The Meaning of Jeremiah 4:1 Explained

Jeremiah 4:1

KJV: If thou wilt return, O Israel, saith the LORD, return unto me: and if thou wilt put away thine abominations out of my sight, then shalt thou not remove.

YLT: If thou dost turn back, O Israel, An affirmation of Jehovah, unto Me turn back, And if thou dost turn aside Thine abominations from My face, Then thou dost not bemoan.

Darby: If thou wilt return, O Israel, saith Jehovah, return unto me; and if thou wilt put away thine abominations out of my sight, then shalt thou not be a wanderer;

ASV: If thou wilt return, O Israel, saith Jehovah, if thou wilt return unto me, and if thou wilt put away thine abominations out of my sight; then shalt thou not be removed;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

If thou wilt return,  O Israel,  saith  the LORD,  return  unto me: and if thou wilt put away  thine abominations  out of my sight,  then shalt thou not remove. 

What does Jeremiah 4:1 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The Lord clarified that for His people to return to a blessed condition they must return to Him.
"A sincere return to God demanded not only the destruction of images and the suppression of idol-worship, but also the giving up of all wandering after idols, i.e. seeking or longing after other gods." [1]

Context Summary

Jeremiah 4:1-2 - Pleading With Faithless Children
The people of the northern kingdom, to whom this appeal is especially addressed, were more excusable than Judah, because their privileges had been less. God judges us according to our opportunities. How precious the invitation and promise of Jeremiah 3:12! Confession is an essential condition that must be fulfilled by us. See 1 John 1:7. Zion shall yet be the center of a restored Israel, Jeremiah 3:14; Jeremiah 3:18. In Jeremiah 3:21-25 the voices of the people in confession and prayer mingle with Jehovah's encouraging their return. When we lie down in broken-hearted shame and penitence, we are very near to being lifted to the bosom of God. Compare Jeremiah 3:25 with Jeremiah 4:1. The return of the Chosen People to the God of their fathers will be the cause of revival and quickening throughout the earth. Compare Jeremiah 4:2 with Romans 11:12. [source]

Chapter Summary: Jeremiah 4

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

What do the individual words in Jeremiah 4:1 mean?

If you will return Israel says Yahweh to Me Return and if you will put away your abominations out of My sight and not you shall be moved
אִם־ תָּשׁ֨וּב יִשְׂרָאֵ֧ל ׀ נְאֻם־ יְהוָ֛ה אֵלַ֖י תָּשׁ֑וּב וְאִם־ תָּסִ֧יר שִׁקּוּצֶ֛יךָ מִפָּנַ֖י וְלֹ֥א תָנֽוּד

תָּשׁ֨וּב  you  will  return 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֧ל ׀  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
נְאֻם־  says 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: נְאֻם  
Sense: (Qal) utterance, declaration (of prophet).
יְהוָ֛ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֵלַ֖י  to  Me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
תָּשׁ֑וּב  Return 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
וְאִם־  and  if 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Conjunction
Root: אִם  
Sense: if.
תָּסִ֧יר  you  will  put  away 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: סוּר 
Sense: to turn aside, depart.
שִׁקּוּצֶ֛יךָ  your  abominations 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: שִׁקּוּץ  
Sense: detestable thing or idol, abominable thing, abomination, idol, detested thing.
מִפָּנַ֖י  out  of  My  sight 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
וְלֹ֥א  and  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
תָנֽוּד  you  shall  be  moved 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: נוּד  
Sense: to shake, waver, wander, move to and fro, flutter, show grief, have compassion on.