Jeremiah 4 27

Jeremiah 4:27 kjv

For thus hath the LORD said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end.

Jeremiah 4:27 nkjv

For thus says the LORD: "The whole land shall be desolate; Yet I will not make a full end.

Jeremiah 4:27 niv

This is what the LORD says: "The whole land will be ruined, though I will not destroy it completely.

Jeremiah 4:27 esv

For thus says the LORD, "The whole land shall be a desolation; yet I will not make a full end.

Jeremiah 4:27 nlt

This is what the LORD says:
"The whole land will be ruined,
but I will not destroy it completely.

Jeremiah 4 verses

Jeremiah 4 27 Meaning

Jeremiah 4:27 declares a two-fold divine decree from the Lord: severe and widespread judgment will devastate the land of Judah, causing it to become a desolate wasteland. However, interwoven with this pronouncement of judgment is a critical promise of divine mercy: God will not bring about a complete or utter annihilation of His people or the land. This verse highlights the tension between God's righteous justice, demanded by Judah's persistent sin and idolatry, and His enduring covenant faithfulness that prevents absolute destruction, preserving a remnant and the possibility of future restoration.

Jeremiah 4 27 Context

Jeremiah chapter 4 is part of a series of prophecies (chapters 4-6) in which Jeremiah vividly describes the impending invasion from the North, largely understood to be Babylon, and the resulting destruction that will befall Judah. Throughout these chapters, the prophet implores the people to repent and turn back to the Lord, but they remain spiritually hardened, continuing in idolatry and rebellion. This specific verse (Jer 4:27) acts as a concluding summary statement for a terrifying vision of cosmic and terrestrial desolation previously described in the chapter (e.g., v. 23-26, depicting the land returning to a chaotic, pre-creation state). Historically, this period anticipates the three waves of Babylonian invasion and exile, culminating in the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 586 BC, bringing the covenant curses pronounced in Leviticus and Deuteronomy to a horrifying fulfillment.

Jeremiah 4 27 Word analysis

• For thus says the LORD: (כִּי־כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה - ki-kho amar YHWH)

  • This is a foundational prophetic formula, underscoring that the subsequent declaration originates directly from God. It imbues the pronouncement with divine authority, certainty, and inviolable truth.
  • YHWH (יהוה) refers to the covenant God of Israel, emphasizing that this judgment, and the mercy within it, is from the very One who made a covenant with His people, Abraham, and David.

• The whole land: (כָּל־הָאָרֶץ - kol-ha'arets)

  • Literally "all the land" or "the whole earth." In this context, it refers specifically to the entire territory of Judah, the promised land.
  • Signifies the comprehensive and widespread nature of the coming judgment; no part of the kingdom will be untouched or unaffected by the impending devastation. This highlights the severity and totality of the experience, extending beyond specific cities to the entire national landscape.

• shall be a desolation: (תִּהְיֶה שְׁמָמָה - tihyeh sh'mamah)

  • sh'mamah (שׁממה): A strong Hebrew term indicating utter ruin, a desolate waste, a barren wasteland. It conveys the idea of emptiness, abandonment, agricultural destruction, and the loss of human life and vibrancy.
  • Its use vividly portrays the land being transformed from one of promised blessing and fruitfulness into a desolate, uninhabitable wilderness, directly correlating with the covenant curses for disobedience (e.g., Lev 26, Deut 28-29). It suggests a reversal of creation's order, echoing Genesis 1:2.

• yet I will not make a full end: (וְכָלָה לֹא אֶעֱשֶׂה - v'khaleh lo e'eseh)

  • v'khaleh (כלה): Signifies a "complete end," "total annihilation," or "utter consumption." It speaks of absolute eradication.
  • lo e'eseh (לא אעשה): "I will not do/make."
  • This crucial phrase functions as a divine check or limit on the judgment. Despite the intensity of the desolation, God explicitly states He will not bring about absolute destruction or total extinction of His people. This demonstrates God's unfailing covenant faithfulness, even when His people are faithless. It assures the preservation of a remnant and holds the door open for future restoration, preventing the complete annulment of His promises to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David. This is a recurring promise of hope within Jeremiah's pronouncements of doom.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "For thus says the LORD: The whole land shall be a desolation;": This segment conveys the absolute divine authority and certainty of the forthcoming, widespread, and devastating judgment. It firmly grounds the catastrophe in God's decree, linking it directly to Judah's sin and divine justice.
  • "yet I will not make a full end.": This crucial second clause immediately introduces a balancing divine characteristic: mercy and covenant fidelity. It establishes a divine boundary on the severity of the judgment, ensuring that even in the midst of ruin, there remains a preservation, a remnant, and therefore, an enduring hope for the future. This tension—between certain, severe judgment and a promise of ultimate preservation—is central to the prophetic message of Jeremiah and much of the Old Testament.

Jeremiah 4 27 Bonus section

The phrase "not a full end" (כָלָה לֹא אֶעֱשֶׂה) serves as a thematic cornerstone, reiterated multiple times in Jeremiah (Jer 5:10, 30:11, 46:28) and echoed in other prophets like Amos (Amos 9:8). This repeated emphasis counters both the false prophets who offered unconditional "peace" despite rebellion, and the potential despair of a people who might believe God had entirely abandoned His covenant due to their sin. It functions as a consistent beacon of hope embedded within messages of severe judgment, highlighting God's distinctive commitment to Israel compared to His dealings with other nations (Jer 46:28). This divine restraint underpins the possibility of a return from exile and the eventual restoration of Israel, crucial for the broader redemptive narrative culminating in Christ. It also suggests that God's justice is never purely retributive but always tempered with redemptive purpose.

Jeremiah 4 27 Commentary

Jeremiah 4:27 powerfully encapsulates the intricate nature of God's interaction with His rebellious people. It unequivocally declares a divinely mandated, comprehensive devastation upon the land of Judah due to its persistent and flagrant idolatry and disobedience. The imagery of the "whole land" becoming a "desolation" conveys the breadth and severity of this judgment, aligning with the covenant curses threatened for generations. This desolation would materialize through the Babylonian exile, transforming fertile plains into abandoned wastes, and bustling cities into desolate ruins. Yet, amidst this terrifying pronouncement of judgment, God interjects a profound promise: "I will not make a full end." This statement is not merely a reprieve but a demonstration of His immutable character—just, yet merciful; holy, yet faithful to His promises. This divine restraint ensures that despite the severity of the chastisement, Israel will not be utterly wiped out. It is a foundational truth affirming the preservation of a remnant and guaranteeing the future of God's redemptive plan, ensuring the lineage leading to the Messiah and the ultimate fulfillment of His covenant with humanity. The verse thus teaches that even divine discipline has a purpose, bounded by enduring covenant loyalty and always holding a door open for ultimate redemption for those who truly seek the Lord.

• Practical Example: In times of personal crisis or severe consequence for poor choices, this verse reminds us that while God may allow us to experience the natural fallout or even divine discipline (desolation), He promises never to utterly abandon or make a "full end" of those who belong to Him. There is always a measure of His grace and a path for repentance and restoration.