Jeremiah 4:8 kjv
For this gird you with sackcloth, lament and howl: for the fierce anger of the LORD is not turned back from us.
Jeremiah 4:8 nkjv
For this, clothe yourself with sackcloth, Lament and wail. For the fierce anger of the LORD Has not turned back from us.
Jeremiah 4:8 niv
So put on sackcloth, lament and wail, for the fierce anger of the LORD has not turned away from us.
Jeremiah 4:8 esv
For this put on sackcloth, lament and wail, for the fierce anger of the LORD has not turned back from us."
Jeremiah 4:8 nlt
So put on clothes of mourning
and weep with broken hearts,
for the fierce anger of the LORD
is still upon us.
Jeremiah 4 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jer 4:8 | For this, gird ye with sackcloth, lament and howl: for the fierceness of his anger... | Purpose of lamentation for impending judgment |
| Jer 4:6 | Set ye up a standard toward Zion; retire, stay not: for I will bring evil from the north... | Warning of destruction from the north |
| Jer 6:1 | O ye children of Benjamin, gather yourselves to flee out of the midst of Jerusalem... | Call to flee impending judgment |
| Isa 15:3 | For their wailings shall be in the streets; in all the villages shall be howling... | Description of widespread wailing |
| Jer 49:3 | Howl, O Heshbon, for Ai is spoiled: cry, ye children of Ammon, gird you with sackcloth... | Prophecy of judgment and lamentation |
| Jer 13:27 | When I have seen that, will they not be filled with abhorrence? O adulterous people... | Consequences of unfaithfulness |
| Ezek 7:16 | They also that remain of them shall be on the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, every one for his iniquity. | Mourning for iniquity |
| Joel 1:13 | Gird yourselves, and lament; howl, O ye priests; howl, ye ministers of the altar... | Call to lament by religious leaders |
| Joel 2:13 | And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. | Call to sincere repentance |
| Amos 5:16 | Therefore the LORD God of hosts, the Lord, saith thus; There shall be howling in all streets; and they shall say in all the highways, Alas! alas!... | Prophecy of widespread lamentation |
| Matt 24:30 | And then shall appear the sign of the son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. | Heavenly sign and mourning of the earth |
| Luke 21:28 | And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. | Redemption in times of tribulation |
| Rev 18:9 | And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, | Lamentation over Babylon's fall |
| Nah 3:19 | There is no healing of thy bruise; thy wound is grievous: all that hear the bruit of thee shall clap the hands over thee: for upon whom hath not thy wickedness passed continually? | Incurable wounds from wickedness |
| Isa 22:12 | And in that day did the Lord GOD of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth: | Spiritual call to repentance and mourning |
| Jer 20:11 | But the LORD is with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: their everlasting confusion shall never be put to shame. | Divine protection amidst persecution |
| Jer 30:7 | For there shall be a time of distress such as never has been since the nation began until this time; but in those days your people shall be delivered, every one who is found written in the book. | Time of distress and deliverance |
| Psa 11:5 | The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth. | God's discernment and judgment |
| Psa 58:10 | The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked. | Rejoicing in God's vengeance |
| Mic 1:8 | Therefore will I wail and howl, I will go stripped and naked: I will make a lamentation like the dragons, and mourning like the owls. | Personal lament and mourning |
| Jer 23:19 | Behold, a whirlwind of the LORD is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind, it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked. | God's whirlwind of judgment |
| Hosea 8:5 | Thy calf of Samaria shall be cast out; mine anger is kindled against them: how long will it be ere they shall have purged themselves? | Idolatry and divine anger |
Jeremiah 4 verses
Jeremiah 4 8 Meaning
The LORD declares a cause for wailing and lamentation concerning Jerusalem and the surrounding region, likening their imminent destruction to a fierce wind sweeping in from the wilderness. This destructive force will come from the north, a potent symbol of judgment against their wickedness.
Jeremiah 4 8 Context
Jeremiah chapter 4 depicts a grim prophecy of destruction descending upon Judah and Jerusalem due to their pervasive sinfulness and idolatry. The prophet calls for repentance and a return to the LORD, but also forewarns of severe judgment. This specific verse, Jeremiah 4:8, announces the imminent arrival of divine wrath. The "fierceness of his anger" signifies God's powerful reaction against the people's covenant-breaking and rebellion. The imagery of a strong wind from the north highlights the inevitability and devastating nature of this judgment, emphasizing that it originates from a powerful, divinely ordained source. The call to "gird yourselves with sackcloth" and to "lament and howl" is a direct response to the pronouncement of God's fierce anger, a customary expression of deep sorrow and acknowledgment of guilt in the ancient Near East. This passage fits within the broader prophetic ministry of Jeremiah, who consistently warned of impending exile and devastation unless the people repented.
Jeremiah 4 8 Word analysis
For this (Lamedayn - Because of this/therefore): Indicates a consequence stemming from previous transgressions and the LORD's judgment being pronounced.
gird ye (chagoru - gird/fasten): A command to wear sackcloth, a rough garment made of animal hair, typically worn as a sign of mourning, penitence, or distress. It signifies putting on an outward expression of inner sorrow.
with sackcloth (bessak - with sackcloth): Specifically designates the material for mourning attire, highlighting the severity of the situation.
lament (nehelu - wail/lament/groan): An expression of deep grief and sorrow, often accompanied by vocalizations. It speaks to profound emotional pain.
and howl (wehi-helu - and howl/cry out): Amplifies the intensity of the lamentation, indicating a more outward and desperate cry of anguish.
for (ki - for/because): Introduces the reason for the lamentation and howling.
the fierceness (chemat - wrath/fury/anger): Refers to the intense, burning anger or wrath of God.
of his anger (apoh - his anger): Emphasizes that this is God's direct, unleashed anger.
is (imperceptible, inherent in the Hebrew structure): The verse states God's anger is this thing, connecting the anger directly to the coming destruction.
gone forth (yalza - goes forth/comes out): Signifies an action being released or emanating from God.
against you (alchem - upon you/against you): Directs the judgment specifically toward the people being addressed, in this case, Judah.
the fierceness of his anger (chemat apoh): This powerful phrase encapsulates God's retributive justice. It is not a fleeting emotion but a serious, unwavering disposition against sin. The intensity signifies a total outpouring of His displeasure.
against you (alchem): This direct address underscores that the judgment is specific and targeted, a consequence of their covenant relationship and subsequent betrayal.
gird ye... lament and howl: This combination signifies an outward display of inward contrition and terror, mandated by the prophet due to the magnitude of God's approaching judgment.
Jeremiah 4 8 Bonus section
The "fierceness of his anger" (chemat apoh) is a recurring theme in prophetic literature, often describing the righteous judgment of God against sin and rebellion. The north, specifically associated with Babylonian invasion, was often the direction from which God brought judgment upon Israel and Judah. The act of girding oneself with sackcloth and lamenting were deeply embedded cultural and religious practices, signifying a state of humility, repentance, and acute sorrow in the face of significant misfortune or divine displeasure. This expression of lament was understood as a posture before God, acknowledging His sovereignty and justice.
Jeremiah 4 8 Commentary
This verse serves as a pronouncement of impending doom upon Judah and Jerusalem. The prophetic imperative to "gird yourselves with sackcloth" and to "lament and howl" is a direct response to the "fierceness of His anger." This is not merely a lament for a minor setback but a response to divine judgment unleashed due to unfaithfulness. The imagery of God's anger coming forth is powerful, indicating an active, decisive divine intervention. This anger is fueled by the people's persistent sin. The urgency and severity of the prophet's command underscore the gravity of their situation. The judgment is depicted as powerful and inevitable, likened to a force that cannot be withstood. This call to mourning anticipates the desolation and exile that would soon follow, a consequence of breaking the covenant with a holy God. The ultimate hope is for repentance, which this sorrowful response foreshadows.