Keraia
Jeremiah 4

Jeremiah 4:2

A Plea to Return · Jeremiah 4:1–4
Read Jeremiah 4

Translations

Modern
…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.”
Traditional
And thou shalt swear, The Lord liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.
Literal
…and you swear, ‘As YHWH’ lives, in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, then the nations shall bless themselves in Him, and in Him they shall glory.”
Latin
Et jurabis: Vivit Dominus in veritate, et in judicio, et in justitia: et benedicent eum gentes, ipsumque laudabunt.

Original

Hebrew
English
…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.”

Notes

Jeremiah 4:2

As surely as the Lord lives: When offering a prayer of confession and making oaths, the right attitude shows truth, justice, and righteousness.

  • Truth means that the thoughts and feelings of those praying match their words.

  • Justice means living by the Lord's laws, as He will judge the earth.

  • Righteousness means treating others according to the Lord’s Spirit and His moral standards.

This prayer requires a deep change in people's inner lives and outer behavior (Genesis 22:18; Deuteronomy 10:20; Psalm 72:18; Isaiah 48:1; 1 Corinthians 1:31). If the Israelites returned to the Lord in this way, they would be blessed, and their influence would spread as a blessing to all nations. Their changed lives would lead people worldwide to join in praising God’s name.

Jeremiah 3:21–4:2

The people, held captive in Assyria, claimed they had repented of their sins. However, their words were insincere, and the Lord rejected their plea. God told his people that if they truly wanted to return to him, they had to abandon the hilltop altars where they worshiped idols and remove all traces of idolatry from their religion.

Jeremiah 3:11–4:2

The Lord asked Israel to repent, return, and reconcile with him (contrast Jeremiah 2:1–3:10). Israel had sinned and faced punishment. Now, the people of Judah sinned even more openly than their northern relatives, ignoring the lesson the Lord taught Israel (Ezekiel 16:51–52). However, it was still not too late to repent and become the blessing to the nations (Jeremiah 4:1–2) that God intended them to be (Genesis 12:3).

Events

Glossary

Book of Jeremiah Hosea, Book of Jeremiah (Person)

Topics

Backsliders: Promises To Church: Prophecies Concerning Prosperity of Condescension of God: Expostulates with Backsliding Israel Gentiles: Prophecies of the Conversion of God: Righteousness of Jesus, the Christ: Prophecies Concerning Universality of the Kingdom of Oath: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Oaths: The Jews: To Take, in Truth, Judgment Repentance: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To