Jeremiah 4:3

¶ For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.

For thus saith {H559} the LORD {H3068} to the men {H376} of Judah {H3063} and Jerusalem {H3389}, Break up {H5214} your fallow ground {H5215}, and sow {H2232} not among thorns {H6975}.

For here is what ADONAI says to the people of Y'hudah and Yerushalayim: "Break up your ground that hasn't been plowed, and do not sow among thorns."

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.

For thus saith Jehovah to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.

Jeremiah 4:3 delivers a powerful agricultural metaphor from the LORD to the people of Judah and Jerusalem, urging them towards genuine spiritual transformation. It’s a direct command to prepare their hearts to receive God’s word effectively and avoid the futility of insincere devotion.

Context

This verse is situated early in the book of Jeremiah, a prophetic message delivered during a critical period in Judah's history, just prior to the Babylonian exile. The prophet Jeremiah tirelessly called the nation to repentance, warning them of impending judgment due to their persistent idolatry, social injustice, and spiritual complacency. Despite outward religious observance, their hearts were far from God. This specific instruction, "Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns," is part of a larger plea for the people to genuinely turn back to the LORD with their whole being, rather than merely performing rituals.

Key Themes

  • Spiritual Preparation: The primary message is the necessity of preparing one's heart and mind to receive God's truth. "Fallow ground" refers to unplowed, uncultivated land – hard and unproductive. Spiritually, it represents a hardened, unreceptive heart, resistant to God's word.
  • Removing Obstacles: The command "sow not among thorns" highlights the futility of attempting to plant good seed (God's word) where it will be choked out by "thorns" – metaphorical for sins, worldly desires, distractions, and unconfessed rebellion that hinder spiritual growth. This echoes the vivid imagery found in the Parable of the Sower taught by Jesus.
  • Genuine Repentance: This verse underscores that true repentance is not just outward confession but an inward transformation that clears away spiritual debris, making the heart receptive to God's will. It’s a call for a renewed spirit, much like the promise of a new heart and new spirit in Ezekiel.
  • Divine Authority: The phrase "For thus saith the LORD" emphasizes that this is not Jeremiah's personal opinion but a direct, authoritative word from God Himself, commanding His people to seek genuine spiritual revival.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew term for "fallow ground" is nir (ניר), which specifically means land that has been left uncultivated, allowing weeds and hard soil to develop. The verb "break up" is niru (נירו), an imperative command to plow or cultivate, implying active and intentional effort to prepare the soil. This agricultural imagery is powerful because it was highly relatable to an agrarian society, making the spiritual truth immediately understandable: just as hard, thorny ground yields no harvest, so a hardened, cluttered heart cannot produce spiritual fruit.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 4:3 remains profoundly relevant today. It calls believers to a continuous process of self-examination and spiritual discipline:

  • Examine Your Heart: What "fallow ground" or "thorns" exist in your life? Are there areas of unforgiveness, unconfessed sin, worldly attachments, or spiritual apathy that are hardening your heart or choking out God's word?
  • Active Repentance: "Breaking up" fallow ground requires effort. This means actively confessing sins, turning away from harmful patterns, and intentionally seeking God's will. It's about creating a receptive spiritual environment.
  • Cultivate Receptivity: Once the "ground" is prepared, we must be diligent not to "sow among thorns" by allowing new distractions or old habits to creep back in. Instead, we should cultivate a heart that is fertile for God's word, allowing it to take root and produce genuine spiritual fruit. This involves consistent prayer, study of Scripture, and obedience to God's commands.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Hosea 10:12

    Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for [it is] time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.

  • Luke 8:14

    And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of [this] life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

  • Luke 8:7

    And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.

  • Galatians 6:7

    Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

  • Galatians 6:8

    For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

  • Mark 4:18

    And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,

  • Mark 4:19

    And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

Add TrulyRandomVerse to your Home Screen for quick access!

← Back