In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping: they shall go, and seek the LORD their God.

JEREMIAH 50:4KJV
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Jeremiah 50:4 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 50:4 mean?

Jeremiah 50:4 says that a time will come when both the people of Israel and Judah will return together, with sorrow and longing, to seek the LORD their God. This verse describes a future moment of repentance and unity, where those once scattered will come back to God with sincere hearts.

In this verse, God is speaking through the prophet Jeremiah to the people of Israel and Judah, who were divided and had experienced exile. The setting is a prophecy about restoration after judgment, promising that even after hardship, the people will be moved to seek God again. The mention of "going and weeping" highlights genuine regret and a desire for reconciliation with God.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 50:4

  • "Weeping" (בָּכִי, bāḵî) points to deep, heartfelt sorrow, not just outward emotion. The verse emphasizes that the return to God is marked by real repentance.
  • "Seek" (בָּקַשׁ, bāqash) means to search earnestly or diligently. This suggests that the people are not just returning physically, but are actively longing to reconnect with God.
  • "Together" (יַחְדָּו, yaḥdāv) underscores the unity of Israel and Judah, who had been divided for centuries. Their joint return is significant, showing reconciliation not only with God but also with each other.

Why Jeremiah 50:4 matters

  • Jeremiah 50:4 clarifies that restoration with God involves both sorrow for past actions and a determined search for Him, not just a return to the land.
  • The verse highlights the unity of Israel and Judah, which had been separated since the time of Solomon, pointing to a future hope of healing old divisions.
  • In the wider context, this verse introduces a section where God promises to bring His people back from exile, setting the stage for messages of hope after judgment.

Where else these words appear

“weeping” Hebrew H1058 · used in 100 verses

  • Genesis 21:16 And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept.
  • Judges 20:26 Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
  • Nehemiah 8:9 And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.

“together” Hebrew H3162 · used in 139 verses

  • Genesis 13:6 And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.
  • Job 24:4 They turn the needy out of the way: the poor of the earth hide themselves together.
  • Isaiah 40:5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.