Jeremiah 4

Jeremiah 4:1

return. Note the Figure of speech Cycloides. App-6.

Israel. Now referring to the northern kingdom.

saith the LORD = [is] Jehovah’s oracle.

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.

then shalt thou not remove = and stray not [from Jehovah]. Compare Jeremiah 2:22-26; Jeremiah 3:2.

Jeremiah 4:2

thou shalt swear. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 10:20).

in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness. Figure of speech Hendiatris (App-6) = truly, yea, justly and righteously, the three referring to the one thing, “shalt swear”.

Jeremiah 4:3

and Jerusalem. Some codices, with Aramaean, Septuagint, and Syriac, read “and the inhabitants of Jerusalem”, as in Jeremiah 4:4.

Jeremiah 4:4

Circumcise. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 10:16; Deuteronomy 30:6). Spiritual circumcision in the O.T. is confined to these three passages.

Jeremiah 4:5

Declare . . . publish . . . say. Compare Jeremiah 46:14; Jeremiah 50:2.

Judah. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Part), for Judah and Benjamin.

Blow ye. Hebrew text reads, “And blow ye”: but Hebrew margin, and some codices, with three early printed editions, Aramaean, Septuagint, and Syriac, read without the “And”. This is followed by Authorized Version and Revised Version.

Jeremiah 4:6

Set. . . retire . . . stay. All plural. standard.

evil = calamity. Hebrew. ra’a’. App-44.

destruction: or, breaking up.

Jeremiah 4:7

The lion = A lion. Figure of speech Hypocatastasis, not Simile or Metaphor. Put thus for the king of Babylon. Contrast Jeremiah 49:19. See note there.

Gentiles = nations.

Jeremiah 4:9

heart. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), for courage.

king . . . princes . . . priests . . . prophets. All had become false and corrupt since Josiah’s day.

Jeremiah 4:10

greatly deceived. Hebrew idiom for declaring that they would be deceived: i.e. by the false prophets who prophesied peace.

soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13.

Jeremiah 4:11

wind. Hebrew. ruach. App-9.

Jeremiah 4:12

them. A special various reading called “Sevir” (App-34) reads “her”.

Jeremiah 4:15

from Dan . . . Ephraim. The enemy would enter the Land from the north, as he afterward did.

mount = hill country of.

Jeremiah 4:19

My bowels. Figure of speech Epizeuxis (App-6), for emphasis. Note the Figure of speech Hypotyposis, verses: 19-31. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Effect), for the emotions which produce and affect their movement.

bowels . . . very heart . . . heart. Note the Figure of speech Anabasis. App-6. See note below.

my very heart = the walls of my heart.

thou hast. Hebrew text reads “I have”; but margin and some codices, with three early printed editions, and Revised Version margin, read “thou hast”, as in Authorized Version.

Jeremiah 4:20

curtains. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), for tents, in which a large proportion of the people lived (2 Samuel 18:17. 1 Kings 8:66). Compare Jeremiah 10:20.

Jeremiah 4:22

known = acknowledged.

sottish = stupid. Probably from Celtic. Breton sot, or sod = stupid.

children = sons.

Jeremiah 4:23

I beheld. Note the Figure of speech Anaphora (App-6), commencing this and the three following verses.

lo. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6.

without form, and void. Hebrew. tohu va-bohu. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 1:2). Occurs only here. App-92. In Isaiah 34:11, the two words are in another connection. Compare also Isaiah 45:18.

light = lights (pl). Compare Genesis 1:14.

Jeremiah 4:26

at = because of.

and by. Some cod ices, with five early printed editions, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read “and because of”.

Jeremiah 4:27

yet will I not make a full end. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 26:44). App-92. Compare Jeremiah 5:10, Jeremiah 5:18.

Jeremiah 4:28

I have purposed it, and, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 23:19). App-92.

Jeremiah 4:29

city. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), for its inhabitants.

every = all, as in preceding clause.

Jeremiah 4:30

thou. Figure of speech Prosopopoeia, Put for idolatrous Israel. An adulterous woman.

rentest = enlargest (with paint).

face = eyes.

life = soul. Hebrew. nephesh.