Jeremiah 4:5

¶ Declare ye in Judah, and publish in Jerusalem; and say, Blow ye the trumpet in the land: cry, gather together, and say, Assemble yourselves, and let us go into the defenced cities.

Declare {H5046} ye in Judah {H3063}, and publish {H8085} in Jerusalem {H3389}; and say {H559}, Blow {H8628} ye the trumpet {H7782} in the land {H776}: cry {H7121}, gather together {H4390}, and say {H559}, Assemble {H622} yourselves, and let us go {H935} into the defenced {H4013} cities {H5892}.

"Announce in Y'hudah, proclaim in Yerushalayim; say: 'Blow the shofar in the land!' Shout the message aloud: 'Assemble! Let us go to the fortified cities!'

Announce in Judah, proclaim in Jerusalem, and say: “Blow the ram’s horn throughout the land. Cry aloud and say, ‘Assemble yourselves and let us flee to the fortified cities.’

Declare 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.

Jeremiah 4:5 issues an urgent divine command to the people of Judah and Jerusalem, calling them to prepare for an impending invasion. This verse serves as a stark warning, emphasizing the immediate danger facing the nation.

Context

This verse is situated early in the book of Jeremiah, a prophet called by God to warn the kingdom of Judah about their impending destruction due to their idolatry and disobedience. The warnings in Jeremiah 4 specifically detail the approach of a formidable enemy from the north, widely understood to be the Babylonian empire. The commands in this verse are not merely suggestions but urgent instructions for the people to mobilize and seek safety as the threat draws near.

Key Themes

  • Urgent Warning and Imminent Danger: The repeated commands ("Declare," "publish," "say," "cry," "assemble") underscore the immediate and severe nature of the threat. The enemy is not a distant possibility but an approaching reality.
  • Call to Assembly and Defense: The directive to "blow ye the trumpet" and "gather together" is a summons for the populace to assemble. The instruction to "go into the fenced cities" highlights the strategy for physical protection against the invading forces.
  • Divine Judgment: While not explicitly stated in this verse, the preceding and succeeding verses in Jeremiah make it clear that this impending invasion is a direct consequence of Judah's unfaithfulness and rebellion against God. The warning is a manifestation of God's righteous judgment.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "blow ye the trumpet" translates from the Hebrew verb taq'u (תִּקְעוּ), meaning to strike or thrust, often used in the context of blowing the shofar (שופר), a ram's horn. The shofar was used not only for religious festivals but crucially as a signal for alarm, war, or assembly, conveying extreme urgency. The "fenced cities" (Hebrew: mitsarim - מִבְצָרִים) refers to fortified, walled cities, which were the primary means of defense in ancient times, offering refuge from open attack.

Related Scriptures

The blowing of the trumpet, a common signal in ancient Israel for alarm or assembly, signifies the immediate and grave danger, much like the prophetic alarm sounded in Joel. This urgent call to gather into 'fenced cities' highlights the immediate threat and the need for physical protection against the invading forces from the north, a theme introduced earlier in Jeremiah's prophecy. The overall context of God's call for repentance precedes this warning, as seen in Jeremiah 4:1.

Practical Application

For believers today, Jeremiah 4:5 serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of heeding spiritual warnings. Just as ancient Judah was called to prepare for physical danger, we are called to be vigilant against spiritual complacency and the schemes of the enemy. It emphasizes the need for spiritual preparedness and seeking refuge in God's truth and community when facing trials or temptations. The verse also underscores the reality of consequences for disobedience and the urgency of responding to God's calls for repentance and righteousness.

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.

  • Jeremiah 8:14

    Why do we sit still? assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the defenced cities, and let us be silent there: for the LORD our God hath put us to silence, and given us water of gall to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD.

  • Joshua 10:20

    And it came to pass, when Joshua and the children of Israel had made an end of slaying them with a very great slaughter, till they were consumed, that the rest [which] remained of them entered into fenced cities.

  • Jeremiah 6:1

    ¶ O ye children of Benjamin, gather yourselves to flee out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and set up a sign of fire in Bethhaccerem: for evil appeareth out of the north, and great destruction.

  • Hosea 8:1

    ¶ [Set] the trumpet to thy mouth. [He shall come] as an eagle against the house of the LORD, because they have transgressed my covenant, and trespassed against my law.

  • Amos 3:6

    Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done [it]?

  • Amos 3:8

    The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?

  • Jeremiah 11:2

    Hear ye the words of this covenant, and speak unto the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem;

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