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 13 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Jeremiah 1:14"From the north disaster will be poured out on all who live in this land."Divine Judgment from North
Jeremiah 4:6"Raise the standard toward Zion! Flee for safety! Do not wait, for I am bringing disaster from the north, even terrible destruction."Warning of Northern Threat
Jeremiah 6:1"Flee for safety, O citizens of Benjamin! Sound the alarm in Tekoa! Raise a signal over Beth Beth-Hakkerem, for disaster looms from the north, and great destruction."Specificity of Northern Danger
Jeremiah 50:41"See, nations are coming from the north; a great nation and many kings will be stirred up from the far reaches of the earth."Nations from the North
Ezekiel 26:7"For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: From the north I will bring against Tyre Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of kings, with horses and chariots and riders, with a host of many peoples."Northern Invader
Isaiah 41:25"I have stirred up one from the north, and he has come; he has summoned from the rising sun one who faithfully calls on my name. He will trample princes as if they were mortar, as if he were a potter treading clay."Divine Instrument from North
Isaiah 47:1-3"Go down, sit in the dust, virgin daughter of Babylon...Your nakedness will be exposed and your shame made evident."Judgment on Babylon
Jeremiah 13:20"Look up and see those coming from the north. Where is the flock that was entrusted to you, your beautiful flock?"Lamentation and Loss
Joel 2:20"I will drive the northern army far from you, banishing it to a parched and desolate land, with its front going into the eastern sea and its rear into the western sea. And its stench will rise, and its odor will spread, for it has done great things."Divine Intervention
Nahum 1:3"The LORD is slow to anger but great in power; the LORD has his ways in whirlwind and storm, and clouds are the dust beneath his feet."Divine Power and Wrath
Nahum 2:10"Ransacked! Ruined! Desolate! Hearts melt, knees knock, bodies tremble, every face grows pale."Effects of Judgment
Zephaniah 1:7"Be silent before the Sovereign LORD, for the day of the LORD is near. The LORD has prepared a sacrifice; he has consecrated his guests."Day of the LORD
Revelation 16:12"The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the east."Kings from the East (parallel)
Isaiah 10:5-6"Woe to the Assyrian, the rod of my anger, in whose hand is the club of my fury! I will send him against a godless nation, and I will decree war against a people who incense me..."Assyria as Judgment
Jeremiah 2:15"Why have your ravagers succeeded? Why has everyone attacked you and spat on you?"Consequence of Disobedience
Hosea 1:5"I will give the Valley of Achor to Israel for an opening for hope, and the Valley of Achor will become a gateway of hope, as it was when you came out of Egypt."Echoes of Exodus/Hope
Amos 5:27"Therefore I will send you into exile beyond Damascus," says the LORD, whose name is the LORD Almighty."Exile Promise
Obadiah 1:15"The day of the LORD is near for all the nations. As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own heads."Retribution
Psalm 46:6"Nations rage, kingdoms totter; he raises his voice, the earth melts."Divine Power
Isaiah 8:8"...and it will sweep through Judah, flooding and passing on, ever reaching up to the neck..."Judah Under Threat

Jeremiah 4 verses

Jeremiah 4 13 Meaning

The verse depicts the approach of a powerful, destructive enemy army described as coming from the north. Their arrival is heralded by thunder and storm-like phenomena, signifying divine judgment. This onslaught will bring desolation and ruin upon Judah and Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 4 13 Context

Jeremiah 4 prophesies impending judgment on Judah for its apostasy. The chapter begins with a call to repentance and return to the LORD. Verse 13 marks the declaration of this judgment, specifically the invasion by a powerful enemy force emanating from the north. This invasion is not merely a political event but is presented as a divine response to Judah's unfaithfulness. The surrounding verses detail the devastation this army will wreak, highlighting the absolute nature of the coming destruction and its purpose as God’s judgment.

Jeremiah 4 13 Word Analysis

  • "Hear": An imperative verb (שִׁמְעוּ - shim‘u), demanding immediate attention and reception of the message.
  • "O": An interjection, indicating an address.
  • "you": Refers to the people of Judah, specifically inhabitants of Jerusalem and its surrounding areas.
  • "inhabitants of my earth": The phrase "my earth" (אַדְמָתִ֥י - admati) can be translated as "my land" or "my soil." It emphasizes God's ownership and rightful claim over the land of Israel, which His people had defiled.
  • "hear": Another imperative, reinforcing the urgency.
  • "what": Introduces the content of the message.
  • "I": Refers to God, the speaker.
  • "am bringing": Present participle indicating an action already in progress or an imminent certainty.
  • "against": Preposition indicating the direction or target of the action.
  • "you": Again, referring to the people of Judah.
  • "a new": Suggests a new and formidable force or a new level of intensity in judgment.
  • "thing": Refers to the impending judgment and the invading army.
  • "a plan": Implies deliberate purpose and divine counsel behind the judgment. The Hebrew word (מַחְשָׁבָה - machashavah) denotes thought, purpose, or counsel.
  • "is forming": Suggests careful and deliberate construction or execution.
  • "against": Again, the direction of the action.
  • "you": The recipients of the judgment.
  • "Come": An imperative verb, urging readiness for what is to come.
  • "take": A command to engage with or face the reality of the situation.
  • "counsel": Implies discussion or planning, yet in this context, it is God revealing His planned judgment.
  • "together": Suggests a unified presentation of this dire news.

Word Group Analysis:

  • "Hear, O you inhabitants of my earth": This opening emphasizes God's address directly to His people, asserting His sovereignty over the land they occupy. The repeated "hear" stresses the gravity of the message.
  • "I am bringing a new thing against you": "A new thing" (דָּבָר חָדָשׁ - davar chadash) signifies something unprecedented in its impact, signaling a major turning point in divine discipline. It contrasts with previous judgments or forms of punishment.
  • "a plan is forming against you": The idea of a "plan" (מַחְשָׁבָה - machashavah) coming from God emphasizes that this is not random destruction but a purposeful, albeit severe, act of divine governance. It highlights God's foreknowledge and active involvement.
  • "Come, take counsel together": This is a call for reflection and recognition of the inescapable nature of the impending judgment, perhaps even an invitation to see the futility of opposing God's decreed plan.

Jeremiah 4 13 Bonus Section

The northern invader is often interpreted historically as the Babylonian army, led by Nebuchadnezzar, which eventually conquered Jerusalem and exiled its people. However, the prophetic language also carries typological significance, potentially alluding to forces that will be gathered in the end times against God's people. The imagery of thunder and storm resonates with God’s manifestations of power and wrath throughout Scripture, such as during the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:16-18) or in His cosmic control over creation (Psalm 29). The "new thing" could be understood in light of Isaiah 43:19, where God promises to do a "new thing" of salvation, here the paradox is God doing a severe "new thing" of judgment. The enemies are God’s instruments for His judgment on sin.

Jeremiah 4 13 Commentary

This verse announces God’s imminent judgment upon Judah. The imagery is that of an overwhelming force advancing from the north, causing widespread destruction. The language suggests this is a unique and deliberate plan devised by God himself. The "new thing" indicates that this judgment will be more severe than previous afflictions. The call to "hear" and "take counsel" underscores the seriousness of the divine pronouncement, leaving no room for doubt or denial of the impending disaster. It serves as a stark warning against continued disobedience and a call to acknowledge God’s sovereign power over all nations and events.