Jeremiah 4:26
Jeremiah 4:26 in Multiple Translations
I looked, and the fruitful land was a desert. All its cities were torn down before the LORD, before His fierce anger.
I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, and by his fierce anger.
I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful field was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of Jehovah, and before his fierce anger.
Looking, I saw that the fertile field was a waste, and all its towns were broken down before the Lord and before his burning wrath.
I looked, and the productive fields were a desert. All the towns were demolished because of the Lord's furious anger.
I behelde, and loe, the fruitfull place was a wildernesse, and all the cities thereof were broken downe at the presence of the Lord, and by his fierce wrath.
I have looked, and lo, The fruitful place [is] a wilderness, And all its cities have been broken down, Because of Jehovah, Because of the fierceness of His anger.
I saw, and behold, the fruitful field was a wilderness, and all its cities were broken down at the presence of the LORD, before his fierce anger.
I beheld, and lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all its cities were broken down at the presence of the LORD, and by his fierce anger.
I looked, and behold Carmel was a wilderness: and all its cities were destroyed at the presence of the Lord, and at the presence of the wrath of his indignation.
I looked and saw that the fields that previously were fertile had become a desert. The cities were all ruined; they had all been destroyed by Yahweh because he was extremely angry.
Berean Amplified Bible — Jeremiah 4:26
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Jeremiah 4:26 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
רָאִ֕יתִי
וְ/הִנֵּ֥ה
הַ/כַּרְמֶ֖ל
הַ/מִּדְבָּ֑ר
וְ/כָל
עָרָ֗י/ו
נִתְּצוּ֙
מִ/פְּנֵ֣י
יְהוָ֔ה
מִ/פְּנֵ֖י
חֲר֥וֹן
אַפּֽ/וֹ
רָאִ֕יתִי
râʼâh
H7200
Provider
V-Qal-Perf-1cs
וְ/הִנֵּ֥ה
hinnêh
H2009
behold
Conj | Part
הַ/כַּרְמֶ֖ל
karmel
H3759
plantation
Art | N-ms
הַ/מִּדְבָּ֑ר
midbâr
H4057
mouth
Art | N-ms
וְ/כָל
kôl
H3605
all
Conj | N-ms
עָרָ֗י/ו
ʻîyr
H5892
excitement
N-fp | Suff
נִתְּצוּ֙
nâthats
H5422
to tear
V-Niphal-Perf-3cp
מִ/פְּנֵ֣י
pânîym
H6440
face
Prep | N-cp
יְהוָ֔ה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
The Lord
N-proper
מִ/פְּנֵ֖י
pânîym
H6440
face
Prep | N-cp
חֲר֥וֹן
chârôwn
H2740
burning anger
N-ms
אַפּֽ/וֹ
ʼaph
H639
face
N-ms | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Jeremiah 4:26
רָאִ֕יתִי
râʼâh
H7200
"Provider"
V-Qal-Perf-1cs
The Hebrew word for provider means to see or look after, and is used to describe God's care for his people. It appears in various forms throughout the Bible, including in Genesis and other books.
Definition: (Lord will) Provide, cause to be seen. This name means to see, look at, inspect, look after
Usage: Occurs in 1206 OT verses. KJV: advise self, appear, approve, behold, [idiom] certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, [idiom] be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), [idiom] sight of others, (e-) spy, stare, [idiom] surely, [idiom] think, view, visions. See also: Genesis 1:4; Genesis 41:41; Exodus 33:13.
וְ/הִנֵּ֥ה
hinnêh
H2009
"behold"
Conj | Part
This Hebrew word is an expression that means 'behold' or 'look', often used to draw attention to something. It appears in Genesis and Isaiah, and is translated as 'behold' or 'lo' in the KJV.
Definition: behold, lo, see, if
Usage: Occurs in 799 OT verses. KJV: behold, lo, see. See also: Genesis 1:29; Genesis 42:35; Deuteronomy 19:18.
הַ/כַּרְמֶ֖ל
karmel
H3759
"plantation"
Art | N-ms
A plantation or garden-land, like the Garden of Eden, was a fertile and productive area, often with fruit trees and orchards. The Bible describes Carmel as a lush and fruitful region in Israel.
Definition: 1) plantation, garden-land, orchard, fruit orchard 2) fruit, garden-growth (meton)
Usage: Occurs in 13 OT verses. KJV: full (green) ears (of corn), fruitful field (place), plentiful (field). See also: Leviticus 2:14; Isaiah 29:17; Isaiah 10:18.
הַ/מִּדְבָּ֑ר
midbâr
H4057
"mouth"
Art | N-ms
The wilderness refers to a desert or open field, like the one the Israelites wandered in after leaving Egypt. It can also mean a place of solitude or a region without many people. In the Bible, it is often associated with the journey to the Promised Land.
Definition: 1) mouth 1a) mouth (as organ of speech)
Usage: Occurs in 257 OT verses. KJV: desert, south, speech, wilderness. See also: Genesis 14:6; Joshua 5:4; Psalms 29:8.
וְ/כָל
kôl
H3605
"all"
Conj | N-ms
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Definition: 1) all, the whole 1a) all, the whole of 1b) any, each, every, anything 1c) totality, everything Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
Usage: Occurs in 4242 OT verses. KJV: (in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-) thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever). See also: Genesis 1:21; Genesis 17:10; Genesis 41:40.
עָרָ֗י/ו
ʻîyr
H5892
"excitement"
N-fp | Suff
In the Bible, this word refers to a city or town, often a place with a wall or a watchman. It is used to describe a settlement or encampment, like the city of Ai, which is mentioned in the book of Joshua. The word is used to identify specific locations in the Bible.
Definition: 1) excitement, anguish 1a) of terror
Usage: Occurs in 936 OT verses. KJV: Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town. See also: Genesis 4:17; Deuteronomy 3:6; Joshua 14:12.
נִתְּצוּ֙
nâthats
H5422
"to tear"
V-Niphal-Perf-3cp
The act of tearing down or destroying something, like a wall or a city, is what this word describes, and it can also mean to overthrow or defeat someone.
Definition: 1) to pull down, break down, cast down, throw down, beat down, destroy, overthrow, break out (teeth) 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to pull down 1a2) to break down, break off 1b) (Niphal) to be pulled or broken down 1c) (Piel) to tear down 1d) (Pual) to be torn down 1e) (Hophal) to be broken, be broken down
Usage: Occurs in 41 OT verses. KJV: beat down, break down (out), cast down, destroy, overthrow, pull down, throw down. See also: Exodus 34:13; 2 Chronicles 23:17; Psalms 52:7.
מִ/פְּנֵ֣י
pânîym
H6440
"face"
Prep | N-cp
This word means face or presence, like being in front of someone or something. It's used in many contexts, like in Genesis, Exodus, and Psalms, to describe interactions and relationships.
Definition: : face 1) face 1a) face, faces 1b) presence, person 1c) face (of seraphim or cherubim) 1d) face (of animals) 1e) face, surface (of ground) 1f) as adv of loc/temp 1f1) before and behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime, before 1g) with prep 1g1) in front of, before, to the front of, in the presence of, in the face of, at the face or front of, from the presence of, from before, from before the face of
Usage: Occurs in 1891 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 43:31; Exodus 30:16.
יְהוָ֔ה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
"The Lord"
N-proper
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Definition: Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
Usage: Occurs in 5522 OT verses. KJV: Jehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה). See also: Genesis 2:4; Genesis 24:42; Exodus 8:8.
מִ/פְּנֵ֖י
pânîym
H6440
"face"
Prep | N-cp
This word means face or presence, like being in front of someone or something. It's used in many contexts, like in Genesis, Exodus, and Psalms, to describe interactions and relationships.
Definition: : face 1) face 1a) face, faces 1b) presence, person 1c) face (of seraphim or cherubim) 1d) face (of animals) 1e) face, surface (of ground) 1f) as adv of loc/temp 1f1) before and behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime, before 1g) with prep 1g1) in front of, before, to the front of, in the presence of, in the face of, at the face or front of, from the presence of, from before, from before the face of
Usage: Occurs in 1891 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 43:31; Exodus 30:16.
חֲר֥וֹן
chârôwn
H2740
"burning anger"
N-ms
This Hebrew word describes God's burning anger or fierce wrath, often used in the Bible to convey His intense emotions. It is used to describe God's anger towards sin and disobedience, and appears in various translations as sore displeasure or fury. This word emphasizes the seriousness of God's emotions.
Definition: 1) anger, heat, burning (of anger) 1a) always used of God's anger
Usage: Occurs in 40 OT verses. KJV: sore displeasure, fierce(-ness), fury, (fierce) wrath(-ful). See also: Exodus 15:7; Psalms 88:17; Psalms 2:5.
אַפּֽ/וֹ
ʼaph
H639
"face"
N-ms | Suff
This Hebrew word can mean face, but also anger or nose. It is used to describe someone's countenance or emotions, like anger or patience. In the Bible, it appears in various contexts, including descriptions of God's emotions.
Definition: : face 1) nostril, nose, face 2) anger
Usage: Occurs in 269 OT verses. KJV: anger(-gry), [phrase] before, countenance, face, [phrase] forebearing, forehead, [phrase] (long-) suffering, nose, nostril, snout, [idiom] worthy, wrath. See also: Genesis 2:7; Nehemiah 8:6; Psalms 2:5.
Study Notes — Jeremiah 4:26
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Jeremiah 4:26 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Jeremiah 4:26
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Jeremiah 4:26
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Jeremiah 4:26
- Trapp's Commentary on Jeremiah 4:26
- Ellicott's Commentary on Jeremiah 4:26
- Cambridge Bible on Jeremiah 4:26
- Whedon's Commentary on Jeremiah 4:26
- Sermons on Jeremiah 4:26
Context — Lamentation for Judah
24I looked at the mountains, and behold, they were quaking; all the hills were swaying.
25I looked, and no man was left; all the birds of the air had fled.
26I looked, and the fruitful land was a desert. All its cities were torn down before the LORD, before His fierce anger.
27For this is what the LORD says: “The whole land will be desolate, but I will not finish its destruction. 28Therefore the earth will mourn and the heavens above will grow dark. I have spoken, I have planned, and I will not relent or turn back.”Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalms 107:34 | and fruitful land into fields of salt, because of the wickedness of its dwellers. |
| 2 | Jeremiah 12:4 | How long will the land mourn and the grass of every field be withered? Because of the evil of its residents, the animals and birds have been swept away, for the people have said, “He cannot see what our end will be.” |
| 3 | Jeremiah 14:2–6 | “Judah mourns and her gates languish. Her people wail for the land, and a cry goes up from Jerusalem. The nobles send their servants for water; they go to the cisterns, but find no water; their jars return empty. They are ashamed and humiliated; they cover their heads. The ground is cracked because no rain has fallen on the land. The farmers are ashamed; they cover their heads. Even the doe in the field deserts her newborn fawn because there is no grass. Wild donkeys stand on barren heights; they pant for air like jackals; their eyes fail for lack of pasture.” |
| 4 | Deuteronomy 29:23–28 | All its soil will be a burning waste of sulfur and salt, unsown and unproductive, with no plant growing on it, just like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the LORD overthrew in His fierce anger. So all the nations will ask, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land? Why this great outburst of anger?’ And the people will answer, ‘It is because they abandoned the covenant of the LORD, the God of their fathers, which He made with them when He brought them out of the land of Egypt. They went and served other gods, and they worshiped gods they had not known—gods that the LORD had not given to them. Therefore the anger of the LORD burned against this land, and He brought upon it every curse written in this book. The LORD uprooted them from their land in His anger, rage, and great wrath, and He cast them into another land, where they are today.’ |
| 5 | Isaiah 7:20–25 | On that day the Lord will use a razor hired from beyond the Euphrates —the king of Assyria—to shave your head and the hair of your legs, and to remove your beard as well. On that day a man will raise a young cow and two sheep, and from the abundance of milk they give, he will eat curds; for all who remain in the land will eat curds and honey. And on that day, in every place that had a thousand vines worth a thousand shekels of silver, only briers and thorns will be found. Men will go there with bow and arrow, for the land will be covered with briers and thorns. For fear of the briers and thorns, you will no longer traverse the hills once tilled by the hoe; they will become places for oxen to graze and sheep to trample. |
| 6 | Micah 3:12 | Therefore, because of you, Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, and the temple mount a wooded ridge. |
| 7 | Isaiah 5:9–10 | I heard the LORD of Hosts declare: “Surely many houses will become desolate, great mansions left unoccupied. For ten acres of vineyard will yield but a bath of wine, and a homer of seed only an ephah of grain. ” |
| 8 | Psalms 76:7 | You alone are to be feared. When You are angry, who can stand before You? |
Jeremiah 4:26 Summary
[This verse is saying that because of God's anger, a land that was once full of life and fruitfulness has become a barren desert, with all its cities destroyed. This is a powerful reminder of the consequences of disobeying God, as seen in Deuteronomy 28:15-68. Just like a garden needs care and attention to grow, our relationship with God needs nurturing and obedience to flourish, as described in Psalm 1:3. By reflecting on this verse, we can be reminded of the importance of seeking God's mercy and forgiveness, as seen in 1 John 1:9.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for the land to be a desert in Jeremiah 4:26?
In this context, the land being a desert signifies the devastating consequences of God's judgment, much like the desolation described in Isaiah 34:10-11, where the land is left uninhabited and barren.
Why did the cities get torn down before the Lord?
The cities were torn down as a result of God's fierce anger, which is a recurring theme in the Bible, as seen in Deuteronomy 29:23, where God's wrath is poured out upon those who disobey Him.
Is this verse talking about a literal or spiritual desert?
While the verse may have a literal application, it can also be seen as a spiritual metaphor, similar to Jesus' words in Matthew 15:13, where He warns that anything not planted by the Father will be uprooted, emphasizing the importance of spiritual fruitfulness.
How does this verse relate to the rest of Jeremiah 4?
This verse is part of a larger description of God's judgment in Jeremiah 4, which begins with the quaking of mountains and the swaying of hills in Jeremiah 4:24, and continues with the desolation of the land and the heavens growing dark in Jeremiah 4:28, emphasizing the severity and totality of God's judgment.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways in which I can ensure that my life is fruitful and not barren, like the land described in this verse?
- How can I apply the lesson of God's fierce anger in this verse to my own life, and what are some areas where I need to be more mindful of His judgment?
- In what ways can I, like the prophet Jeremiah, be a voice of warning and call others to repentance in the face of God's judgment?
- What are some spiritual 'cities' in my life that may need to be torn down in order for me to experience true spiritual renewal and growth?
Gill's Exposition on Jeremiah 4:26
I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness,.... Or, "I beheld, and, lo, Carmel was a wilderness"; which was a particular part of the land of Israel, and was very fertile, and abounded in
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Jeremiah 4:26
I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, and by his fierce anger. Fruitful place - Hebrew, the Carmel.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Jeremiah 4:26
The fruitful place, Heb. Carmel, either properly, for that part of the land so called for its fruitfulness; or rather appellatively, for not only their most pleasant, but most fruitful lands, that were kept dressed and occupied for food, both for necessity and delight, 33:9. All the cities thereof were broken down; no place left for men to inhabit, . By his fierce anger; that which the enemy could not have done with all his fury and fierceness, had it not been for the anger of the Lord, which by their great provocation they had brought upon them. selves, ,13.
Trapp's Commentary on Jeremiah 4:26
Jeremiah 4:26 I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place [was] a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, [and] by his fierce anger.Ver. 26. At the presence of the Lord, &c.] Who was the chief agent; as Titus the Roman emperor also acknowledged after be had destroyed Jerusalem: Non se id fecisse dixit, sed Deo iram suam declaranti manus suas accommodasse; he said it was not he that had done it, but that he had only lent his hands to God, justly displeased at that nation. Suidas.
Ellicott's Commentary on Jeremiah 4:26
(26) The fruitful place.—The Carmel, or vine-land, became as “the wilderness.” The Hebrew article points probably to the well-known desert of the wanderings. At the presence of the Lord.—Literally, from before Jehovah, from before the heat of his anger. The original has the emphasis of repeating the preposition.
Cambridge Bible on Jeremiah 4:26
26. the fruitful field] mg. Heb. Carmel (see Jeremiah 2:7), but meaning here the most fruitful portions of the land in general.
Whedon's Commentary on Jeremiah 4:26
23-26. I beheld, etc. — Resuming the general course of thought, another group of images is brought forward to show the fearfulness of the destruction impending.
Sermons on Jeremiah 4:26
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
The River of Life by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher discusses a vision that the prophet Ezekiel had about a river of life. The preacher emphasizes that this vision is a prophecy for the Church of the lat |
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The Papal and Hierarchial System - Part 1 by Joseph John Gurney | Joseph John Gurney preaches about the divine origin and authority of the Holy Scriptures, emphasizing that the canon of Scripture was not arbitrarily fixed by man but recognized by |
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The Worst Sin by William Blackburn | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of making a choice between life and death, heaven and hell. He urges the audience to come to Jesus and let Him pay for their |
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Exposition on Psalm 77 by St. Augustine | St. Augustine preaches about the Psalms, interpreting the congregation as those who leap over to reach Christ Jesus, emphasizing the importance of seeking God for Himself and not j |
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Eagle Edom Will Come Down by John Piper | John Piper preaches on the book of Obadiah, the shortest Old Testament book, which delivers a prophecy against Edom and focuses on the vindication of Israel and the establishment o |