Jeremiah 4:1

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 4:1-2

When God called to backsliding Israel to return (Jer. 3:22) they immediately answered, Lord, we return; now God here takes notice of their answer, and, by way of reply to it, I. He directs them how to pursue their good resolutions: ?Dost thou say, I will return?? 1. ?Then thou must return unto me; make a thorough work of it. Do not only turn from thy idolatries, but return to the instituted worship of the God of Israel.? Or, ?Thou must return speedily and not delay (as Isa. 21:12; If you will... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 4:1

If thou wilt return, O Israel, saith the Lord ,.... To which they had been encouraged, and as they had promised they would, and said they did, Jeremiah 3:14 , return unto me ; with thy whole heart, and not feignedly and hypocritically, as Judah did, Jeremiah 3:10 . Some render the words (and the accents require they should be rendered so) "if thou wilt return to me, O Israel, saith the Lord, thou shalt return" F12 אם תשוב ישראל נאם יהוה אלי תשוב "si reverteris ad... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 4:1

Shalt thou not remove - This was spoken before the Babylonish captivity; and here is a promise that if they will return from their idolatry, they shall not be led into captivity. So, even that positively threatened judgment would have been averted had they returned to the Lord. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 4:1

Verse 1 The Prophet no doubt requires here from the people a sincere return to God, inasmuch as they had often pretended to confess their sins, and had given many signs of repentance, while they were acting deceitfully with him. As then they had often dealt falsely with God and with his prophets, Jeremiah bids them to return to God without any disguise and in good faith. With regard to what is here substantially taught, this is the Prophet’s meaning; but there is some ambiguity in the words. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 4:1

The kind of return which Jehovah requires, In Jeremiah 3:1-25 . there has been much spoken concerning return. There is the impossibility pointed out of a divorced wife returning to her husband; yet Jehovah's own people, whose conduct has been even worse, he presses to return. The fact is mentioned that Israel had been told to turn, yet had not turned. There is also the fact that Judah had made a feigned turning. A true return is seen to be the prime condition of all the glorious future... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 4:1-2

The form and structure of the translation require a change. Render, If thou wilt return , O Israel , saith Jehovah , wilt return unto me ; and if thou wilt put away , etc; and not wander ; and wilt swear , As Jehovah liveth , with good faith , with justice , and with righteousness ; then shall the nations bless themselves by him , and in him shall they glory . The clause, "and not wander," seems too short; the Septuagint had a choicer reading, "and put away,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 4:1-4

The duty of reality in religious profession. The reformations of Jehu and Josiah were superficial and short-lived. Something more thorough was required. A real, immediate return to Jehovah was demanded. I. THE SIGNS OF UNREALITY . 1. Retention of the memories and symbols of the guilty past . They may not be used, but they are there. There has not been strength of will to remove them, or the fear of man has produced vacillation. Externally the heathen temple stands side... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Jeremiah 4:1

Return - The repentance of Israel described in Jeremiah 3:21-25 was a hope, and not a reality. The return, literally, would be their restoration to their land; spiritually, their abandoning their sins.Jeremiah 4:1-2 should be translated as follows:If thou wouldst return, O Israel, saith Yahweh.Unto Me thou shalt return:And if thou wouldst remove thy abominations from before Me,And not wander to and fro,But wouldst swear truly, uprightly; and justlyBy the living Yahweh;Then shall the pagan bless... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Jeremiah 4:1

Jeremiah 4:1. If thou wilt return, O Israel, return unto me Israel having promised repentance in the latter part of the preceding chapter, they are here directed what sort of a repentance it must be; that it must not be hypocritical and feigned, but real and hearty; not deferred to another time, but immediate, without any delay; the words being not improperly interpreted, as they are by many, If thou wilt return, return now. Repentance, if it be delayed from time to time, is seldom ever... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 4:1-4

Repentance means genuine change (3:19-4:4)God wanted the relationship between him and his people to be like that between a father and a son, or between a husband and a wife. But his people have been rebellious and unfaithful (19-20). In hope, the prophet pictures the people turning from their false worship at Baal’s high places and crying out to God for forgiveness. In response God promises that if they truly repent, he will forgive them and heal them (21-22a).The people then turn to God and... read more

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