Jeremiah 4:5
3 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.
4 Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and remove the foreskins of your hearts, O men of Judah and people of Jerusalem. Otherwise, My wrath will break out like fire and burn with no one to extinguish it, because of your evil deeds.”
Announce in Judah, proclaim in Jerusalem, and say: “Blow the ram’s horn throughout the land. Cry aloud and say, ‘Assemble yourselves and let us flee to the fortified cities.’
6 Raise a signal flag toward Zion. Seek refuge! Do not delay! For I am bringing disaster from the north, and terrible destruction.
7 A lion has gone up from his thicket, and a destroyer of nations has set out. He has left his lair to lay waste your land. Your cities will be reduced to ruins and lie uninhabited.
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
- Announce in Judah, proclaim in Jerusalem, and say: “Blow the ram’s horn throughout the land. Cry aloud and say, ‘Assemble yourselves and let us flee to the fortified cities.’
- KJV
- 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.
- WEB
- Declare in Judah, and publish in Jerusalem; and say, ‘Blow the trumpet in the land!’ Cry aloud and say, ‘Assemble yourselves! Let’s go into the fortified cities!’
- ASV
- Declare ye in Judah, and publish in Jerusalem; and say, Blow ye the trumpet in the land: cry aloud and say, Assemble yourselves, and let us go into the fortified cities.
- DARBY
- Declare ye in Judah, and cause it to be heard in Jerusalem, and say, and blow the trumpet in the land, cry aloud and say, Assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the fenced cities.
- BLB
- Declare in Judah and in Jerusalem! Proclaim and say, “Blow the shofar in the land; call out, gather together, and say: ‘Assemble, and let us go into the fortified cities!’
- ÅB
- Forkynn det i Juda og kunngjør det i Jerusalem og si: Støt i basun i landet! Rop ut med full røst og si: Samle dere og la oss gå inn i de faste byer!
- OTB
- «Forkynn i Juda og kunngjør i Jerusalem, og si: ‘Blås i trompeten over hele landet!’ Rop høyt og si: ‘Samle dere og la oss flykte til de befestede byene!’
- B1930
- Forkynn det i Juda og kunngjør det i Jerusalem og si: Støt i basun i landet! Rop ut med full røst og si: Samle eder og la oss gå inn i de faste byer!
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Jeremiah 8:14
Why are we just sitting here? Gather together, let us flee to the fortified cities and perish there, for the LORD our God has doomed us. He has given us poisoned water to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD.
Read in contextJoshua 10:20
So Joshua and the Israelites continued to inflict a terrible slaughter until they had finished them off, and the remaining survivors retreated to the fortified cities.
Read in contextJeremiah 6:1
“Run for cover, O sons of Benjamin; flee from Jerusalem! Sound the ram’s horn in Tekoa; send up a signal over Beth-haccherem, for disaster looms from the north, even great destruction.
Read in contextHosea 8:1
Put the ram’s horn to your lips! An eagle looms over the house of the LORD, because the people have transgressed My covenant and rebelled against My law.
Read in contextAmos 3:6
If a ram’s horn sounds in a city, do the people not tremble? If calamity comes to a city, has not the LORD caused it?
Read in contextJeremiah 9:12
Who is the man wise enough to understand this? To whom has the mouth of the LORD spoken, that he may explain it? Why is the land destroyed and scorched like a desert, so no one can pass through it?
Read in contextJeremiah 5:20
Declare this in the house of Jacob and proclaim it in Judah:
Read in contextAmos 3:8
The lion has roared— who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken— who will not prophesy?
Read in context