Jeremiah 4:23

KJV

I beheld the earth, and, lo, [it was] without form, and void; and the heavens, and they [had] no light.

KJV (with Strong's)

I beheld {H7200} the earth {H776}, and, lo, it was without form {H8414}, and void {H922}; and the heavens {H8064}, and they had no light {H216}.

Complete Jewish Bible

I looked at the land - it was unformed and void - and at the sky - it had no light.

Berean Standard Bible

I looked at the earth, and it was formless and void; I looked to the heavens, and they had no light.

American Standard Version

I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was waste and void; and the heavens, and they had no light.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 4:23 presents a profound prophetic vision, where the prophet beholds the earth and heavens in a state of primordial chaos, "without form, and void," and devoid of light. This imagery is not a literal description of cosmic undoing, but a powerful metaphor for the devastating judgment God is about to unleash upon Judah due to their persistent rebellion and idolatry, signifying a complete reversal of the divine order and a return to desolation.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 4:23 is situated within a series of urgent prophetic warnings and laments concerning God's impending judgment on Judah. The preceding verses (Jeremiah 4:5-22) detail the coming invasion from the north, describing it as a swift, destructive force that will lay waste to the land and its cities. Jeremiah's personal anguish over this impending catastrophe is palpable, culminating in this vivid, almost apocalyptic vision. The phrase "I beheld" (or "I looked") introduces a prophetic oracle, emphasizing the certainty and divine origin of this terrifying revelation. This verse serves as a climactic depiction of the judgment's severity, portraying it as an "un-creation" of the land, a stark contrast to the initial divine ordering of the cosmos.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The prophecy of Jeremiah was delivered during a tumultuous period in Judah's history, spanning the reigns of several kings from Josiah to Zedekiah (late 7th to early 6th centuries BCE). Judah was caught between the waning power of Assyria and the rising dominance of Babylon. Despite repeated warnings from prophets like Jeremiah to repent and trust in the Lord, the people and their leaders largely persisted in idolatry, social injustice, and political alliances that defied God's covenant. The "destructive force" alluded to throughout Jeremiah 4 is historically understood to be the Babylonian army under Nebuchadnezzar, which would eventually conquer Jerusalem and lead to the exile. The imagery of desolation would have resonated deeply with an agricultural society, where the land's fertility and the stability of the heavens were seen as direct blessings from God, and their reversal signified ultimate divine displeasure.
* **Key Themes:** Jeremiah 4:23 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in the book of Jeremiah and biblical theology. The primary theme is **Divine Judgment and Desolation**, illustrating the severe consequences of covenant unfaithfulness and persistent sin. The imagery of the earth returning to a state "without form, and void" and the heavens having "no light" signifies a complete undoing of order and life, mirroring the chaos that Judah's rebellion has brought upon itself. This verse also highlights **Cosmic Reversal**, as it deliberately echoes and reverses the creation narrative found in [Genesis 1:2](/genesis/1-2 "Genesis 1:2 - The Earth Before Creation"), where God brought order out of chaos and light out of darkness. Jeremiah's vision depicts the land reverting to its pre-creation state, emphasizing the catastrophic nature of God's wrath and the profound consequences of rejecting His covenant. Finally, it underscores **God's Sovereignty**, demonstrating His absolute power to both create and, if necessary, to bring about total destruction and desolation as a just response to human rebellion, as seen in other judgment passages like [Isaiah 24:1-6](/isaiah/24-1 "Isaiah 24:1-6 - God's Judgment on the Earth").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **without form (Hebrew, _tôhûw'_):** From an unused root meaning "to lie waste," this term denotes a desolation of surface, a desert, or figuratively, a worthless thing. It implies confusion, emptiness, and a state of nothingness or waste. Its most famous biblical usage is in [Genesis 1:2](/genesis/1-2 "Genesis 1:2 - The Earth Before Creation"), where it describes the earth's state before God began His creative acts of ordering and filling. In Jeremiah, its re-application signifies a reversal of that divine ordering, a return to an uninhabitable, chaotic state.
* **void (Hebrew, _bôhûw'_):** From an unused root meaning "to be empty," this word signifies a vacuity or an undistinguishable ruin. It is almost always paired with _tôhûw_ (as in [Genesis 1:2](/genesis/1-2 "Genesis 1:2 - The Earth Before Creation")) to emphasize a state of utter emptiness, desolation, and lack of any discernible feature or life. Together, "without form and void" paints a picture of complete non-existence or undoing.
* **light (Hebrew, _ʼôwr'_):** This term refers to illumination, a concrete luminary, or brightness. In Genesis, God's first creative act was to bring forth light ([Genesis 1:3](/genesis/1-3 "Genesis 1:3 - God Creates Light")). Its absence in Jeremiah 4:23 signifies not merely darkness but the removal of divine presence, blessing, and life-giving order. It points to a profound spiritual and existential darkness, a state of despair and judgment where divine favor is utterly withdrawn.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"I beheld the earth, and, lo, [it was] without form, and void":** This clause introduces Jeremiah's prophetic vision, emphasizing its direct, divinely revealed nature. The earth, the very foundation of human existence and the promised land of Judah, is seen reverting to a state of primordial chaos. The phrase "without form, and void" directly echoes [Genesis 1:2](/genesis/1-2 "Genesis 1:2 - The Earth Before Creation"), signifying a complete undoing of God's creative order. It implies utter desolation, emptiness, and a return to an uninhabitable wilderness, symbolizing the destructive impact of God's judgment on Judah.
* **"and the heavens, and they [had] no light":** This second clause extends the vision of desolation to the celestial realm. Just as light was God's first act of creation, its absence in the heavens signifies a profound reversal of that order. It speaks to a complete lack of divine illumination, guidance, and blessing. The darkness represents despair, the withdrawal of God's presence, and a world plunged into the chaos of judgment, devoid of hope or life-sustaining warmth.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 4:23 is rich in literary devices that amplify its prophetic impact. The most prominent is **Allusion**, specifically to the creation account in [Genesis 1:2](/genesis/1-2 "Genesis 1:2 - The Earth Before Creation"). By using the precise Hebrew phrase _tohu wa-bohu_ ("without form, and void"), Jeremiah evokes the primeval chaos before creation, but here it is applied to the land of Judah, signifying an "un-creation" or de-creation. This creates a powerful **Inversion** of the Genesis narrative, where divine order is replaced by divine judgment leading to disorder. The imagery itself is a form of **Symbolism**, where the chaos and darkness symbolize the spiritual, social, and physical devastation that will befall Judah due to their sin. The vision employs **Hyperbole**, presenting an exaggerated, cosmic scale of destruction to emphasize the absolute severity and totality of God's impending judgment, far beyond mere military defeat, but a reversal of existence itself.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 4:23 stands as a stark theological declaration of God's righteous judgment against sin and rebellion. It reveals that God's covenant with His people, while marked by steadfast love, also carries the weight of serious consequences for unfaithfulness. The "un-creation" imagery underscores the profound disorder and existential threat that sin introduces into God's created order. It is a reminder that God, who is the author of all life and order, also possesses the power to withdraw His sustaining hand and allow creation to revert to chaos when His moral and spiritual laws are consistently flouted. This passage serves as a powerful testament to divine justice, demonstrating that God's holiness demands a response to human wickedness, even if that response is devastating to His own people.

* [Genesis 1:2](/genesis/1-2 "Genesis 1:2 - The Earth Before Creation")
* [Isaiah 24:1-6](/isaiah/24-1 "Isaiah 24:1-6 - The Earth Laid Waste by God's Judgment")
* [Lamentations 2:1-5](/lamentations/2-1 "Lamentations 2:1-5 - God's Wrath Against Zion")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 4:23 serves as a sobering mirror, reflecting the profound and devastating consequences of persistent rebellion against God. For individuals and communities today, this vision warns that turning away from God's light and order inevitably leads to a form of spiritual and societal "un-creation." When we reject divine wisdom, moral boundaries, and the call to repentance, our lives, relationships, and even societies can descend into confusion, emptiness, and darkness, mirroring the "without form, and void" state. This passage urges us to take sin seriously, recognizing its destructive power to unravel the very fabric of peace, purpose, and flourishing that God intends. It compels us to heed God's warnings, to embrace repentance, and to seek His light and order, lest we experience a similar desolation in our own lives, where hope diminishes and chaos reigns.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life or our society do I see signs of "un-creation" or a return to chaos, and how might these be linked to a turning away from God's order?**
* **How does the severity of God's judgment in this verse deepen my understanding of His holiness and justice?**
* **What specific actions can I take to embrace God's light and order, and to resist the descent into spiritual "voidness"?**

### FAQ
**Is Jeremiah 4:23 a literal prophecy about the end of the world?**

Answer: While the imagery of Jeremiah 4:23 is cosmic in scope, depicting the earth "without form, and void" and the heavens without light, it is primarily a **prophetic metaphor** for the devastating judgment God would bring upon the land of Judah. It describes the land's return to a chaotic, uninhabitable state through the ravages of war and desolation, rather than a literal, global eschatological event. The language intentionally echoes [Genesis 1:2](/genesis/1-2 "Genesis 1:2 - The Earth Before Creation") to emphasize the complete undoing of the ordered, blessed existence God had established for His people in the promised land, reducing it to a wilderness.

**How does Jeremiah 4:23 relate to the creation account in Genesis 1?**

Answer: Jeremiah 4:23 directly alludes to [Genesis 1:2](/genesis/1-2 "Genesis 1:2 - The Earth Before Creation"), where the earth is described as "without form, and void" (_tohu wa-bohu_) before God began His work of creation. By using this precise phrase, Jeremiah powerfully reverses the creation narrative. In Genesis, God brings order out of chaos and light out of darkness ([Genesis 1:3](/genesis/1-3 "Genesis 1:3 - God Creates Light")). In Jeremiah, due to Judah's sin, God allows the land to revert to a state of chaos and darkness, effectively "un-creating" it. This literary device underscores the severity of God's judgment, portraying it as a undoing of the very blessings and order He had established.

**What is the primary message of this verse for believers today?**

Answer: The primary message of Jeremiah 4:23 for believers today is a sobering reminder of the gravity of sin and the certainty of divine justice. It illustrates that persistent rebellion against God's covenant and moral order can lead to profound spiritual, social, and even physical desolation, mirroring the cosmic chaos described. It calls us to take seriously God's warnings, to live in repentance, and to cling to the light and order that God provides, lest our own lives or communities experience a similar "voidness" and darkness. It underscores God's sovereignty and His ultimate authority over creation and judgment.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Jeremiah 4:23 vividly portrays the chaos and darkness that sin brings, its ultimate fulfillment points to the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. The "without form, and void" state of the earth under judgment foreshadows the spiritual void and darkness that grips humanity apart from God. Humanity, plunged into the chaos of sin, is indeed "without form" in its original divine image and "void" of true life and purpose. However, Jesus, as the incarnate Word, is the one through whom all things were created, and in Him "was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it" ([John 1:4-5](/john/1-4 "John 1:4-5 - Life and Light in Christ")). He is the true light who came into a world shrouded in spiritual darkness, bringing order and new creation. Through His atoning sacrifice, Christ took upon Himself the full weight of God's judgment, preventing the ultimate "un-creation" (eternal separation) for those who believe. He is the one who brings order out of the chaos of our broken lives, transforming us into a "new creation" ([2 Corinthians 5:17](/2_corinthians/5-17 "2 Corinthians 5:17 - New Creation in Christ")), and establishing a new heavens and new earth where there will be no more curse, no more darkness, but the very light of God ([Revelation 21:1-5](/revelation/21-1 "Revelation 21:1-5 - New Heavens and New Earth")). Thus, the terrifying vision of Jeremiah's de-creation finds its ultimate answer and reversal in the re-creative power and light of Christ.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Matthew 24:29

Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

Mark 13:24

¶ But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,

Mark 13:25

And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.

Isaiah 13:10

For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.

Joel 3:15

The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.

Joel 3:16

The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD [will be] the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.

Genesis 1:2

And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness [was] upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.