Jeremiah 4:7
New International Version
A lion has come out of his lair; a destroyer of nations has set out. He has left his place to lay waste your land. Your towns will lie in ruins 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.

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.

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 your land. Your cities will be reduced to ruins and lie uninhabited.

King James Bible
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.

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 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.

NASB 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.

NASB 1977
“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.

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 place To make your land a desolation. Your cities will be turned into ruins Without inhabitant.

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.

Christian Standard Bible
A lion has gone up from his thicket; a destroyer of nations has set out. He has left his lair to make your land a waste. Your cities will be reduced to uninhabited ruins.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
A lion has gone up from his thicket; a destroyer of nations has set out. He has left his lair to make your land a waste. Your cities will be reduced to uninhabited ruins.

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.

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."

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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
A lion has come out of its lair. A destroyer of nations has set out. He has left his place to destroy your land. Your cities will be ruined, and no one will live in them.

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.

International Standard Version
A lion has gone 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 be ruined, and without inhabitants.

Majority 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 your land. Your cities will be reduced to ruins and lie uninhabited.

NET Bible
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 Heart 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.

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.

World English Bible
A lion has gone up from his thicket, and a destroyer of nations. He is on his way. He has gone out from his place, to make your land desolate, that your cities be laid waste, without inhabitant.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
A lion has gone up from his thicket, "" And a destroyer of nations has journeyed, "" He has come forth from his place "" To make your land become a desolation, "" Your cities are laid waste, 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.

Smith's Literal Translation
The lion came up from his thicket, and destroying, he broke up the nations; he went forth from his place to set thy land for a desolation; thy cities shall be laid waste from none inhabiting.
Catholic Translations
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.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The lion has ascended from his den, and the pillager of the nations has lifted himself up. He has gone forth from his place, so that he may set your land in desolation. Your cities will be laid waste, remaining without an inhabitant.

New American Bible
Up comes the lion from its lair, the destroyer of nations has set out, has left its place, To turn your land into a desolation, your cities into an uninhabited waste.

New Revised Standard Version
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.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
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.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
A mighty King went up like a lion from his thicket and is destroying the nations. He packed up and he went out from his place to make your land a wilderness, and your towns shall be desolate, without one inhabitant
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 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.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
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.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Disaster from the North
6Raise a signal flag toward Zion. Seek refuge! Do not delay! For I am bringing disaster from the north, and terrible destruction. 7A lion has gone up from his thicket, and a destroyer of nations has set out. He has left his lair to lay waste your land. Your cities will be reduced to ruins and lie uninhabited. 8So put on sackcloth, mourn and wail, for the fierce anger of the LORD has not turned away from us.”…

Cross References
Revelation 5:5
Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Hosea 5:14
For I am like a lion to Ephraim and like a young lion to the house of Judah. I, even I, will tear them to pieces and then go away. I will carry them off where no one can rescue them.

Amos 3:8
The lion has roared—who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken—who will not prophesy?

Isaiah 31:4
For this is what the LORD has said to me: “Like a lion roaring or a young lion over its prey—and though a band of shepherds is called out against it, it is not terrified by their shouting or subdued by their clamor—so the LORD of Hosts will come down to do battle on Mount Zion and its heights.

Ezekiel 19:1-7
“As for you, take up a lament for the princes of Israel / and say: ‘What was your mother? A lioness among the lions! She lay down among the young lions; she reared her cubs. / She brought up one of her cubs, and he became a young lion. After learning to tear his prey, he devoured men. ...

Joel 1:6
For a nation has invaded My land, powerful and without number; its teeth are the teeth of a lion, and its fangs are the fangs of a lioness.

Daniel 7:4
The first beast was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man and given the mind of a man.

Isaiah 5:29
Their roaring is like that of a lion; they roar like young lions. They growl and seize their prey; they carry it away, and no one can rescue it.

Zephaniah 3:3
Her princes are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves, leaving nothing for the morning.

1 Peter 5:8
Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Isaiah 42:13
The LORD goes forth like a mighty one; He stirs up His zeal like a warrior. He shouts; yes, He roars in triumph over His enemies:

Ezekiel 22:25
The conspiracy of the princes in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing its prey. They devour the people, seize the treasures and precious things, and multiply the widows within her.

Nahum 2:11-13
Where is the lions’ lair or the feeding ground of the young lions, where the lion and lioness prowled with their cubs, with nothing to frighten them away? / The lion mauled enough for its cubs and strangled prey for the lioness. It filled its dens with the kill, and its lairs with mauled prey. / “Behold, I am against you,” declares the LORD of Hosts. “I will reduce your chariots to cinders, and the sword will devour your young lions. I will cut off your prey from the earth, and the voices of your messengers will no longer be heard.”

Isaiah 46:11
I summon a bird of prey from the east, a man for My purpose from a far-off land. Truly I have spoken, and truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, and I will surely do it.

2 Thessalonians 2:8
And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will slay with the breath of His mouth and annihilate by the majesty of His arrival.


Treasury of Scripture

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 your land desolate; and your cities shall be laid waste, without an inhabitant.

lion

Jeremiah 5:6
Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, and a wolf of the evenings shall spoil them, a leopard shall watch over their cities: every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces: because their transgressions are many, and their backslidings are increased.

Jeremiah 25:38
He hath forsaken his covert, as the lion: for their land is desolate because of the fierceness of the oppressor, and because of his fierce anger.

Jeremiah 49:19
Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan against the habitation of the strong: but I will suddenly make him run away from her: and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who is that shepherd that will stand before me?

destroyer

Jeremiah 25:9
Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations.

Jeremiah 27:8
And it shall come to pass, that the nation and kingdom which will not serve the same Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, and that will not put their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, that nation will I punish, saith the LORD, with the sword, and with the famine, and with the pestilence, until I have consumed them by his hand.

Ezekiel 21:19-21
Also, thou son of man, appoint thee two ways, that the sword of the king of Babylon may come: both twain shall come forth out of one land: and choose thou a place, choose it at the head of the way to the city…

to

Jeremiah 2:15
The young lions roared upon him, and yelled, and they made his land waste: his cities are burned without inhabitant.

Jeremiah 9:11
And I will make Jerusalem heaps, and a den of dragons; and I will make the cities of Judah desolate, without an inhabitant.

Jeremiah 26:9
Why hast thou prophesied in the name of the LORD, saying, This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate without an inhabitant? And all the people were gathered against Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.

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Jeremiah 4
1. God calls Israel by his promise
3. He exhorts Judah to repentance by fearful judgments
19. A grievous lamentation for Judah














A lion has gone up from his thicket
This phrase symbolizes a powerful and fierce enemy, often interpreted as Babylon, emerging from a place of concealment to attack. In biblical literature, lions are frequently used to represent strength and ferocity (e.g., Hosea 5:14). The imagery of a lion coming out of its thicket suggests an unstoppable force, emphasizing the impending judgment on Judah. The thicket represents a place of security and hidden strength, now abandoned as the lion moves to attack.

and a destroyer of nations has set out
This refers to the Babylonian Empire, known for its military conquests and destruction of various nations. Historically, Babylon was a dominant power in the ancient Near East, and its campaigns led to the downfall of many kingdoms, including Judah. The phrase underscores the comprehensive nature of Babylon's destructive power, fulfilling prophecies of judgment against nations that turned away from God (Jeremiah 25:9).

He has left his lair to lay waste your land
The "lair" signifies Babylon's homeland, from which its armies emerge to devastate other territories. This action is a direct consequence of Judah's disobedience and idolatry, as prophesied by Jeremiah. The laying waste of the land indicates total destruction, leaving it barren and unproductive, a common theme in prophetic warnings (Isaiah 6:11).

Your cities will be reduced to ruins and lie uninhabited
This prophecy foretells the complete desolation of Judah's cities, a result of Babylonian conquest. Historically, this was fulfilled during the Babylonian invasions, particularly the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC. The imagery of uninhabited ruins serves as a stark warning of the consequences of forsaking God's covenant. It also foreshadows the ultimate restoration and hope found in Christ, who rebuilds and restores what is broken (Isaiah 61:4).

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jeremiah
The prophet who conveyed God's messages to the people of Judah, warning them of impending judgment due to their unfaithfulness.

2. Lion
Symbolic representation of a powerful and destructive force, often used to describe Babylon or its king, Nebuchadnezzar, who would come against Judah.

3. Thicket
Represents a place of concealment or origin, indicating where the threat emerges from.

4. Destroyer of Nations
Refers to the Babylonian empire, known for its military conquests and destruction of other nations.

5. Judah
The southern kingdom of Israel, which was facing imminent judgment due to its idolatry and disobedience to God.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereignty in Judgment
God uses nations and leaders as instruments of His judgment. Understanding His sovereignty helps us trust His plans even when they involve difficult circumstances.

The Consequences of Sin
Persistent disobedience and idolatry lead to destruction. This serves as a warning to remain faithful and repentant.

The Urgency of Repentance
Just as Judah was warned, we are called to examine our lives and turn back to God before facing consequences.

Hope Amidst Judgment
While judgment is severe, God's ultimate plan includes restoration and redemption for those who turn back to Him.

The Role of Prophets
Prophets like Jeremiah are vital in communicating God's truth. We should value and heed the messages of those who speak God's word today.(7) The lion is come up . . .--The "lion" is, of course, the Chaldaean invader, the destroyer, not of men only, but of nations. So in Daniel 7:4 the lion is the symbol of the Assyrian monarchy. The winged lions that are seen in the palaces of Mosul and Nimroud gave a special character to what was in any case a natural metaphor. The word "Gentiles" answers to the meaning, but there is no special reason why it should be used here, rather than nations.

Is on his way.--Literally, has broken up his encampment, i.e., has started on his march.

Without an inhabitant.--The language, like that of Isaiah (Isaiah 6:11), was probably in some measure hyperbolical, but the depopulation caused by the Chaldaean invasion (as seen in Jeremiah 39:9) must have been extreme.

Verse 7. - The lion; the symbol of irresistible might and royalty (Genesis 49:7; Revelation 5:5). Of the Gentiles; rather, of the nations. There is no reference to the distinction between Jews and Gentiles; the Jews themselves are not allowed to escape. An ordinary lion attacks individual men; this lion destroys nations. Is on his way; literally, has broken up his encampment - a phrase perhaps suggested by the nomad Scythiaus.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
A lion
אַרְיֵה֙ (’ar·yêh)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 738: A lion

has gone up
עָלָ֤ה (‘ā·lāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

from his thicket,
מִֽסֻּבְּכ֔וֹ (mis·sub·bə·ḵōw)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5441: A thicket

and a destroyer
וּמַשְׁחִ֣ית (ū·maš·ḥîṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7843: Perhaps to go to ruin

of nations
גּוֹיִ֔ם (gō·w·yim)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1471: A foreign nation, a Gentile, a troop of animals, a flight of locusts

has set out.
נָסַ֖ע (nā·sa‘)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5265: To pull up, the tent-pins, start on a, journey

He has left
יָצָ֣א (yā·ṣā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

his lair
מִמְּקֹמ֑וֹ (mim·mə·qō·mōw)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4725: A standing, a spot, a condition

to lay
לָשׂ֤וּם (lā·śūm)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set

waste
לְשַׁמָּ֔ה (lə·šam·māh)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8047: Ruin, consternation

to your land.
אַרְצֵךְ֙ (’ar·ṣêḵ)
Noun - feminine singular construct | second person feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

Your cities
עָרַ֥יִךְ (‘ā·ra·yiḵ)
Noun - feminine plural construct | second person feminine singular
Strong's 5892: Excitement

will be reduced
מֵאֵ֥ין (mê·’ên)
Preposition-m | Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

to ruins
תִּצֶּ֖ינָה (tiṣ·ṣe·nāh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine plural
Strong's 5327: To go forth, to be expelled, desolate, to lay waste, to quarrel

and lie uninhabited.
יוֹשֵֽׁב׃ (yō·wō·šêḇ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 4:7 A lion is gone up from his (Jer.)
Jeremiah 4:6
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