Jeremiah 4 4

Jeremiah 4:4 kjv

Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.

Jeremiah 4:4 nkjv

Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, And take away the foreskins of your hearts, You men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, Lest My fury come forth like fire, And burn so that no one can quench it, Because of the evil of your doings."

Jeremiah 4:4 niv

Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, circumcise your hearts, you people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, or my wrath will flare up and burn like fire because of the evil you have done? burn with no one to quench it.

Jeremiah 4:4 esv

Circumcise yourselves to the LORD; remove the foreskin of your hearts, O men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem; lest my wrath go forth like fire, and burn with none to quench it, because of the evil of your deeds."

Jeremiah 4:4 nlt

O people of Judah and Jerusalem,
surrender your pride and power.
Change your hearts before the LORD,
or my anger will burn like an unquenchable fire
because of all your sins.

Jeremiah 4 verses

Jeremiah 4 4 Meaning

This verse signifies the LORD's directive to Judah to circumcise their hearts and remove their stubborn pride. It’s a call to genuine repentance, not just outward ritual, to avoid God's fierce anger from being kindled and consuming them. This purification is essential to avert destruction.

Jeremiah 4 4 Context

Jeremiah chapter 4 begins with a call for Israel, specifically Judah and Jerusalem, to return to the LORD. God presents a stark choice: return and be restored, or face devastating judgment. The chapter highlights the consequence of unfaithfulness, detailing the impending invasion and destruction by a foreign nation (implicitly Babylon). Verse 4 acts as a crucial instruction within this warning, emphasizing that genuine return requires an internal transformation – the circumcision of the heart. This is a vital prerequisite to averting God's imminent and unquenchable wrath, which is a consequence of their spiritual adultery and idolatry.

Jeremiah 4 4 Word Analysis

• circumcise (Hebrew: $mûl$ - mul): This word literally means to cut, typically referring to the physical act of circumcision, an ordinance of the Abrahamic covenant signifying separation and dedication to God.

  • Significance: Here, it's used metaphorically. The command is not for a physical ritual, but for an internal cleansing and removal of impurity.
  • Contextual Usage: In the Old Testament, physical circumcision was a sign of the covenant (Gen. 17:9-14). However, prophets like Jeremiah and later Paul (Rom. 2:28-29) emphasized that true circumcision was of the heart, an inner reality.

• your hearts (Hebrew: $lĕḇ — lev): Refers to the center of a person's being – their intellect, emotions, will, and conscience.

  • Significance: The call to circumcise the heart signifies a radical inner transformation of desires, thoughts, and affections away from sin and toward God. It’s about renewing the inner self.
  • Parallelism: Connects with Deuteronomy 10:16 which says, "Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart..."

• and cease not (Hebrew: $al — al + $rgiphy$ - pāṣa'): Literally "do not break through" or "do not cease." The "not" indicates a prohibition. Pāṣa' can mean to break open, as fallow ground is broken up, or to violate. In context with al, it means "do not cease to..." or "do not permit to be cut through," likely referring to allowing wickedness to remain.

  • Interpretation: A better translation might be "and do not allow wickedness to remain" or "do not cease from your resistance to God's commands." Another view suggests "do not allow your uncircumcised heart to be ripped open by judgment." The ESV uses "remove the foreskin of your hearts, lest my anger go forth like fire". This suggests the removal is the action to cease the destructive fire, hence not allowing your hearts to be ripped open is the intended outcome.

• your evil doings (Hebrew: $r' — ra' + $m' — ma‘ăseh): "Evil" is the common word for badness, wickedness. "Doings" refers to deeds, actions, works.

  • Significance: This points to the manifestation of an uncircumcised heart in sinful actions and patterns of behavior that are offensive to God.

• words-group analysis:

  • Circumcise yourselves to the LORD; remove the foreskin of your hearts: This phrase emphasizes a volitional act of yielding to God's purifying work. It’s a command that requires active participation in one’s spiritual transformation, leading to genuine obedience. This spiritual circumcision involves setting aside pride, stubbornness, and affection for sin.
  • lest my anger go forth like fire, and burn with none to quench it: This illustrates the unstoppable and consuming nature of God's wrath against sin. It’s a vivid image of complete destruction, emphasizing the urgent need for repentance to avoid such a catastrophic outcome.

Jeremiah 4 4 Bonus Section

The concept of "circumcising the heart" is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, appearing in Deuteronomy (10:16) and echoed by later prophets and in the New Testament. This metaphor highlights the internal nature of true covenant relationship. Paul expounds on this in Romans 2:29, stating that true circumcision is "of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter," and in Colossians 2:11-12, equating it with spiritual circumcision by Christ, leading to a new life. The "flesh" (representing sinful nature) needs to be "cut away" by God's Spirit for true holiness and restored fellowship.

Jeremiah 4 4 Commentary

Jeremiah's message in verse 4 is a profound call to internal transformation, echoing the spirit of the Mosaic Law and the teachings of the Prophets. True worship and covenant faithfulness are not about outward appearances or ritualistic actions, but about the condition of the heart. The physical act of circumcision was a sign of belonging to God's covenant people, but it could become meaningless if the heart remained resistant and impure.

God desires a radical internal cleansing, a removal of all pride, stubbornness, and unfaithfulness that prevent true devotion. This spiritual circumcision prepares the way for a genuine relationship with Him, leading to restored blessings and averting divine judgment. The metaphor of fire underscores the severity of God’s anger against persistent sin, a fire that cannot be extinguished once ignited. This passage calls for an immediate and thorough spiritual house-cleaning.

• Practical Application: Like cutting away dead tissue to allow healing, we must allow God's Spirit to cut away stubborn pride and sinful habits from our hearts. Genuine repentance involves a decision to stop cherishing and practicing sin, making room for God’s holiness.