Jeremiah 4:8

KJV

For this gird you with sackcloth, lament and howl: for the fierce anger of the LORD is not turned back from us.

KJV (with Strong's)

For this gird {H2296} you with sackcloth {H8242}, lament {H5594} and howl {H3213}: for the fierce {H2740} anger {H639} of the LORD {H3068} is not turned back {H7725} from us.

Complete Jewish Bible

So wrap yourselves in sackcloth, lament and wail, for ADONAI's fierce anger has not turned away from us.

Berean Standard Bible

So put on sackcloth, mourn and wail, for the fierce anger of the LORD has not turned away from us.”

American Standard Version

For this gird you with sackcloth, lament and wail; for the fierce anger of Jehovah is not turned back from us.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 4:8 delivers a stark prophetic summons to the people of Judah, instructing them to engage in profound and public mourning. This command for lamentation is presented not as a means to avert an impending catastrophe, but as an acknowledgment of its grim inevitability. The verse unequivocally declares that the "fierce anger of the LORD" has been irrevocably set against them, a direct consequence of their persistent rebellion and unfaithfulness, signifying that the window for repentance to turn back divine judgment has definitively closed.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 4:8 is strategically placed within a pivotal section of Jeremiah's prophecy (chapters 4-6), which vividly describes the imminent invasion of Judah by a formidable enemy from the north, widely understood to be the Babylonians. This verse marks a critical shift in Jeremiah's message: while earlier chapters contained conditional warnings and earnest calls to repentance, offering hope of averted judgment if Judah returned to God (e.g., the plea in [Jeremiah 3:12-14](/jeremiah/3-12-14 "Jeremiah 3:12-14 - Call to Repentance")), by chapter 4, the tone becomes one of grim certainty. The judgment is now presented as a sealed reality, a divine decree that will not be reversed. The imperative to "gird you with sackcloth, lament and howl" is thus not a call to repentance for the sake of averting disaster, but a somber command to mourn a calamity already determined. The verse underscores the finality of God's decision after prolonged patience and unheeded warnings, setting the stage for the graphic descriptions of destruction that follow in the subsequent verses and chapters.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical backdrop for Jeremiah 4:8 is the late 7th century BCE, a tumultuous and precarious period in Judah's history. The once-dominant Assyrian Empire was in decline, creating a power vacuum that rising empires like Babylon and Egypt sought to fill. Judah, caught between these geopolitical giants, frequently wavered in its political and spiritual allegiances, consistently turning to idolatry and breaking its covenant with Yahweh. Culturally, the command to "gird you with sackcloth, lament and howl" refers to deeply ingrained ancient Near Eastern mourning customs. Sackcloth, a coarse, dark fabric typically made of goat hair, was worn directly against the skin as a potent sign of profound grief, humility, and often, penitence. Public lamentation, involving loud wailing, tearing of clothes, and even self-affliction, was a common communal response to death, disaster, or impending doom. While such acts could indeed accompany genuine repentance (as powerfully demonstrated by Nineveh's response in [Jonah 3:5-9](/jonah/3-5-9 "Jonah 3:5-9 - Nineveh's Repentance")), in Jeremiah 4:8, they signify a response to an unavoidable judgment, a public display of national sorrow for a fate that cannot be escaped. The "fierce anger of the LORD" reflects a divine response to Judah's sustained spiritual adultery and pervasive social injustice, which had reached a point of no return.

* **Key Themes:** Jeremiah 4:8 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the book of Jeremiah and prophetic literature generally. Foremost is the theme of **Divine Judgment and Wrath**. The phrase "fierce anger of the LORD" (Hebrew: *chârôwn 'aph YHWH*) emphasizes the intensity, righteousness, and just indignation of God against sin. The declaration that this anger "is not turned back from us" highlights the **Irreversibility of Judgment** once God's patience has been exhausted and His decree has been issued. This contrasts sharply with earlier prophetic appeals where repentance could avert disaster, underscoring the severity of Judah's unfaithfulness. Another key theme is the **Consequences of Sin**, demonstrating unequivocally that persistent rebellion against God's covenant leads inevitably to severe and devastating repercussions. The command to **Mourning and Lamentation** serves not only as a cultural expression of grief but also as a prophetic sign-act, visually and audibly representing the depth of the impending national catastrophe and the appropriate, albeit belated, human response to divine wrath. This verse powerfully encapsulates the somber reality that God's justice is as certain as His mercy, and that His warnings, when ignored, lead to unavoidable judgment, as also seen in passages like [Jeremiah 25:15-17](/jeremiah/25-15-17 "Jeremiah 25:15-17 - The Cup of God's Wrath").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Gird (Hebrew, _châgar'_):** A primitive root meaning "to gird on" (as a belt, armor, etc.), this verb is an imperative command in Jeremiah 4:8, instructing the people to "gird yourselves," specifically with sackcloth. This act signifies preparation for, and adoption of, a specific state or action—here, the solemn and public display of deep mourning. It implies taking on the very posture and appearance of profound distress, making it an active and deliberate response to the impending doom rather than a passive reaction.
* **Fierce (Hebrew, _chârôwn'_):** Derived from a root meaning "to burn," this noun describes a "burning of anger" or "sore displeasure." It denotes an intense, hot, and consuming wrath, distinct from a fleeting emotion. When paired with "anger" (*'aph*), it emphasizes the extreme, unyielding, and formidable nature of God's indignation. Its use here underscores the severity, unmitigated force, and righteous intensity of the divine judgment about to be unleashed upon Judah.
* **Turned back (Hebrew, _shûwb'_):** This versatile primitive root means "to turn back" or "return," often implying a reversal or retreat. In Jeremiah 4:8, the phrase "is not turned back" (a negative participle) conveys that God's anger has not receded, nor will it be averted or reversed. It signifies an unchangeable and irreversible divine decree. The path of judgment has been firmly set, and there is no possibility of turning it aside, highlighting the finality of the impending doom and the futility of any action to escape it.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For this gird you with sackcloth,"**: This opening clause serves as an imperative command, a direct instruction from the prophet to the people. "For this" refers to the preceding declarations of impending judgment and the certainty of God's wrath. The command to "gird you with sackcloth" is a call to adopt the traditional garb of deep mourning and distress. It is a public, visible act, signifying a state of profound sorrow and humility in the face of overwhelming calamity. Crucially, it is not presented as a means of repentance to avert the disaster, but as the appropriate, albeit desperate, response to its inevitability.
* **"lament and howl:"**: These two verbs intensify the call for mourning, moving beyond the visual symbol of sackcloth to an audible expression of anguish. "Lament" (*çâphad*) implies a deep, mournful wailing, often associated with mourning for the dead or for great national tragedy, involving tearing of hair and beating of breasts. "Howl" (*yâlal*) denotes a cry of intense pain, anguish, and utter desperation, a guttural sound of despair. Together, these commands paint a vivid picture of widespread, unrestrained, and public grief, reflecting the utter devastation that awaits Judah.
* **"for the fierce anger of the LORD"**: This clause provides the crucial theological justification for the preceding commands. The "fierce anger" (*chârôwn 'aph*) of the LORD (YHWH) is the divine cause behind the impending calamity. This is not a capricious outburst but a righteous, intense, and burning wrath, a just response to Judah's prolonged and unrepentant sin against their covenant God. The use of the divine name YHWH emphasizes that this judgment emanates from the sovereign, covenant-keeping God of Israel, whose character includes both mercy and justice.
* **"is not turned back from us."**: This final, declarative statement underscores the grim reality of the situation. The anger of the LORD is not only fierce but also irreversible. The phrase "is not turned back" signifies that God's decree of judgment has been firmly set; it will not recede, nor can it be diverted or appeased by last-minute efforts. The time for averting the disaster has passed, leaving only the experience of its full force. This emphasizes the finality of God's decision and the hopelessness of Judah's situation in the face of His unyielding justice.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 4:8 employs several potent **Literary Devices** to convey its urgent and somber message. The primary device is **Imperative Mood**, as seen in the direct commands "gird you," "lament," and "howl." These are not suggestions but forceful injunctions, highlighting the prophet's authority and the dire necessity of the prescribed actions. **Symbolism** is powerfully present in "sackcloth," which universally symbolizes deep grief, humility, and distress in ancient Near Eastern cultures. Its donning is a visual and tactile representation of the nation's impending sorrow. The verbs "lament" and "howl" constitute vivid **Auditory Imagery**, creating a soundscape of national wailing and despair, allowing the audience to "hear" the future suffering. The phrase "fierce anger" uses **Hyperbole** to emphasize the extreme intensity of God's wrath, portraying it as an uncontainable, burning force. Furthermore, the concept of anger "not turned back" employs a subtle form of **Personification**, attributing an active will and unyielding resolve to God's wrath, as if it were an entity that could choose to recede but refuses to do so. Finally, the verse functions as a clear statement of **Cause and Effect**, where the unstated but understood cause (Judah's persistent sin and covenant unfaithfulness) leads directly to the declared effect (God's unyielding anger and the consequent need for lamentation).

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 4:8 profoundly articulates the biblical truth concerning the gravity of sin and the certainty of divine judgment. It stands as a stark reminder that while God is abundant in mercy and slow to anger, His patience is not infinite, and His justice is an unyielding aspect of His holy character. The "fierce anger of the LORD" is not a capricious outburst but a righteous response to persistent rebellion and covenant unfaithfulness. This verse highlights the theological principle that there is a point of no return, where opportunities for repentance have been squandered, and the decreed judgment becomes irreversible. It underscores the severity of breaking covenant with a holy God and the devastating consequences that inevitably follow when His warnings are continually ignored. The call to lament, therefore, is not an act to change God's mind, but a necessary, albeit painful, acknowledgment of the nation's dire spiritual state and the just outpouring of divine wrath.

* [Jeremiah 25:38](/jeremiah/25-38 "Jeremiah 25:38 - The Lord's Indignation") – This verse similarly speaks of the Lord's "fierce anger" and "indignation" leading to devastation, reinforcing the theme of unyielding divine judgment.
* [Isaiah 59:2](/isaiah/59-2 "Isaiah 59:2 - Sin Separates from God") – This passage emphasizes that it is the people's "iniquities" that have "separated" them from God, leading to His unwillingness to hear, a foundational reason for the judgment in Jeremiah.
* [Psalm 7:11](/psalms/7-11 "Psalm 7:11 - God is a Righteous Judge") – This psalm declares that "God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day," affirming the consistent biblical portrayal of God's justice and wrath against wickedness.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 4:8, though directed at ancient Judah, carries timeless spiritual weight for believers today. It serves as a sobering reminder that God's holiness demands justice, and persistent, unrepentant sin incurs divine wrath. While we live in the era of grace through Christ, this verse powerfully underscores the seriousness of sin and the reality of God's righteous judgment. It calls us to sober reflection on our own lives and the spiritual state of our communities. It challenges any complacent attitude toward sin, reminding us that there are indeed consequences for rejecting God's commands and His gracious calls to repentance. The lamentation commanded here, though specific to Judah's historical context, can prompt us to a spiritual lament—a deep sorrow over our own sins and the sins of the world, and a humble acknowledgment of God's sovereign justice. It encourages us to take God's warnings seriously and to respond with genuine humility and repentance *before* the point of no return is reached, trusting in His mercy that is available through Christ.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the concept of God's "fierce anger" challenge or deepen your understanding of His character?**
* **In what ways might we, individually or corporately, be ignoring God's warnings in our own time?**
* **What does it mean to "lament" in a spiritual sense today, and how can such lament lead to genuine repentance and humility?**
* **How does the irreversible nature of judgment in this verse motivate you to live a life of greater faithfulness and urgency in sharing the Gospel?**

### FAQ
**Does Jeremiah 4:8 mean that God's anger is always irreversible?**

Answer: Not necessarily. Jeremiah 4:8 describes a specific historical context where Judah's persistent rebellion had reached a point where divine judgment was decreed as inevitable. Throughout the Old Testament, God often turned back His anger when His people genuinely repented, as seen with Nineveh in [Jonah 3:10](/jonah/3-10 "Jonah 3:10 - God Relents from Disaster") or with Israel after Moses' intercession in [Exodus 32:14](/exodus/32-14 "The Lord Relents"). However, Jeremiah 4:8 highlights that there can be a point where a nation's sin becomes so entrenched, and their rejection of God's warnings so complete, that the time for averting judgment has passed. It serves as a solemn warning about the limits of divine patience, not a universal statement that God's anger can never be turned back.

**What is the significance of "sackcloth" in this verse?**

Answer: Sackcloth (Hebrew: *saq*) was a coarse, rough fabric, typically made of goat hair, worn in ancient Israel and the Near East as a symbol of deep mourning, distress, humility, or penitence. In Jeremiah 4:8, the command to "gird you with sackcloth" is a prophetic instruction for the people to physically manifest their profound sorrow and despair over the impending, unavoidable destruction. It signifies a public acknowledgment of their dire situation and the overwhelming grief that accompanies national catastrophe. While sackcloth could sometimes accompany repentance (e.g., [1 Kings 21:27](/1_kings/21-27 "1 Kings 21:27 - Ahab's Humiliation")), here it primarily serves as an outward expression of a sorrowful reality that cannot be escaped, underscoring the finality of God's judgment.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 4:8, with its grim declaration of God's "fierce anger" not being "turned back," finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment not in the *aversion* of judgment through human effort, but in the *bearing* of that judgment by Jesus Christ. For those who are "in Christ," the fierce anger of God against sin, which Judah experienced in temporal judgment, has been fully poured out upon the Son. On the cross, Jesus became the ultimate "sackcloth-wearer," taking upon Himself the full weight of humanity's sin and enduring the divine wrath that we deserved, as foretold by passages like [Isaiah 53:5-6](/isaiah/53-5-6 "Isaiah 53:5-6 - The Suffering Servant"). His agonizing cry of dereliction, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" ([Matthew 27:46](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - Jesus' Cry of Dereliction")), echoes the profound lament of one who bore the full force of God's anger, ensuring that for believers, this wrath *is* turned back. Through His atoning sacrifice, Christ has reconciled us to God, transforming the "fierce anger" into divine favor for all who believe ([Romans 5:9-10](/romans/5-9-10 "Romans 5:9-10 - Reconciliation Through Christ")). Thus, while Jeremiah 4:8 speaks of an inescapable judgment for unrepentant Judah, it simultaneously foreshadows the depth of the wrath from which Christ delivers His people, offering an eternal escape from the judgment to come for those who trust in the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God").

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

Isaiah 22:12

And in that day did the Lord GOD of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth:

Jeremiah 6:26

O daughter of my people, gird [thee] with sackcloth, and wallow thyself in ashes: make thee mourning, [as for] an only son, most bitter lamentation: for the spoiler shall suddenly come upon us.

Isaiah 32:11

Tremble, ye women that are at ease; be troubled, ye careless ones: strip you, and make you bare, and gird [sackcloth] upon [your] loins.

Isaiah 5:25

Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcases [were] torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand [is] stretched out still.

Isaiah 10:4

Without me they shall bow down under the prisoners, and they shall fall under the slain. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand [is] stretched out still.

Numbers 25:4

And the LORD said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the LORD against the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel.

Jeremiah 48:20

Moab is confounded; for it is broken down: howl and cry; tell ye it in Arnon, that Moab is spoiled,