13 Behold, he shall come up H5927 as clouds, H6051 and his chariots H4818 shall be as a whirlwind: H5492 his horses H5483 are swifter H7043 than eagles. H5404 Woe H188 unto us! for we are spoiled. H7703
Whose arrows H2671 are sharp, H8150 and all their bows H7198 bent, H1869 their horses' H5483 hoofs H6541 shall be counted H2803 like flint, H6862 and their wheels H1534 like a whirlwind: H5492
The burden H4853 of Egypt. H4714 Behold, the LORD H3068 rideth H7392 upon a swift H7031 cloud, H5645 and shall come H935 into Egypt: H4714 and the idols H457 of Egypt H4714 shall be moved H5128 at his presence, H6440 and the heart H3824 of Egypt H4714 shall melt H4549 in the midst H7130 of it.
Our persecutors H7291 are swifter H7031 than the eagles H5404 of the heaven: H8064 they pursued H1814 us upon the mountains, H2022 they laid wait H693 for us in the wilderness. H4057
Their horses H5483 also are swifter H7043 than the leopards, H5246 and are more fierce H2300 than the evening H6153 wolves: H2061 and their horsemen H6571 shall spread H6335 themselves, and their horsemen H6571 shall come H935 from far; H7350 they shall fly H5774 as the eagle H5404 that hasteth H2363 to eat. H398
The LORD H3068 is slow H750 to anger, H639 and great H1419 in power, H3581 and will not at all H5352 acquit H5352 the wicked: the LORD H3068 hath his way H1870 in the whirlwind H5492 and in the storm, H8183 and the clouds H6051 are the dust H80 of his feet. H7272
They come H935 from a far H4801 country, H776 from the end H7097 of heaven, H8064 even the LORD, H3068 and the weapons H3627 of his indignation, H2195 to destroy H2254 the whole land. H776
For I have heard H8085 a voice H6963 as of a woman in travail, H2470 and the anguish H6869 as of her that bringeth forth her first child, H1069 the voice H6963 of the daughter H1323 of Zion, H6726 that bewaileth H3306 herself, that spreadeth H6566 her hands, H3709 saying, Woe H188 is me now! for my soul H5315 is wearied H5888 because of murderers. H2026
Woe H188 is me for my hurt! H7667 my wound H4347 is grievous: H2470 but I said, H559 Truly H389 this is a grief, H2483 and I must bear H5375 it.
The first H6933 was like a lion, H744 and had eagle's H5403 wings: H1611 I beheld H1934 H2370 till H5705 the wings H1611 thereof were plucked, H4804 and it was lifted up H5191 from H4481 the earth, H772 and made stand H6966 upon H5922 the feet H7271 as a man, H606 and a man's H606 heart H3825 was given H3052 to it.
The shield H4043 of his mighty men H1368 is made red, H119 the valiant H2428 men H582 are in scarlet: H8529 the chariots H7393 shall be with flaming H784 torches H6393 in the day H3117 of his preparation, H3559 and the fir trees H1265 shall be terribly shaken. H7477 The chariots H7393 shall rage H1984 in the streets, H2351 they shall justle one against another H8264 in the broad ways: H7339 they shall seem H4758 like torches, H3940 they shall run H7323 like the lightnings. H1300
And G2532 then G5119 shall appear G5316 the sign G4592 of the Son G5207 of man G444 in G1722 heaven: G3772 and G2532 then G5119 shall G2875 all G3956 the tribes G5443 of the earth G1093 mourn, G2875 and G2532 they shall see G3700 the Son G5207 of man G444 coming G2064 in G1909 the clouds G3507 of heaven G3772 with G3326 power G1411 and G2532 great G4183 glory. G1391
Behold, G2400 he cometh G2064 with G3326 clouds; G3507 and G2532 every G3956 eye G3788 shall see G3700 him, G846 and G2532 they also which G3748 pierced G1574 him: G846 and G2532 all G3956 kindreds G5443 of the earth G1093 shall wail G2875 because G1909 of him. G846 Even so, G3483 Amen. G281
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.