Jeremiah 4:11-12

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 4:5-18

God's usual method is to warn before he wounds. In these verses, accordingly, God gives notice to the Jews of the general desolation that would shortly be brought upon them by a foreign invasion. This must be declared and published in all the cities of Judah and streets of Jerusalem, that all might hear and fear, and by this loud alarm be either brought to repentance or left inexcusable. The prediction of this calamity is here given very largely, and in lively expressions, which one would... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 4:11

At that time shall it be said to this people, and to Jerusalem ,.... The inhabitants of Judea and Jerusalem, the people of the Jews; or "concerning" F24 לעם הזה "de hoc populo", Calvin, Vatablus. them, as Jarchi interprets it: a dry wind of the high places in the wilderness toward the daughter of my people . The Targum is, "as the south wind upon the heads of floods of water in the wilderness, so is the way of the congregation of my people;' but rather the north wind is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 4:12

Even a full wind from those places shall come unto me ,.... That is, a strong one, very vehement; or, "a wind which is fuller than these", as the Syriac version renders it; which is stronger than those winds which are fit for fanning and winnowing the chaff from the wheat. Jarchi interprets it, a wind full of those punishments which God had threatened, and determined to bring upon this people, and would not turn from, nor repent of: and the phrase "shall come unto me" regards not the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 4:11-13

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 Isaiah 21:1 ; (note)); and these images are employed here to show the overwhelming effect of the invasion of the land by the Chaldeans. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 4:11

Verse 11 Jeremiah proceeds with the same prediction: he says, that a terrible wind was coming, which would not only disperse or clear away, but dissipate and overthrow all things. He then expresses how great and how grievous would be the calamity which he had before mentioned. He compares it to dry or and wind; for צח, tsach, sometimes means “clear,” and sometimes “arid,” as the greatest dryness is found on high places. He means, no doubt, here the wind, which is violent, and disturbs the whole... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 4:12

Verse 12 And come, he says, unto me God, I doubt not, speaks here. Some think that the Prophet here represents the whole body of the people; and they consider them as saying, that there would come a wind which would rush on themselves. But this is too strained; and further, this explanation is disproved by the context: nor can what follows be applied to the Prophet, I will now pronounce judgments against them Here then God, in his office as a judge, declares that a wind was nigh, by which he... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 4:5-31

A revelation of grievous purport has suddenly reached the prophet. See how the foe draws nearer and nearer, and how alarm drives the scattered population to seek for refuge in the fortified cities. Can such be the issue of the promises of peace with which Jehovah has encouraged his people? Such are the contents of the first paragraph ( Jeremiah 4:5-10 ). Next,-in short, detached figures the prophet sets forth the sin of the people and its punishment. Like a scorching simoom is the former;... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 4:5-31

The proclamation of woe. Such is the character of this entire section, and we observe upon this proclamation— I. THAT , LIKE ALL SUCH , IT IS PROMPTED BY DIVINE LOVE . The most fearful judgments contained in the whole Bible are those denounced by our Lord Jesus Christ. The most awful words ever spoken are those which proceeded out of the mouth of him at whose graciousness all-men wondered. It is evident, therefore, that they were the utterances, as is this one here,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 4:11

Shall it be said to this people ; i . e . words like these may be used with reference to this people. A dry wind , etc.; literally, a clear wind (but the notions of dryness and heat are closely connected with that of heat; comp. Isaiah 18:4 ). The prophet doubtless means the east wind, which is very violent in Palestine, and, of course, quite unsuitable for the winnowing process. High places should rather be bare hills . Toward ; or (is) the way of. So Hitzig, supposing the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 4:11-13

The uses of the wind. Not all the uses of the wind are set forth here, but enough is mentioned to remind us how God can turn a beneficial agent into a destructive one very rapidly and decisively. The force Of the unquenchable fire has already been spoken of ( Jeremiah 4:4 ); and it is a sufficiently dreadful thought that fire, so genial, so useful, with such a place in the house, and—so far as Israel was concerned—such a place in the service of God, should thus have become, in the... read more

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