Jeremiah 4 1

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 verses

Jeremiah 4 1 Meaning

Jeremiah 4:1 presents a direct and conditional plea from God to His people, Israel (referring to Judah at this time). God offers a path to avert impending judgment: if they genuinely turn back to Him in complete spiritual repentance, forsaking all their idols and detestable practices, then they will not face the consequence of being uprooted or exiled from their land. This verse highlights divine mercy and a final opportunity for reconciliation, conditioned on profound moral and spiritual reform.

Jeremiah 4 1 Context

Jeremiah 4:1 opens a significant section of Jeremiah's prophecy that explicitly warns Judah of the impending Babylonian invasion and offers a final, urgent call to repentance. This chapter follows chapters 1-3, where God tirelessly pleads with His people, reminding them of their covenant, lamenting their widespread apostasy (often worse than that of unfaithful Israel, the Northern Kingdom), and repeatedly inviting them to return. Jeremiah had already declared God's judgment against Judah. This verse, therefore, represents a desperate divine pause before the ultimate downfall, an articulation of the possibility of averting calamity if the conditions of true repentance are met. Historically, Jeremiah prophesied during a period when Judah was deeply entrenched in idolatry, despite some efforts at reform by King Josiah. The rising power of Babylon loomed, and the threat of exile was becoming very real, giving profound weight to God's conditional offer.

Jeremiah 4 1 Word analysis

• If (אם - ’im): This conjunction introduces a clear conditional statement, signaling that the divine promise is contingent upon the people's response. It implies both choice and responsibility on the part of Israel.

• thou wilt return (תָּשׁוּב - tashuv): Derived from the verb shuv (שׁוּב), meaning to turn, turn back, or repent. In this spiritual context, it signifies a complete reversal of direction, a profound turning away from sin and disloyalty, and a turning back to God. It requires a change of heart, mind, and action.

• O Israel (יִשְׂרָאֵל - Yisra'el): While historically referring to the northern kingdom, Jeremiah frequently addresses Judah as "Israel." This choice connects Judah to the broader covenant heritage of the entire nation, reminding them of their unique identity and calling as God's chosen people, while simultaneously encompassing the entire fragmented nation.

• saith the LORD (נְאֻם יְהוָה - ne’um YHWH): This is a standard prophetic formula emphasizing the divine origin and authority of the message. YHWH (יהוה) is the covenant name of God, highlighting His personal relationship and steadfast character despite Israel's infidelity.

• return unto me (אֵלַי תָּשׁוּב - ’elay tashuv): The repetition of "return" (שׁוּב) coupled with the emphatic "unto me" (אֵלַי) stresses that the repentance must be personally directed towards God. It is not just ceasing bad behavior but restoring the broken relationship and allegiance to the Creator.

• and if thou wilt put away (וְאִם-תָּסִיר - və'im tasir): The verb sur (סוּר) means to remove, take away, or turn aside. This condition demands concrete, observable action, linking inner spiritual change to outward practical obedience. It's the tangible evidence of true repentance.

• thine abominations (שִׁקּוּצַיִךְ - shiqquwtsayikh): From shiqquwts (שִׁקּוּץ), meaning detestable things or abominable idols. This strong, derogatory term highlights the moral revulsion and pollution associated with the idolatrous practices that had infiltrated Judah, signifying how offensive they were to a holy God.

• out of my sight (מִפָּנַי - mippānay): Literally, "from My face" or "from before My presence." This emphasizes God's holy gaze and His intolerance for such defilement within His covenant people and His land. It means an absolute and complete removal from all areas of life influenced by His presence.

• then shalt thou not remove (וְלֹא תִנָּדֵד - vəlo' tinnaded): The verb nadad (נָדַד) means to wander, flee, be driven away, or be uprooted. The negative "not" (lō’) promises security and stability, directly counteracting the looming threat of forced exile and dispersion among foreign nations.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "If thou wilt return, O Israel... return unto me": This initial phrase encapsulates the core demand of the verse: a call for deep, spiritual repentance directed specifically and wholeheartedly towards the covenant God, Yahweh. The doubling of the verb "return" underlines its critical importance and desired completeness.
  • "and if thou wilt put away thine abominations out of my sight": This part specifies the essential tangible action required as proof of genuine return. It's not enough to feel regret; the active, uncompromising removal of idols and all detestable practices that pollute God's presence is mandated, revealing God's absolute demand for exclusive worship.
  • "then shalt thou not remove": This final clause articulates the conditional promise and consequence of obedience. It offers the direct reversal of the threatened judgment of exile and national uprooting, providing a powerful motivation for the people to respond to God's urgent appeal.

Jeremiah 4 1 Bonus section

This verse embodies the essence of "repentance" in the Old Testament: it's not merely regret but a transformative reorientation of life's direction, demonstrated by action. Jeremiah’s use of "Israel" here for Judah highlights the shared covenant legacy and shared tendency to apostasy, echoing historical patterns. The severity of "abominations out of my sight" emphasizes God's holy standard and intolerance for syncretism, a continuous theme throughout biblical history from the Exodus to the warnings against idol worship in the New Testament. The conditional promise implies that God’s covenant promises, while ultimately firm for Israel (Rom 11:29), have immediate practical consequences based on their faithfulness. This tension between conditional immediate blessings and unconditional ultimate promises is a hallmark of the prophets.

Jeremiah 4 1 Commentary

Jeremiah 4:1 serves as God's compassionate, yet urgent, last call for Judah to avert the catastrophe of exile. The verse succinctly presents the two non-negotiable requirements for divine favor: a radical internal repentance—a complete 'turning back' (שוב - shuv) to the LORD Himself, restoring the broken covenant relationship—and a decisive external act—the unequivocal removal of all pagan idols and detestable practices (שקוץ - shiqquwts) from His holy sight. God will not tolerate divided loyalty. The promised reward, "then shalt thou not remove," is a direct counter to the impending judgment of being scattered and uprooted from their homeland. It reveals that God’s justice is always mingled with mercy, offering an eleventh-hour escape route provided by true spiritual transformation and uncompromising monotheism. The profound significance lies in God’s persistent yearning for a genuine, exclusive relationship with His people, even on the precipice of their national destruction.