Jeremiah 4:1 kjv
If thou wilt return, O Israel, saith the LORD, return unto me: and if thou wilt put away thine abominations out of my sight, then shalt thou not remove.
Jeremiah 4:1 nkjv
"If you will return, O Israel," says the LORD, "Return to Me; And if you will put away your abominations out of My sight, Then you shall not be moved.
Jeremiah 4:1 niv
"If you, Israel, will return, then return to me," declares the LORD. "If you put your detestable idols out of my sight and no longer go astray,
Jeremiah 4:1 esv
"If you return, O Israel, declares the LORD, to me you should return. If you remove your detestable things from my presence, and do not waver,
Jeremiah 4:1 nlt
"O Israel," says the LORD,
"if you wanted to return to me, you could.
You could throw away your detestable idols
and stray away no more.
Jeremiah 4 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 4:2 | If you will return, O Israel, saith the LORD, return unto me... | OT - Call to Repentance |
| Jeremiah 7:3 | And say, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. | OT - Covenant Requirements |
| Jeremiah 17:13 | O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the fountain of living waters the LORD. | OT - God as Source |
| Jeremiah 21:12 | Say toward the house of Judah, Thus saith the LORD; Execute ye judgment in the morning, and deliver him that is spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor: lest my fury go out like fire and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings. | OT - Imminent Judgment |
| Hosea 14:2 | Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips. | OT - Confession & Worship |
| Joel 2:13 | And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. | OT - True Repentance |
| Isaiah 5:3-7 | ...the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel... | OT - God's Love & Disappointment |
| Matthew 3:8 | Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance... | NT - Fruit of Repentance |
| Luke 3:8 | Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance... | NT - Fruit of Repentance |
| Acts 3:19 | Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out... | NT - Call to Repentance |
| Romans 2:5 | But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; | NT - Rejection of Repentance |
| 2 Peter 3:9 | The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. | NT - God's Patience |
| Revelation 6:16-17 | And say to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? | NT - God's Wrath |
| Revelation 14:7 | Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come... | NT - Hour of Judgment |
| Isaiah 30:27-33 | Behold, the name of the LORD cometh from far, burning with his anger, and the glorious burthen thereof is weighty: his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue as a devouring fire... | OT - God's Anger Detailed |
| Jeremiah 2:13 | For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. | OT - Forsaking God |
| Psalm 7:11 | God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day. | OT - God's Righteous Judgment |
| Jeremiah 6:12-15 | For their voice is heard by our soul. My holy mountain is also like valleys; because it is wasted by the enemy. I looked also upon the earth, and, behold, the earth was vain and empty; and to the heavens, and they had no light. I looked upon the mountains, and, behold, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly. I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled. I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, and by his fierce anger. | OT - Destruction Foretold |
| Isaiah 10:17 | And the light of Israel shall be a fire, and his Holy One a flame: and he shall burn and devour his forests and his fields with a single day. | OT - God's Judgment as Fire |
| Matthew 10:28 | And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. | NT - Fear God Alone |
Jeremiah 4 verses
Jeremiah 4 1 Meaning
The prophet Jeremiah is called to proclaim God's message of impending judgment upon Judah and Jerusalem, urging them to repent and turn back to God by cleansing their hearts and lives. If they do not, the fierce anger of the Lord will be unleashed upon them like a consuming fire, consuming them utterly.
Jeremiah 4 1 Context
Jeremiah 4:1 marks the beginning of a new section in the book of Jeremiah where the prophet receives a fresh prophetic commission. This chapter, and the following verses, powerfully illustrate the dire consequences of Judah's persistent unfaithfulness and idolatry. The preceding chapters detail Jeremiah's call, his initial prophecies, and the people's rejection of his message. By chapter 4, the spiritual and moral corruption within Judah is deep-seated. The call to return signifies that despite the gravity of their sin, there remains a divine invitation to repentance, emphasizing that the impending destruction is not a sign of God's abandonment but a response to their covenant breaking. This verse specifically introduces the call for outward and inward purification, directly linked to avoiding the catastrophic judgment described. The historical context is one of increasing national instability, with the looming threat of Babylonian conquest, a reality that Jeremiah's prophecies directly address.
Jeremiah 4 1 Word Analysis
“Return” (Hebrew: shūv) - This fundamental Hebrew word carries a rich meaning of turning back, returning, or repenting. It’s not merely a physical movement but a fundamental redirection of one's allegiance and heart. This word is used extensively in the Old Testament to call Israel to turn away from their sins and return to God and His covenant (e.g., Deut 4:30; Jer 3:22). It encapsulates the essence of repentance – a change of mind, heart, and action, a turning from something and a turning to God.
“O Israel” (Hebrew: yisra’el) - This term refers to the covenant people of God. In prophetic literature, it can sometimes encompass both the Northern and Southern Kingdoms, or more specifically, the descendants of Jacob. In this context, it addresses the entire nation, underscoring their identity as God’s chosen people who have strayed.
“saith the LORD” (Hebrew: ně’um-Yahweh) - This is a classic prophetic formula, affirming that the words that follow are directly from God, delivered through the prophet Jeremiah. It lends divine authority and weight to the message. Yahweh is the personal covenant name of God, emphasizing His relational aspect with Israel.
“ye” (Hebrew: ’attem) - Plural pronoun, directly addressing the entire nation of Judah.
“return” (Hebrew: shūb) - Repetition of the call to return, emphasizing its critical importance. The inclusion of the singular form (’attem translated as "ye") combined with the singular command verb shūb in its imperative form stresses the individual responsibility of each person within the nation to repent, even while addressing them collectively.
“unto me” (Hebrew: ’elai) - This signifies turning back to God, not to some other deity or way of life, but specifically to the covenant Lord. It points to the restored relationship that is possible through repentance.
“and put away” (Hebrew: wehan·chĕlî) - The verb here is nachal, which can mean to loathe, to abhor, to detest. This conveys a strong, decisive rejection of something detestable.
“thine abominations” (Hebrew: tô‘ēbōṯēḵa) - This plural noun refers to things that are detestable, repulsive, and especially abhorrent to God. In the Old Testament context, it frequently describes idolatrous practices, pagan worship, and anything that violated the covenant (e.g., Deut 7:25-26; Jer 4:4; 7:30). This specifically points to their widespread idolatry.
“from between thine eyes” (Hebrew: běnē qəraqāwēḵā) - This is a vivid idiom. It literally refers to the eyes, suggesting that the abominations have become so ingrained, so much a part of their perspective and way of seeing, that they are "before their very eyes" or "in their gaze." It signifies that their wicked practices have become habitual and obvious, yet they continue. It also evokes the phylacteries (tefillin) worn by Jews in later times on their forehead, but the idiom predates this practice and speaks more generally to where their attention and affections are fixed. Their eyes are fixed on what God abhors.
Jeremiah 4 1 Bonus Section
The imagery of "abominations" includes not only the worship of idols but also the societal injustices and corruptions that stemmed from a lack of fear of God. This verse echoes the overarching theme in the prophetic books: the inseparable link between true worship and righteous living. The call to "return" is also a testament to God's enduring faithfulness to His covenant, even when His people fail. The repetitive use of "return" signifies a plea that cannot be ignored and a critical opportunity before the full outpouring of judgment described in the subsequent verses. It underlines that God's judgment is not arbitrary but a just consequence for the persistent rejection of His grace and covenant stipulations.
Jeremiah 4 1 Commentary
Jeremiah 4:1 is a pivotal verse that sets the tone for a message of judgment following an immediate, urgent call to repentance. The imperative "Return" (Hebrew: shūv) is central. It is a plea from a God who desires restoration rather than destruction, but it demands a genuine turning from what is abominable in His sight. The prophet emphasizes that this turning must be decisive, indicated by the phrase "put away thine abominations." These abominations were not minor indiscretions but the deep-seated idolatry and corrupt practices that characterized Judah's spiritual and moral decline. Their eyes being fixed on these detestable things implies an utter lack of recognition or conviction regarding their sinfulness. God, in His love, calls them back from this destructive path, promising cleansing and hope, but the condition is a complete rejection of their sinful ways and a return to Him, the fountain of living water. The consequences of continued defiance are severe, depicted by the impending wrath.