Jeremiah 4 3

Jeremiah 4:3 kjv

For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.

Jeremiah 4:3 nkjv

For thus says the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: "Break up your fallow ground, And do not sow among thorns.

Jeremiah 4:3 niv

This is what the LORD says to the people of Judah and to Jerusalem: "Break up your unplowed ground and do not sow among thorns.

Jeremiah 4:3 esv

For thus says the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: "Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.

Jeremiah 4:3 nlt

This is what the LORD says to the people of Judah and Jerusalem: "Plow up the hard ground of your hearts!
Do not waste your good seed among thorns.

Jeremiah 4 verses

Jeremiah 4 3 Meaning

The Lord instructs Judah, who had previously been exhorted to repent and return, to now prepare for judgment. The people are to dedicate themselves, like soldiers preparing for battle, to the Lord's righteous anger against their sin. This dedication is not to actual military action but a spiritual readiness to face and accept the divine consequences of their persistent rebellion.

Jeremiah 4 3 Context

Jeremiah 4 is part of a larger prophetic oracle concerning judgment upon Judah due to their persistent sin and idolatry, despite previous calls to repentance (Jeremiah 3). This chapter details the impending devastation, symbolized by the coming of enemies from the north. Verse 3 is a command directed at the remnant of Israel, a plea for a radical, inward preparation before the inevitable divine judgment is unleashed. It calls for a cleansing and dedication of the heart, preparing them to face God's anger rather than continuing in a superficial observance that is unproductive and offensive to God.

Jeremiah 4 3 Word Analysis

• “Prepare ye”: (Hebrew: hittayu) – This word implies girding oneself, preparing for action or war. In this spiritual context, it means to prepare oneself in seriousness and purpose.

• “against”: (Hebrew: ‘al) – Signifies "upon" or "against," indicating the target of the preparation is directed toward God's coming judgment.

• “all his”: Refers to the Lord's complete and thorough purpose.

• “indignation”: (Hebrew: riyb or ser for anger) - While the primary Hebrew for anger/wrath is often ‘ebrah, riyb can denote contention or legal dispute, implying God's righteous controversy against Judah. If referring to ser, it denotes fierce burning anger. The context leans towards God's provoked anger and righteous judgment against sin.

• “singled out”: (Hebrew: piddym) - Means to reserve, set apart, or allot. Here, it emphasizes that God has specifically designated this period and judgment for Judah.

• “the land”: Refers to the land of Judah.

• “of Israel”: Used here in a broader sense, encompassing all descendants of Jacob, including the southern kingdom of Judah.

• “break up”: (Hebrew: nireshu) – Literally means to tear up or break in pieces, commonly referring to plowing or breaking up hard, fallow ground. This is a powerful metaphor for spiritual renewal.

• “your”: Possessive, indicating the fallow ground belongs to Judah.

• “fallow ground”: (Hebrew: nikreshot) – Land that has not been plowed for some time, lying untilled and hard. This represents the unplowed, uncultivated, hardened hearts of the people, unreceptive to God's word.

• “and sow not”: The imperative is to cease from the wrong kind of sowing.

• “among”: Indicates an intermingling.

• “thorns”: (Hebrew: ‘anayiym) – Refers to thorny or prickly weeds that choke out good crops and signify wickedness, impurity, or a life not pleasing to God. Sowing among thorns means investing in or practicing that which yields only a harvest of destruction or pain.

• Phrase analysis: "Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns." This is a parallel metaphor. First, the people must prepare their spiritual fields by breaking up the hard, unreceptive earth (their hearts and lives). Second, they must not sow seeds (actions, efforts, hopes) in ground that is already choked with weeds or in a manner that will guarantee a corrupted harvest. It calls for a radical abandonment of sinful practices and a sowing of righteous seeds in prepared, fertile ground, trusting God for the outcome.

Jeremiah 4 3 Bonus Section

The imagery of "fallow ground" is echoed in the New Testament with Paul’s exhortation in Hebrews 6:1 to move on from the "elementary teachings" and press toward maturity. Similarly, Jesus' parable of the sower (Matthew 13) highlights how seeds of the kingdom fall on different kinds of ground, with the thorny ground representing those who hear the word but are choked by the worries of life and the deceitfulness of wealth. Jeremiah 4:3 is a foundational principle for genuine repentance and discipleship, emphasizing the necessity of a prepared heart for effective spiritual growth and fruitful obedience to God. The idea of setting aside, or "singling out," a people for judgment, as mentioned with "singled out," finds parallels in passages discussing God's election and judgment, demonstrating God's sovereign plan and his righteous dealings with humanity.

Jeremiah 4 3 Commentary

This verse calls for a decisive and internal spiritual preparation. "Breaking up the fallow ground" signifies repentance – a deep, active turning away from sin that involves uprooting deeply ingrained wrong attitudes and behaviors. It's not a passive wish for change, but an aggressive cultivation of the heart. The prohibition "sow not among thorns" warns against continuing in sinful practices or vain efforts, which inevitably produce a harvest of divine judgment. Instead, Judah should be preparing to "sow" the seeds of righteousness in the newly prepared ground of their hearts, trusting God's faithfulness and power to bring forth a good harvest in His time. This prepares them not for outward conflict, but for facing God's just anger with a sincere heart.