Jeremiah 11 4

Jeremiah 11:4 kjv

Which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so shall ye be my people, and I will be your God:

Jeremiah 11:4 nkjv

which I commanded your fathers in the day I brought them out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, 'Obey My voice, and do according to all that I command you; so shall you be My people, and I will be your God,'

Jeremiah 11:4 niv

the terms I commanded your ancestors when I brought them out of Egypt, out of the iron-smelting furnace.' I said, 'Obey me and do everything I command you, and you will be my people, and I will be your God.

Jeremiah 11:4 esv

that I commanded your fathers when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Listen to my voice, and do all that I command you. So shall you be my people, and I will be your God,

Jeremiah 11:4 nlt

For I said to your ancestors when I brought them out of the iron-smelting furnace of Egypt, "If you obey me and do whatever I command you, then you will be my people, and I will be your God."

Jeremiah 11 verses

Jeremiah 11 4 Meaning

Jeremiah 11:4 reiterates God’s foundational command to Israel, linking it directly to their miraculous liberation from Egyptian bondage. It emphasizes that the covenant, initiated at their deliverance from severe oppression, was conditional upon their complete obedience to God’s voice and His entire law. This verse serves as a reminder to the current generation in Judah of the ancient, unbroken demands of their relationship with God, underscoring that their covenant responsibilities were precisely the same as those given to their ancestors.

Jeremiah 11 4 Context

Jeremiah 11 introduces a prophetic message known as "the words of this covenant," delivered by Jeremiah at God's command. This verse is part of God’s initial address (11:1-5) through Jeremiah to the people of Judah and Jerusalem, explicitly recalling the covenant terms established with their ancestors following the Exodus. It highlights the fundamental agreement: God's deliverance (bringing them out of Egypt) was foundational to His expectation of their obedience to His voice and commandments. This context places the current generation under the same covenant responsibilities and consequent blessings or curses that were articulated in the Law, particularly echoing the Deuteronomic covenant. Historically, this message was likely delivered during the reign of King Josiah, a period marked by national reforms initiated after the discovery of the Book of the Law. However, for many, the repentance was superficial, lacking true heart commitment. Jeremiah’s words here serve as a sharp reminder that genuine covenant fidelity, not merely outward compliance, was (and still is) required by God, warning of the consequences of continued unfaithfulness evident among their ancestors and still prevalent in their day.

Jeremiah 11 4 Word analysis

• which I commanded (צויתי - tzivíti): From the verb צוה (tsavah), meaning "to command" or "to appoint." This emphasizes the divine origin and authoritative nature of the instruction, framing it as an eternal, binding decree from the sovereign God. It's not a suggestion but a requirement for the covenant relationship.
• your fathers: Refers to the previous generations of Israel who directly experienced the Exodus and received the Law at Sinai. It signifies the ancestral legacy and the continuous, unbroken nature of God’s covenant expectations across generations, holding the current generation accountable to the same terms.
• in the day that I brought them forth (בהוציאי אותם - b’hotzi'í otam): From יצא (yatsa), "to bring out" or "to go forth." This highlights the moment of national liberation and salvation, establishing God's unparalleled act of grace and power as the basis for His covenant demands. It underscores the profound obligation resulting from such a mighty deliverance.
• out of the land of Egypt: The place of their bondage and suffering. Mentioning Egypt specifically serves as a constant reminder of their past oppression from which God dramatically rescued them. It sets a clear historical starting point for their covenant relationship with God.
• from the iron furnace (מכור הברזל - mikur habbarzel): A powerful metaphor for the intense and harsh oppression endured by the Israelites in Egypt. This imagery, also found in Deut 4:20, depicts Egypt not just as a place of slavery but as a "furnace" or "smelting pot," where materials (like iron ore) are subjected to extreme heat to be purified or refined, or simply as a place of extreme suffering and hardship. It underscores the depth of their suffering and the greatness of God's salvation.
• saying: Introduces a direct quote of God's specific instructions. It indicates the precise words spoken by God, underscoring the clarity and directness of His communication to His people regarding His will.
• Obey my voice (שמעו בקולי - shim'u v'kolí): Literally, "hear in my voice" or "listen to my voice." This is more than just hearing; it implies active, responsive listening that leads to action and adherence. It signifies a profound relationship where Israel heeds and acts upon God's verbal directives, prioritizing His will.
• and do them: Refers to performing or observing the commandments. It clarifies that obedience is not merely an internal thought or passive hearing, but an active, practical compliance with God's statutes. It demands concrete action stemming from the heart’s response to God’s voice.
• according to all which I command you: Emphasizes the comprehensiveness and totality of the covenant's demands. There is no partial obedience, no picking and choosing of commands. God requires complete and undivided faithfulness to the entirety of His revealed will.

Word-group analysis

• which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt: This phrase ties God's commandment directly to His historical act of salvation. It grounds Israel's obligations in God's prior gracious redemption, emphasizing that the Law was given after liberation, not as a means to earn it. The deliverance forms the ethical imperative for obedience.
• from the iron furnace: This vivid imagery amplifies the harshness of their past enslavement, intensifying the sense of obligation Israel owed to their deliverer. It serves as a reminder of the ultimate alternative to God's care—returning to, or facing an equivalent of, such oppressive conditions.
• saying, Obey my voice, and do them: This is the core instruction, articulating the central requirement for maintaining the covenant relationship. It outlines the pathway to blessing and fellowship: hearing God's will and then actively fulfilling it.
• according to all which I command you: This emphasizes the absolute and non-negotiable scope of divine expectation. It warns against selective adherence or attempts to compromise with God's perfect standards, demanding wholehearted, comprehensive allegiance.

Jeremiah 11 4 Bonus section

• The emphasis on "covenant" throughout Jeremiah 11 highlights the Deuteronomic theological framework prevalent in the prophet’s message. Jeremiah, a prophet in the lineage of Moses and deeply influenced by the Law, continually reminds Israel that their current predicament stems from generations of covenant breaking.
• This verse encapsulates a crucial theological principle: God’s grace always precedes His demand for obedience. He saved Israel first, then gave them the Law as a guide for how to live in relationship with Him, not as a condition for earning salvation. However, this grace establishes the responsibility for a responsive obedience.
• The covenant relationship is depicted as personal ("my voice," "I command you") requiring an active, intentional engagement with the divine will, not just intellectual assent.

Jeremiah 11 4 Commentary

Jeremiah 11:4 concisely reiterates the unchanging condition of Israel's covenant with God: obedience. God's mighty act of delivering them from the brutal "iron furnace" of Egypt was the gracious foundation upon which the covenant was built. The covenant was always conditional, requiring Israel to "obey My voice, and do them." This wasn't merely a historical note for their ancestors but a direct and continuous demand on every generation, including Jeremiah's contemporary audience. The call for obedience encompassed all that God commanded, emphasizing a comprehensive and heartfelt commitment, rather than partial or superficial adherence. The failure of "your fathers" to fully embrace this mandate, and the continued unfaithfulness of the current generation, form the tragic backdrop for God's coming judgment if true repentance is not embraced.