Jeremiah 4 9

Jeremiah 4:9 kjv

And it shall come to pass at that day, saith the LORD, that the heart of the king shall perish, and the heart of the princes; and the priests shall be astonished, and the prophets shall wonder.

Jeremiah 4:9 nkjv

"And it shall come to pass in that day," says the LORD, "That the heart of the king shall perish, And the heart of the princes; The priests shall be astonished, And the prophets shall wonder."

Jeremiah 4:9 niv

"In that day," declares the LORD, "the king and the officials will lose heart, the priests will be horrified, and the prophets will be appalled."

Jeremiah 4:9 esv

"In that day, declares the LORD, courage shall fail both king and officials. The priests shall be appalled and the prophets astounded."

Jeremiah 4:9 nlt

"In that day," says the LORD,
"the king and the officials will tremble in fear.
The priests will be struck with horror,
and the prophets will be appalled."

Jeremiah 4 verses

Jeremiah 4 9 Meaning

Jeremiah 4:9 describes the complete collapse of leadership and authority within Judah on the impending day of divine judgment. Both the political leaders (king and princes) and the religious leaders (priests and prophets) will experience profound dismay, losing all capacity for counsel, courage, and understanding. Their "hearts shall perish," indicating a loss of will, wisdom, and decision-making ability, while they "shall be astonished" and "wonder," signifying utter shock, confusion, and paralyzing dread in the face of the overwhelming catastrophe God is bringing upon the land. This verse underscores the futility of human wisdom and spiritual assurances when confronted by the declared will of God.

Jeremiah 4 9 Context

Jeremiah chapter 4, often referred to as a "call to repentance and warning of judgment," initially urges Judah to return to the Lord (vv. 1-4). However, the tone swiftly shifts from hopeful appeal to an grim prediction of an impending invasion and devastating judgment from the North. This foe, understood to be the Babylonians/Chaldeans, is portrayed as an irresistible force, a "lion" (v. 7), and an army bringing destruction (vv. 5-8). The people are warned to flee, as their fortifications will be overrun. Verse 9 is situated within this unfolding prophecy of dread, specifically highlighting the complete and utter paralysis that will grip all levels of Judah's leadership—political and religious—as they realize the catastrophic nature of God's unyielding judgment and their inability to either prevent or comprehend it. Their past failures in leading the nation in righteousness, and the false security propagated by many prophets and priests, will be exposed by this overwhelming event.

Jeremiah 4 9 Word analysis

• And it shall come to pass: This phrase emphasizes the certainty and divine decree of what is to follow. It signals a pronouncement from God that is definite and unavoidable.
• at that day (bay-yōm ha-hūʾ): A key prophetic idiom frequently used to refer to a specific future period, often associated with a major divine intervention, whether for judgment or salvation. Here, it denotes a day of devastating judgment upon Judah. It highlights a particular point in time when God’s purposes will be executed dramatically.
• saith the Lord (nəʾūm YHWH): A formulaic expression indicating that the following statement is a direct revelation from Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. It emphasizes the divine authority, truth, and certainty of the prophecy, rendering it immutable.
• that the heart (lēḇ) of the king shall perish (yeʾābaḏ):
  • Heart (lev): In Hebrew thought, the "heart" encompasses not only emotions but also intellect, will, courage, understanding, and decision-making capacity. It is the core of one's being and the seat of moral character.
  • Perish ('avad): This word signifies not necessarily physical death, but rather ruin, destruction, utter loss, or total incapacitation. Applied to the heart, it means a complete loss of courage, counsel, wisdom, resolution, and capacity to govern or act decisively. The king will be paralyzed by fear and despair, unable to lead or inspire.
• and the heart of the princes (wə-lēḇ ha-śārîm): The same dire fate befalls the high officials and nobles. They too will lose all courage, insight, and ability to advise or assist, amplifying the collapse of central authority.
• and the priests (wə-ha-kōhănîm) shall be astonished (yištōmāmū):
  • Priests (kohanim): Were the appointed religious leaders, responsible for sacrifices, teaching the Law, and offering counsel derived from God's commands. They were meant to mediate and instruct.
  • Astonished (shammam): Implies being utterly stunned, bewildered, appalled, or paralyzed by shock and horror. It signifies a state of profound dread and confusion that incapacitates them from performing their religious duties or offering any spiritual guidance. Their religious functions become moot.
• and the prophets (wə-han-nəḇîʾîm) shall wonder (yitamməhū):
  • Prophets (nevi'im): Were God's spokespersons, revealing His will, interpreting events, and calling people to repentance or declaring future judgment/salvation. Many during this period were false prophets.
  • Wonder (tamah): While it can mean to marvel in a positive sense, here, in context with "astonished" and "perish," it conveys a sense of horrified amazement, bewildered perplexity, or being aghast at the catastrophic unfolding. It implies their previous predictions of peace (often false) will be violently exposed, leaving them dumbfounded and discredited.

Words-group analysis:

• "the heart of the king shall perish, and the heart of the princes": This pairing indicates a systemic collapse of political and administrative leadership. The very core of governmental authority and strategic thinking is dismantled. Those meant to be strong and provide direction will be utterly devoid of resolve.
• "the priests shall be astonished, and the prophets shall wonder": This juxtaposition signifies the utter failure and confusion within the religious leadership. Both custodians of the Law and channels of prophecy will be rendered helpless and discredited. Their inability to provide solace, guidance, or a true word from God highlights their spiritual bankruptcy, especially the false prophets who previously gave reassuring messages.
• The conjunction of political and religious figures: By mentioning all four groups, the verse paints a comprehensive picture of complete societal breakdown. Every pillar of leadership and guidance – political wisdom and spiritual revelation – fails simultaneously, leaving the nation utterly bereft and helpless under God’s judgment.

Jeremiah 4 9 Bonus section

This prophecy implicitly refutes the "peace, peace" message propagated by many false prophets in Jeremiah's day. These prophets had assured the people and their leaders that disaster would not come, or that God would deliver them (Jer 6:14; 8:11; 14:13). The described astonishment and bewilderment of the prophets in Jeremiah 4:9 is the precise consequence of their deceit being brutally exposed by the harsh reality of God's true word fulfilled through judgment. It represents the shattering of their false narratives and the vindication of Jeremiah's unpopular message.

Furthermore, this passage emphasizes God's sovereign control over even the internal fortitude of human leaders. It's not just that events will overwhelm them, but God declares that He will cause their hearts to perish and them to be astonished. This highlights a principle found elsewhere in Scripture (e.g., God hardening Pharaoh's heart), where divine judgment can directly affect the mental and emotional states of individuals and nations, causing confusion and fear that strips them of all capacity for effective action. The divine act of making their "heart perish" ensures there will be no human solution to the impending crisis, highlighting the totality of divine judgment and the need for God's intervention for true wisdom or deliverance.

Jeremiah 4 9 Commentary

Jeremiah 4:9 presents a terrifying vision of Judah's judgment, primarily focusing on the leadership's catastrophic failure. It reveals that on "that day," a phrase loaded with prophetic significance for divine reckoning, all human efforts and wisdom will utterly fail. The king and his princes, representing governmental authority and strategic might, will lose their courage and capacity for decision, their "hearts" effectively dying. Simultaneously, the priests, custodians of God's Law and religious ritual, and the prophets, the supposed spokesmen for God, will be plunged into such deep astonishment and bewildering horror that they too will be rendered powerless. This verse underscores the pervasive nature of God's judgment, touching every facet of national life, and especially targeting those who were meant to guide the nation towards righteousness but instead facilitated its straying. It starkly illustrates that in the face of God's unstoppable wrath, all human sources of wisdom, comfort, and control will utterly disintegrate, exposing the fragility of worldly power and false spiritual assurances. The astonishment of religious leaders highlights their complicity in the nation's spiritual decay, as their previous pronouncements will be starkly contrasted by the overwhelming reality of divine punishment.

• Practical usage example: The verse serves as a sober reminder of the immense responsibility of leadership in both spiritual and temporal realms. When leaders, be it national figures or church elders, compromise truth, mislead, or prioritize personal gain over righteousness, they invite a divine judgment that will eventually dismantle their perceived authority and wisdom, leaving them and their followers in utter confusion and despair.