Jeremiah 4:3
1 If thou wilt return, O Israel, saith the LORD, return unto me: and if thou wilt put away thine abominations out of my sight, then shalt thou not remove.
2 And thou shalt swear, The LORD liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.
For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.
4 Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.
5 Declare ye in Judah, and publish in Jerusalem; and say, Blow ye the trumpet in the land: cry, gather together, and say, Assemble yourselves, and let us go into the defenced cities.
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- For this is what the LORD says to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: “Break up your unplowed ground, and do not sow among the thorns.
- KJV
- For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.
- WEB
- For the LORD says to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem, “Break up your fallow ground, and don’t sow among thorns.
- ASV
- For thus saith Jehovah to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.
- DARBY
- For thus saith Jehovah to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: Break up for you a fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.
- BLB
- For thus says YHWH to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: “Break up for yourself the unplowed ground, and do not sow among thorns.
- ÅB
- For så sier Herren til Judas menn og til Jerusalem: Bryt dere nytt land og så ikke blant torner!
- OTB
- For dette er hva Herren sier til folket i Juda og til Jerusalem: «Bryt opp deres upløyde mark og så ikke blant torner.
- B1930
- For så sier Herren til Judas menn og til Jerusalem: Bryt eder nytt land og så ikke blandt torner!
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Hosea 10:12
Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.
Read in contextLuke 8:14
And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
Read in contextLuke 8:7
And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.
Read in contextGalatians 6:7–8
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Read in contextMark 4:18–19
And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
Read in contextMatthew 13:7
And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
Read in contextMark 4:7
And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.
Read in contextMatthew 13:22
He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
Read in context