Jeremiah 4:29

The whole city shall flee for the noise of the horsemen and bowmen; they shall go into thickets, and climb up upon the rocks: every city [shall be] forsaken, and not a man dwell therein.

The whole city {H5892} shall flee {H1272} for the noise {H6963} of the horsemen {H6571} and bowmen {H7198}{H7411}; they shall go {H935} into thickets {H5645}, and climb up {H5927} upon the rocks {H3710}: every city {H5892} shall be forsaken {H5800}, and not a man {H376} dwell {H3427} therein {H2004}.

At the noise of the horsemen and archers, the entire city flees - some plunge into thickets; others climb rocks; all cities are deserted; no one lives there.

Every city flees at the sound of the horseman and archer. They enter the thickets and climb among the rocks. Every city is abandoned; no inhabitant is left.

Every city fleeth for the noise of the horsemen and bowmen; they go into the thickets, and climb up upon the rocks: every city is forsaken, and not a man dwelleth therein.

Commentary

Jeremiah 4:29 paints a vivid and terrifying picture of the impending judgment upon the Southern Kingdom of Judah. This verse describes the widespread panic and utter desolation that will sweep across the land as an invading army approaches, forcing the inhabitants into desperate flight and leaving cities completely uninhabited.

Context of Jeremiah 4:29

The prophet Jeremiah, often called the "weeping prophet," delivered stern warnings to Judah throughout his ministry, urging them to return to the Lord and avoid divine judgment. This particular verse is part of a larger prophetic lament and warning (Jeremiah 4:5-31) detailing the devastating consequences of Judah's unfaithfulness and persistent idolatry. The "horsemen and bowmen" refer to the formidable Babylonian military, which God would use as an instrument of His wrath against a people who had repeatedly broken their covenant with Him. The imagery underscores the suddenness and overwhelming nature of the attack, leaving no place for the inhabitants to hide.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Imminent Divine Judgment: The verse vividly portrays the severity of God's impending judgment, which would lead to the complete abandonment of cities and the flight of their inhabitants. This dire consequence was a direct result of Judah's widespread sin and refusal to heed Jeremiah's calls for national repentance.
  • Desolation and Abandonment: The phrase "every city shall be forsaken, and not a man dwell therein" emphasizes the profound and complete desolation that would befall the land. It speaks to a future where once-thriving urban centers would become ghost towns, a stark fulfillment of covenant curses for disobedience found in passages like Deuteronomy 28.
  • Fear and Flight: The desperate attempts to hide in "thickets, and climb up upon the rocks" illustrate the extreme terror and panic that would seize the people. Their flight into natural, rugged terrain highlights the futility of seeking refuge from God's ordained judgment in earthly hiding places.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word translated "forsaken" is `azab, which means to leave, abandon, or forsake. Its use here reinforces the idea of utter emptiness and desolation, not just a temporary evacuation but a profound and lasting abandonment of the land and its cities. The "noise" (Hebrew: qôl) of the approaching army signifies the overwhelming sensory experience of terror, making escape an instinctual reaction rather than a planned strategy.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 4:29 serves as a powerful reminder that persistent rebellion against God carries serious consequences. While the immediate context is ancient Judah, the principle remains: God is just, and His warnings are not to be taken lightly. For believers today, it encourages a life of obedience and reliance on God. True security and refuge are found not in our own strength or hiding places, but in trusting in the Lord and heeding His word. It underscores the importance of spiritual vigilance and the need to turn from sin before judgment arrives.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Isaiah 2:19 (3 votes)

    And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.

  • Isaiah 2:21 (3 votes)

    To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.

  • Jeremiah 4:7 (3 votes)

    The lion is come up from his thicket, and the destroyer of the Gentiles is on his way; he is gone forth from his place to make thy land desolate; [and] thy cities shall be laid waste, without an inhabitant.

  • 2 Kings 25:4 (2 votes)

    And the city was broken up, and all the men of war [fled] by night by the way of the gate between two walls, which [is] by the king's garden: (now the Chaldees [were] against the city round about:) and [the king] went the way toward the plain.

  • 2 Kings 25:7 (2 votes)

    And they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with fetters of brass, and carried him to Babylon.

  • Revelation 6:15 (2 votes)

    And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;

  • Revelation 6:17 (2 votes)

    For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?