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Saturday, September 13th, 2025
the Week of Proper 18 / Ordinary 23
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Easy-to-Read Version

Jeremiah 4:7

A lion has come out of his cave. A destroyer of nations has begun to march. He has left his home to destroy your land. Your towns will be destroyed. There will be no one left to live in them.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Condescension of God;   Israel, Prophecies Concerning;   Lion;   Thompson Chain Reference - Thicket;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Lion, the;  

Dictionaries:

- Holman Bible Dictionary - Kir-Hareseth;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Jeremiah;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Thicket;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Desolate;   Forest;   Thicket;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Ariel;   Lion;   Zodiac;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
A lion has gone up from his thicket;a destroyer of nations has set out.He has left his lairto make your land a waste.Your cities will be reduced to uninhabited ruins.
Hebrew Names Version
A lion is gone up from his thicket, and a destroyer of nations; he is on his way, he is gone forth from his place, to make your land desolate, that your cities be laid waste, without inhabitant.
King James Version
The lion is come up from his thicket, and the destroyer of the Gentiles is on his way; he is gone forth from his place to make thy land desolate; and thy cities shall be laid waste, without an inhabitant.
English Standard Version
A lion has gone up from his thicket, a destroyer of nations has set out; he has gone out from his place to make your land a waste; your cities will be ruins without inhabitant.
New American Standard Bible
"A lion has gone up from his thicket, And a destroyer of nations has set out; He has gone out from his place To make your land a waste. Your cities will be ruins, Without an inhabitant.
New Century Version
A lion has come out of his den; a destroyer of nations has begun to march. He has left his home to destroy your land. Your towns will be destroyed with no one left to live in them.
Amplified Bible
"A lion has left his lair, And a destroyer of nations is on his way. He has gone out from his place To desolate your land; Your cities will be in ruins Without an inhabitant.
World English Bible
A lion is gone up from his thicket, and a destroyer of nations; he is on his way, he is gone forth from his place, to make your land desolate, that your cities be laid waste, without inhabitant.
Geneva Bible (1587)
The lyon is come vp from his denne, and the destroyer of the Gentiles is departed, and gone forth of his place to lay thy land waste, and thy cities shalbe destroyed without an inhabitant.
Legacy Standard Bible
A lion has gone up from his thicket,And a destroyer of nations has set out;He has gone out from his placeTo make your land a desolation.Your cities will be turned into ruinsWithout inhabitant.
Berean Standard Bible
A lion has gone up from his thicket, and a destroyer of nations has set out. He has left his lair to lay waste to your land. Your cities will be reduced to ruins and lie uninhabited.
Contemporary English Version
An army will come out, like a lion from its den. It will destroy nations and leave your towns empty and in ruins."
Complete Jewish Bible
A lion has risen from his lair, a destroyer of nations has set out, left his own place to ruin your land, to demolish and depopulate your cities."
Darby Translation
The lion is come up from his thicket, the destroyer of the nations is on his way; he is gone forth from his place, to make thy land desolate; thy cities shall be laid waste, without inhabitant.
George Lamsa Translation
A powerful king is come up like a lion from his thicket, and the destroyer of the Gentiles is on his way; he has gone forth from his country to make your land desolate; and your cities shall be laid waste without an inhabitant.
Good News Translation
Like a lion coming from its hiding place, a destroyer of nations has set out. He is coming to destroy Judah. The cities of Judah will be left in ruins, and no one will live in them.
Lexham English Bible
A lion has gone up from his thicket, and a destroyer of nations has set out. He has gone out from his place to make your land as a horror, your cities will go to ruin without inhabitant.
Literal Translation
The lion has come up from his thicket, and a destroyer of nations has set out. He has left his place to make your land a waste. Your cities will fall into ruins without one living in them .
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For the spoyler of the Gentiles is broken vp from his place, as a lyon out of his dene, that he maye make the londe waist, and destroye the cities, so, that no man maye dwell therin.
American Standard Version
A lion is gone up from his thicket, and a destroyer of nations; he is on his way, he is gone forth from his place, to make thy land desolate, that thy cities be laid waste, without inhabitant.
Bible in Basic English
A lion has gone up from his secret place in the woods, and one who makes waste the nations is on his way; he has gone out from his place, to make your land unpeopled, so that your towns will be made waste, with no man living in them.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
A lion is gone up from his thicket, and a destroyer of nations is set out, gone forth from his place; to make thy land desolate, that thy cities be laid waste, without inhabitant.
King James Version (1611)
The Lion is come vp from his thicket, and the destroyer of the Gentiles is on his way; hee is gone foorth from his place to make thy land desolate, and thy cities shall be layed waste, without an inhabitant.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
For the spoyler of the gentiles is broken vp from his place as a lion out of his denne: that he may make thy lande waste, and destroy the cities, so that no man may dwell therin.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
The lion is gone up from his lair, he has roused himself to the destruction of the nations, and has gone forth out of his place, to make the land desolate; and the cities shall be destroyed, so as to be without inhabitant.
English Revised Version
A lion is gone up from his thicket, and a destroyer of nations; he is on his way, he is gone forth from his place; to make thy land desolate, that thy cities be laid waste, without inhabitant.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
A lioun schal `rise vp fro his denne, and the robbere of folkis schal reise hym silf. He is goon out of his place, to sette thi lond in to wildirnesse; thi citees schulen be distried, abidynge stille with out dwellere.
Update Bible Version
A lion has gone up from his thicket, and a destroyer of nations; he is on his way, he has gone forth from his place, to make your land desolate, that your cities be laid waste, without inhabitant.
Webster's Bible Translation
The lion is come up from his thicket, and the destroyer of the Gentiles is on his way; he is gone forth from his place to make thy land desolate; thy cities shall be laid waste, without an inhabitant.
New English Translation
Like a lion that has come up from its lair the one who destroys nations has set out from his home base. He is coming out to lay your land waste. Your cities will become ruins and lie uninhabited.
New King James Version
The lion has come up from his thicket, And the destroyer of nations is on his way. He has gone forth from his place To make your land desolate. Your cities will be laid waste, Without inhabitant.
New Living Translation
A lion stalks from its den, a destroyer of nations. It has left its lair and is headed your way. It's going to devastate your land! Your towns will lie in ruins, with no one living in them anymore.
New Life Bible
A lion has gone up from his secret place. A destroyer of nations has begun to move. He has gone out from his place to make your land a waste. Your cities will be destroyed and no people will live in them.
New Revised Standard
A lion has gone up from its thicket, a destroyer of nations has set out; he has gone out from his place to make your land a waste; your cities will be ruins without inhabitant.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
There hath come up a lion out of his thicket, Yea, a destroyer of nations - hath set forward, hath come forth out of his place, - To make thy land a desolation, Thy cities, shall fall in ruins, so as to have no inhabitant.
Douay-Rheims Bible
The lion is come up out of his den, and the robber of nations hath roused himself: he is come forth out of his place, to make thy land desolate: thy cities shall be laid waste, remaining without an inhabitant.
Revised Standard Version
A lion has gone up from his thicket, a destroyer of nations has set out; he has gone forth from his place to make your land a waste; your cities will be ruins without inhabitant.
Young's Literal Translation
Gone up hath a lion from his thicket, And a destroyer of nations hath journeyed, He hath come forth from his place To make thy land become a desolation, Thy cities are laid waste, without inhabitant.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"A lion has gone up from his thicket, And a destroyer of nations has set out; He has gone out from his place To make your land a waste. Your cities will be ruins Without inhabitant.

Contextual Overview

5 "Give this message to the people of Judah: Tell everyone in the city of Jerusalem: ‘Blow the trumpet all over the country.' Shout out loud and say, ‘Come together! Let us all escape to the strong cities for protection.' 6 Raise the signal flag toward Zion. Run for your lives! Don't wait! Do this because I am bringing disaster from the north. I am bringing terrible destruction." 7 A lion has come out of his cave. A destroyer of nations has begun to march. He has left his home to destroy your land. Your towns will be destroyed. There will be no one left to live in them. 8 The Lord is angry with us, so put on sackcloth and cry out loud! 9 The Lord says, "When this happens, the king and his officers will lose their courage. The priests will be filled with fear, and the prophets will be shocked." 10 Then I, Jeremiah, said, "Lord God , you have tricked the people of Judah and Jerusalem. You said to them, ‘You will have peace.' But now the sword is pointing at their throats!" 11 At that time this message will be given to the people of Judah and Jerusalem: "A hot wind blows from the bare hills. It comes from the desert to my people. It is not like the gentle wind that is used to separate the grain from the chaff. 12 It is a stronger wind than that, and it comes from me. Now I will announce my judgment against the people of Judah." 13 Look! The enemy rises up like a cloud. His chariots look like a windstorm. His horses are faster than eagles. It will be very bad for us! We are ruined! 14 People of Jerusalem, wash the evil from your hearts. Make your hearts pure so that you can be saved. Don't continue making evil plans.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

lion: Jeremiah 5:6, Jeremiah 25:38, Jeremiah 49:19, Jeremiah 50:17, Jeremiah 50:44, 2 Kings 24:1, 2 Kings 25:1, Daniel 7:4

destroyer: Jeremiah 25:9, Jeremiah 27:8, Ezekiel 21:19-21, Ezekiel 26:7-10, Ezekiel 30:10, Ezekiel 30:11, Daniel 5:19

to: Jeremiah 2:15, Jeremiah 9:11, Jeremiah 26:9, Jeremiah 33:10, Jeremiah 34:22, Isaiah 1:7, Isaiah 5:9, Isaiah 6:11

Reciprocal: Leviticus 26:31 - And I will make Job 4:11 - old lion Psalms 76:4 - mountains Psalms 80:13 - The boar Isaiah 5:29 - roaring Isaiah 21:8 - General Isaiah 24:1 - maketh the Isaiah 44:1 - now Jeremiah 4:27 - The Jeremiah 5:17 - they shall impoverish Jeremiah 22:7 - I Jeremiah 44:2 - a desolation Jeremiah 46:1 - against Ezekiel 7:24 - I will bring Ezekiel 12:20 - General Ezekiel 12:28 - There shall Ezekiel 15:6 - General Ezekiel 21:31 - and skilful Ezekiel 32:2 - Thou art like Micah 5:1 - gather Nahum 2:11 - the dwelling Habakkuk 1:9 - for Zephaniah 1:13 - their goods

Cross-References

Genesis 3:16
Then God said to the woman, "I will cause you to have much trouble when you are pregnant. And when you give birth to children, you will have much pain. You will want your husband very much, but he will rule over you."
Genesis 4:6
The Lord asked Cain, "Why are you angry? Why does your face look sad?
Genesis 4:8
Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field." So they went to the field. Then Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.
Genesis 4:9
Later, the Lord said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" Cain answered, "I don't know. Is it my job to watch over my brother?"
Genesis 4:10
Then the Lord said, "What have you done? You killed your brother and the ground opened up to take his blood from your hands. Now his blood is shouting to me from the ground. So you will be cursed from this ground.
Genesis 4:12
Now when you work the soil, the ground will not help your plants grow. You will not have a home in this land. You will wander from place to place."
Genesis 4:13
Then Cain said to the Lord , "This punishment is more than I can bear!
Genesis 19:21
The angel said to Lot, "Very well, I'll let you do that. I will not destroy that town.
Numbers 32:23
But if you don't do these things, you will be sinning against the Lord . And know for sure that you will be punished for your sin.
2 Samuel 24:23
O King, I give everything to you!" Araunah also said to the king, "May the Lord your God be pleased with you."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

The lion is come up from his thicket,.... Meaning Nebuchadnezzar s, from Babylon, who is compared to a lion for his strength, fierceness, and cruelty; see Jeremiah 50:17 so the Roman emperor is called a lion, 2 Timothy 4:17, agreeably to this the Targum paraphrases it,

"a king is gone from his fortress;''

or tower; and the Syriac version,

"a certain most powerful king is about to go up as a lion out of his wood:''

and the destroyer of the Gentiles is on his way; he who had conquered and destroyed other nations not a few, and these mighty and strong; and therefore the Jews could not expect but to be destroyed by him. This tyrant was a type of antichrist, whose name is Apollyon, a destroyer of the nations of the earth, Revelation 9:11

he is gone forth from his place, to make thy land desolate; from Babylon, where his royal palace was, in order to lay waste the land of Judea; and he is represented as being come out, and on the road with this view, to strike the inhabitants of Judea with the greater terror, and to hasten their flight, their destruction being determined and certain:

and thy cities shall be laid waste without an inhabitant; they shall become so utterly desolate, that there should be none dwelling in them, partly by reason of the multitudes of the slain, and partly by reason of multitudes that should flee; and should be laid waste to such a degree, that they should be covered with grass growing upon them; which is the signification of the word t here used, according to R. Joseph Kimchi.

s So T. Bab. Megilia, fol. 11. 1. & Sanhedrin. fol 94. 2. t תצינה "gramine succrescente obducantur quidam" in Gataker.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Rather, A “lion”... a “destroyer” of nations: a metaphor descriptive of the impending calamity. A lion is just rousing himself from his lair, but no common one. It is destroyer, not of men, but of nations.

Is on his way - literally, “has broken up his encampment.” Jeremiah uses a military term strictly referring to the striking of tents in preparation for the march.

Without an inhabitant - The final stage of destruction, actually reached in the utter depopulation of Judaea consequent upon Gedaliah’s murder.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Jeremiah 4:7. The lion is come up — Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. "The king (Nebuchadnezzar) is come up from his tower." - Targum.

The destroyer of the Gentiles — Of the nations: of all the people who resisted his authority. He destroyed them all.


 
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