Bible Strands
Jeremiah 4:3
For this is what the LORD says to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: “Break up your unplowed ground, and do not sow among the thorns.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Yahweh addresses the men of Judah and Jerusalem, following a command to swear truthfully in His name. The message occurs within a prophetic warning about impending judgment for covenant unfaithfulness.
The words — נִירוּ (Ni.ru) translates literally as “break up” or “plow,” commanding agricultural preparation. כִּי (ki) functions as “for,” grounding the command in the preceding divine declaration.
The thread — The imagery of breaking up unplowed ground echoes Hosea 10:12, which pairs agricultural preparation with sowing righteousness. The warning against sowing among thorns anticipates the parabolic teaching in Luke 8:7 and 8:14 about seed choked by worldly cares.
Why it lands — The text demands immediate, deliberate spiritual preparation before attempting to cultivate faith. It requires readers to remove obstacles that prevent genuine obedience and to act before judgment arrives.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
For thus saith the Lord to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.
Cross-references
- Hosea 10:12 Sow for yourselves righteousness and reap the fruit of loving devotion; break up your unplowed ground. For it is time to seek the LORD until He comes and sends righteousness upon you like rain.
- Luke 8:7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the seedlings.
- Luke 8:14 The seeds that fell among the thorns are those who hear, but as they go on their way, they are choked by the worries, riches, and pleasures of this life, and their fruit does not mature.
- Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return.
- Matthew 13:7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the seedlings.
- Mark 4:18 Others are like the seeds sown among the thorns. They hear the word,
- Matthew 13:22 The seed sown among the thorns is the one who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
- Mark 4:7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the seedlings, and they yielded no crop.
- Genesis 3:18 Both thorns and thistles it will yield for you, and you will eat the plants of the field.