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Jeremiah 4:4

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Jeremiah 4:4 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Circumcise yourselves to Jehovah, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem; lest my wrath go forth like fire, and burn so that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Circumcise yourselves to Jehovah, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem; lest my wrath go forth like fire, and burn so that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.
Jeremiah 4:4 — American Standard Version

Context — Jeremiah 4

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1If thou wilt return, O Israel, saith Jehovah, if thou wilt return unto me, and if thou wilt put away thine abominations out of my sight; then shalt thou not be removed;
2and thou shalt swear, As Jehovah liveth, in truth, in justice, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.
3For thus saith Jehovah to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.
4Circumcise yourselves to Jehovah, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem; lest my wrath go forth like fire, and burn so that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.
5Declare 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.
6Set up a standard toward Zion: flee for safety, stay not; for I will bring evil from the north, and a great destruction.
7A lion is gone up from his thicket, and a destroyer of nations; he is on his way, he is gone forth from his place, to make thy land desolate, that thy cities be laid waste, without inhabitant.
← Jeremiah 4:3Jeremiah 4:5 →
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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
“Circumcise yourselves to the Lord, etc.] Or, “be ye circumcised”, as the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions render it. This is to be understood of the circumcision of the heart, as Kimchi observes; and as appears from the following words: and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah, and inhabitants of Jerusalem; this is the true spiritual circumcision; and they that are possessed of it are the circumcision, the only truly circumcised persons; and they are such who have been pricked to the heart, and thoroughly convinced of sin; who have had the hardness of their hearts removed, and the impurity of it laid open to them; which they have beheld with shame and loathing, and…”
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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
“Remove your natural corruption of heart (Deu 10:16; Deu 30:6; Rom 2:29; Col 2:11).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“See the Deuteronomy 10:16 note. Nature, such as it is in itself, unconsecrated to God, is to be removed from our inner selves, that a new and spiritual nature may take its place. Lest my fury ... - God is long-suffering, but unless this change take place, the time of judgment must at length come to all as it came to Jerusalem - “like fire” (compare 1 Corinthians 3:13; Philippians 2:12-13). Jeremiah 4:5-30 “God’s Judgment upon the Unrepentant” A group of prophecies now commences, extending to Jeremiah 10:25, but broken at the beginning of Jeremiah 7:0 by a new heading. The subject of them all is the same, namely, the approaching devastation of Judaea by a hostile army in punishment of its…”
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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
“Circumcise - Put away your corruptions. Heart - Let it be inward, not outward in the flesh only. Jeremiah 4:5”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“4:4 To deal with their sin, the people needed to give up the pride and power that were so precious to them (Deut 10:16; 30:6; Amos 5:6; Mark 9:43; Rom 2:28; Col 2:11). • surrender your pride and power: Literally circumcise yourselves. Circumcision was a covenant sign of submission to God.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“take: Jer 9:26; Deu 10:16, Deu 30:6; Eze 18:31; Rom 2:28, Rom 2:29; Col 2:11 lest: Jer 21:5, Jer 21:12, Jer 23:19, Jer 36:7; Lev 26:28; Deu 32:22; Isa 30:27, Isa 30:28, Isa 51:17; Lam 4:11; Eze 5:13-15, Eze 6:12, Eze 8:18, Eze 16:38, Eze 20:33, Eze 20:47, Eze 20:48, Eze 21:17, Eze 24:8, Eze 24:13; Amo 5:6; Zep 2:2; Mar 9:43-50 Jeremiah 4:5”
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Related study paths

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

Sources and verification