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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Jeremiah 4:17 They surround her like men guarding a field, because she has rebelled against Me," declares the LORD.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/jeremiah/4-17.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/1/24_Jer_04_17.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Jeremiah 4:17 - Disaster from the North" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="They surround her like men guarding a field, because she has rebelled against Me, declares the LORD." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; 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because she hath been rebellious against me, saith the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/jeremiah/4.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Like keepers of a field they are against her all around, Because she has been rebellious against Me,” says the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/jeremiah/4.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />‘Like watchmen of a field they are against her all around, Because she has rebelled against Me,’ declares the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/jeremiah/4.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8216Like watchmen of a field they are against her round about, Because she has rebelled against Me,&#8217 declares the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/jeremiah/4.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />‘Like watchmen of a field they are against her round about, Because she has rebelled against Me,’ declares the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/jeremiah/4.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Like watchmen of a field they are against her round about Because she has rebelled against Me,’ declares Yahweh.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/jeremiah/4.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />‘Like watchmen of a field they are against her on all sides, Because she has rebelled against Me,’ says the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/jeremiah/4.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />They have her surrounded like those who guard a field, because she has rebelled against me. This is the LORD’s declaration.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/jeremiah/4.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />They have her surrounded like those who guard a field, because she has rebelled against Me. This is the LORD&#8217s declaration. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/jeremiah/4.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />As keepers of a field are they against her round about, because she hath been rebellious against me, saith Jehovah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/jeremiah/4.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />As keepers of a field are they against her round about; because she hath been rebellious against me, saith the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/jeremiah/4.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />They surround them like men guarding a field, because Judah has rebelled against me," declares the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/jeremiah/4.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />and will surround Jerusalem like men guarding a field, because her people have rebelled against the LORD. The LORD has spoken. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/jeremiah/4.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />They have surrounded her like those guarding a field because they have rebelled against me,'" declares the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/jeremiah/4.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />They surround her like men guarding a field, because she has rebelled against Me,? declares the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/jeremiah/4.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />They will surround Jerusalem like men guarding a field because they have rebelled against me," says the LORD. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/jeremiah/4.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />As keepers of a field, they are against her all around, because she has been rebellious against me,'" says the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/jeremiah/4.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />As keepers of a field they are against her on all sides; because she hath been rebellious against me, saith the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/jeremiah/4.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />As keepers of a field, they are against her all around, because she has been rebellious against me,’” says Yahweh. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/jeremiah/4.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />As the keepers of a field "" They have been against her all around, "" For she has been rebellious with Me,” "" A declaration of YHWH.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/jeremiah/4.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> As the keepers of a field They have been against her round about, For with Me she hath been rebellious, An affirmation of Jehovah.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/jeremiah/4.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />As watching a field they were against her from round about; for she embittered against me, says Jehovah.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/jeremiah/4.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />They are set round about her, as keepers of fields: because she hath provoked me to wrath, saith the Lord. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/jeremiah/4.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />They have been stationed over her, like the guardians of fields, all around. For she has provoked me to wrath, says the Lord.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/jeremiah/4.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Like watchers in the fields they surround her, for she has rebelled against me—oracle of the LORD. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/jeremiah/4.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />They have closed in around her like watchers of a field, because she has rebelled against me, says the LORD.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/jeremiah/4.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />As keepers of the fields are they against her around about, because she has been rebellious against me, says the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/jeremiah/4.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />As the keepers of the fields they have been against her from around her, because she has angered me, says LORD JEHOVAH<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/jeremiah/4.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />As keepers of a field Are they against her round about; Because she hath been rebellious against Me, Saith the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/jeremiah/4.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />As keepers of a field, they have surrounded her; because thou, saith the Lord, has neglected me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/jeremiah/4-17.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=1173" 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">Disaster from the North</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">16</span>Warn the nations now! Proclaim to Jerusalem: “A besieging army comes from a distant land; they raise their voices against the cities of Judah. <span class="reftext">17</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/5439.htm" title="5439: mis·sā·ḇîḇ (Prep-m:: Adv) -- Circuit, round about. Or cbiybah; from cabab; a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly around.">They surround her</a> <a href="/hebrew/8104.htm" title="8104: kə·šō·mə·rê (Prep-k:: V-Qal-Prtcpl-mpc) -- To keep, watch, preserve. A primitive root; properly, to hedge about, i.e. Guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.">like men guarding</a> <a href="/hebrew/7704.htm" title="7704: śā·ḏay (N-ms) -- Field, land. Or saday; from an unused root meaning to spread out; a field.">a field,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: hā·yū (V-Qal-Perf-3cp) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass."></a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: ‘ā·le·hā (Prep:: 3fs) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî- (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">because</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’ō·ṯî (DirObjM:: 1cs) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/4784.htm" title="4784: mā·rā·ṯāh (V-Qal-Perf-3fs) -- To be contentious or rebellious. A primitive root; to be bitter; to rebel.">she has rebelled against Me,”</a> <a href="/hebrew/5002.htm" title="5002: nə·’um- (N-msc) -- Utterance. From na'am; an oracle.">declares</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> </span><span class="reftext">18</span>“Your ways and deeds have brought this upon you. This is your punishment; how bitter it is, because it pierces to the heart!”…<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="/2_kings/25-1.htm">2 Kings 25:1-4</a></span><br />So in the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his entire army. They encamped outside the city and built a siege wall all around it. / And the city was kept under siege until King Zedekiah’s eleventh year. / By the ninth day of the fourth month, the famine in the city was so severe that the people of the land had no food. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/lamentations/1-17.htm">Lamentations 1:17</a></span><br />Zion stretches out her hands, but there is no one to comfort her. The LORD has decreed against Jacob that his neighbors become his foes. Jerusalem has become an unclean thing among them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/1-7.htm">Isaiah 1:7-8</a></span><br />Your land is desolate; your cities are burned with fire. Foreigners devour your fields before you—a desolation demolished by strangers. / And the Daughter of Zion is abandoned like a shelter in a vineyard, like a shack in a cucumber field, like a city besieged.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/5-8.htm">Ezekiel 5:8-10</a></span><br />Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I Myself am against you, Jerusalem, and I will execute judgments among you in the sight of the nations. / Because of all your abominations, I will do to you what I have never done before and will never do again. / As a result, fathers among you will eat their sons, and sons will eat their fathers. I will execute judgments against you and scatter all your remnant to every wind.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/29-3.htm">Isaiah 29:3</a></span><br />I will camp in a circle around you; I will besiege you with towers and set up siege works against you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/6-3.htm">Jeremiah 6:3-6</a></span><br />Shepherds and their flocks will come against her; they will pitch their tents all around her, each tending his own portion: / ‘Prepare for battle against her; rise up, let us attack at noon. Woe to us, for the daylight is fading; the evening shadows grow long. / Rise up, let us attack by night and destroy her fortresses!’” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/21-22.htm">Ezekiel 21:22</a></span><br />In his right hand appears the portent for Jerusalem, where he is to set up battering rams, to call for the slaughter, to lift a battle cry, to direct the battering rams against the gates, to build a ramp, and to erect a siege wall.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/19-43.htm">Luke 19:43-44</a></span><br />For the days will come upon you when your enemies will barricade you and surround you and hem you in on every side. / They will level you to the ground—you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/24-15.htm">Matthew 24:15-16</a></span><br />So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand), / then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/39-1.htm">Jeremiah 39:1-3</a></span><br />In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his entire army and laid siege to the city. / And on the ninth day of the fourth month of Zedekiah’s eleventh year, the city was breached. / Then all the officials of the king of Babylon entered and sat in the Middle Gate: Nergal-sharezer of Samgar, Nebo-sarsekim the Rabsaris, Nergal-sharezer the Rabmag, and all the rest of the officials of the king of Babylon.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/5-26.htm">Isaiah 5:26-30</a></span><br />He lifts a banner for the distant nations and whistles for those at the ends of the earth. Behold—how speedily and swiftly they come! / None of them grows weary or stumbles; no one slumbers or sleeps. No belt is loose and no sandal strap is broken. / Their arrows are sharpened, and all their bows are strung. The hooves of their horses are like flint; their chariot wheels are like a whirlwind. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/52-4.htm">Jeremiah 52:4-5</a></span><br />So in the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his entire army. They encamped outside the city and built a siege wall all around it. / And the city was kept under siege until King Zedekiah’s eleventh year.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/4-2.htm">Ezekiel 4:2-3</a></span><br />Then lay siege against it: Construct a siege wall, build a ramp to it, set up camps against it, and place battering rams around it on all sides. / Then take an iron plate and set it up as an iron wall between yourself and the city. Turn your face toward it so that it is under siege, and besiege it. This will be a sign to the house of Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/12-9.htm">Jeremiah 12:9-11</a></span><br />Is not My inheritance to Me like a speckled bird of prey with other birds of prey circling against her? Go, gather all the beasts of the field; bring them to devour her. / Many shepherds have destroyed My vineyard; they have trampled My plot of ground. They have turned My pleasant field into a desolate wasteland. / They have made it a desolation; desolate before Me, it mourns. All the land is laid waste, but no man takes it to heart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/32-24.htm">Jeremiah 32:24</a></span><br />See how the siege ramps are mounted against the city to capture it. And by sword and famine and plague, the city has been given into the hands of the Chaldeans who are fighting against it. What You have spoken has happened, as You now see!</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">As keepers of a field, are they against her round about; because she has been rebellious against me, said the LORD.</p><p class="hdg">keepers.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/6-2.htm">Jeremiah 6:2,3</a></b></br> I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate <i>woman</i>… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_kings/25-1.htm">2 Kings 25:1-4</a></b></br> And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth <i>day</i> of the month, <i>that</i> Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he, and all his host, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it; and they built forts against it round about… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/1-8.htm">Isaiah 1:8</a></b></br> And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.</p><p class="hdg">because.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/5-23.htm">Jeremiah 5:23</a></b></br> But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/nehemiah/9-26.htm">Nehemiah 9:26,30</a></b></br> Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their backs, and slew thy prophets which testified against them to turn them to thee, and they wrought great provocations… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/1-20.htm">Isaiah 1:20-23</a></b></br> But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken <i>it</i>… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/jeremiah/4-9.htm">Affirmation</a> <a href="/jeremiah/4-15.htm">Declares</a> <a href="/isaiah/56-9.htm">Field</a> <a href="/jeremiah/1-19.htm">Fighting</a> <a href="/songs/3-8.htm">Guarding</a> <a href="/jeremiah/3-15.htm">Keepers</a> <a href="/jeremiah/3-13.htm">Rebelled</a> <a href="/isaiah/65-2.htm">Rebellious</a> <a href="/isaiah/60-4.htm">Round</a> <a href="/isaiah/66-12.htm">Side</a> <a href="/isaiah/66-12.htm">Sides</a> <a href="/psalms/142-7.htm">Surround</a> <a href="/isaiah/62-6.htm">Watchmen</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/jeremiah/5-9.htm">Affirmation</a> <a href="/jeremiah/5-9.htm">Declares</a> <a href="/jeremiah/4-26.htm">Field</a> <a href="/jeremiah/15-20.htm">Fighting</a> <a href="/matthew/27-54.htm">Guarding</a> <a href="/jeremiah/6-3.htm">Keepers</a> <a href="/jeremiah/52-3.htm">Rebelled</a> <a href="/jeremiah/5-23.htm">Rebellious</a> <a href="/jeremiah/6-3.htm">Round</a> <a href="/jeremiah/6-3.htm">Side</a> <a href="/jeremiah/6-22.htm">Sides</a> <a href="/jeremiah/12-9.htm">Surround</a> <a href="/jeremiah/6-17.htm">Watchmen</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 />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <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>They surround her like men guarding a field</b><br>This phrase paints a vivid picture of a siege, a common military tactic in ancient times. The imagery of surrounding a field suggests a complete encirclement, indicating that escape is impossible. In the context of Jeremiah, this refers to the impending Babylonian invasion of Jerusalem. The Babylonians, known for their military prowess, would lay siege to cities, cutting off supplies and forcing surrender. This tactic is reminiscent of how armies would protect valuable crops from thieves, highlighting the seriousness of the situation. The surrounding of Jerusalem is a fulfillment of warnings given by prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah, emphasizing the certainty of divine judgment due to the people's disobedience.<p><b>because she has rebelled against Me,”</b><br>Rebellion against God is a central theme in the prophetic books. In the context of Jeremiah, this rebellion includes idolatry, social injustice, and breaking the covenant established at Sinai. The Israelites were called to be a holy nation, set apart for God's purposes, but their actions consistently contradicted this calling. This rebellion is not just a political or social issue but a spiritual one, as it represents a turning away from the relationship with God. The consequences of such rebellion are outlined in <a href="/deuteronomy/28.htm">Deuteronomy 28</a>, where blessings and curses are detailed based on Israel's obedience or disobedience. The rebellion is a rejection of God's authority and love, leading to the inevitable judgment.<p><b>declares the LORD.</b><br>The phrase "declares the LORD" underscores the authority and certainty of the message. It is a common prophetic formula that authenticates the message as coming directly from God. This declaration is not merely a prediction but a divine decree, emphasizing that the events to come are part of God's sovereign plan. The use of God's covenant name, often rendered as "LORD" in English translations, reminds the audience of the personal and relational nature of God, who is both just and merciful. This declaration serves as a final reminder that the words spoken are not Jeremiah's own but are delivered under divine inspiration, carrying the weight of God's unchanging truth.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/jeremiah.htm">Jeremiah</a></b><br>A prophet called by God to deliver messages of warning and hope to the people of Judah. His ministry spanned over 40 years during a turbulent period in Judah's history.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/j/judah.htm">Judah</a></b><br>The southern kingdom of Israel, which was facing imminent judgment due to its persistent rebellion against God. Jeremiah's prophecies were primarily directed towards this kingdom.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_lord.htm">The LORD (Yahweh)</a></b><br>The covenant God of Israel, who is both just and merciful. He is the one declaring judgment due to Judah's rebellion.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_invaders.htm">The Invaders</a></b><br>Though not explicitly named in this verse, they are the foreign armies that God would use as instruments of judgment against Judah. Historically, this refers to the Babylonians.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_field.htm">The Field</a></b><br>Symbolically represents the land of Judah, which is being surrounded and guarded by enemies as a consequence of its rebellion.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/r/rebellion_and_consequences.htm">Rebellion and Consequences</a></b><br>Rebellion against God leads to inevitable consequences. Just as Judah faced physical invasion, spiritual rebellion in our lives can lead to spiritual desolation.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_in_judgment.htm">God's Sovereignty in Judgment</a></b><br>God uses nations and circumstances as instruments of His judgment. Recognizing His sovereignty helps us trust His justice and mercy.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/call_to_repentance.htm">Call to Repentance</a></b><br>The surrounding of Judah is a call to repentance. In our lives, we must heed God's warnings and turn back to Him before facing severe consequences.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/guarding_our_hearts.htm">Guarding Our Hearts</a></b><br>Just as fields are guarded, we must guard our hearts against rebellion and sin, ensuring we remain faithful to God's commands.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/h/hope_in_restoration.htm">Hope in Restoration</a></b><br>Despite the judgment, God's ultimate desire is restoration. We should always seek His forgiveness and restoration in our lives.<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/what_does_the_bible_say_on_paranoia.htm">What does the Bible say about paranoia?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_to_submit_to_authorities.htm">How does the Bible warn against deception?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/main_themes_of_bible's_books.htm">What are the main themes of the Bible's books?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_'guard_your_heart'_mean.htm">What does 'guard your heart' mean?</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>(17) <span class= "bld">Field.</span>--With the meaning, as in all early English, of "open," not "enclosed," country (<a href="/leviticus/14-7.htm" title="And he shall sprinkle on him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field.">Leviticus 14:7</a>; <a href="/leviticus/17-5.htm" title="To the end that the children of Israel may bring their sacrifices, which they offer in the open field, even that they may bring them to the LORD, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to the priest, and offer them for peace offerings to the LORD.">Leviticus 17:5</a>). The image is that of a nomadic tribe encamped in the open country, or of men watching their flocks (<a href="/luke/2-8.htm" title="And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.">Luke 2:8</a>) or crops (<a href="/job/27-18.htm" title="He builds his house as a moth, and as a booth that the keeper makes.">Job 27:18</a>). So shall be the tents of the invaders round Jerusalem--keeping, or (as in <a href="/2_samuel/11-16.htm" title="And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah to a place where he knew that valiant men were.">2Samuel 11:16</a>) "observing," <span class= "ital">i.e., </span>"blockading" the city.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/jeremiah/4.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 17.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">As keepers of a field</span>. The prophet compares the tents, or perhaps the booths (<a href="/1_kings/20-12.htm">1 Kings 20:12, 16</a>), of the besieging army to the booths of the guardians of the crepe (<a href="/isaiah/1-8.htm">Isaiah 1:8</a>; <a href="/job/27-18.htm">Job 27:18</a>). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/jeremiah/4-17.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">They surround her</span><br /><span class="heb">מִסָּבִ֑יב</span> <span class="translit">(mis·sā·ḇîḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5439.htm">Strong's 5439: </a> </span><span class="str2">A circle, neighbour, environs, around</span><br /><br /><span class="word">like men guarding</span><br /><span class="heb">כְּשֹׁמְרֵ֣י</span> <span class="translit">(kə·šō·mə·rê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-k | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8104.htm">Strong's 8104: </a> </span><span class="str2">To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">a field,</span><br /><span class="heb">שָׂדַ֔י</span> <span class="translit">(śā·ḏay)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7704.htm">Strong's 7704: </a> </span><span class="str2">Field, land</span><br /><br /><span class="word">because</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">she has rebelled against Me,</span><br /><span class="heb">מָרָ֖תָה</span> <span class="translit">(mā·rā·ṯāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4784.htm">Strong's 4784: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be contentious or rebellious</span><br /><br /><span class="word">declares</span><br /><span class="heb">נְאֻם־</span> <span class="translit">(nə·’um-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5002.htm">Strong's 5002: </a> </span><span class="str2">An oracle</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the LORD.</span><br /><span class="heb">יְהוָֽה׃</span> <span class="translit">(Yah·weh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3069.htm">Strong's 3069: </a> </span><span class="str2">YHWH</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/jeremiah/4-17.htm">Jeremiah 4:17 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/jeremiah/4-17.htm">Jeremiah 4:17 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/jeremiah/4-17.htm">Jeremiah 4:17 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/jeremiah/4-17.htm">Jeremiah 4:17 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/jeremiah/4-17.htm">Jeremiah 4:17 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/jeremiah/4-17.htm">Jeremiah 4:17 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/jeremiah/4-17.htm">Jeremiah 4:17 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/jeremiah/4-17.htm">Jeremiah 4:17 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/jeremiah/4-17.htm">Jeremiah 4:17 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/jeremiah/4-17.htm">Jeremiah 4:17 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/jeremiah/4-17.htm">OT Prophets: Jeremiah 4:17 As keepers of a field are they (Jer.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/jeremiah/4-16.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Jeremiah 4:16"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Jeremiah 4:16" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/jeremiah/4-18.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Jeremiah 4:18"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Jeremiah 4:18" /></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>