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Jeremiah 4:28

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Jeremiah 4:28 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black; because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and I have not repented, neither will I turn back from it.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black; because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and I have not repented, neither will I turn back from it.
Jeremiah 4:28 — American Standard Version

Context — Jeremiah 4

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
25I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled.
26I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful field was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of Jehovah, [and] before his fierce anger.
27For thus saith Jehovah, The whole land shall be a desolation; yet will I not make a full end.
28For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black; because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and I have not repented, neither will I turn back from it.
29Every city fleeth for the noise of the horsemen and bowmen; they go into the thickets, and climb up upon the rocks: every city is forsaken, and not a man dwelleth therein.
30And thou, when thou art made desolate, what wilt thou do? Though thou clothest thyself with scarlet, though thou deckest thee with ornaments of gold, though thou enlargest thine eyes with paint, in vain dost thou make thyself fair; [thy] lovers despise thee, they seek thy life.
31For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, the anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion, that gaspeth for breath, that spreadeth her hands, [saying], Woe is me now! for my soul fainteth before the murderers.
← Jeremiah 4:27Jeremiah 4:29 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“For this shall the earth mourn, etc.] That is, for the full end that will be made hereafter, though not now; the earth may be said to mourn when the inhabitants of it do; or when it is destroyed, and is become desolate, as the Targum, Jarchi, and Kimchi, explain it; when it is uncultivated and uninhabited: and the heavens above be black; with thick clouds, and storms, and tempests; in allusion to mourners, that are clothed with black: these figures, of the earth’s mourning, and the heavens being clothed in black, denote the horribleness of that dispensation, when there would be an utter destruction of the Jewish nation, church, and polity, of which Daniel prophesies, (<270927>Daniel 9:27):…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“For this--on account of the desolations just described (Isa 5:30; Hos 4:3). not repent-- (Num 23:19).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“For ... - Because of this doom upon Judah. I have purposed it - The Septuagint arrangement restores the parallelism: For I have spoken, and will not repent, I have purposed, and will not turn back from it. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Mourn - Expressions to set forth the dreadfulness of the judgment; he makes the elements to personate mourners. Jeremiah 4:31”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“4:28 At funerals in Hebrew society, it was customary for people to mourn and be draped in black (cp. Isa 5:30; 50:3). The Lord had determined the people’s guilt, and he promised to be true to his word (Jer 5:10; 30:11, 24; Isa 5:30; 46:10-11).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“the earth: Jer 4:23-26, Jer 12:4, Jer 23:10; Isa 24:4, Isa 33:8, Isa 33:9; Hos 4:3; Joe 1:10 the heavens: Isa 5:30, Isa 34:4, Isa 50:3; Joe 2:30, Joe 2:31; Mat 27:45; Mar 15:33; Luk 23:44; Rev 6:12 because: Jer 7:16, Jer 14:11, Jer 14:12, Jer 15:1-9; Num 23:19; Sa1 15:29; Isa 14:24-27, Isa 46:10, Isa 46:11; Eze 24:14; Hos 13:14; Eph 1:9, Eph 1:11; Heb 7:21 Jeremiah 4:29”
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Related study paths

Read Jeremiah 4 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification