Jeremiah 22:4 kjv
For if ye do this thing indeed, then shall there enter in by the gates of this house kings sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, he, and his servants, and his people.
Jeremiah 22:4 nkjv
For if you indeed do this thing, then shall enter the gates of this house, riding on horses and in chariots, accompanied by servants and people, kings who sit on the throne of David.
Jeremiah 22:4 niv
For if you are careful to carry out these commands, then kings who sit on David's throne will come through the gates of this palace, riding in chariots and on horses, accompanied by their officials and their people.
Jeremiah 22:4 esv
For if you will indeed obey this word, then there shall enter the gates of this house kings who sit on the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they and their servants and their people.
Jeremiah 22:4 nlt
If you obey me, there will always be a descendant of David sitting on the throne here in Jerusalem. The king will ride through the palace gates in chariots and on horses, with his parade of attendants and subjects.
Jeremiah 22 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 22:4 | "For if you will not heed these words, I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that this house shall become a desolation." | Direct consequence of disobedience |
| Psalm 11:5 | "The LORD tests the righteous, and the wicked, and the one who loves violence, his soul hates." | God's judgment on injustice |
| Psalm 89:14 | "Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you." | Qualities essential for Davidic rule |
| Isaiah 5:7 | "For the Lord of hosts has a day of vengeance against all their evil deeds, when he visits his own vine." | Judgment on unfaithfulness |
| Isaiah 10:1-2 | "Woe to those who make iniquitous decrees, and the writers who twist justice to keep the victim from the court, and to grind the poor in justice." | Condemnation of unjust leaders |
| Ezekiel 18:21-23 | "But if a wicked person turns from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does justice and righteousness, he shall surely live; he shall not die." | Promise of restoration for repentance |
| Ezekiel 43:7 | "It was my voice speaking to me from the house, and the man stood beside me." | God's presence and word in the temple |
| Micah 6:8 | "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" | Essential requirements for God's people |
| Matthew 7:24-27 | "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock." | The consequence of hearing and obeying Christ's words |
| Romans 2:6-8 | "who will render to each one according to his works... to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and indignation." | Judgment based on actions |
| Galatians 6:7 | "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap." | The principle of sowing and reaping |
| James 2:10-13 | "For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point becomes guilty of all of it." | Importance of consistent obedience |
| Revelation 18:1-3 | Describes the fall of Babylon as a consequence of its unrighteousness. | Judgment on corrupt systems |
| Jeremiah 17:11 | "Like a partridge that hatches eggs which it did not lay, so is he who gets riches by deceitful means." | Illegitimate gain brings no lasting benefit |
| 2 Samuel 7:11-16 | God's covenant with David regarding his house. | Promise of an enduring dynasty |
| Psalm 132:11-12 | God's oath to David regarding the fruit of his body. | Continuation of David's line promised |
| Amos 5:10-15 | Condemnation of those who oppress the righteous. | Call to hate evil and love good |
| Hosea 14:1-2 | Call for Israel to return to the LORD with repentance. | Promise of healing upon return |
| Luke 11:52 | "Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter, and you hindered those who were entering." | Rebuke for withholding true understanding |
| 1 Peter 4:17 | "For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?" | Judgment begins with God's people |
| Jeremiah 22:3 | "Thus says the LORD: Do justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed, and do no wrong, do not oppress the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow." | Preceding verse calls for justice |
| Jeremiah 22:5 | "but if you will not heed these words, I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that this house shall become a desolation." | Parallel statement emphasizing divine oath |
Jeremiah 22 verses
Jeremiah 22 4 Meaning
This verse is a divine pronouncement of judgment upon the house of David, specifically targeting their negligence of justice and righteousness. It declares that if they do not uphold these virtues, their palace will become a desolate ruin and a place of judgment for their wrongdoing, rather than a place of royal habitation and security. The consequence is the loss of their dominion and sovereignty.
Jeremiah 22 4 Context
Jeremiah 22 is a chapter where the prophet Jeremiah is sent to address the king of Judah and his officials, specifically focusing on the current king, Jehoiakim. The surrounding verses (especially verse 3) highlight the ongoing need for justice and righteousness within the kingdom. The people are suffering from oppression, and the leaders are not acting with integrity. This verse, therefore, is a direct continuation of the prophetic message of warning and impending judgment. Historically, Judah was facing external threats from powerful empires like Babylon, and their internal moral decay exacerbated their vulnerability. This message was delivered during a critical period when their actions would determine their fate.
Jeremiah 22 4 Word analysis
- “For”: This conjunction introduces the reason or basis for the preceding statement, linking the consequence of their actions to the requirement of obedience.
- “if”: A conditional particle, establishing the terms of the prophetic decree.
- “you”: Refers to the king of Judah and his household or the leadership of the nation.
- “will not heed”: Indicates a refusal to listen, pay attention to, or obey the words of the LORD. The Hebrew word used here can also imply a refusal to be persuaded or to take heed.
- “these words”: The specific pronouncements and commands of God given through the prophet Jeremiah.
- “I”: Emphatic personal pronoun, pointing to God as the speaker and the one initiating the oath.
- “swear”: The LORD invokes an oath, an act that demonstrates the absolute certainty and seriousness of His declaration.
- “by myself”: God swears by His own being and character, the highest possible form of affirmation, emphasizing the irrevocability of His promise/threat. This is a common way God emphasizes the certainty of His pronouncements in the Old Testament.
- “declares the LORD”: A standard prophetic formula, identifying the divine authority behind the message. (YHWH)
- “that”: Introduces the content of the oath or decree.
- “this house”: Refers specifically to the royal palace of the king of Judah, the seat of power and symbol of the Davidic dynasty.
- “shall become”: Indicates a future state of transformation.
- “a desolation”: Denotes a place utterly ruined, uninhabited, and void of its former glory and purpose. This signifies total destruction and abandonment. The Hebrew word (meshammah) implies astonishment at the devastation.
- “shall become”: Reinforces the certainty of this future state.
- “a desolation”: The repetition underscores the severity of the judgment.
- “this house”: Again referring to the royal dwelling, highlighting the direct consequence for the Davidic lineage and its seat of power.
Group analysis:
- "if you will not heed these words": This phrase establishes a clear condition based on receptivity and obedience to God's spoken will through Jeremiah.
- "I swear by myself": This is a profound divine affirmation, demonstrating the immutable nature of God's promise/judgment and the ultimate consequence of disobedience.
- "this house shall become a desolation": This is the pronouncement of judgment, the inevitable outcome for the royal palace and by extension, the monarchy itself, if the prior condition is not met.
Jeremiah 22 4 Bonus Section
The oath sworn "by myself" underscores God's faithfulness to His own character and justice. While God swore by Himself to Israel in promises, here He swears by Himself in judgment against a corrupt house of David, revealing the dual nature of His covenant faithfulness – it upholds justice both in blessing and in judgment. The concept of a "desolation" was also a sign of God's judgment in other instances in Israel's history, such as the desolation of the land during the Babylonian exile, demonstrating that the royal palace's fate would mirror the fate of the kingdom. The promise to David was conditional upon his descendants' obedience (2 Samuel 7:12-16; Psalm 132:12), and this verse details the consequences when that obedience fails.
Jeremiah 22 4 Commentary
This verse is a powerful illustration of divine retribution. God's promise of an everlasting dynasty through David was conditional upon righteousness and justice. When the kings of Judah, particularly in the time of Jeremiah, failed to uphold these foundational principles – engaging in injustice, oppression, and idolatry – they forfeited the blessings of the covenant. The declaration that the royal house would become "a desolation" is a stark reversal of God's intended purpose for the Davidic lineage as a beacon of justice. It signifies not just the destruction of a building, but the crumbling of authority, the end of sovereignty, and the failure to preserve the covenant lineage as it was promised to Abraham and David. This verse is a somber reminder that leadership, particularly leadership entrusted with God's people, is a sacred stewardship with grave accountability. Obedience to God's commands, especially concerning justice for the vulnerable, is paramount.