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Jeremiah 4:9

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Jeremiah 4:9 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And it shall come to pass at that day, saith Jehovah, that the heart of the king shall perish, and the heart of the princes; and the priests shall be astonished, and the prophets shall wonder.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And it shall come to pass at that day, saith Jehovah, that the heart of the king shall perish, and the heart of the princes; and the priests shall be astonished, and the prophets shall wonder.
Jeremiah 4:9 — American Standard Version

Context — Jeremiah 4

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
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.
8For this gird you with sackcloth, lament and wail; for the fierce anger of Jehovah is not turned back from us.
9And it shall come to pass at that day, saith Jehovah, that the heart of the king shall perish, and the heart of the princes; and the priests shall be astonished, and the prophets shall wonder.
10Then said I, Ah, Lord Jehovah! surely thou hast greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall have peace; whereas the sword reacheth unto the life.
11At that time shall it be said to this people and to Jerusalem, A hot wind from the bare heights in the wilderness toward the daughter of my people, not to winnow, nor to cleanse;
12a full wind from these shall come for me: now will I also utter judgments against them.
← Jeremiah 4:8Jeremiah 4:10 →
← Full Chapter 4 Jeremiah Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And it shall come to pass at that day, saith the Lord, etc.] When Nebuchadnezzar should be come up from Babylon into the land of Judea, and lay waste the cities thereof, and besiege Jerusalem: that the heart of the king shall perish; meaning Zedekiah king of Judah, who should be in the utmost fright and consternation, not knowing what to do, being devoid both of wisdom and courage; (see <243904>Jeremiah 39:4): and the heart of the princes; who being seized with the same panic, and at their wits’ end, would not be able to give any advice and counsel to the king; so that the people would have no help from the king and his nobles, in whom they put their confidence: and the priests shall be…”
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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
“heart--The wisdom of the most leading men will be utterly at a loss to devise means of relief.”
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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
“The heart - They shall have no heart to do any thing, they shall not be able to help their people, either by their counsel or arms. Prophets - False prophets that had nothing but visions of peace for them. Jeremiah 4:10”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“4:9 The impact of the foreign invasion would show Judah’s leaders that they were not as invincible as they believed (48:41; Isa 22:3-5).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“that the heart: Jer 39:4, Jer 39:5, Jer 52:7; Sa1 25:37, Sa1 25:38; Kg2 25:4; Psa 102:4; Isa 19:3, Isa 19:11, Isa 19:12, Isa 19:16; Isa 21:3, Isa 21:4, Isa 22:3-5 and the priests: Jer 5:31, Jer 6:13, Jer 6:14, Jer 37:19; Isa 29:9, Isa 29:10; Eze 13:9-16; Act 13:41 Jeremiah 4:10”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“When this wrath bursts over them, the rulers and leaders of the people will be perplexed and helpless. The heart, i.e., the mind, is lot. For this use of לב, cf. Job 12:3; Job 34:10; Pro 7:7, etc. נשׁמּוּ, be paralyzed by terror, like the Kal in Jer 2:12. The prophets are mentioned last, because Jer 4:10 cites a word of prophecy whereby they seduced the people into a false security. Jeremiah 4:10”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification