Bible Commentary

Jeremiah 4:4

Jeremiah 4:4

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public Domain

Circumcise yourselves to the Lord. A significant passage. All the Jews were circumcised, but not all were "circumcised to the Lord." There were but too many who were "circumcised in uncircumcision" (), and the prophet sternly reduces ouch circumcision to the level of the heathenish rite of cutting off the hair (; comp.

Herod. 3.8). Jeremiah seems to have been specially anxious to counteract a merely formal, ritualistic notion of circumcision, sharing in this, as in other points, the influence of the Book of Deuteronomy, so lately found in the temple (comp.

). To him the venerable rite of circumcision (older, certainly, than Abraham) is a symbol of the devotion of the heart to its rightful Lord (comp. St. Paul in , ; ; ).

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Jeremiah 4 — OverviewJeremiah 4 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleIt should seem that the first two verses of this chapter might better have been joined to the close of the foregoing chapter, for they are directed to Israel, the ten tribes, by way of reply to their compliance…Jeremiah 4 — OverviewJeremiah 4 · Treasury of Scripture KnowledgeJeremiah 4:1, God calls Israel by his promise; Jeremiah 4:3, He exhorts Judah to repentance by fearful judgments; Jeremiah 4:19, A grievous lamentation for Judah.Jeremiah 4 — OverviewJeremiah 4 · John Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThis chapter begins with several exhortations to repentance; first to Israel, or the ten tribes, to return to the Lord with their whole hearts, and put away their abominations, and serve him in sincerity and uprightness…Jeremiah 4:1-4Jeremiah 4:1-4 · The Pulpit CommentaryThe 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…Jeremiah 4:1-31Jeremiah 4:1-31 · The Pulpit CommentaryEXPOSITION Jeremiah 4:1, Jeremiah 4:2 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…Jeremiah 4:3-4Jeremiah 4:3-4 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleThe prophet here turns his speech, in God's name, to the men of the place where he lived. We have heard what words he proclaimed towards the north (ch. iii. 12), for the comfort of those that were now in…