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Jeremiah 4:3 For this is what the LORD says to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: "Break up your unplowed ground, and do not sow among the thorns.
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Do not waste your good seed among thorns.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/jeremiah/4.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />For thus says the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: “Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/jeremiah/4.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />For this is what the LORD says to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: “Break up your unplowed ground, and do not sow among the thorns.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/jeremiah/4.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/jeremiah/4.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />For thus says the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: “Break up your fallow ground, And do not sow among thorns.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/jeremiah/4.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />For this is what the LORD says to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem: “Break up your uncultivated ground, And do not sow among thorns.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/jeremiah/4.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />For thus says the LORD to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem, “Break up your fallow ground, And do not sow among thorns.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/jeremiah/4.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />For thus says the LORD to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem, “Break up your fallow ground, And do not sow among thorns.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/jeremiah/4.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />For thus says Yahweh to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem, “Break up your fallow ground, And do not sow among thorns.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/jeremiah/4.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />For this is what the LORD says to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem, “Plow your uncultivated ground [for a season], And do not sow among thorns.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/jeremiah/4.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />For this is what the LORD says to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: Break up the unplowed ground; do not sow among the thorns.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/jeremiah/4.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />For this is what the LORD says to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: Break up the unplowed ground; do not sow among the thorns. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/jeremiah/4.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />For thus saith Jehovah to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/jeremiah/4.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />People of Jerusalem and Judah, don't be so stubborn! Your hearts have become hard, like unplowed ground where thornbushes grow. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/jeremiah/4.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/jeremiah/4.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />This is what the LORD says to the people of Judah and to Jerusalem: Plow your unplowed fields, and don't plant among thorns.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/jeremiah/4.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />The LORD says to the people of Judah and Jerusalem, "Plow up your unplowed fields; do not plant your seeds among thorns. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/jeremiah/4.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />For this is what the LORD says to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, "Break up your unplowed ground, and don't sow among thorns.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/jeremiah/4.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />For this is what the LORD says to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: ?Break up your unplowed ground, and do not sow among the thorns.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/jeremiah/4.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Yes, the LORD has this to say to the people of Judah and Jerusalem: "Like a farmer breaking up hard unplowed ground, you must break your rebellious will and make a new beginning; just as a farmer must clear away thorns lest the seed is wasted, you must get rid of the sin that is ruining your lives. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/jeremiah/4.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />For thus says the LORD to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem, "Break up your fallow ground, and do not sow among thorns.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/jeremiah/4.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/jeremiah/4.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />For Yahweh says to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem, “Break up your fallow ground, and don’t sow among thorns. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/jeremiah/4.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />For thus said YHWH, "" To the man of Judah, and to Jerusalem: “Till for yourselves tillage, "" And do not sow to the thorns.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/jeremiah/4.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> For thus said Jehovah, To the man of Judah, and to Jerusalem: Till for yourselves tillage, And do not sow unto the thorns.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/jeremiah/4.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />For thus said Jehovah to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem, Break up to you the fallow ground, and ye shall not sow to thorns.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/jeremiah/4.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />For thus saith the Lord to the men of Juda and Jerusalem: Break up anew your fallow ground, and sow not upon thorns: <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/jeremiah/4.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />For thus says the Lord to the men of Judah and of Jerusalem: “Break new ground, and do not choose to sow upon thorns.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/jeremiah/4.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />For to the people of Judah and Jerusalem, thus says the LORD: Till your untilled ground, and do not sow among thorns. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/jeremiah/4.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />For thus says the LORD to the people of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem: Break up your fallow ground, and do not sow among thorns.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/jeremiah/4.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />For thus says the LORD to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Light your lamp; and sow not among thorns.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/jeremiah/4.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Because thus says LORD JEHOVAH to the men of Judea and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem: “Light for yourselves a lamp and you shall not sow among the thorns<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/jeremiah/4.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem: Break up for you a fallow ground, And sow not among thorns.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/jeremiah/4.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />For thus saith the Lord to the men of Juda, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Break up fresh ground for yourselves, and sow not among thorns.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/jeremiah/4-3.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5k55c51ZGhs?start=1006" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/jeremiah/4.htm">God Calls Israel by His Promise</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">2</span>and if you can swear, ‘As surely as the LORD lives,’ in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, then the nations will be blessed by Him, and in Him they will glory.” <span class="reftext">3</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî- (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">For</a> <a href="/hebrew/3541.htm" title="3541: ḵōh (Adv) -- Thus, here. From the prefix k and huw'; properly, like this, i.e. By implication, thus; also here; or now.">this is what</a> <a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">the LORD</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: ’ā·mar (V-Qal-Perf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">says</a> <a href="/hebrew/376.htm" title="376: lə·’îš (Prep-l:: N-msc) -- Man. Contracted for 'enowsh; a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term.">to the men</a> <a href="/hebrew/3063.htm" title="3063: yə·hū·ḏāh (N-proper-ms) -- From yadah; celebrated; Jehudah, the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory.">of Judah</a> <a href="/hebrew/3389.htm" title="3389: wə·lî·rū·šā·lim (Conj-w, Prep-l:: N-proper-fs) -- Probably foundation of peace, capital city of all Isr. ">and Jerusalem:</a> <a href="/hebrew/5214.htm" title="5214: nî·rū (V-Qal-Imp-mp) -- A root probably identical with that of niyr, through the idea of the gleam of a fresh furrow; to till the soil.">“Break up</a> <a href="/hebrew/lā·ḵem (Prep:: 2mp) -- ">your</a> <a href="/hebrew/5215.htm" title="5215: nîr (N-ms) -- Plowing, freshly plowed land. Or nir; from niyr; properly, plowing, i.e. freshly plowed land.">unplowed ground,</a> <a href="/hebrew/408.htm" title="408: wə·’al- (Conj-w:: Adv) -- Not (a subjective neg.). A negative particle; not; once as a noun, nothing.">and do not</a> <a href="/hebrew/2232.htm" title="2232: tiz·rə·‘ū (V-Qal-Imperf-2mp) -- To sow, scatter seed. A primitive root; to sow; figuratively, to disseminate, plant, fructify.">sow</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. ">among</a> <a href="/hebrew/6975.htm" title="6975: qō·w·ṣîm (N-mp) -- A thorn, thornbush. Or qots; from quwts; a thorn.">the thorns.</a> </span><span class="reftext">4</span>Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and remove the foreskins of your hearts, O men of Judah and people of Jerusalem. Otherwise, My wrath will break out like fire and burn with no one to extinguish it, because of your evil deeds.”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/10-12.htm">Hosea 10:12</a></span><br />Sow for yourselves righteousness and reap the fruit of loving devotion; break up your unplowed ground. For it is time to seek the LORD until He comes and sends righteousness upon you like rain.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/13-3.htm">Matthew 13:3-9</a></span><br />And He told them many things in parables, saying, “A farmer went out to sow his seed. / And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. / Some fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/4-3.htm">Mark 4:3-9</a></span><br />“Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. / And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. / Some fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/8-5.htm">Luke 8:5-8</a></span><br />“A farmer went out to sow his seed. And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, where it was trampled, and the birds of the air devoured it. / Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the seedlings withered because they had no moisture. / Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the seedlings. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/55-6.htm">Isaiah 55:6-7</a></span><br />Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. / Let the wicked man forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/joel/2-12.htm">Joel 2:12-13</a></span><br />“Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.” / So rend your hearts and not your garments, and return to the LORD your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. And He relents from sending disaster.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/18-30.htm">Ezekiel 18:30-32</a></span><br />Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, so that your iniquity will not become your downfall. / Cast away from yourselves all the transgressions you have committed, and fashion for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, O house of Israel? / For I take no pleasure in anyone’s death, declares the Lord GOD. So repent and live!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/james/1-21.htm">James 1:21</a></span><br />Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and every expression of evil, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save your souls.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/12-2.htm">Romans 12:2</a></span><br />Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/7-1.htm">2 Corinthians 7:1</a></span><br />Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/3-7.htm">Hebrews 3:7-8</a></span><br />Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear His voice, / do not harden your hearts, as you did in the rebellion, in the day of testing in the wilderness,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/28-13.htm">Proverbs 28:13</a></span><br />He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/1-16.htm">Isaiah 1:16-17</a></span><br />Wash and cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil! / Learn to do right; seek justice and correct the oppressor. Defend the fatherless and plead the case of the widow.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/3-8.htm">Matthew 3:8</a></span><br />Produce fruit, then, in keeping with repentance.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/3-8.htm">Luke 3:8</a></span><br />Produce fruit, then, in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">For thus said the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.</p><p class="hdg">break</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/3-18.htm">Genesis 3:18</a></b></br> Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/hosea/10-12.htm">Hosea 10:12</a></b></br> Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for <i>it is</i> time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/matthew/13-7.htm">Matthew 13:7,22</a></b></br> And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: … </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/jeremiah/1-14.htm">Break</a> <a href="/proverbs/13-23.htm">Fallow</a> <a href="/isaiah/63-6.htm">Ground</a> <a href="/jeremiah/1-14.htm">Inhabitants</a> <a href="/jeremiah/3-17.htm">Jerusalem</a> <a href="/jeremiah/3-18.htm">Judah</a> <a href="/proverbs/13-23.htm">Ploughed</a> <a href="/isaiah/37-30.htm">Sow</a> <a href="/isaiah/34-13.htm">Thorns</a> <a href="/proverbs/21-4.htm">Tillage</a> <a href="/exodus/23-11.htm">Unplowed</a> <a href="/jeremiah/2-28.htm">Yourselves</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/jeremiah/14-21.htm">Break</a> <a href="/hosea/10-12.htm">Fallow</a> <a href="/jeremiah/7-20.htm">Ground</a> <a href="/jeremiah/4-4.htm">Inhabitants</a> <a href="/jeremiah/4-4.htm">Jerusalem</a> <a href="/jeremiah/4-4.htm">Judah</a> <a href="/ezekiel/36-9.htm">Ploughed</a> <a href="/jeremiah/12-13.htm">Sow</a> <a href="/jeremiah/12-13.htm">Thorns</a> <a href="/hosea/10-12.htm">Tillage</a> <a href="/exodus/23-11.htm">Unplowed</a> <a href="/jeremiah/4-4.htm">Yourselves</a><div class="vheading2">Jeremiah 4</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/jeremiah/4-1.htm">God calls Israel by his promise</a></span><br><span class="reftext">3. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/jeremiah/4-3.htm">He exhorts Judah to repentance by fearful judgments</a></span><br><span class="reftext">19. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/jeremiah/4-19.htm">A grievous lamentation for Judah</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF2 --> <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/jeremiah/4.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/jeremiah/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/jeremiah/4.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>For this is what the LORD says to the men of Judah and Jerusalem:</b><br>This phrase establishes the divine authority of the message, indicating that it is a direct communication from God. The audience, "the men of Judah and Jerusalem," refers to the inhabitants of the southern kingdom of Judah, including its capital, Jerusalem. Historically, this period is marked by spiritual decline and political instability, as Judah faced threats from surrounding nations. The prophetic message is a call to repentance and spiritual renewal, emphasizing the covenant relationship between God and His people. The specificity of "Judah and Jerusalem" highlights the focus on the heart of the nation, both politically and spiritually.<p><b>Break up your unplowed ground,</b><br>The metaphor of "unplowed ground" refers to the hardened hearts of the people, which have become resistant to God's word. In an agricultural society, unplowed ground is unproductive and needs to be broken up to prepare for planting. Spiritually, this signifies the need for repentance and a return to God, breaking away from sin and idolatry. The imagery is consistent with other biblical passages that use agricultural metaphors to describe spiritual conditions, such as <a href="/hosea/10-12.htm">Hosea 10:12</a>, which also calls for breaking up fallow ground. This phrase underscores the necessity of inner transformation before any fruitful spiritual growth can occur.<p><b>and do not sow among the thorns.</b><br>"Sowing among the thorns" suggests engaging in activities or behaviors that are ultimately unproductive or harmful. Thorns in biblical literature often symbolize sin, obstacles, or the cares of this world that choke spiritual growth, as seen in the Parable of the Sower (<a href="/matthew/13-7.htm">Matthew 13:7, 22</a>). The warning here is against superficial repentance or half-hearted attempts at reform that do not address underlying issues. The call is for genuine change, avoiding the entanglements of sin that prevent a fruitful relationship with God. This phrase emphasizes the importance of removing spiritual hindrances to allow for true growth and renewal.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_lord.htm">The LORD</a></b><br>The covenant God of Israel, who speaks through the prophet Jeremiah, calling His people to repentance and renewal.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/j/jeremiah.htm">Jeremiah</a></b><br>A prophet chosen by God to deliver His messages to the people of Judah and Jerusalem, often warning them of impending judgment due to their unfaithfulness.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/j/judah.htm">Judah</a></b><br>The southern kingdom of Israel, consisting of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, which was facing imminent judgment due to its idolatry and disobedience.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/j/jerusalem.htm">Jerusalem</a></b><br>The capital city of Judah, a central place of worship and political power, which had become spiritually corrupt and was in need of repentance.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/s/spiritual_preparation.htm">Spiritual Preparation</a></b><br>Just as farmers prepare the soil for planting, believers must prepare their hearts to receive God's Word. This involves repentance and removing anything that hinders spiritual growth.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/a/avoiding_spiritual_thorns.htm">Avoiding Spiritual Thorns</a></b><br>Thorns represent distractions, sins, and worldly concerns that can choke out spiritual growth. Believers are called to identify and remove these from their lives.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/repentance_as_renewal.htm">Repentance as Renewal</a></b><br>True repentance involves a change of heart and action. It is not merely feeling sorry but actively turning away from sin and towards God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_obedience.htm">The Importance of Obedience</a></b><br>Obedience to God's commands is crucial for spiritual health and growth. It is through obedience that believers can experience the fullness of God's blessings.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/continuous_cultivation.htm">Continuous Cultivation</a></b><br>Spiritual growth requires ongoing effort and attention. Just as a field must be continually tended, so must our spiritual lives be nurtured through prayer, study, and fellowship.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_jeremiah_4.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Jeremiah 4</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/evidence_for_drought_in_jeremiah_14_1-6.htm">Jeremiah 14:1-6: Does any historical or archeological evidence confirm or challenge the account of a severe drought at that time?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_is_judah's_judgment_unique.htm">(Amos 2:4-5) Why does God's judgment on Judah differ from judgments described in other prophetic books?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_re-enslave_after_freeing_slaves.htm">Jeremiah 34:8-11 - Why would the Israelites release their slaves, then immediately re-enslave them, if this event was truly a binding covenant?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_to_reconcile_jeremiah_31_with_jewish_divisions.htm">How do we reconcile Jeremiah 31's vision of a unified Israel with ongoing historical divisions among Jewish communities?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/jeremiah/4.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(3) <span class= "bld">For thus saith the Lord . . .</span>--The words seem the close of one discourse, the opening of another. The parable of Israel is left behind, and the appeal to Judah and Jerusalem is more direct.<p><span class= "bld">To the men of Judah.</span>--Literally, <span class= "ital">to each man </span>individually.<p><span class= "bld">Break up your fallow ground.</span>--The Hebrew has the force which comes from the verb and noun being from the same root, <span class= "ital">Break up for you a broken ground </span>or <span class= "ital">fallow a fallow field. </span>The metaphor had been used before by Hosea (<a href="/hosea/10-12.htm" title="Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness on you.">Hosea 10:12</a>). What the spiritual field needed was to be exposed to God's sun and God's free air, to the influences of spiritual light and warmth, and the dew and soft showers of His grace.<p><span class= "bld">Sow not among thorns.</span>--Not without a special interest as, perhaps, containing the germ of the Parable of the Sower in <a href="/matthew/13-7.htm" title="And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:">Matthew 13:7</a>. Here, as there, the seed is the "word of God," spoken by the prophet, and taking root in the heart, and the thorns are the "cares of this world," the selfish desires which choke the good seed and render it unfruitful.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/jeremiah/4.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 3.</span> - There is no occasion to separate vers. 3, 4, from the preceding prophecy. We have other instances of as sudden a transition from the Israelites (in the narrower sense) to the men of Judah (see <a href="/isaiah/8-6.htm">Isaiah 8:6-14</a>; <a href="/isaiah/10-1.htm">Isaiah 10:1-4</a>; <a href="/isaiah/28-1.htm">Isaiah 28:1-6</a>; in the writer's commentary). <span class="cmt_word">For thus</span>, etc. "For" is here not causal, but explanatory: "I say this not only to the men of Israel, but to you, O men of Judah, who need the admonition to repentance, how deeply!" (see <a href="/jeremiah/5-2.htm">Jeremiah 5:2</a>). <span class="cmt_word">Break up your fallow ground</span>; the same figure as in <a href="/hosea/10-12.htm">Hosea 10:12</a>. To understand it we must read the clause in connection with the following one. <span class="cmt_word">Sow not among thorns</span>. The prophet means, though he does not say so, the roots which will spring up into thorns. "Do not plant your good resolutions in a heart filled up with the roots of thorns, but first rake up the soil, and clear it of noxious germs, and then sow the seed which will grow up in a holy life" (comp. <a href="/matthew/13-7.htm">Matthew 13:7</a>). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/jeremiah/4-3.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">For</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּי־</span> <span class="translit">(kî-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">A relative conjunction</span><br /><br /><span class="word">this is what</span><br /><span class="heb">כֹ֣ה ׀</span> <span class="translit">(ḵōh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3541.htm">Strong's 3541: </a> </span><span class="str2">Like this, thus, here, now</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the LORD</span><br /><span class="heb">יְהֹוָ֗ה</span> <span class="translit">(Yah·weh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> </span><span class="str2">LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">says</span><br /><span class="heb">אָמַ֣ר</span> <span class="translit">(’ā·mar)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to the men</span><br /><span class="heb">לְאִ֤ישׁ</span> <span class="translit">(lə·’îš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_376.htm">Strong's 376: </a> </span><span class="str2">A man as an individual, a male person</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of Judah</span><br /><span class="heb">יְהוּדָה֙</span> <span class="translit">(yə·hū·ḏāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3063.htm">Strong's 3063: </a> </span><span class="str2">Judah -- 'praised', a son of Jacob, also the southern kingdom, also four Israelites</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and Jerusalem:</span><br /><span class="heb">וְלִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם</span> <span class="translit">(wə·lî·rū·šā·lim)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3389.htm">Strong's 3389: </a> </span><span class="str2">Jerusalem -- probably 'foundation of peace', capital city of all Israel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“Break up</span><br /><span class="heb">נִ֥ירוּ</span> <span class="translit">(nî·rū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5214.htm">Strong's 5214: </a> </span><span class="str2">To break up, freshly till</span><br /><br /><span class="word">your unplowed ground,</span><br /><span class="heb">נִ֑יר</span> <span class="translit">(nîr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5215.htm">Strong's 5215: </a> </span><span class="str2">Plowing, freshly plowed land</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and do not</span><br /><span class="heb">וְאַֽל־</span> <span class="translit">(wə·’al-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_408.htm">Strong's 408: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not</span><br /><br /><span class="word">sow</span><br /><span class="heb">תִּזְרְע֖וּ</span> <span class="translit">(tiz·rə·‘ū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2232.htm">Strong's 2232: </a> </span><span class="str2">To sow, to disseminate, plant, fructify</span><br /><br /><span class="word">among</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶל־</span> <span class="translit">(’el-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near, with, among, to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the thorns.</span><br /><span class="heb">קוֹצִֽים׃</span> <span class="translit">(qō·w·ṣîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6975.htm">Strong's 6975: </a> </span><span class="str2">A thorn, thornbush</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/jeremiah/4-3.htm">Jeremiah 4:3 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/jeremiah/4-3.htm">Jeremiah 4:3 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/jeremiah/4-3.htm">Jeremiah 4:3 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/jeremiah/4-3.htm">Jeremiah 4:3 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/jeremiah/4-3.htm">Jeremiah 4:3 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/jeremiah/4-3.htm">Jeremiah 4:3 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/jeremiah/4-3.htm">Jeremiah 4:3 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/jeremiah/4-3.htm">Jeremiah 4:3 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/jeremiah/4-3.htm">Jeremiah 4:3 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/jeremiah/4-3.htm">Jeremiah 4:3 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/jeremiah/4-3.htm">OT Prophets: Jeremiah 4:3 For thus says Yahweh to the men (Jer.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/jeremiah/4-2.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Jeremiah 4:2"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Jeremiah 4:2" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/jeremiah/4-4.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Jeremiah 4:4"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Jeremiah 4:4" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>