Which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so shall ye be my people, and I will be your God:

JEREMIAH 11:4KJV
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Jeremiah 11:4 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 11:4 mean?

Jeremiah 11:4 recalls how God commanded the ancestors of Israel, when He brought them out of Egypt, to listen to His voice and follow His commands, promising that if they did, they would be His people and He would be their God. The verse highlights the original agreement between God and Israel, rooted in obedience and relationship.

In this verse, God is speaking through the prophet Jeremiah to the people of Judah, reminding them of the covenant made during the Exodus. The reference to being brought out of Egypt "from the iron furnace" paints a vivid picture of their suffering and deliverance. God’s call to "obey my voice" is a reminder of the central requirement of the covenant: faithful obedience in exchange for a special relationship with God.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 11:4

  • "Iron" (בַּרְזֶל, barzel) and "furnace" (כּוּר, kur): These words together create a strong image of Egypt as a place of intense hardship and testing, like metal being refined in fire. This emphasizes how difficult their slavery was and how significant their rescue became.
  • "Obey" (שָׁמַע, shama‘): This word means more than just hearing; it carries the sense of listening with the intent to act. God’s command was not just to hear His words, but to respond with faithful action.
  • "People" (עָם, ‘am) and "God" (אֱלֹהִים, ’elohim): These words underline the mutual relationship at the heart of the covenant—Israel would belong to God, and God would be their protector and guide.

Why Jeremiah 11:4 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the foundation of Israel’s relationship with God was always based on obedience, not just heritage or ritual.
  • The reference to Egypt as an "iron furnace" helps readers understand the depth of suffering Israel endured and the significance of God’s deliverance.
  • Jeremiah 11:4 connects the people’s current situation back to their roots, reminding them that their identity and blessings depend on their response to God’s voice, not just on their history.

Where else these words appear

“furnace” Hebrew H3564 · used in 9 verses

  • Deuteronomy 4:20 But the LORD hath taken you, and brought you forth out of the iron furnace, even out of Egypt, to be unto him a people of inheritance, as ye are this day.
  • Proverbs 17:3 The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
  • Ezekiel 22:18 Son of man, the house of Israel is to me become dross: all they are brass, and tin, and iron, and lead, in the midst of the furnace; they are even the dross of silver.

“iron” Hebrew H1270 · used in 70 verses

  • Genesis 4:22 And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah.
  • 2 Samuel 23:7 But the man that shall touch them must be fenced with iron and the staff of a spear; and they shall be utterly burned with fire in the same place.
  • Psalms 107:10 Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;