Jeremiah 4:20

20 Disaster hard on the heels of disaster, the whole country in ruins! In one stroke my home is destroyed, the walls flattened in the blink of an eye.

Jeremiah 4:20 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 4:20

Destruction upon destruction is cried;
&c.] Or, "breach upon breach" F7; as soon as one affliction is over, another comes on; and upon the news of one calamity, tidings are brought of another, as in Job's case: it signifies, that distress and troubles would come thick and fast, and that there would be no end of them, until there was an utter destruction, as this phrase signifies, and the following words show. Kimchi interprets it of the destruction of the ten tribes which came first, and of the destruction of Judah that came now. For the whole land is spoiled,
or "wasted" F8; that is, the land of Judea: suddenly are my tents spoiled, and my curtains in a moment:
meaning either the armies of his people, which dwelt in tents, and were destroyed at once; or the cities, towns, and habitations of his countrymen, which he compares to tents, as being easily beat down or overthrown; and so the Targum interprets it of cities; and the prophet seems to intimate that this destruction would reach to Anathoth, where his tent; cottage, and curtains were. So sudden destruction some times comes, when men are crying Peace, peace, ( 1 Thessalonians 5:3 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F7 (rbv le rbv) "contritio super contritionem", Pagninus, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius.
F8 (hddv) "vastata", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus.

Jeremiah 4:20 In-Context

18 "It's the way you've lived that's brought all this on you. The bitter taste is from your evil life. That's what's piercing your heart."
19 I'm doubled up with cramps in my belly - a poker burns in my gut. My insides are tearing me up, never a moment's peace. The ram's horn trumpet blast rings in my ears, the signal for all-out war.
20 Disaster hard on the heels of disaster, the whole country in ruins! In one stroke my home is destroyed, the walls flattened in the blink of an eye.
21 How long do I have to look at the warning flares, listen to the siren of danger? Experts at Evil
22 "What fools my people are! They have no idea who I am. A company of half-wits, dopes and donkeys all! Experts at evil but klutzes at good."
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.