Lectionary Calendar
Friday, July 18th, 2025
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
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Read the Bible

Good News Translation

Jeremiah 4:17

and will surround Jerusalem like men guarding a field, because her people have rebelled against the Lord . The Lord has spoken.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Condescension of God;   Israel, Prophecies Concerning;   Jeremiah;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Rebellion against God;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Gardens;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Dan;   Kir-Hareseth;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Jeremiah;  

Encyclopedias:

- The Jewish Encyclopedia - Alliteration and Kindred Figures;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
They have her surroundedlike those who guard a field,because she has rebelled against me.
Hebrew Names Version
As keepers of a field are they against her round about, because she has been rebellious against me, says the LORD.
King James Version
As keepers of a field, are they against her round about; because she hath been rebellious against me, saith the Lord .
English Standard Version
Like keepers of a field are they against her all around, because she has rebelled against me, declares the Lord .
New American Standard Bible
'Like watchmen of a field they are against her all around, Because she has rebelled against Me,' declares the LORD.
New Century Version
The enemy has surrounded Jerusalem as men guard a field, because Judah turned against me,'" says the Lord .
Amplified Bible
'Like watchmen of a field they are against her on all sides, Because she has rebelled against Me,' says the LORD.
World English Bible
As keepers of a field are they against her round about, because she has been rebellious against me, says Yahweh.
Geneva Bible (1587)
They haue compassed her about as the watchmen of the fielde, because it hath prouoked me to wrath, saith the Lord.
Legacy Standard Bible
Like watchmen of a field they are against her round aboutBecause she has rebelled against Me,' declares Yahweh.
Berean Standard Bible
They surround her like men guarding a field, because she has rebelled against Me, declares the LORD.
Complete Jewish Bible
Like guards in a field they surround her, because she has rebelled against me," says Adonai .
Darby Translation
As keepers of a field are they against her round about; for she hath been rebellious against me, saith Jehovah.
Easy-to-Read Version
The enemy has surrounded Jerusalem like men guarding a field. Judah, you turned against me, so the enemy is coming against you." This message is from the Lord .
George Lamsa Translation
As keepers of the fields are they against her around about, because she has been rebellious against me, says the LORD.
Lexham English Bible
Like watchers of a field they were against her from all around, because she has rebelled against me," declares Yahweh.
Literal Translation
Like the ones watching a field, they are against her all around because she has rebelled against Me, says Jehovah.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
they shall geue them warnynge in euery place, like as the watch men in the felde. For they haue prouoked me to wrath, saieth the LORDE.
American Standard Version
As keepers of a field are they against her round about, because she hath been rebellious against me, saith Jehovah.
Bible in Basic English
Like keepers of a field they are against her on every side; because she has been fighting against me, says the Lord.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
As keepers of a field are they against her round about; because she hath been rebellious against Me, saith the LORD.
King James Version (1611)
As keepers of a fielde are they against her round about; because shee hath bene rebellious against mee, saith the Lord.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And they haue beset her about in euery place, lyke as the watchmen in the fielde: For they haue prouoked me to wrath, saith the Lorde.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
As keepers of a field, they have surrounded her; because thou, saith the Lord, has neglected me.
English Revised Version
As keepers of a field are they against her round about; because she hath been rebellious against me, saith the LORD.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
As the keperis of feeldis thei ben maad on it in cumpas; for it stiride me to wrathfulnesse, seith the Lord.
Update Bible Version
As keepers of a field are those against her round about, because she has been rebellious against me, says Yahweh.
Webster's Bible Translation
As keepers of a field they are against her on all sides; because she hath been rebellious against me, saith the LORD.
New English Translation
They will surround Jerusalem like men guarding a field because they have rebelled against me," says the Lord .
New King James Version
Like keepers of a field they are against her all around, Because she has been rebellious against Me," says the LORD.
New Living Translation
They surround Jerusalem like watchmen around a field, for my people have rebelled against me," says the Lord .
New Life Bible
They are against her all around, like watchmen of a field, because she has turned against Me,' says the Lord.
New Revised Standard
They have closed in around her like watchers of a field, because she has rebelled against me, says the Lord .
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
As the keepers of a field, have they come against her round about, - For against me, hath she rebelled, Declareth Yahweh.
Douay-Rheims Bible
They are set round about her, as keepers of fields: because she hath provoked me to wrath, saith the Lord.
Revised Standard Version
Like keepers of a field are they against her round about, because she has rebelled against me, says the LORD.
Young's Literal Translation
As the keepers of a field They have been against her round about, For with Me she hath been rebellious, An affirmation of Jehovah.'
New American Standard Bible (1995)
'Like watchmen of a field they are against her round about, Because she has rebelled against Me,' declares the LORD.

Contextual Overview

5 Blow the trumpet throughout the land! Shout loud and clear! Tell the people of Judah and Jerusalem to run to the fortified cities. 6 Point the way to Zion! Run for safety! Don't delay! The Lord is bringing disaster and great destruction from the north. 7 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. 8 So put on sackcloth, and weep and wail because the fierce anger of the Lord has not turned away from Judah. 9 The Lord said, "On that day kings and officials will lose their courage; priests will be shocked and prophets will be astonished." 10 Then I said, "Sovereign Lord , you have completely deceived the people of Jerusalem! You have said there would be peace, but a sword is at their throats." 11 The time is coming when the people of Jerusalem will be told that a scorching wind is blowing in from the desert toward them. It will not be a gentle wind that only blows away the chaff— 12 the wind that comes at the Lord 's command will be much stronger than that! It is the Lord himself who is pronouncing judgment on his people. 13 Look, the enemy is coming like clouds. Their war chariots are like a whirlwind, and their horses are faster than eagles. We are lost! We are doomed! 14 Jerusalem, wash the evil from your heart, so that you may be saved. How long will you go on thinking sinful thoughts?

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

keepers: Jeremiah 6:2, Jeremiah 6:3, 2 Kings 25:1-4, Isaiah 1:8, Luke 19:43, Luke 19:44, Luke 21:20-24

because: Jeremiah 5:23, Nehemiah 9:26, Nehemiah 9:30, Isaiah 1:20-23, Isaiah 30:9, Lamentations 1:8, Lamentations 1:18, Ezekiel 2:3-7, Daniel 9:7-19

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 28:33 - thou shalt be Isaiah 30:1 - the rebellious Jeremiah 4:16 - watchers Jeremiah 8:19 - the voice Jeremiah 44:3 - of their Ezekiel 12:2 - thou

Cross-References

Genesis 4:4
Then Abel brought the first lamb born to one of his sheep, killed it, and gave the best parts of it as an offering. The Lord was pleased with Abel and his offering,
Genesis 4:11
You are placed under a curse and can no longer farm the soil. It has soaked up your brother's blood as if it had opened its mouth to receive it when you killed him.
Genesis 5:18
When Jared was 162, he had a son, Enoch,
Genesis 5:22
After that, Enoch lived in fellowship with God for 300 years and had other children.
Genesis 11:4
They said, "Now let's build a city with a tower that reaches the sky, so that we can make a name for ourselves and not be scattered all over the earth."
2 Samuel 18:18
During his lifetime Absalom had built a monument for himself in King's Valley, because he had no son to keep his name alive. So he named it after himself, and to this day it is known as Absalom's Monument.
Psalms 49:11
Their graves are their homes forever; there they stay for all time, though they once had lands of their own.
Daniel 4:30
he said, "Look how great Babylon is! I built it as my capital city to display my power and might, my glory and majesty."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

As keepers of a field, are they against her round about,.... As those that are set to watch a field, in which are fruit and corn of any sort, that thieves and robbers, and wild beasts, may not enter to waste and destroy, and are placed on all sides for that purpose; so the Chaldeans were round about Jerusalem, that none could make their escape out of it; see 2 Kings 25:4:

because she hath been rebellious against me, saith the Lord; it was not without reason that the Lord suffered the Chaldeans to come against Jerusalem, besiege, and take it; the inhabitants of it had rebelled against him, their King and their God; and therefore he delivers them up into the hands of another lord, and a cruel one; they had provoked him to anger with their sins, and caused him to stir up his wrath against them in this way: rebellion against a prince, or against a parent, is a provoking sin; see 1 Samuel 15:23.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Jeremiah compares the tents of the besiegers on guard round Jerusalem to the booths erected by shepherds or farmers for the protection of their flocks or produce.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Jeremiah 4:17. As keepers of a field — In the eastern countries grain is often sown in the open country; and, when nearly ripe, guards are placed at different distances round about it to preserve it from being plundered. Jerusalem was watched, like one of these fields, by guards all round about it; so that none could enter to give assistance, and none who wished to escape were permitted to go out.


 
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