God’s Word Translation
Jeremiah 4:17
17They surround them like men guarding a field, because Judah has rebelled against me,” declares the Lord.
Jeremiah 4:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)As keepers of a field, are they against her round about; because she hath been rebellious against me, saith the Lord.
- New International Version (NIV)They surround her like men guarding a field, because she has rebelled against me,’ ” declares the Lord.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Like keepers of a field are they against her all around, because she has rebelled against me, declares the Lord.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Like keepers of a field they are against her all around, Because she has been rebellious against Me,” says the Lord.
Context of Jeremiah 4:17
15A message is heard from Dan, and a report of disaster comes from the mountains of Ephraim. 16Warn the nations about these things. Bring them to the attention of Jerusalem. “Hostile troops are coming from a distant country. They are shouting battle cries against the cities of Judah. They surround them like men guarding a field, because Judah has rebelled against me,” declares the Lord. 18“You brought this on yourself. This is your punishment. It is bitter. It breaks your heart.” 19My anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain. My heart is beating wildly! My heart is pounding! I can’t keep quiet because I hear a ram’s horn sounding the alarm for war.
Read all of Jeremiah 4Jeremiah 4:17 word by word
כְּשֹׁמְרֵ֣י שָׂדַ֔י הָי֥וּ עָלֶ֖יהָ מִסָּבִ֑יב כִּי־אֹתִ֥י מָרָ֖תָה נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Jeremiah 4:17
- Jeremiah 6:2“My people Zion are like lovely pastures.
- 2 Kings 25:1On the tenth day of the tenth month of the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon attacked Jerusalem with his entire army. They set up camp and built dirt ramps around the city walls.
- Isaiah 1:8My people Zion are left like a hut in a vineyard, like a shack in a cucumber field, like a city under attack.”
- Luke 19:43The time will come when enemy armies will build a wall to surround you and close you in on every side.
- Luke 21:29Then Jesus used this story as an illustration. “Look at the fig tree or any other tree.
- Jeremiah 5:23But these people are stubborn and rebellious. They have turned aside and wandered away from me.
- Nehemiah 9:26But they were defiant and rebelled against you. They threw your teachings over their shoulders and killed your prophets who warned them to turn back to you. They committed outrageous sins.
- Isaiah 1:20But if you refuse and rebel, you will be destroyed by swords.” The Lord has spoken.
- Isaiah 30:9These people are rebellious and deceitful children, children who refuse to listen to the Lord’s teachings.
- Lamentations 1:8Jerusalem has sinned so much that it has become a filthy thing. Everyone who used to honor it now despises it. They’ve seen it naked. Jerusalem groans and turns away.
- Ezekiel 2:3He said to me, “Son of man, I am sending you to the people of Israel. They are people from a nation that has rebelled against me. They and their ancestors have rebelled against me to this day.
- Daniel 9:7You, Lord, are righteous. But we—the men of Judah, the citizens of Jerusalem, and all the Israelites whom you scattered in countries near and far—are still ashamed because we have been unfaithful to you.
Commentaries on Jeremiah 4:17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17As keepers of a field - In the eastern countries grain is often sown in the open country; and, when nearly ripe, guards are placed at different distances round about it to preserve it from being plundered. Jerusalem was watched, like one of these fields, by guards all round about it; so that none could enter to give assistance, and none who wished to escape were permitted to go out.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17Jeremiah compares the tents of the besiegers on guard round Jerusalem to the booths erected by shepherds or farmers for the protection of their flocks or produce.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-18Verses 5-18 The fierce conqueror of the neighbouring nations was to make Judah desolate. The prophet was afflicted to see the people lulled into security by false prophets. The approach of the enemy is described. Some attention was paid in Jerusalem to outward reformation; but it was necessary that their hearts should be washed, in the exercise of true repentance and faith, from the love and pollution of sin. When lesser calamities do not rouse sinners…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17-18Foreign armies had already surrounded the capital city. The attack was coming because the people rebelled against the Lord.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. keepers of a field--metaphor from those who watch a field, to frighten away the wild beasts.Read the comment
Topics related to Jeremiah 4:17
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Jeremiah 4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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