Jeremiah 8:4

KJV

¶ Moreover thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD; Shall they fall, and not arise? shall he turn away, and not return?

KJV (with Strong's)

Moreover thou shalt say {H559} unto them, Thus saith {H559} the LORD {H3068}; Shall they fall {H5307}, and not arise {H6965}? shall he turn away {H7725}, and not return {H7725}?

Complete Jewish Bible

"You are to tell them that ADONAI says: 'If a person falls, doesn't he get up again? If someone goes astray, doesn't he turn back?

Berean Standard Bible

So you are to tell them this is what the LORD says: “Do men fall and not get up again? Does one turn away and not return?

American Standard Version

Moreover thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith Jehovah: Shall men fall, and not rise up again? Shall one turn away, and not return?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 8:4 presents a profound rhetorical question from the LORD, delivered through the prophet Jeremiah, expressing divine bewilderment and sorrow over Judah's persistent spiritual backsliding and refusal to repent. It highlights the unnatural and illogical nature of their rebellion, contrasting their spiritual obstinacy with the universal human tendency to recover from a physical fall or return when having gone astray, thereby underscoring the depth of their spiritual malaise and God's lament over their unresponsiveness.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is deeply embedded within a section of Jeremiah (chapters 7-10) that serves as a powerful indictment against the people of Judah for their spiritual apostasy, false worship, and moral decay. Immediately preceding [Jeremiah 8:4](/jeremiah/8-4 "Jeremiah 8:4 - The Lord's Lament"), the prophet has been decrying the people's false sense of security in the Temple (Jeremiah 7), their idolatry, and their rejection of God's law. Chapter 8 specifically opens with a stark prophecy of desecration and humiliation for Judah, where even the bones of their kings and priests will be exposed to the sun, moon, and stars they worshipped ([Jeremiah 8:1-3](/jeremiah/8-1 "Jeremiah 8:1-3 - Desecration of the Dead")). The rhetorical questions of verse 4 then pivot from the consequences of their sin to the inexplicable stubbornness that prevents their repentance, setting the stage for further lament over their spiritual blindness and the inevitable judgment that follows in verses like [Jeremiah 8:5-7](/jeremiah/8-5 "Jeremiah 8:5-7 - Persistent Backsliding and Animal Instincts").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Jeremiah prophesied during the tumultuous final decades of the Kingdom of Judah (late 7th to early 6th century BC), a period marked by political instability, shifting alliances with regional powers (Egypt and Babylon), and profound spiritual decline. Despite the reforms under King Josiah, the people quickly reverted to syncretistic practices, blending the worship of Yahweh with Canaanite fertility cults and astral deities. This era was characterized by widespread injustice, corruption, and a pervasive rejection of the Mosaic covenant. The cultural norms of the time included a reliance on outward religious rituals without inward transformation, and a dangerous complacency rooted in the belief that God would never allow Jerusalem or His Temple to be destroyed. Jeremiah's message directly confronted this spiritual apathy and false security, highlighting how Judah's actions were not merely a deviation from God's law but an unnatural defiance of common sense and divine expectation.
* **Key Themes:** Jeremiah 8:4 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the book of Jeremiah. Firstly, it powerfully illustrates the theme of **Divine Lament and Grief**, portraying God not merely as a judge but as a heartbroken parent bewildered by His children's irrational rebellion. Secondly, it underscores the **Unnaturalness of Sin and Rebellion**, presenting Judah's spiritual stubbornness as an anomaly, a deviation from even the most basic human and animal instincts for self-preservation and correction, as further emphasized in [Jeremiah 8:7](/jeremiah/8-7 "Jeremiah 8:7 - The Stork Knows Its Appointed Times"). Thirdly, the verse highlights God's **Persistent Call to Repentance**, even in the face of deep-seated apostasy. The rhetorical questions, though expressing sorrow, implicitly extend an invitation to "return" and "arise," echoing the consistent prophetic call for Israel to turn back to the LORD throughout the Old Testament, as seen in passages like [Isaiah 55:7](/isaiah/55-7 "Isaiah 55:7 - Let the Wicked Return to the Lord").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **LORD (Hebrew, _Yᵉhôvâh'_):** From H3068, this is the covenant name of God, Jehovah, the self-existent and eternal One. Its use here emphasizes that the speaker is not merely a human prophet, but the sovereign, unchanging God of Israel, who has a personal relationship and covenant with His people. The profound questions that follow are therefore not just observations but expressions of divine heartbreak and incredulity from the very One who established and sustains them.
* **fall (Hebrew, _nâphal'_):** From H5307, this primitive root means "to fall" in a wide variety of applications, both literal and figurative. In this context, it refers to a moral or spiritual lapse, a deviation from the right path, or a descent into sin. The question "Shall they fall, and not arise?" uses the common human experience of a physical fall to metaphorically describe Judah's spiritual stumble, implying that just as one naturally seeks to get up after falling, so too should they seek to recover from their spiritual errors.
* **turn away / return (Hebrew, _shûwb'_):** From H7725, this versatile primitive root signifies "to turn back" or "to return," encompassing both turning away from something and returning to something. Here, it is used twice in antithetical parallelism: "shall he turn away, and not return?" This powerfully captures Judah's persistent spiritual backsliding – they have turned away from God, yet they refuse to complete the natural cycle of returning to Him. The word implies a deliberate, repeated action of moving away from the divine path and a stubborn refusal to reverse course.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Moreover thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD;":** This opening clause establishes the divine authority of the message. Jeremiah is merely the mouthpiece; the words are a direct pronouncement from Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. This underscores the gravity and truthfulness of the indictment that follows.
* **"Shall they fall, and not arise?":** This is the first rhetorical question, drawing on a universal human experience. If someone physically falls, the natural inclination is to get back up. Spiritually, this implies that when one sins or stumbles, the expected and rational response is repentance and restoration. The question highlights the unnaturalness of Judah's persistent spiritual "fall" without any effort to "arise" or recover.
* **"shall he turn away, and not return?":** This second rhetorical question serves as a parallel to the first, reinforcing the same point with different imagery. "Turning away" signifies a departure from the right path or from God Himself. The natural and logical completion of such a turning away, especially when it leads to error, is to "return" to the correct path or to the source of truth. Judah's refusal to return, despite having clearly turned away, is presented as utterly illogical and perverse in God's eyes.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 8:4 is powerfully constructed through the use of **Rhetorical Questions**. These are questions posed not to elicit an answer, but to make a statement or emphasize a point so obvious that the answer is self-evident. By asking "Shall they fall, and not arise? shall he turn away, and not return?", the LORD highlights the sheer absurdity and profound spiritual perversity of Judah's continued rebellion. The implied answer to both questions is a resounding "Yes, of course they should!" thereby exposing Judah's behavior as contrary to common sense and natural human instinct. This device serves to underscore God's bewilderment and sorrow, making His lament all the more poignant. Furthermore, the verse employs **Parallelism**, specifically **Antithetical Parallelism**, where the two clauses "fall, and not arise" and "turn away, and not return" present contrasting but conceptually linked ideas. This structure reinforces the central theme of Judah's illogical and persistent refusal to repent, despite the natural human inclination towards recovery and correction.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 8:4 profoundly reveals God's character as both a righteous judge and a deeply grieved Father. His rhetorical questions are not born of ignorance but of sorrowful astonishment at His people's irrational stubbornness. This passage underscores the theological truth that repentance is not only commanded by God but is also the natural and logical response to spiritual error, reflecting a universal principle of recovery. Judah's refusal to "arise" or "return" highlights the profound depths of human depravity and the hardening of hearts that can occur when divine warnings are repeatedly ignored. Yet, within this lament, there is an implicit call to reconciliation, a testament to God's enduring patience and His desire for His people to turn back to Him before judgment is fully executed.

* [Hosea 6:1](/hosea/6-1 "Hosea 6:1 - Come, Let Us Return to the Lord")
* [Isaiah 1:5-6](/isaiah/1-5 "Isaiah 1:5-6 - The Wounded Nation")
* [Luke 15:17-18](/luke/15-17 "Luke 15:17-18 - The Prodigal Son Comes to His Senses")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 8:4 serves as a timeless mirror, inviting us to examine the state of our own hearts and our responsiveness to God's call. It challenges us to consider whether we, like ancient Judah, have developed a spiritual stubbornness that prevents us from acknowledging our "falls" and "turnings away" from God. True spiritual health involves an honest assessment of our sins, a humble recognition of our need for correction, and a willingness to "arise" through confession and "return" through repentance. God's grace is always available, providing a path back to Him, but it requires our active participation and a heart willing to turn. This verse reminds us that persistence in sin is not merely disobedience but an unnatural and illogical state for those called to walk with the LORD.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life have I "fallen" or "turned away" from God's path, and have I truly sought to "arise" and "return"?**
* **Do I sometimes rationalize my spiritual complacency, or do I actively pursue repentance and reconciliation when I recognize my errors?**
* **How does God's lament in this verse reveal His heart for His people, and how should that understanding motivate my own spiritual journey?**

### FAQ
**Why does God ask rhetorical questions if He already knows the answer?**

Answer: God asks rhetorical questions not because He lacks information, but to emphasize a profound truth, express His emotions, or highlight the absurdity of a situation. In [Jeremiah 8:4](/jeremiah/8-4 "Jeremiah 8:4 - The Lord's Lament"), His questions ("Shall they fall, and not arise? shall he turn away, and not return?") convey His deep sorrow, bewilderment, and frustration over Judah's persistent and illogical rebellion. It's a way of saying, "This is so obvious, yet you refuse to do it!" It underscores the unnaturalness of their spiritual stubbornness compared to basic human instinct, making the indictment more poignant and impactful. It's a divine lament, revealing His heart rather rather than seeking information.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 8:4, with its lament over Israel's refusal to "arise" and "return" to God, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus. While Israel continually stumbled and refused to turn back, Jesus Christ perfectly fulfilled the divine expectation of obedience and restoration. He is the one who "arises" from the dead, conquering sin and death, providing the very means for humanity to "arise" from its spiritual fall and "return" to God ([Romans 6:4](/romans/6-4 "Romans 6:4 - Raised to Walk in Newness of Life") and [Colossians 3:1](/colossians/3-1 "Colossians 3:1 - Seek Things Above")). The persistent call to return, which Judah ignored, is fully realized in the Gospel, where Christ Himself becomes the way back to the Father ([John 14:6](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life")). He is the Good Shepherd who seeks the lost sheep and brings them back to the fold ([Luke 15:4-7](/luke/15-4 "Luke 15:4-7 - The Parable of the Lost Sheep")), embodying the very return that God longed for from His people. Through His atoning sacrifice, Jesus removes the barrier of sin that prevented true return, offering forgiveness and the power to live a new life, turning from sin and walking in righteousness, thus fulfilling the divine desire for humanity to "arise" and "return" to fellowship with 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

Proverbs 24:16

For a just [man] falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

Micah 7:8

Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD [shall be] a light unto me.

Hosea 6:1

¶ Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.

Jeremiah 3:1

¶ They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man's, shall he return unto her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? but thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith the LORD.

Isaiah 55:7

Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Ezekiel 18:23

Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: [and] not that he should return from his ways, and live?

Isaiah 44:22

I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.