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Selected Verse: Jeremiah 4:19 - Strong Concordance
Verse |
Translation |
Text |
Jer 4:19 |
Strong Concordance |
My bowels [04578], my bowels [04578]! I am pained [02342] [03176] at my very [07023] heart [03820]; my heart [03820] maketh a noise [01993] in me; I cannot hold my peace [02790], because thou hast heard [08085], O my soul [05315], the sound [06963] of the trumpet [07782], the alarm [08643] of war [04421]. |
|
King James |
My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; my heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
The prophet suddenly assumes the language of the Jewish state personified, lamenting its affliction (Jer 10:19-20; Jer 9:1, Jer 9:10; Isa 15:5; compare Luk 19:41).
at my very heart--Hebrew, "at the walls of my heart"; the muscles round the heart. There is a climax, the "bowels," the pericardium, the "heart" itself.
maketh . . . noise--moaneth [HENDERSON].
alarm--the battle shout. |
Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
The verse is best translated as a series of ejaculations, in which the people express their grief at the ravages committed by the enemy:
"My bowels! My bowels!" I writhe in pain!
The walls of my heart! "My heart" moans for me!
I cannot keep silence!
For "thou hast heard, O my soul," the trumpet's voice!
"The alarm of war!" |
Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78] |
Grief at the desolation of the land the infatuation of the people. - Jer 4:19. "My bowels, my bowels! I am pained! the chambers of my heart - my heart rages within me! I cannot hold my peace! for thou hearest (the) sound of the trumpet, my soul, (the) war-cry. Jer 4:20. Destruction upon destruction is called; for spoiled is the whole land; suddenly are my tents spoiled, my curtains in a moment. Jer 4:21. How long shall I see (the) standard, hear (the) sound of the trumpet? Jer 4:22. For my people is foolish, me they know not; senseless children are they, and without understanding; wise are they to do evil, but to do good they know not. Jer 4:23. I look on the earth, and, lo, it is waste and void; and towards the heavens, and there is no light in them. Jer 4:24. I look on the mountains, and, lo, they tremble, and all the hills totter. Jer 4:25. I look, and, lo, no man is there, and all the fowls of the heavens are fled. Jer 4:26. I look, and, lo, Carmel is the wilderness, and all the cities thereof are destroyed before Jahveh, before the heath of His anger."
To express the misery which the approaching siege of Jerusalem and the cities of Judah is about to bring, the prophet breaks forth into lamentation, Jer 4:19-21. It is a much debated question, whether the prophet is the speaker, as the Chald. has taken it, i.e., whether Jeremiah is uttering his own (subjective) feelings, or whether the people is brought before us speaking, as Grot., Schnur., Hitz., Ew. believe. The answer is this: the prophet certainly is expressing his personal feelings regarding the nearing catastrophe, but in doing so he lends words to the grief which all the godly will feel. The lament of Jer 4:20, suddenly are my tents spoiled, is unquestionably the lament not of the prophet as an individual, but of the congregation, i.e., of the godly among the people, not of the mass of the blinded people. The violence of the grief finds vent in abrupt ejaculations of distress. "My bowels, my bowels!" is the cry of sore pain, for with the Hebrews the bowels are the seat of the deepest feelings. The Chet. אוחולה is a monstrosity, certainly a copyist's error for אחוּלה, as it is in many MSS and edd., from חוּל: I am driven to writhe in agony. The Keri אוחילה, I will wait (cf. Mic 7:7), yields no good sense, and is probably suggested merely by the cohortative form, a cohortative being regarded as out of place in the case of חוּל. But that form may express also the effort to incite one's own volition, and so would here be rendered in English by: I am bound to suffer pain, or must suffer; cf. Ew. 228, a. - קירות , prop. the walls of my heart, which quiver as the heart throbs in anguish. הומה־לּי is not to be joined with the last two words as if it were part of the same clause; in that case we should expect הומה. But these words too are an ejaculation. The subject of הומה is the following לבּי; cf. Jer 48:36. In defiance of usage, Hitz. connects לבּי with לא : my heart can I not put to silence. But this verb in Hiph. means always: be silent, never: put to silence. Not even in Job 11:3 can it have the latter meaning; where we have the same verb construed with acc. rei, as in Job 41:4, and where we must translate: at thy harangues shall the people be silent. The heart cannot be silent, because the soul hears the peal of the war-trumpet. שׁמעתּי is 2nd pers. fem., as in Jer 2:20, Jer 2:33, and freq., the soul being addressed, as in Psa 16:2 (in אמרתּ), Psa 42:6, 12. This apostrophe is in keeping with the agitated tone of the whole verse.
Jer 4:20-26
One destruction after another is heralded (on שׁבר, see Jer 4:6). Ew. translates loosely: wound upon wound meet one another. For the word does not mean wound, but the fracture of a limb; and it seems inadmissible to follow the Chald. and Syr. in taking נקרא here in the sense of נקרה , since the sig. "meet" does not suit שׁבר. The thought is this: tidings are brought of one catastrophe after another, for the devastation extends itself over the whole land and comes suddenly upon the tents, i.e., dwellings of those who are lamenting. Covers, curtains of the tent, is used as synonymous with tents; cf. Jer 10:20; Isa 54:2. How long shall I see the standard, etc.! is the cry of despair, seeing no prospect of the end to the horrors of the war. The standard and the sound of the trumpet are, as in Jer 4:5, the alarm-signals on the approach of the enemy.
There is no prospect of an end to the horrors, for (Jer 4:22) the people is so foolish that it understands only how to do the evil, but not the good; cf. for this Jer 5:21; Isa 1:3; Mic 7:3. Jer 4:21 gives God's answer to the woful query, how long the ravaging of the land by war is to last. The answer is: as long as the people persists in the folly of its rebellion against God, so long will chastising judgments continue. To bring this answer of God home to the people's heart, the prophet, in Jer 4:23-26, tells what he has seen in the spirit. He has seen (ראיתי, perf. proph.) bursting over Judah a visitation which convulses the whole world. The earth seemed waste and void as at the beginning of creation, Gen 1:2, before the separation of the elements and before the creation of organic and living beings. In heaven no light was to be seen, earth and heaven seemed to have been thrown back into a condition of chaos. The mountains and hills, these firm foundations of the earth, quivered and swayed (התקלקל, be put into a light motion, cf. Nah 1:5); men had fled and hidden themselves from the wrath of God (cf. Isa 2:19, Isa 2:21), and all the birds had flown out of sight in terror at the dreadful tokens of the beginning catastrophe (Gen 9:9). The fruitful field was the wilderness - not a wilderness, but "changed into the wilderness with all its attributes" (Hitz.). הכּרמל is not appell. as in Jer 2:7, but nom. prop. of the lower slopes of Carmel, famed for their fruitfulness; these being taken as representatives of all the fruitful districts of the land. The cities of the Carmel, or of the fruitful-field, are manifestly not to be identified with the store cities of Kg1 9:19, as Hitz. supposes, but the cities in the most fertile districts of the country, which, by reason of their situation, were in a prosperous condition, but now are destroyed. "Before the heat of His anger," which is kindled against the foolish and godless race; cf. Nah 1:6; Isa 13:13. |
Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
My bowels - Here begins the complaint of the prophet. My heart - Is disturbed within me. Because - I have heard in the spirit of prophecy; it is as certain, as if I now heard the trumpet sounding. |
Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
My bowels - From this to the twenty-ninth verse the prophet describes the ruin of Jerusalem and the desolation of Judea by the Chaldeans in language and imagery scarcely paralleled in the whole Bible. At the sight of misery the bowels are first affected; pain is next felt by a sort of stricture in the pericardium; and then, the heart becoming strongly affected by irregular palpitations, a gush of tears, accompanied with wailings, is the issue. - "My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart, (the walls of my heart); my heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace." Here is nature, and fact also. |
41 And [2532] when [5613] he was come near [1448], he beheld [1492] the city [4172], and wept [2799] over [1909] it [846],
5 My heart [03820] shall cry out [02199] for Moab [04124]; his fugitives [01280] shall flee unto Zoar [06820], an heifer [05697] of three years old [07992]: for by the mounting up [04608] of Luhith [03872] with weeping [01065] shall they go it up [05927]; for in the way [01870] of Horonaim [02773] they shall raise up [05782] a cry [02201] of destruction [07667].
10 For the mountains [02022] will I take up [05375] a weeping [01065] and wailing [05092], and for the habitations [04999] of the wilderness [04057] a lamentation [07015], because they are burned up [03341], so that none [0376] can pass [05674] through them; neither can men hear [08085] the voice [06963] of the cattle [04735]; both the fowl [05775] of the heavens [08064] and the beast [0929] are fled [05074]; they are gone [01980].
1 Oh that [05414] my head [07218] were waters [04325], and mine eyes [05869] a fountain [04726] of tears [01832], that I might weep [01058] day [03119] and night [03915] for the slain [02491] of the daughter [01323] of my people [05971]!
19 Woe [0188] is me for my hurt [07667]! my wound [04347] is grievous [02470]: but I said [0559], Truly [0389] this is a grief [02483], and I must bear [05375] it.
20 My tabernacle [0168] is spoiled [07703], and all my cords [04340] are broken [05423]: my children [01121] are gone forth [03318] of me, and they are not: there is none to stretch forth [05186] my tent [0168] any more, and to set up [06965] my curtains [03407].
13 Therefore I will shake [07264] the heavens [08064], and the earth [0776] shall remove [07493] out of her place [04725], in the wrath [05678] of the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635], and in the day [03117] of his fierce [02740] anger [0639].
6 Who can stand [05975] before [06440] his indignation [02195]? and who can abide [06965] in the fierceness [02740] of his anger [0639]? his fury [02534] is poured out [05413] like fire [0784], and the rocks [06697] are thrown down [05422] by him.
19 And all the cities [05892] of store [04543] that Solomon [08010] had, and cities [05892] for his chariots [07393], and cities [05892] for his horsemen [06571], and that [02837] which Solomon [08010] desired [02836] to build [01129] in Jerusalem [03389], and in Lebanon [03844], and in all the land [0776] of his dominion [04475].
7 And I brought [0935] you into a plentiful [03759] country [0776], to eat [0398] the fruit [06529] thereof and the goodness [02898] thereof; but when ye entered [0935], ye defiled [02930] my land [0776], and made [07760] mine heritage [05159] an abomination [08441].
9 And I, behold, I establish [06965] my covenant [01285] with you, and with your seed [02233] after you [0310];
21 To go [0935] into the clefts [05366] of the rocks [06697], and into the tops [05585] of the ragged rocks [05553], for [06440] fear [06343] of the LORD [03068], and for the glory [01926] of his majesty [01347], when he ariseth [06965] to shake terribly [06206] the earth [0776].
19 And they shall go [0935] into the holes [04631] of the rocks [06697], and into the caves [04247] of the earth [06083], for [06440] fear [06343] of the LORD [03068], and for the glory [01926] of his majesty [01347], when he ariseth [06965] to shake terribly [06206] the earth [0776].
5 The mountains [02022] quake [07493] at him, and the hills [01389] melt [04127], and the earth [0776] is burned [05375] at his presence [06440], yea, the world [08398], and all that dwell [03427] therein.
2 And the earth [0776] was [01961] without form [08414], and void [0922]; and darkness [02822] was upon the face [06440] of the deep [08415]. And the Spirit [07307] of God [0430] moved [07363] upon [05921] the face [06440] of the waters [04325].
23 I beheld [07200] the earth [0776], and, lo, it was without form [08414], and void [0922]; and the heavens [08064], and they had no light [0216].
24 I beheld [07200] the mountains [02022], and, lo, they trembled [07493], and all the hills [01389] moved lightly [07043].
25 I beheld [07200], and, lo, there was no man [0120], and all the birds [05775] of the heavens [08064] were fled [05074].
26 I beheld [07200], and, lo, the fruitful place [03759] was a wilderness [04057], and all the cities [05892] thereof were broken down [05422] at the presence [06440] of the LORD [03068], and by his fierce [02740] anger [0639].
21 How long shall I see [07200] the standard [05251], and hear [08085] the sound [06963] of the trumpet [07782]?
3 That they may do evil [07451] with both hands [03709] earnestly [03190], the prince [08269] asketh [07592], and the judge [08199] asketh for a reward [07966]; and the great [01419] man, he uttereth [01696] his mischievous [01942] desire [05315]: so they wrap it up [05686].
3 The ox [07794] knoweth [03045] his owner [07069], and the ass [02543] his master's [01167] crib [018]: but Israel [03478] doth not know [03045], my people [05971] doth not consider [0995].
21 Hear [08085] now this, O foolish [05530] people [05971], and without understanding [03820]; which have eyes [05869], and see [07200] not; which have ears [0241], and hear [08085] not:
22 For my people [05971] is foolish [0191], they have not known [03045] me; they are sottish [05530] children [01121], and they have none understanding [0995]: they are wise [02450] to do evil [07489], but to do good [03190] they have no knowledge [03045].
5 Declare [05046] ye in Judah [03063], and publish [08085] in Jerusalem [03389]; and say [0559], Blow [08628] ye the trumpet [07782] in the land [0776]: cry [07121], gather together [04390], and say [0559], Assemble [0622] yourselves, and let us go [0935] into the defenced [04013] cities [05892].
2 Enlarge [07337] the place [04725] of thy tent [0168], and let them stretch forth [05186] the curtains [03407] of thine habitations [04908]: spare [02820] not, lengthen [0748] thy cords [04340], and strengthen [02388] thy stakes [03489];
20 My tabernacle [0168] is spoiled [07703], and all my cords [04340] are broken [05423]: my children [01121] are gone forth [03318] of me, and they are not: there is none to stretch forth [05186] my tent [0168] any more, and to set up [06965] my curtains [03407].
6 Set up [05375] the standard [05251] toward Zion [06726]: retire [05756], stay [05975] not: for I will bring [0935] evil [07451] from the north [06828], and a great [01419] destruction [07667].
20 Destruction [07667] upon destruction [07667] is cried [07121]; for the whole land [0776] is spoiled [07703]: suddenly [06597] are my tents [0168] spoiled [07703], and my curtains [03407] in a moment [07281].
21 How long shall I see [07200] the standard [05251], and hear [08085] the sound [06963] of the trumpet [07782]?
22 For my people [05971] is foolish [0191], they have not known [03045] me; they are sottish [05530] children [01121], and they have none understanding [0995]: they are wise [02450] to do evil [07489], but to do good [03190] they have no knowledge [03045].
23 I beheld [07200] the earth [0776], and, lo, it was without form [08414], and void [0922]; and the heavens [08064], and they had no light [0216].
24 I beheld [07200] the mountains [02022], and, lo, they trembled [07493], and all the hills [01389] moved lightly [07043].
25 I beheld [07200], and, lo, there was no man [0120], and all the birds [05775] of the heavens [08064] were fled [05074].
26 I beheld [07200], and, lo, the fruitful place [03759] was a wilderness [04057], and all the cities [05892] thereof were broken down [05422] at the presence [06440] of the LORD [03068], and by his fierce [02740] anger [0639].
6 O my God [0430], my soul [05315] is cast down [07817] within me: therefore will I remember [02142] thee from the land [0776] of Jordan [03383], and of the Hermonites [02769], from the hill [02022] Mizar [04706].
2 O my soul, thou hast said [0559] unto the LORD [03068], Thou art my Lord [0136]: my goodness [02896] extendeth not to thee;
33 Why trimmest [03190] thou thy way [01870] to seek [01245] love [0160]? therefore hast thou also taught [03925] the wicked ones [07451] thy ways [01870].
20 For of old time [05769] I have broken [07665] thy yoke [05923], and burst [05423] thy bands [04147]; and thou saidst [0559], I will not transgress [05674] [05647]; when upon every high [01364] hill [01389] and under every green [07488] tree [06086] thou wanderest [06808], playing the harlot [02181].
4 Will he make [03772] a covenant [01285] with thee? wilt thou take [03947] him for a servant [05650] for ever [05769]?
3 Should thy lies [0907] make [02790] men [04962] hold their peace [02790]? and when thou mockest [03932], shall no man make thee ashamed [03637]?
36 Therefore mine heart [03820] shall sound [01993] for Moab [04124] like pipes [02485], and mine heart [03820] shall sound [01993] like pipes [02485] for the men [0582] of Kirheres [07025]: because the riches [03502] that he hath gotten [06213] are perished [06].
7 Therefore I will look [06822] unto the LORD [03068]; I will wait [03176] for the God [0430] of my salvation [03468]: my God [0430] will hear [08085] me.
20 Destruction [07667] upon destruction [07667] is cried [07121]; for the whole land [0776] is spoiled [07703]: suddenly [06597] are my tents [0168] spoiled [07703], and my curtains [03407] in a moment [07281].
19 My bowels [04578], my bowels [04578]! I am pained [02342] [03176] at my very [07023] heart [03820]; my heart [03820] maketh a noise [01993] in me; I cannot hold my peace [02790], because thou hast heard [08085], O my soul [05315], the sound [06963] of the trumpet [07782], the alarm [08643] of war [04421].
20 Destruction [07667] upon destruction [07667] is cried [07121]; for the whole land [0776] is spoiled [07703]: suddenly [06597] are my tents [0168] spoiled [07703], and my curtains [03407] in a moment [07281].
21 How long shall I see [07200] the standard [05251], and hear [08085] the sound [06963] of the trumpet [07782]?
26 I beheld [07200], and, lo, the fruitful place [03759] was a wilderness [04057], and all the cities [05892] thereof were broken down [05422] at the presence [06440] of the LORD [03068], and by his fierce [02740] anger [0639].
25 I beheld [07200], and, lo, there was no man [0120], and all the birds [05775] of the heavens [08064] were fled [05074].
24 I beheld [07200] the mountains [02022], and, lo, they trembled [07493], and all the hills [01389] moved lightly [07043].
23 I beheld [07200] the earth [0776], and, lo, it was without form [08414], and void [0922]; and the heavens [08064], and they had no light [0216].
22 For my people [05971] is foolish [0191], they have not known [03045] me; they are sottish [05530] children [01121], and they have none understanding [0995]: they are wise [02450] to do evil [07489], but to do good [03190] they have no knowledge [03045].
21 How long shall I see [07200] the standard [05251], and hear [08085] the sound [06963] of the trumpet [07782]?
20 Destruction [07667] upon destruction [07667] is cried [07121]; for the whole land [0776] is spoiled [07703]: suddenly [06597] are my tents [0168] spoiled [07703], and my curtains [03407] in a moment [07281].
19 My bowels [04578], my bowels [04578]! I am pained [02342] [03176] at my very [07023] heart [03820]; my heart [03820] maketh a noise [01993] in me; I cannot hold my peace [02790], because thou hast heard [08085], O my soul [05315], the sound [06963] of the trumpet [07782], the alarm [08643] of war [04421].