Jeremiah 26 4

Jeremiah 26:4 kjv

And thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD; If ye will not hearken to me, to walk in my law, which I have set before you,

Jeremiah 26:4 nkjv

And you shall say to them, 'Thus says the LORD: "If you will not listen to Me, to walk in My law which I have set before you,

Jeremiah 26:4 niv

Say to them, 'This is what the LORD says: If you do not listen to me and follow my law, which I have set before you,

Jeremiah 26:4 esv

You shall say to them, 'Thus says the LORD: If you will not listen to me, to walk in my law that I have set before you,

Jeremiah 26:4 nlt

"Say to them, 'This is what the LORD says: If you will not listen to me and obey my word I have given you,

Jeremiah 26 verses

Jeremiah 26 4 Meaning

This verse relays a divine command delivered by God through the prophet Jeremiah. It specifically addresses the building of the Temple in Jerusalem and declares its destruction. The core message is that if the people of Judah do not listen to God's word and turn from their wicked ways, the Temple, the very house of God’s name, will be treated like Shiloh, a place where the Ark of the Covenant was once housed and later destroyed or desecrated by the Philistines. This consequence signifies a profound judgment and a loss of God’s presence due to their persistent disobedience and sin.

Jeremiah 26 4 Context

Jeremiah 26 takes place during a tumultuous period in Judah’s history, specifically under the reigns of Jehoiakim and Zedekiah. This chapter marks a turning point in Jeremiah’s prophetic ministry, highlighting the intense opposition he faced. He was delivering a stern message of impending doom for Jerusalem and its Temple, directly linking this judgment to the people's ingrained disobedience and idolatry. The message in this verse, and particularly the reference to Shiloh, was a powerful warning, evoking the memory of a past disaster that befell a place once central to Israelite worship. Shiloh's fate served as a stark historical precedent for what could happen if Judah did not repent. The leaders and priests at the time were primarily concerned with preserving their national and religious prestige, embodied by the Temple, and could not accept Jeremiah's prophecies of its destruction, seeing them as a threat to their very existence. Jeremiah's trial and subsequent vindication by a minority, who pointed to Micah's similar prophecy, reveal the deep societal divisions and the challenge of communicating God's severe warnings.

Jeremiah 26 4 Word Analysis

• Thus (כֹּה - koh): An adverb meaning "thus," "so," "in this manner." It introduces the pronouncement of God, indicating the way or manner in which He will act.
• saith (נְאֻם - ne'um): This is a noun meaning "utterance," "declaration," or "oracle." When used with "the LORD," it signifies a solemn divine pronouncement, God speaking directly.
• the LORD (יְהוָה - YHWH): The personal, covenantal name of God. Its inclusion emphasizes the authority and divine origin of the message.
• your fathers (אֲבוֹתֵיכֶם - 'avoteykhem): Plural form of father, referring to the ancestors of the people addressed. It emphasizes the historical dimension of their actions and the covenantal relationship extending through generations.
• did (עָשִׂיתִי - 'ashiti): First-person singular, perfect tense of the verb "to do" or "to make." It refers to God's past actions.
• to Shiloh (לְשִׁילֹה - le'Shiloh): Shiloh was a significant religious center in early Israel, where the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant were located for a long period. God's action toward Shiloh implied its destruction or abandonment.
• as (כִּמְהִשְׁפַּטִי - kimshfati): As. The verb is derived from the root meaning "to judge," "to make right," or "to decree." Here, it connects God’s judgment on Shiloh with what He will do to the Temple.
• to this house (לַבַּיִת הַזֶּה - labayith hazzeh): "This house" specifically refers to the Temple in Jerusalem, built by Solomon and considered the dwelling place of God's name.
• upon which (אֲשֶׁר - 'asher): A relative pronoun meaning "which," "that," or "who." It connects the house to the people's reliance on it.
• my name (שְׁמִי - shmi): "My name" here represents God's presence, His honor, and His reputation residing within the Temple.
• is called (נִקְרָא - nikra): Passive, perfect tense of the verb "to call." It indicates that the Temple is named after God, signifying its sacred status.
• and (וְ - ve): Conjunction linking clauses or ideas.
• I (אָנֹכִי - anokhi): First-person pronoun, emphasizing God's personal involvement and authority in the declaration.
• will give (אֶתֵּן - 'etten): First-person singular, future tense of the verb "to give." It signifies a future action.
• you (לָכֶם - lakhem): Plural pronoun "you," addressing the people of Judah.
• and (וְ - ve): Conjunction.
• to your fathers (לַאֲבוֹתֵיכֶם - la'avoteykhem): Again, referring to their ancestors.
• as (כְּשִׁילֹה - k'Shiloh): "Like Shiloh." This comparison is central to the verse, equating the fate of the Jerusalem Temple to that of Shiloh.
• will I give (אֶתֵּן - 'etten): Repetition emphasizes the impending nature of the judgment.
• it (אוֹתוֹ - 'oto): Refers back to "this house" (the Temple).
• and (וְ - ve): Conjunction.
• ye (אַתֶּם - atem): Plural pronoun "you," for emphasis.
• shall cast (וְהִשְׁלַכְתִּי - ve'hishlakhti): First-person singular, perfect tense with vav conjunctive, of the verb "to throw," "to cast away." This denotes a forceful rejection.
• it (אוֹתוֹ - 'oto): Refers to the Temple.
• out of my sight (מִלִּפְנֵי - milifnei): From before; in front of. Signifies complete abandonment and removal from God's presence or favor.

Words Group Analysis:

• "Thus saith the LORD... as I did to Shiloh...": This phrasing establishes a pattern of divine judgment. God acts in historical patterns, and past consequences are indicators of future actions, especially when similar patterns of sin are repeated.
• "...unto this house, upon which my name is called...": This highlights the people's presumption. They trusted in the physical building and the fact that God’s name was associated with it, rather than in obedience and faithfulness. The sanctity of the place did not guarantee its preservation if the inhabitants failed their covenantal duties.
• "...and I will give it into the hand of your enemies...": This directly links the loss of the Temple and Jerusalem to conquest and subjugation by external forces, a devastating blow to national and religious identity.
• "...and cast it out of my sight, as I have cast out all your brethren, even the whole seed of Ephraim.": The "brethren" likely refers to the Northern Kingdom of Israel, which had already been destroyed and its people exiled. This comparison suggests that Judah faces a similar, complete rejection from God, which implies the severity of their sin and the completeness of the impending judgment. The inclusion of "the whole seed of Ephraim" amplifies the dread, as their existence was utterly wiped out from the land.

Jeremiah 26 4 Bonus Section

The phrase "upon which my name is called" signifies a unique covenantal relationship. While God is omnipresent, the Temple was designated as a place where His name and presence were specially manifest. The danger lay in assuming that the physical structure guaranteed divine protection irrespective of the people's conduct. This theological concept of God’s presence being tied to specific places, and the conditional nature of that presence based on human obedience, is a recurring theme throughout the Old Testament, from the Tabernacle to the Temple. The rejection of God’s prophets and their message of repentance, as seen with Jeremiah in this chapter, further illustrates that genuine worship involves not just outward forms but inward transformation and obedience. This principle is echoed in the New Testament, where Jesus states, "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him" (John 4:23). The emphasis shifts from a physical structure to the spiritual disposition of the worshipper.

Jeremiah 26 4 Commentary

Jeremiah 26:4 is a potent declaration of divine consequence tied to covenantal faithfulness. God unequivocally states that the sanctity of the Jerusalem Temple does not grant immunity from judgment. His "name" being called upon the house signified His presence, but their sin has desecrated that sacred connection. The reference to Shiloh, the site of the earlier Tabernacle and Ark that was later lost to the Philistines (1 Sam 4:10-11), serves as a dire historical parallel. This verse underscores that obedience is the true safeguard of God’s favor, not merely the physical location of worship or ritualistic adherence devoid of heart change. God’s threat is not a rejection of the Temple itself, but of the people’s persistent sin which renders the sanctuary impure and themselves unworthy of God’s dwelling. The mention of the "seed of Ephraim" (the Northern Kingdom) implies that this destruction is not unprecedented and serves as a warning that the southern kingdom could suffer an even greater catastrophe if they continue in their defiance. The ultimate outcome of not hearkening to God’s word and turning from sin is the forsaking and casting out, a loss of divine presence and protection.