Jeremiah 4:3-4
New English Translation
3 Yes,[a] this is what the Lord has said
to the people of Judah and Jerusalem:
“Break up your unplowed ground, do not cast seeds among thorns.[b]
4 Commit yourselves to the Lord;
dedicate your hearts to me[c]
people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem.
Otherwise, my anger will blaze up like a flaming fire against you
that no one will be able to extinguish.
That will happen because of the evil you have done.”
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 4:3 tn The particle כִּי (ki) is asseverative (“indeed, yes”) here rather than causal (“for”) because the content of v. 3 and following reaffirms the content of vv. 1-2.
- Jeremiah 4:3 sn The agricultural imagery seems to be that they are to plow over the thorns and make the ground ready for seeds that will produce a new crop. The spiritual application of breaking up their rebellious will and turning from sin is metaphorically stated in the next verse.
- Jeremiah 4:4 tn Heb “Circumcise yourselves to the Lord and remove the foreskin of your heart.” sn Circumcising the heart is a metaphor for being dedicated to the Lord. It is associated with not being stubborn and with loving God in Deut 10:16; 30:6. See also Josh 5 for a ceremony of circumcision connected with national dedication.
Jeremiah 4:3-4
World English Bible
3 For Yahweh says to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem, “Break up your fallow ground, and don’t sow among thorns. 4 Circumcise yourselves to Yahweh, and take away the foreskins of your heart, you men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem; lest my wrath go out like fire, and burn so that no one can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.
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