8 For this gird H2296 you with sackcloth, H8242 lament H5594 and howl: H3213 for the fierce H2740 anger H639 of the LORD H3068 is not turned back H7725 from us.
O daughter H1323 of my people, H5971 gird H2296 thee with sackcloth, H8242 and wallow H6428 thyself in ashes: H665 make H6213 thee mourning, H60 as for an only son, H3173 most bitter H8563 lamentation: H4553 for the spoiler H7703 shall suddenly H6597 come H935 upon us.
Without me they shall H1115 bow down H3766 under the prisoners, H616 and they shall fall H5307 under the slain. H2026 For all this his anger H639 is not turned away, H7725 but his hand H3027 is stretched out still. H5186
Therefore is the anger H639 of the LORD H3068 kindled H2734 against his people, H5971 and he hath stretched forth H5186 his hand H3027 against them, and hath smitten H5221 them: and the hills H2022 did tremble, H7264 and their carcases H5038 were torn H5478 in the midst H7130 of the streets. H2351 For all this his anger H639 is not turned away, H7725 but his hand H3027 is stretched out H5186 still.
And I will turn H2015 your feasts H2282 into mourning, H60 and all your songs H7892 into lamentation; H7015 and I will bring up H5927 sackcloth H8242 upon all loins, H4975 and baldness H7144 upon every head; H7218 and I will make H7760 it as the mourning H60 of an only H3173 son, and the end H319 thereof as a bitter H4751 day. H3117
Therefore also now, saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 turn H7725 ye even to me with all your heart, H3824 and with fasting, H6685 and with weeping, H1065 and with mourning: H4553 And rend H7167 your heart, H3824 and not your garments, H899 and turn H7725 unto the LORD H3068 your God: H430 for he is gracious H2587 and merciful, H7349 slow H750 to anger, H639 and of great H7227 kindness, H2617 and repenteth H5162 him of the evil. H7451
And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Moses, H4872 Take H3947 all the heads H7218 of the people, H5971 and hang them up H3363 before H5048 the LORD H3068 against the sun, H8121 that the fierce H2740 anger H639 of the LORD H3068 may be turned away H7725 from Israel. H3478
He is gone up H5927 to Bajith, H1006 and to Dibon, H1769 the high places, H1116 to weep: H1065 Moab H4124 shall howl H3213 over Nebo, H5015 and over Medeba: H4311 on all their heads H7218 shall be baldness, H7144 and every beard H2206 cut off. H1438 In their streets H2351 they shall gird H2296 themselves with sackcloth: H8242 on the tops H1406 of their houses, and in their streets, H7339 every one shall howl, H3213 weeping H1065 abundantly. H3381
Therefore the Lord H136 shall have no joy H8055 in their young men, H970 neither shall have mercy H7355 on their fatherless H3490 and widows: H490 for every one is an hypocrite H2611 and an evildoer, H7489 and every mouth H6310 speaketh H1696 folly. H5039 For all this his anger H639 is not turned away, H7725 but his hand H3027 is stretched out still. H5186
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.