New Living Translation
Jeremiah 4:17
17They surround Jerusalem like watchmen around a field, for my people have rebelled against me,” says 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
15Your destruction has been announced from Dan and the hill country of Ephraim. 16“Warn the surrounding nations and announce this to Jerusalem: The enemy is coming from a distant land, raising a battle cry against the towns of Judah. They surround Jerusalem like watchmen around a field, for my people have rebelled against me,” says the Lord. 18“Your own actions have brought this upon you. This punishment is bitter, piercing you to the heart!” 19My heart, my heart—I writhe in pain! My heart pounds within me! I cannot be still. For I have heard the blast of enemy trumpets and the roar of their battle cries.
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 6:2O Jerusalem, you are my beautiful and delicate daughter— but I will destroy you!
- 2 Kings 25:1So on January 15, during the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon led his entire army against Jerusalem. They surrounded the city and built siege ramps against its walls.
- Isaiah 1:8Beautiful Jerusalem stands abandoned like a watchman’s shelter in a vineyard, like a lean-to in a cucumber field after the harvest, like a helpless city under siege.
- Luke 19:43Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side.
- Luke 21:29Then he gave them this illustration: “Notice the fig tree, or any other tree.
- Jeremiah 5:23But my people have stubborn and rebellious hearts. They have turned away and abandoned me.
- Nehemiah 9:26“But despite all this, they were disobedient and rebelled against you. They turned their backs on your Law, they killed your prophets who warned them to return to you, and they committed terrible blasphemies.
- Isaiah 1:20But if you turn away and refuse to listen, you will be devoured by the sword of your enemies. I, the Lord, have spoken!”
- Isaiah 30:9that these people are stubborn rebels who refuse to pay attention to the Lord’s instructions.
- Lamentations 1:8Jerusalem has sinned greatly, so she has been tossed away like a filthy rag. All who once honored her now despise her, for they have seen her stripped naked and humiliated. All she can do is groan and hide her face.
- Ezekiel 2:3“Son of man,” he said, “I am sending you to the nation of Israel, a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me. They and their ancestors have been rebelling against me to this very day.
- Daniel 9:7“Lord, you are in the right; but as you see, our faces are covered with shame. This is true of all of us, including the people of Judah and Jerusalem and all Israel, scattered near and far, wherever you have driven us because of our disloyalty 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
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