Jeremiah 4 6

Jeremiah 4:6 kjv

Set up the standard toward Zion: retire, stay not: for I will bring evil from the north, and a great destruction.

Jeremiah 4:6 nkjv

Set up the standard toward Zion. Take refuge! Do not delay! For I will bring disaster from the north, And great destruction."

Jeremiah 4:6 niv

Raise the signal to go to Zion! Flee for safety without delay! For I am bringing disaster from the north, even terrible destruction."

Jeremiah 4:6 esv

Raise a standard toward Zion, flee for safety, stay not, for I bring disaster from the north, and great destruction.

Jeremiah 4:6 nlt

Raise a signal flag as a warning for Jerusalem :
'Flee now! Do not delay!'
For I am bringing terrible destruction upon you
from the north."

Jeremiah 4 verses

Jeremiah 4 6 Meaning

Jeremiah 4:6 speaks of an impending judgment, urging people to flee for safety. It describes Zion and Judah facing an invasion, causing them to hoist a signal banner. The verse highlights the suddenness and terror of the enemy's approach.

Jeremiah 4 6 Context

Jeremiah 4 is part of Jeremiah's prophecy addressing the impending Babylonian invasion of Judah. The chapter begins with God calling Judah to repent and return to Him. If they don't, destruction will come from the north. Verse 6 specifically marks the beginning of the description of this devastating invasion, detailing the visual and auditory signals of approaching doom. This chapter highlights God's judgment against a people who have turned away from Him, emphasizing the severe consequences of their idolatry and unfaithfulness.

Jeremiah 4 6 Word Analysis

• from (מִן - min): Indicates origin or source. The evil comes from a specific direction.
• the north (צָפוֹן - tsafon): Literally "the north country" or "hidden place." In prophetic literature, the north often symbolizes the direction from which divine judgment originates, frequently associated with oppressive foreign powers.
• evil (רָעָה - ra'ah): Signifies misfortune, calamity, wickedness, or distress. Here it refers to the invasion and destruction.
• shall break forth (תִּבָּעֵר - tib'er): Means "to burn," "to ignite," "to consume," or "to break out" like a fire. It conveys the suddenness and destructiveness of the oncoming disaster.
• upon (עַל - al): Indicates the target or recipient of the action. The evil will fall upon them.
• all (כָּל - kol): Signifies totality, entirety. This emphasizes the widespread impact of the coming judgment.
• the inhabitants (ישְׁבֵי - yoshvei): The people who dwell in the land.
• of the land (הָאָרֶץ - ha'arets): Refers to the land of Judah, the specific territory of God's people.
• from: Repeats the sense of origin.
• a wind (רוּחַ - ruach): Can mean "wind," "spirit," or "breath." Here it signifies a powerful, destructive force like a tempest or gale.
• from (מִן - min): Again, denoting origin.
• the wilderness (מִדְבָּר - midbar): An uncultivated, desolate region. This evokes a sense of barrenness and remoteness associated with the approaching army's origin.
• nothing (לֹא - lo): Negation.
• for to conceive (יֶאֱצָת - ye'etsat): Means "to conceive," "to plan," or "to gather counsel." The evil has no constructive purpose, only destructive intent, and it's not hesitant.
• shall there be (לֹא־תִהְיֶה - lo-tihiyeh): "There will not be."
• for to shake (יֶהֱפֹךְ - yehefokh): "To overthrow," "to turn upside down," "to overturn." This suggests the complete disruption and destruction of the land.
• none (אֵין - ein): Implies absence.
• for to convey (לַהֲפוֹךְ - lahafokh): A causative form of "to overturn" or "to turn over." This repetition emphasizes the totality of the devastation.
• none: Repeated negation, stressing the completeness of the destruction.

Group Analysis:

• "from the north" emphasizes a specific source of divine judgment.
• "evil shall break forth" conveys the sudden, fiery, and consuming nature of the calamity.
• "upon all the inhabitants of the land" stresses the universal impact on Judah.
• "a wind from the wilderness" paints a picture of a vast, desolating, and relentless force.
• The repeated negations with "conceive" and "shake/overthrow" ("nothing for to conceive," "none for to shake," "none for to convey") underline the completeness of the destruction and the lack of any constructive purpose behind the enemy's actions, only devastation.

Jeremiah 4 6 Bonus Section

The "wind from the wilderness" imagery in verse 6 might also echo themes of chaos and divine power. The wilderness, devoid of life and order, can represent a force that God uses to discipline His people, reminding them of their reliance on Him rather than their own perceived strengths or gods. The lack of constructive purpose in the enemy's approach—they come to destroy, not to build—serves to distinguish God's judgments from human conflicts which might have political or territorial aims. This prophecy serves as a solemn warning against spiritual complacency and the grave consequences of national sin.

Jeremiah 4 6 Commentary

Jeremiah 4:6 vividly portrays the coming of a fierce and unstoppable enemy, poised to devastate Judah. The "north" was understood by the people to be the direction from which foreign invaders like the Babylonians typically emerged. The imagery of "evil breaking forth" like a consuming fire and a powerful "wind from the wilderness" emphasizes the speed, destructive force, and widespread nature of the invasion. This isn't just a military conquest; it's presented as a divine judgment, a terrifying manifestation of God's wrath against the unrepentant. The repeated statements of "nothing for to conceive" and "none for to shake/overthrow" highlight the utter annihilation and the inability of Judah to withstand or counter this impending doom, as they had not truly repented.