H5971 because the children H5768 and the sucklings H3243 swoon H5848 in the streets H7339 of the city. H7151
Whose G3739 fan G4425 is in G1722 his G846 hand, G5495 and G2532 he will throughly purge G1245 his G846 floor, G257 and G2532 will gather G4863 the wheat G4621 into G1519 his G846 garner; G596 but G1161 the chaff G892 he will burn G2618 with fire G4442 unquenchable. G762
But she was plucked up H5428 in fury, H2534 she was cast down H7993 to the ground, H776 and the east H6921 wind H7307 dried up H3001 her fruit: H6529 her strong H5797 rods H4294 were broken H6561 and withered; H3001 the fire H784 consumed H398 them.
Even the sea monsters H8577 draw out H2502 the breast, H7699 they give suck H3243 to their young ones: H1482 the daughter H1323 of my people H5971 is become cruel, H393 like the ostriches H3283 in the wilderness. H4057
Thus saith H559 the LORD; H3068 Behold, I will raise up H5782 against Babylon, H894 and against them that dwell H3427 in the midst H3820 of them that rise up H6965 against me, a destroying H7843 wind; H7307 And will send H7971 unto Babylon H894 fanners, H2114 that shall fan H2219 her, and shall empty H1238 her land: H776 for in the day H3117 of trouble H7451 they shall be against her round about. H5439
Behold, the whirlwind H5591 of the LORD H3068 goeth forth H3318 with fury, H2534 a continuing H1641 whirlwind: H5591 it shall fall with pain H2342 upon the head H7218 of the wicked. H7563 The fierce H2740 anger H639 of the LORD H3068 shall not return, H7725 until he have done H6213 it, and until he have performed H6965 the intents H4209 of his heart: H3820 in the latter H319 days H3117 ye shall consider H995 it.
Therefore thou shalt say H559 this word H1697 unto them; Let mine eyes H5869 run down H3381 with tears H1832 night H3915 and day, H3119 and let them not cease: H1820 for the virgin H1330 daughter H1323 of my people H5971 is broken H7665 with a great H1419 breach, H7667 with a very H3966 grievous H2470 blow. H4347
Behold the voice H6963 of the cry H7775 of the daughter H1323 of my people H5971 because of them that dwell in a far H4801 country: H776 Is not the LORD H3068 in Zion? H6726 is not her king H4428 in her? Why have they provoked me to anger H3707 with their graven images, H6456 and with strange H5236 vanities? H1892
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Jeremiah 4
Commentary on Jeremiah 4 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 4
It should seem that the first two verses of this chapter might better have been joined to the close of the foregoing chapter, for they are directed to Israel, the ten tribes, by way of reply to their compliance with God's call, directing and encouraging them to hold their resolution (v. 1, 2). The rest of the chapter concerns Judah and Jerusalem.
Jer 4:1-2
When God called to backsliding Israel to return (ch. 3:22) they immediately answered, Lord, we return; now God here takes notice of their answer, and, by way of reply to it,
Jer 4:3-4
The prophet here turns his speech, in God's name, to the men of the place where he lived. We have heard what words he proclaimed towards the north (ch. 3:12), for the comfort of those that were now in captivity and were humbled under the hand of God; let us now see what he says to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, who were now in prosperity, for their conviction and awakening. In these two verses he exhorts them to repentance and reformation, as the only way left them to prevent the desolating judgments that were ready to break in upon them. Observe,
Jer 4:5-18
God's usual method is to warn before he wounds. In these verses, accordingly, God gives notice to the Jews of the general desolation that would shortly be brought upon them by a foreign invasion. This must be declared and published in all the cities of Judah and streets of Jerusalem, that all might hear and fear, and by this loud alarm be either brought to repentance or left inexcusable. The prediction of this calamity is here given very largely, and in lively expressions, which one would think should have awakened and affected the most stupid. Observe,
Jer 4:19-31
The prophet is here in an agony, and cries out like one upon the rack of pain with some acute distemper, or as a woman in travail. The expressions are very pathetic and moving, enough to melt a heart of stone into compassion: My bowels! my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; and yet well, and in health himself, and nothing ails him. Note, A good man, in such a bad world as this is, cannot but be a man of sorrows. My heart makes a noise in me, through the tumult of my spirits, and I cannot hold my peace. Note, The grievance and the grief sometimes may be such that the most prudent patient man cannot forbear complaining.
Now, what is the matter? What is it that puts the good man into such agitation? It is not for himself, or any affliction in his family that he grieves thus; but it is purely upon the public account, it is his people's case that he lays to heart thus.