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 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jer 4:9 | "On that day, declares the LORD, shall the heart of the king perish... | Jer 4:9 |
| Jer 23:1 | "Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!" | Jer 23:1 |
| Jer 8:10 | "Therefore I will give their fields to others..." | Jer 8:10 |
| Isa 5:1 | "Let me sing for my beloved my love song concerning his vineyard..." | Isa 5:1 |
| Eze 13:3 | "Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says against the prophets..." | Eze 13:3 |
| Jer 10:21 | "For the shepherds have become senseless... | Jer 10:21 |
| Ps 14:4 | "Do they not know the workers of iniquity... | Ps 14:4 |
| Prov 1:7 | "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge..." | Prov 1:7 |
| Jer 17:5 | "Thus says the LORD: 'Cursed is the man who trusts in man... | Jer 17:5 |
| Mic 3:11 | "Her princes judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price..." | Mic 3:11 |
| Jer 4:22 | "For my people are fools; they do not know me..." | Jer 4:22 |
| Isa 29:14 | "Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvelous work among this..." | Isa 29:14 |
| Hos 1:9 | "And he said, 'Call his name L-aMmi, for you are not my people..." | Hos 1:9 |
| Jer 5:31 | "The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their..." | Jer 5:31 |
| Jer 6:13 | "For from the least of them to the greatest of them, each is greedy..." | Jer 6:13 |
| Ps 11:3 | "If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?" | Ps 11:3 |
| Jer 4:9 | "On that day, declares the LORD, shall the heart of the king perish..." | Jer 4:9 (Repeat for emphasis/structure) |
| Jer 2:33 | "How well you prepare your ways to seek love! ... | Jer 2:33 |
| Ezek 34:2-3 | "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel..." | Eze 34:2-3 |
| John 10:12 | "The hired hand is not a shepherd and whose own the sheep are not..." | John 10:12 |
| Acts 20:29 | "I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you..." | Acts 20:29 |
| Jer 1:16 | "And I will declare my judgments against them for all their evil..." | Jer 1:16 |
| Lam 4:1 | "How the gold has become dull, the best gold changed! ... | Lam 4:1 |
Jeremiah 4 verses
Jeremiah 4 9 Meaning
On that day, the LORD declares destruction will come upon Judah, signifying a betrayal by their trusted counselors and leaders. The very heart of the leadership, described as "princes" and "lovers," will prove deceitful. This indicates a profound internal corruption and a turning away from loyalty and wisdom. The result will be widespread chaos and ruin for the nation.
Jeremiah 4 9 Context
Jeremiah 4 describes a time of impending judgment for Judah due to their sin and apostasy. The chapter opens with a call to repentance, urging the people to remove their false gods and return to the LORD (Jer 4:1-4). However, the subsequent verses detail the terrifying approach of an enemy from the north, a powerful force poised to destroy the land (Jer 4:5-18). Verse 9 specifically highlights the internal breakdown of leadership that will accompany this external threat, signaling the complete collapse of the nation's governance and hope. Historically, this speaks to the period leading up to the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem.
Jeremiah 4 9 Word Analysis
- On that day (בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא - bayyom hahū): Refers to the specific future time of judgment announced. It connects this verse to the preceding prophecies of impending doom.
- declares (נְאֻם - ne'um): A common prophetic formula indicating divine pronouncement; the LORD is speaking directly.
- the LORD (יְהוָה - YHWH): The covenant name of God, emphasizing His authority and relationship with Israel.
- shall the heart (לֵב - lev): Refers to the inner self, including mind, will, and emotions. Here, it represents the very essence and resolve of leadership.
- of the king (הַמֶּלֶךְ - hammeleḵ): Refers to the ruler of Judah, indicating the crisis at the highest level of authority.
- and the heart (וְלֵב - wəlev): Repeats "heart," emphasizing the widespread nature of this inner failing among leaders.
- of the princes (הַשָּׂרִים - hasarim): Refers to the nobles, officials, and counselors, indicating that the rot extends beyond the king.
- perish (אָבַד - avad): To be lost, destroyed, vanish, signifying utter ruin and loss of efficacy or existence.
- and the priests (וְהַכֹּהֲנִים - wəhakkōhănim): Indicates that spiritual leaders are also implicated in this collapse.
- shall be astonished (נָשַׁמּוּ - nashamu): Implies shock, devastation, and utter bewilderment due to the overwhelming destruction and their own failures.
Words-Group Analysis
- "the heart of the king and the heart of the princes shall perish": This collective phrasing underscores a systemic failure. It's not an isolated incident but a deep-seated moral and spiritual decay affecting the entire leadership stratum of Judah. Their decision-making capacity and inner fortitude, their very essence as leaders, will crumble under judgment.
- "the priests shall be astonished": This suggests a collapse of spiritual leadership's ability to comprehend or provide guidance in the face of the coming devastation. They are rendered powerless and shocked, having failed in their role to lead the people toward righteousness or to understand God's current dealings.
Jeremiah 4 9 Bonus Section
The verse anticipates a future period where leadership, both secular and spiritual, fails catastrophically. This theme of compromised or wicked shepherds leading people astray is a recurring motif throughout Jeremiah and other prophetic books (e.g., Jeremiah 10:21; 23:1-2; Ezekiel 34). It speaks to a time when the guiding lights of society fail, leading the people into spiritual and practical darkness. This internal spiritual and governmental breakdown often precedes or accompanies divine judgment. The emotional state of the leaders being astonished reflects a failure to heed God's warnings or understand His purposes.
Jeremiah 4 9 Commentary
Jeremiah 4:9 delivers a stark prophecy of the collapse of Judah's leadership. The inability of the king and his princes to provide sound counsel or direction, coupled with the bewilderment of the priests, signifies that the nation’s foundation is not merely shaken but utterly destroyed. This internal failure makes Judah vulnerable to the external enemy from the north. The "perishing" of the heart implies a loss of wisdom, courage, and loyalty, while the "astonishment" of the priests reveals their spiritual blindness and ineffectiveness in a crisis. This verse highlights the crucial role of righteous leadership in a nation's well-being and the severe consequences when that leadership is compromised.