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Selected Verse: Jeremiah 4:11 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Jer 4:11	Strong Concordance	At that time [06256] shall it be said [0559] to this people [05971] and to Jerusalem [03389], A dry [06703] wind [07307] of the high places [08205] in the wilderness [04057] toward [01870] the daughter [01323] of my people [05971], not to fan [02219], nor to cleanse [01305],
	King James	At that time shall it be said to this people and to Jerusalem, A dry wind of the high places in the wilderness toward the daughter of my people, not to fan, nor to cleanse,

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
dry wind--the simoom, terrific and destructive, blowing from the southeast across the sandy deserts east of Palestine. Image of the invading Babylonian army (Hos 13:15). Babylon in its turn shall be visited by a similar "destroying wind" (Jer 51:1). of . . . high places--that is, that sweeps over the high places. daughter--that is, the children of my people. not to fan--a very different wind from those ordinary winds employed for fanning the grain in the open air.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

dry wind--the simoom, terrific and destructive, blowing from the southeast across the sandy deserts east of Palestine. Image of the invading Babylonian army (Hos 13:15). Babylon in its turn shall be visited by a similar "destroying wind" (Jer 51:1).

of . . . high places--that is, that sweeps over the high places.

daughter--that is, the children of my people.

not to fan--a very different wind from those ordinary winds employed for fanning the grain in the open air.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
At that time - See Jer 4:7. Though the revelation of the certainty of Judah's ruin wrings from Jeremiah a cry of despair, yet it is but for a moment; he immediately returns to the delivery of God's message. A dry wind - literally, A clear wind. The Samum is probably meant, a dry parching east wind blowing from the Arabian desert, before which vegetation withers, and human life becomes intolerable. Not to fan ... - The Syrian farmers make great use of the wind for separating the chaff from the grain: but when the Samum blows labor becomes impossible. It is not for use, but for destruction.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
Description of the impending ruin, from which nothing can save but speedy repentance. - Jer 4:11. "At that time shall it be said to this people and to Jerusalem, A hot wind from the bleak hills in the wilderness cometh on the way toward the daughter of my people, not to winnow and not to cleanse. Jer 4:12. A wind fuller than for this shall come to me; now will I also utter judgments upon them. Jer 4:13. Behold, like clouds it draws near, and like the storm are it chariots, swifter than eagles its horses. Woe unto us! for we are spoiled. Jer 4:14. Wash from wickedness thy heart, Jerusalem, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thine iniquitous thoughts lodge within thee? Jer 4:15. For a voice declareth from Dan, and publisheth affliction from the Mount Ephraim. Jer 4:16. Tell it to the peoples; behold, publish it to Jerusalem: Besiegers come from a far country, and let their voice ring out against the cities of Judah. Jer 4:17. As keepers of a field, they are against her round about; for against me hath she rebelled, saith Jahveh. Jer 4:18. Thy way and thy doings have wrought thee this. This is thy wickedness; yea, it is bitter, yea, it reaCheth unto thine heart." A more minute account of the impending judgment is introduced by the phrase: at that time. It shall be said to this people; in other words, it shall be said of this people; substantially, that shall fall upon it which is expressed by the figure following, a hot wind blowing from the naked hills of the wilderness. רוּח is stat. constr., and שׁפים dna its genitive, after which latter the adjective צח should be placed; but it is interpolated between the nomen regens and the n. rectum by reason of its smallness, and partly, too, that it may not be too far separated from its nomen, while בּמּדבּר belongs to שׁפים. The wind blowing from the bleak hills in the wilderness, is the very severe east wind of Palestine. It blows in incessant gusts, and cannot be used for winnowing or cleansing the grain, since it would blow away chaff and seed together; cf. Wetzst. in Del., Job, S. 320. דּרך is universally taken adverbially: is on the way, i.e., comes, moves in the direction of the daughter of Zion. The daughter of Zion is a personification of the inhabitants of Zion or Jerusalem. This hot blast is a figure for the destruction which is drawing near Jerusalem. It is not a chastisement to purify the people, but a judgment which will sweep away the whole people, carry away both wheat and chaff - a most effective figure for the approaching catastrophe of the destruction of Jerusalem, and the carrying away captive of its inhabitants. Hitz. and Graf have, however, taken דּרך as subject of the clause: the path, i.e., the behaviour of my people, is a keen wind of the bare hills in the wilderness. Thus the conduct of the people would be compared with that wind as unprofitable, inasmuch as it was altogether windy, empty, and further as being a hurtful storm. But the comparison of the people's behaviour with a parched violent wind is a wholly unnatural one, for the justification of which it is not sufficient to point to Hos 8:7 : sow wind and reap storm. Besides, upon this construction of the illustration, the description: not to winnow and not to cleanse, is not only unmeaning, but wholly unsuitable. Who is to be winnowed and cleansed by the windy ways of the people? Jahveh?! Jer 4:14 is indeed so managed by Hitz. and Graf that the tempestuous wind blows against God, "is directed against Jahveh like a blast of defiance and hostility." But this argument is sufficient to overthrow that unnatural view of the figure, which, besides, obtains no support from Jer 4:12. מאלּה cannot refer to בּת־עמּי: a full wind from these, i.e., the sons of my people; and יבוא לי, in spite of the passages, Jer 22:23; Jer 50:26; Jer 51:48; Job 3:25, does not mean: comes towards me, or: blows from them on me; for in all these passages לי is dativ commodi or incommodi. Here, too, לי is dative, used of the originator and efficient cause. The wind comes for me - in plainer English: from me. Properly: it comes to God, i.e., at His signal, to carry out His will. מלא מאלּה is comparative: fuller than these, namely, the winds useful for winnowing and cleansing. Now will I too utter. The intensifying גּם does not point to a contrast in the immediately preceding clause: because the people blows against God like a strong wind, He too will utter judgment against it. The גּם refers back to the preceding לי: the storm comes from me; for now will I on my side hold judgment with them. The contrast implied in גּם lies in the wider context, in the formerly described behaviour of the people, particularly in the sayings of the false prophets mentioned in Jer 4:10, that there will be peace. On דּבּר משׁפּטים, cf. Jer 1:16. These judgments are already on the way in Jer 4:13. "Like clouds it draws near." The subject is not mentioned, but a hostile army is meant, about to execute God's judgments. "Like clouds," i.e., in such thick dark masses; cf. Eze 38:16. The war-chariots drive with the speed of the tempest; cf. Isa 5:28; Isa 66:15. The running of the horses resembles the flight of the eagle; cf. Hab 1:8, where the same is said of the horsemen of the hostile people. Both passages are founded on Deu 28:49; but Jeremiah, while he had the expression קלּוּ מנּמרים סוּסיו, Hab 1:8, in his mind, chose נשׁרים; instead of leopards (נמרים), in this following the original in Deut.; cf. Sa2 1:23 and Lam 4:19. Already is heard the cry of woe: we are spoiled, cf. Jer 4:20, Jer 9:18; Jer 48:1. Jer 4:14 If Jerusalem wishes to be saved, it must thoroughly turn from its sin, wash its heart clean; not merely abstain outwardly from wickedness, but renounce the evil desires of the heart. In the question: How long shall...remain? we have implied the thought that Jerusalem has already only too long cherished and indulged wicked thoughts. תּלין is 3rd pers. imperf. Kal, not 2nd pers. Hiph.: wilt thou let remain (Schnur. and others). For the Hiphil of luwn is not in use, and besides, would need to be תּליני. The מחשׁבות און, as in Pro 6:18; Isa 59:7, refer chiefly to sins against one's neighbour, such as are reckoned up in Jer 7:5., Jer 7:8.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]

Description of the impending ruin, from which nothing can save but speedy repentance. - Jer 4:11. "At that time shall it be said to this people and to Jerusalem, A hot wind from the bleak hills in the wilderness cometh on the way toward the daughter of my people, not to winnow and not to cleanse. Jer 4:12. A wind fuller than for this shall come to me; now will I also utter judgments upon them. Jer 4:13. Behold, like clouds it draws near, and like the storm are it chariots, swifter than eagles its horses. Woe unto us! for we are spoiled. Jer 4:14. Wash from wickedness thy heart, Jerusalem, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thine iniquitous thoughts lodge within thee? Jer 4:15. For a voice declareth from Dan, and publisheth affliction from the Mount Ephraim. Jer 4:16. Tell it to the peoples; behold, publish it to Jerusalem: Besiegers come from a far country, and let their voice ring out against the cities of Judah. Jer 4:17. As keepers of a field, they are against her round about; for against me hath she rebelled, saith Jahveh. Jer 4:18. Thy way and thy doings have wrought thee this. This is thy wickedness; yea, it is bitter, yea, it reaCheth unto thine heart."

A more minute account of the impending judgment is introduced by the phrase: at that time. It shall be said to this people; in other words, it shall be said of this people; substantially, that shall fall upon it which is expressed by the figure following, a hot wind blowing from the naked hills of the wilderness. רוּח is stat. constr., and שׁפים dna its genitive, after which latter the adjective צח should be placed; but it is interpolated between the nomen regens and the n. rectum by reason of its smallness, and partly, too, that it may not be too far separated from its nomen, while בּמּדבּר belongs to שׁפים. The wind blowing from the bleak hills in the wilderness, is the very severe east wind of Palestine. It blows in incessant gusts, and cannot be used for winnowing or cleansing the grain, since it would blow away chaff and seed together; cf. Wetzst. in Del., Job, S. 320. דּרך is universally taken adverbially: is on the way, i.e., comes, moves in the direction of the daughter of Zion. The daughter of Zion is a personification of the inhabitants of Zion or Jerusalem. This hot blast is a figure for the destruction which is drawing near Jerusalem. It is not a chastisement to purify the people, but a judgment which will sweep away the whole people, carry away both wheat and chaff - a most effective figure for the approaching catastrophe of the destruction of Jerusalem, and the carrying away captive of its inhabitants. Hitz. and Graf have, however, taken דּרך as subject of the clause: the path, i.e., the behaviour of my people, is a keen wind of the bare hills in the wilderness. Thus the conduct of the people would be compared with that wind as unprofitable, inasmuch as it was altogether windy, empty, and further as being a hurtful storm. But the comparison of the people's behaviour with a parched violent wind is a wholly unnatural one, for the justification of which it is not sufficient to point to Hos 8:7 : sow wind and reap storm. Besides, upon this construction of the illustration, the description: not to winnow and not to cleanse, is not only unmeaning, but wholly unsuitable. Who is to be winnowed and cleansed by the windy ways of the people? Jahveh?! Jer 4:14 is indeed so managed by Hitz. and Graf that the tempestuous wind blows against God, "is directed against Jahveh like a blast of defiance and hostility." But this argument is sufficient to overthrow that unnatural view of the figure, which, besides, obtains no support from Jer 4:12. מאלּה cannot refer to בּת־עמּי: a full wind from these, i.e., the sons of my people; and יבוא לי, in spite of the passages, Jer 22:23; Jer 50:26; Jer 51:48; Job 3:25, does not mean: comes towards me, or: blows from them on me; for in all these passages לי is dativ commodi or incommodi. Here, too, לי is dative, used of the originator and efficient cause. The wind comes for me - in plainer English: from me. Properly: it comes to God, i.e., at His signal, to carry out His will. מלא מאלּה is comparative: fuller than these, namely, the winds useful for winnowing and cleansing. Now will I too utter. The intensifying גּם does not point to a contrast in the immediately preceding clause: because the people blows against God like a strong wind, He too will utter judgment against it. The גּם refers back to the preceding לי: the storm comes from me; for now will I on my side hold judgment with them. The contrast implied in גּם lies in the wider context, in the formerly described behaviour of the people, particularly in the sayings of the false prophets mentioned in Jer 4:10, that there will be peace. On דּבּר משׁפּטים, cf. Jer 1:16.

These judgments are already on the way in Jer 4:13. "Like clouds it draws near." The subject is not mentioned, but a hostile army is meant, about to execute God's judgments. "Like clouds," i.e., in such thick dark masses; cf. Eze 38:16. The war-chariots drive with the speed of the tempest; cf. Isa 5:28; Isa 66:15. The running of the horses resembles the flight of the eagle; cf. Hab 1:8, where the same is said of the horsemen of the hostile people. Both passages are founded on Deu 28:49; but Jeremiah, while he had the expression קלּוּ מנּמרים סוּסיו, Hab 1:8, in his mind, chose נשׁרים; instead of leopards (נמרים), in this following the original in Deut.; cf. Sa2 1:23 and Lam 4:19. Already is heard the cry of woe: we are spoiled, cf. Jer 4:20, Jer 9:18; Jer 48:1.

Jer 4:14

If Jerusalem wishes to be saved, it must thoroughly turn from its sin, wash its heart clean; not merely abstain outwardly from wickedness, but renounce the evil desires of the heart. In the question: How long shall...remain? we have implied the thought that Jerusalem has already only too long cherished and indulged wicked thoughts. תּלין is 3rd pers. imperf. Kal, not 2nd pers. Hiph.: wilt thou let remain (Schnur. and others). For the Hiphil of luwn is not in use, and besides, would need to be תּליני. The מחשׁבות און, as in Pro 6:18; Isa 59:7, refer chiefly to sins against one's neighbour, such as are reckoned up in Jer 7:5., Jer 7:8.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
At that time - There shall be tidings brought both to the country and city. A dry wind - A drying wind, such as shall blast and scorch where it comes, without any rain or moisture. It points at the stormy and furious irruption of the Babylonian army. In the plain - Where there is no stop in the way to break its fury. Toward - Directly, and designedly, coming in the way leading to my people. Not - Not such a gentle wind, as is made choice of to separate the chaff from the wheat; but so boisterous and violent, that it shall sweep away, and lay waste, all together.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
A dry wind - a fall wind - as clouds - as a whirlwind - All these expressions appear to refer to the pestilential winds, suffocating vapors, and clouds and pillars of sand collected by whirlwinds, which are so common and destructive in the east, (see on Isa 21:1 (note)); and these images are employed here to show the overwhelming effect of the invasion of the land by the Chaldeans.

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¹ Thus saith [0559] the LORD [03068]; Behold, I will raise up [05782] against Babylon [0894], and against them that dwell [03427] in the midst [03820] of them that rise up [06965] against me, a destroying [07843] wind [07307];

¹⁵ Though he be fruitful [06500] among his brethren [0251], an east wind [06921] shall come [0935], the wind [07307] of the LORD [03068] shall come up [05927] from the wilderness [04057], and his spring [04726] shall become dry [0954], and his fountain [04599] shall be dried up [02717]: he shall spoil [08154] the treasure [0214] of all pleasant [02532] vessels [03627].

⁷ The lion [0738] is come up [05927] from his thicket [05441], and the destroyer [07843] of the Gentiles [01471] is on his way [05265]; he is gone forth [03318] from his place [04725] to make [07760] thy land [0776] desolate [08047]; and thy cities [05892] shall be laid waste [05327], without an inhabitant [03427].

⁸ Behold, ye trust [0982] in lying [08267] words [01697], that cannot profit [03276].

⁵ For if ye throughly [03190] amend [03190] your ways [01870] and your doings [04611]; if ye throughly [06213] execute [06213] judgment [04941] between a man [0376] and his neighbour [07453];

⁷ Their feet [07272] run [07323] to evil [07451], and they make haste [04116] to shed [08210] innocent [05355] blood [01818]: their thoughts [04284] are thoughts [04284] of iniquity [0205]; wasting [07701] and destruction [07667] are in their paths [04546].

¹⁸ An heart [03820] that deviseth [02790] wicked [0205] imaginations [04284], feet [07272] that be swift [04116] in running [07323] to mischief [07451],

¹⁴ O Jerusalem [03389], wash [03526] thine heart [03820] from wickedness [07451], that thou mayest be saved [03467]. How long shall thy vain [0205] thoughts [04284] lodge [03885] within [07130] thee?

¹ Against Moab [04124] thus saith [0559] the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635], the God [0430] of Israel [03478]; Woe [01945] unto Nebo [05015]! for it is spoiled [07703]: Kiriathaim [07156] is confounded [03001] and taken [03920]: Misgab [04869] is confounded [03001] and dismayed [02865].

¹⁸ And let them make haste [04116], and take up [05375] a wailing [05092] for us, that our eyes [05869] may run down [03381] with tears [01832], and our eyelids [06079] gush out [05140] with waters [04325].

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 Our persecutors [07291] are swifter [07031] than the eagles [05404] of the heaven [08064]: they pursued [01814] us upon the mountains [02022], they laid wait [0693] for us in the wilderness [04057].

²³ Saul [07586] and Jonathan [03083] were lovely [0157] and pleasant [05273] in their lives [02416], and in their death [04194] they were not divided [06504]: they were swifter [07043] than eagles [05404], they were stronger [01396] than lions [0738].

⁸ Their horses [05483] also are swifter [07043] than the leopards [05246], and are more fierce [02300] than the evening [06153] wolves [02061]: and their horsemen [06571] shall spread [06335] themselves, and their horsemen [06571] shall come [0935] from far [07350]; they shall fly [05774] as the eagle [05404] that hasteth [02363] to eat [0398].

⁴⁹ The LORD [03068] shall bring [05375] a nation [01471] against thee from far [07350], from the end [07097] of the earth [0776], as swift as the eagle [05404] flieth [01675]; a nation [01471] whose tongue [03956] thou shalt not understand [08085];

¹⁵ For, behold, the LORD [03068] will come [0935] with fire [0784], and with his chariots [04818] like a whirlwind [05492], to render [07725] his anger [0639] with fury [02534], and his rebuke [01606] with flames [03851] of fire [0784].

²⁸ Whose arrows [02671] are sharp [08150], and all their bows [07198] bent [01869], their horses [05483]' hoofs [06541] shall be counted [02803] like flint [06862], and their wheels [01534] like a whirlwind [05492]:

¹⁶ And thou shalt come up [05927] against my people [05971] of Israel [03478], as a cloud [06051] to cover [03680] the land [0776]; it shall be in the latter [0319] days [03117], and I will bring [0935] thee against my land [0776], that the heathen [01471] may know [03045] me, when I shall be sanctified [06942] in thee, O Gog [01463], before their eyes [05869].

¹³ Behold, he shall come up [05927] as clouds [06051], and his chariots [04818] shall be as a whirlwind [05492]: his horses [05483] are swifter [07043] than eagles [05404]. Woe [0188] unto us! for we are spoiled [07703].

¹⁶ And I will utter [01696] my judgments [04941] against them touching [05921] all their wickedness [07451], who have forsaken [05800] me, and have burned incense [06999] unto other [0312] gods [0430], and worshipped [07812] the works [04639] of their own hands [03027].

¹⁰ Then said [0559] I, Ah [0162], Lord [0136] GOD [03069]! surely [0403] thou hast greatly [05377] deceived [05377] this people [05971] and Jerusalem [03389], saying [0559], Ye shall have peace [07965]; whereas the sword [02719] reacheth [05060] unto the soul [05315].

²⁵ For the thing which I greatly [06343] feared [06342] is come [0857] upon me, and that which I was afraid [03025] of is come [0935] unto me.

⁴⁸ Then the heaven [08064] and the earth [0776], and all that is therein, shall sing [07442] for Babylon [0894]: for the spoilers [07703] shall come [0935] unto her from the north [06828], saith [05002] the LORD [03068].

²⁶ Come [0935] against her from the utmost border [07093], open [06605] her storehouses [03965]: cast her up [05549] as heaps [06194], and destroy her utterly [02763]: let nothing of her be left [07611].

²³ O inhabitant [03427] of Lebanon [03844], that makest thy nest [07077] in the cedars [0730], how gracious [02603] shalt thou be when pangs [02256] come [0935] upon thee, the pain [02427] as of a woman in travail [03205] !

¹² Even a full [04392] wind [07307] from those places shall come [0935] unto me: now also will I give [01696] sentence [04941] against them.

⁷ For they have sown [02232] the wind [07307], and they shall reap [07114] the whirlwind [05492]: it hath no stalk [07054]: the bud [06780] shall yield [06213] no meal [07058]: if [0194] so be it yield [06213], the strangers [02114] shall swallow it up [01104].

¹⁸ Thy way [01870] and thy doings [04611] have procured [06213] these things unto thee; this is thy wickedness [07451], because it is bitter [04751], because it reacheth [05060] unto thine heart [03820].

¹⁷ As keepers [08104] of a field [07704], are they against her round about [05439]; because she hath been rebellious [04784] against me, saith [05002] the LORD [03068].

¹⁶ Make ye mention [02142] to the nations [01471]; behold, publish [08085] against Jerusalem [03389], that watchers [05341] come [0935] from a far [04801] country [0776], and give out [05414] their voice [06963] against the cities [05892] of Judah [03063].

¹⁵ For a voice [06963] declareth [05046] from Dan [01835], and publisheth [08085] affliction [0205] from mount [02022] Ephraim [0669].

¹² Even a full [04392] wind [07307] from those places shall come [0935] unto me: now also will I give [01696] sentence [04941] against them.

¹¹ At that time [06256] shall it be said [0559] to this people [05971] and to Jerusalem [03389], A dry [06703] wind [07307] of the high places [08205] in the wilderness [04057] toward [01870] the daughter [01323] of my people [05971], not to fan [02219], nor to cleanse [01305],

¹ The burden [04853] of the desert [04057] of the sea [03220]. As whirlwinds [05492] in the south [05045] pass [02498] through; so it cometh [0935] from the desert [04057], from a terrible [03372] land [0776].