Jeremiah 4 13

Jeremiah 4:13 kjv

Behold, he shall come up as clouds, and his chariots shall be as a whirlwind: his horses are swifter than eagles. Woe unto us! for we are spoiled.

Jeremiah 4:13 nkjv

"Behold, he shall come up like clouds, And his chariots like a whirlwind. His horses are swifter than eagles. Woe to us, for we are plundered!"

Jeremiah 4:13 niv

Look! He advances like the clouds, his chariots come like a whirlwind, his horses are swifter than eagles. Woe to us! We are ruined!

Jeremiah 4:13 esv

Behold, he comes up like clouds; his chariots like the whirlwind; his horses are swifter than eagles ? woe to us, for we are ruined!

Jeremiah 4:13 nlt

Our enemy rushes down on us like storm clouds!
His chariots are like whirlwinds.
His horses are swifter than eagles.
How terrible it will be, for we are doomed!

Jeremiah 4 verses

Jeremiah 4 13 Meaning

Jeremiah 4:13 portrays a stark vision of an invading army, specifically referring to the Babylonians, depicted with metaphors of natural, overwhelming force and terrifying speed. It describes them ascending swiftly like dense storm clouds and their chariots sweeping through like a destructive whirlwind, their horses outstripping the swiftest eagles. The verse concludes with Judah's horrified realization, expressing a lament of "Woe unto us!" as they grasp the inevitability of their utter ruin and plunder. It's a prophetic declaration of imminent, divinely orchestrated judgment and the people's despair in its face.

Jeremiah 4 13 Context

Jeremiah chapter 4, set against the backdrop of Judah's impending destruction by Babylon in the late 7th to early 6th century BCE, serves as a fervent appeal for repentance and a stark warning of inevitable judgment. Prior to verse 13, Jeremiah calls the people to return to the Lord and purify themselves (vv. 1-4), explicitly linking the potential for salvation with genuine change of heart. However, he then shifts to describing the catastrophic "disaster from the north" (vv. 5-8), painting vivid pictures of the invading army as God's instrument of wrath. The preceding verses (9-12) speak of a devastating judgment and the LORD's decision to "pronounce judgments against them." Jeremiah 4:13 vividly continues this portrayal of the enemy's terrifying advance, marking the swift and overwhelming nature of God's impending judgment on unrepentant Judah. It acts as the direct depiction of the terrifying speed and scale of the approaching force, which leads to the desperate lament of the people at the verse's end, a direct emotional response to the vivid prophetic warning. The historical context includes the geopolitical instability of the time, with Assyria declining and Babylon rising, ultimately threatening Judah's existence. The cultural context involved Judah's syncretistic worship, social injustice, and false prophets offering assurances of peace, which Jeremiah passionately opposed.

Jeremiah 4 13 Word analysis

• Behold (הִנֵּה - hinneh): This emphatic particle is used to draw immediate attention to the imminent and certain event described. It signals a revelation or an urgent pronouncement.
• he: Refers implicitly to the formidable enemy from the North, consistently identified by Jeremiah as Babylon/Chaldea. It acts as the subject of the destructive force.
• shall come up (יַעֲלֶה - ya'aleh): This verb signifies ascension or rising, painting a picture of the army appearing swiftly over the horizon, possibly overwhelming Judah from what seemed a lesser position or covering the land. It conveys speed and visibility.
• as clouds (כָּעָבִים - ka'avim): A powerful simile evoking images of vastness, speed, and darkness. Clouds, especially storm clouds, are vast, appear suddenly, move rapidly, and darken the sky, signifying an approaching, overwhelming force that obscures everything and portends trouble. In biblical contexts, clouds can also accompany divine manifestation or judgment.
• and his chariots (וּמַרְכְּבוֹתָיו - u'markevotayv): Chariots were ancient war machines, symbols of military might, speed, and an ability to swiftly traverse terrain and deliver devastating attacks. Their presence denotes serious military threat.
• as a whirlwind (כַּסּוּפָה - kasuphah): Another potent simile. A whirlwind (or storm/tempest) is a destructive, irresistible natural phenomenon, bringing chaos and ruin. It emphasizes the enemy's destructive power, its unstoppable nature, and the disorienting fear it instills. God's judgment is often depicted in terms of storms and whirlwinds.
• his horses (סוּסָיו - susav): Cavalry, essential for ancient warfare, symbolizing mobility and speed. They form an integral part of the terrifying invasion force.
• are swifter than eagles (קַלּוּ מִנְּשָׁרִים - kallu min-n'sharim): A vivid hyperbole emphasizing extreme, unparalleled speed. Eagles are renowned for their rapid flight and particularly their swift descent on prey, making them a powerful symbol for an enemy's unexpected and overwhelming swiftness.
• Woe unto us! (אוי לָנוּ - oy lanu): An exclamation of deep lament, distress, despair, and horror. It signifies the sudden, painful realization of utter doom and the dire consequences of unheeded warnings. It marks the shift from prophetic description to the people's anguished cry.
• for we are spoiled (כִּי שֻׁדָּדְנוּ - ki shuddadnu): "Spoiled" here means plundered, ravaged, or utterly destroyed. The Hebrew word implies devastation. The passive perfect tense suggests that the destruction is either already completed or is so certain and imminent that it's spoken of as if already accomplished, adding to the sense of fatalism and helplessness.

Jeremiah 4 13 Bonus section

The repeated motif of "the North" (Jer 1:14; 4:6; 6:1, 22; 10:22; 13:20; 25:9, etc.) in Jeremiah is more than geographical; it is a theological symbol of God's chosen instrument of judgment against His rebellious people. Historically, major threats to Judah often came from the north (Assyria, Babylon), turning this direction into an archetypal symbol of divine wrath in Jeremiah's prophecy. The overwhelming nature of the invasion, depicted in Jer 4:13, also serves as a polemic against the false prophets who promised peace (Jer 6:14; 8:11) and against the people's misguided confidence in the Temple's inviolability or foreign alliances. This verse vividly refutes any lingering notions of security, asserting the complete and terrifying effectiveness of God's decreed punishment. The shift from prophetic warning to the people's lament also marks a psychological turning point; while Jeremiah had warned countless times, here, the terror of what is described becomes palpable, evoking a raw human response of despair, anticipating the real-life suffering that will soon follow. The swiftness of the attack emphasizes the little time left for repentance or preparation, heightening the tragic element of the prophecy.

Jeremiah 4 13 Commentary

Jeremiah 4:13 offers a visceral, alarming picture of the impending Babylonian invasion as an act of divine judgment against Judah. The prophet utilizes intense natural imagery – swift clouds, destructive whirlwinds, and lightning-fast eagles – to underscore the overwhelming power, unexpected speed, and devastating totality of the enemy's advance. This is no ordinary military engagement; it is a force of nature, irresistible and all-consuming, portraying God's chosen instrument as a cataclysmic storm. The cumulative effect of these similes is to communicate not just military strength, but a divinely appointed, inescapable wrath that will sweep through Judah. The people's sudden cry of "Woe unto us! For we are spoiled" transitions the prophecy from descriptive warning to the agonizing reality of impending doom. This lament represents the ultimate, horrifying awakening to consequences after a long period of spiritual apathy and defiance. It’s a bitter realization that their destruction is not only imminent but already determined, reflecting the hopelessness that sets in when God’s warnings are finally understood too late.