Declare ye in Judah, and publish in Jerusalem; and say, Blow ye the trumpet in the land: cry, gather together, and say, Assemble yourselves, and let us go into the defenced cities.

JEREMIAH 4:5KJV
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Jeremiah 4:5 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 4:5 mean?

Jeremiah 4:5 is a call for the people of Judah and Jerusalem to sound an alarm and gather together for safety by going into their fortified cities. The verse urges the community to warn each other about an approaching danger and to prepare by seeking protection.

In this verse, the prophet Jeremiah is speaking to the people of Judah and Jerusalem during a time of impending threat, likely from an invading army. The instructions to "blow the trumpet" and "assemble yourselves" use urgent language to communicate the seriousness of the situation. The focus is on spreading the warning quickly and taking collective action to survive the coming crisis.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 4:5

  • "Declare" (נָגַד, nagad): This word means to announce or make something known clearly. Here, it stresses the importance of spreading the warning openly and urgently.
  • "Blow" (תָּקַע, taqa): This verb refers to blowing a horn or trumpet, often used in the Hebrew Bible to signal alarm or gather people. The use of the trumpet (שׁוֹפָר, shofar) was a traditional way to alert the community to danger.
  • "Defenced" (בָּצוּר, batsur): This word describes something fortified or protected, referring to cities with strong walls. The verse is telling people to seek safety in places built for defense against attack.

Why Jeremiah 4:5 matters

  • Jeremiah 4:5 clarifies that the warning is not just for individuals but for the whole community, emphasizing collective responsibility and action in the face of danger.
  • The verse connects to the larger message of Jeremiah, where the prophet repeatedly calls the people to recognize coming judgment and respond wisely.
  • Understanding the urgency and the use of traditional warning signals helps modern readers grasp the seriousness of the situation and the historical context of ancient Judah's defenses.

Where else these words appear

“defenced” Hebrew H4013 · used in 37 verses

  • Numbers 13:19 And what the land is that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad; and what cities they be that they dwell in, whether in tents, or in strong holds;
  • 2 Kings 18:8 He smote the Philistines, even unto Gaza, and the borders thereof, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.
  • Jeremiah 48:18 Thou daughter that dost inhabit Dibon, come down from thy glory, and sit in thirst; for the spoiler of Moab shall come upon thee, and he shall destroy thy strong holds.

“Blow” Hebrew H8628 · used in 62 verses

  • Genesis 31:25 Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mount: and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mount of Gilead.
  • Judges 7:19 So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands.
  • Psalms 81:3 Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day.

“trumpet” Hebrew H7782 · used in 63 verses

  • Exodus 19:16 And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.
  • 1 Samuel 13:3 And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear.
  • Isaiah 18:3 All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, see ye, when he lifteth up an ensign on the mountains; and when he bloweth a trumpet, hear ye.