Jeremiah 4 16

Jeremiah 4:16 kjv

Make ye mention to the nations; behold, publish against Jerusalem, that watchers come from a far country, and give out their voice against the cities of Judah.

Jeremiah 4:16 nkjv

"Make mention to the nations, Yes, proclaim against Jerusalem, That watchers come from a far country And raise their voice against the cities of Judah.

Jeremiah 4:16 niv

"Tell this to the nations, proclaim concerning Jerusalem: 'A besieging army is coming from a distant land, raising a war cry against the cities of Judah.

Jeremiah 4:16 esv

Warn the nations that he is coming; announce to Jerusalem, "Besiegers come from a distant land; they shout against the cities of Judah.

Jeremiah 4:16 nlt

"Warn the surrounding nations
and announce this to Jerusalem:
The enemy is coming from a distant land,
raising a battle cry against the towns of Judah.

Jeremiah 4 verses

Jeremiah 4 16 Meaning

Jeremiah 4:16 conveys a divine command to proclaim an impending invasion and siege of Judah. It announces that foreign adversaries are rapidly approaching from a distant land, poised to declare war and launch an assault against the fortified cities of Judah. This message serves as a stark warning of the inevitable judgment brought by God upon His unfaithful people.

Jeremiah 4 16 Context

Jeremiah 4:16 appears within Jeremiah's early prophecies (chapters 1-6), a period marked by fervent calls to repentance addressed to Judah. The preceding verses in chapter 4 outline the Lord's invitation to return and warn of dire consequences if they refuse. Verses 5-15 specifically speak of an enemy coming "from the north" to ravage the land. This particular verse, 4:16, functions as a direct divine instruction for the news of this imminent disaster to be broadcast not just within Judah, but to "the nations." This amplifies the gravity of the situation, indicating that Judah's judgment will serve as a spectacle and a lesson to the world. Historically, this enemy is widely understood to be the Babylonians (Chaldeans), although early stages might have also involved anxieties about the Scythians. The message counters the false sense of security preached by false prophets (Jer 6:14) and highlights Judah's persistent idolatry and covenant breaking as the direct cause for this coming calamity.

Jeremiah 4 16 Word analysis

• "Tell" (הַגִּידוּ, haggidu):

  • Meaning: An imperative, meaning "declare," "proclaim," "announce." It carries a sense of urgency and authoritative command.
  • Significance: God is not just observing; He is commanding the message to be loudly and widely broadcast. This is a deliberate, public pronouncement.

• "the nations" (לַגּוֹיִם, laggoyim):

  • Meaning: Plural form of "nation," often referring to non-Israelite peoples, sometimes with a connotation of gentiles or pagan peoples.
  • Significance: The message of Judah's impending doom is not to be confined; it's a global announcement, possibly for the surrounding nations to bear witness to God's justice or for the invaders to receive their commission. This elevates the local crisis to an international testimony of divine action.

• "Behold" (הִנֵּה, hinneh):

  • Meaning: An interjection calling for immediate attention, meaning "look!", "indeed," or "truly."
  • Significance: It emphasizes the certainty, suddenness, and proximity of the event, signaling an imminent, observable reality.

• "adversaries" (נֹצְרִים, notzrim):

  • Meaning: A present participle from the verb "to watch," "guard," "preserve," but in this context, "to besiege" or "blockade." It means "watchers" or "besiegers."
  • Significance: This isn't just an invading army passing through; it specifically describes an army that will lay siege to the cities, indicating sustained attack, encirclement, and intent to conquer and destroy, not just raid.

• "are coming" (בָּאִים, ba'im):

  • Meaning: Present participle, meaning "coming," "arriving."
  • Significance: Denotes ongoing, continuous action. It emphasizes that the enemy is already in motion and drawing nearer, highlighting the immediacy of the threat.

• "from a distant land" (מֵאֶרֶץ מֶרְחָק, me'eretz merchaq):

  • Meaning: From "land" (אֶרֶץ, eretz) and "distance" or "far away" (מֶרְחָק, merchaq).
  • Significance: Specifies the foreign and remote origin of the invaders, reinforcing that this is not a local conflict but an instrument of God from afar. It underscores the overwhelming nature of the threat.

• "they shout" (וְנָתְנוּ קוֹלָם, venatnu... implicit kolam - though kolam isn't in this specific verse):

  • Meaning: Literally "and they will give," here contextually implies "give a cry" or "utter a voice." Many translations supply "shout" or "utter their voice."
  • Significance: This refers to the war cry, battle roar, or declaration of hostility, often accompanying an attack. It emphasizes the loud, fearsome, and aggressive nature of the invaders as they approach Judah's cities, intensifying the terror of the impending assault.

• "against the cities of Judah" (עַל עָרֵי יְהוּדָה, al ‘arey Yehudah):

  • Meaning: "Against" (עַל, al) and "cities of Judah."
  • Significance: The specific targets are not just open country, but the fortified centers of Judah's population, culture, and governance, indicating a total and devastating conquest. It directly threatens their entire civilization and security.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "Tell the nations": This instruction suggests that God desires this judgment against Judah to be known universally, perhaps as a testimony to His justice, a warning to other nations, or as part of His grand, unfolding plan observed by all.
  • "Behold, adversaries are coming from a distant land": This phrase establishes the immediate, certain, and formidable nature of the threat. The distance indicates a powerful, foreign power beyond Judah's normal adversaries, signaling a judgment ordained by God Himself, far surpassing any localized conflict.
  • "they shout against the cities of Judah": This vividly portrays the violent and destructive intent of the invaders. The "shout" represents the terrifying war cry and public declaration of their hostile purpose directly aimed at the urban centers, implying an inevitable siege and desolation rather than mere raids.

Jeremiah 4 16 Bonus section

The divine directive to "Tell the nations" in this verse can be understood in a few profound ways:

1. Witness to God's Justice: It underscores that God’s covenant with Israel and the consequences for breaking it are a public affair, a testimony to His righteousness to the entire world.
2. Universal Sovereignty: It subtly emphasizes that even foreign, pagan nations are under God’s ultimate control and can be employed as His instruments for judgment, a theological concept recurring throughout prophetic literature.
3. No Refuge: By broadcasting the news, it prevents Judah from finding solace or alliances with these very nations, as the message announces Judah's demise rather than a call for help.
4. Literary Function: In Jeremiah's narrative, this warning heightens the drama and despair for Judah, illustrating the widespread nature of their impending calamity and the utter inevitability of their punishment. The specificity of the "besiegers" is a detail of their war strategy, pointing to a prolonged, exhaustive, and crushing assault rather than swift raids.

Jeremiah 4 16 Commentary

Jeremiah 4:16 is a critical pivot in Jeremiah's early prophecies, shifting from general warnings to an urgent, explicit declaration of imminent invasion and siege. God, through Jeremiah, commands an announcement, not only to Judah but to surrounding nations, signaling the global significance of Judah's judgment. The description of "adversaries" (besiegers) "from a distant land" clearly identifies the invading force as a powerful, foreign entity, almost certainly the Babylonians, purposed by God as an instrument of His wrath against Judah's persistent sin. Their coming is presented as a present and ongoing reality ("are coming"), underscoring the irreversible momentum of the divine judgment. The "shout" against "the cities of Judah" dramatizes the ferocity and determination of the enemy, targeting the very heart of Judah's social and defensive structure. This verse strips away any false hope of peace, confirming the complete and destructive nature of the impending divine reckoning for a nation that rejected His continuous calls to repentance.