Jeremiah 45:4 kjv
Thus shalt thou say unto him, The LORD saith thus; Behold, that which I have built will I break down, and that which I have planted I will pluck up, even this whole land.
Jeremiah 45:4 nkjv
"Thus you shall say to him, 'Thus says the LORD: "Behold, what I have built I will break down, and what I have planted I will pluck up, that is, this whole land.
Jeremiah 45:4 niv
But the LORD has told me to say to you, 'This is what the LORD says: I will overthrow what I have built and uproot what I have planted, throughout the earth.
Jeremiah 45:4 esv
Thus shall you say to him, Thus says the LORD: Behold, what I have built I am breaking down, and what I have planted I am plucking up ? that is, the whole land.
Jeremiah 45:4 nlt
"Baruch, this is what the LORD says: 'I will destroy this nation that I built. I will uproot what I planted.
Jeremiah 45 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 1:10 | See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out | Jeremiah 1:10 (Rooting out) |
| Jeremiah 12:14 | . . . root them out of their land, and pluck them out . . . | Jeremiah 12:14 (Uprooting) |
| Jeremiah 18:7 | . . . I uproot, pull down, destroy, and throw down that nation. | Jeremiah 18:7 (Destruction) |
| Jeremiah 24:6 | For I will set My eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land; I will build them up and not tear them down, I will plant them and not uproot them. | Jeremiah 24:6 (Building up) |
| Jeremiah 31:28 | And it shall come to pass that as I have watched over them to pluck up, to break down, to throw down, to destroy, and to bring affliction, so I will watch over them to build and to plant," | Jeremiah 31:28 (Rebuilding) |
| Jeremiah 42:10 | "If you will dwell in this land, then I will build you up and not pull you down, and I will plant you and not uproot you; for I have relented concerning the disaster that I brought upon you. | Jeremiah 42:10 (Relenting) |
| Ezekiel 17:10 | Yes, has it prospered? Will it not uproot its roots and pluck off its fruit, so that it withers? All of its fresh growth will wither; it will not require strong arms or many people to pull it up by the roots. | Ezekiel 17:10 (Withered) |
| Ezekiel 36:35 | So they will say, 'This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the ruined, desolate, and destroyed cities are now fortified and inhabited.' | Ezekiel 36:35 (Restoration) |
| Matthew 13:30 | . . . let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”' | Matthew 13:30 (Separation) |
| Matthew 15:13 | But He answered and said, "Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. | Matthew 15:13 (Divine Planting) |
| Hebrews 12:27 | Now this, 'Once more' indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that have been made, so that the things that are not shaken may remain. | Hebrews 12:27 (Shaking) |
| 1 Corinthians 3:17 | If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which you are. | 1 Corinthians 3:17 (Defilement) |
| Jeremiah 45:1 | The word that Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch the son of Neriah when he wrote these words in a book at the mouth of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, saying, | Jeremiah 45:1 (Introduction) |
| Jeremiah 45:2 | "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, to you, O Baruch: | Jeremiah 45:2 (Divine Address) |
| Jeremiah 45:3 | "You said, 'Woe is me! For the LORD has added sorrow to my pain; I have worn myself out with groaning, and have found no rest.' | Jeremiah 45:3 (Baruch's Lament) |
| Jeremiah 45:5 | "But you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, I will bring disaster on all flesh," says the LORD, "but I will give you your life as a prize of war in all the places wherever you go." | Jeremiah 45:5 (The Rebuke) |
Jeremiah 45 verses
Jeremiah 45 4 Meaning
The Lord declares that He will tear down what He has built and uproot what He has planted. This signifies divine judgment and the destruction of established orders, but it is primarily directed against His own people who have fallen away from Him.
Jeremiah 45 4 Context
Jeremiah 45 is a unique, short interlude within the larger prophetic pronouncements against Judah and surrounding nations. It directly addresses Baruch, Jeremiah's scribe, who expresses despair over the overwhelming task of recording God's judgments and the personal toll it is taking. Baruch feels weary and without rest, likely due to the immense pressure of his calling and the grim nature of the messages he is writing. This chapter appears amidst prophecies concerning the downfall of nations and Jerusalem.
The historical context is the impending Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem. Jehoiakim was king during the time of Baruch's lament. The nation of Judah was deeply entrenched in sin and idolatry, facing the inevitable consequences of God's judgment as foretold by Jeremiah. Baruch, faithfully serving the prophet, was personally affected by the gravity of these pronouncements and the anticipated suffering.
Jeremiah 45 4 Word Analysis
“Thus”: Hebrew: כֹּה (koh). Indicates "in this manner" or "so," introducing a statement of divine authority.
“says”: Hebrew: אָמַר (amar). A fundamental verb signifying "to say" or "to speak," conveying direct pronouncement.
“the LORD”: Hebrew: יְהוָה (YHWH). The covenant name of God, emphasizing His relational faithfulness and power.
“of Hosts”: Hebrew: צְבָאוֹת (tzeva'ot). Denotes "armies" or "heavenly hosts" (both human and angelic), highlighting God's supreme sovereignty and command over all powers.
“I”: Emphatic, drawing attention to God as the actor.
“will build”: Hebrew: בָּנָה (banah). To construct, establish, create, or form. In this context, it refers to building up and establishing nations or peoples.
“what”: Hebrew: אֲשֶׁר (asher). Relative pronoun, introducing a subordinate clause, referring to "that which" God has built.
“I have built”: Indicates past divine action, signifying establishment or creation.
“and”: Hebrew: וְ (ve). Conjunction connecting the clauses.
“I will”: Repetition of divine intent and action.
“uproot”: Hebrew: לָתָשׁ (latash) (not a common verb, contextually seems to lean towards breaking down or destroying, with related terms like נָתַשׁ (natash) meaning to pluck up, pull out). The sense is a severe demolition or destruction of something established.
“what”: Hebrew: אֲשֶׁר (asher). Relative pronoun.
“I have planted”: Indicates past divine action, signifying establishing or founding.
“I”: Again, emphasizes God as the subject.
“have planted”: Hebrew: נָטַע (nata). To plant, establish, set firmly.
Phrase Analysis: "build what I have built" and "uproot what I have planted": This parallel construction signifies the reversal of God's former acts of establishment and creation. It reflects divine prerogative to both establish and dismantle. The phrasing underscores that even that which God Himself initiated and established is subject to His sovereign will and judgment. This is not an arbitrary act but a consequence of disobedience or a planned phase in His overarching purposes.
Jeremiah 45 4 Bonus Section
This verse can be understood as a foreshadowing of God's overarching plan to bring judgment upon a disobedient creation and then establish a new, perfected order. The themes of building and planting are directly contrasted with uprooting and tearing down, mirroring the cycles of judgment and restoration found throughout Scripture. It speaks to the transient nature of earthly kingdoms and institutions when they deviate from God's will, highlighting that only that which is rooted in Him will endure. The absolute nature of God's power extends even to reversing His own foundational works for reasons known to Him, ultimately to accomplish His perfect will.
Jeremiah 45 4 Commentary
This verse is a stark declaration of divine sovereignty over all things, including His own creations and plans. It's a powerful reminder that even established orders and what seems permanent are under God's absolute control. For Baruch, it implies that his current work, though seemingly leading to destruction, is part of God's unfolding plan. God’s judgment is active, but His ultimate purpose includes rebuilding and establishing anew. The lesson for Baruch, and by extension for believers, is to focus on faithfully executing the present assignment without succumbing to despair, trusting that God’s sovereign hand is in control, even amidst apparent ruin and confusion. God's pronouncements of tearing down are not the end of His work; they pave the way for future rebuilding, as seen in other prophecies addressed to Baruch and Jeremiah.