What Does Jeremiah 30:4 Mean in the King James?

And these are the words that the LORD spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah.

Jeremiah 30:4 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

The Hebrew root behind “words” and “spake” is the same: what God says is bound to the matter it names.

THE MEANING

The LORD’s words now meet the reader as speech concerning real life. They are not floating language: the utterance is bound to the matter and the people named here.

THE ROOT

הַדְּבָרִים

ha-devarim

GROWS FROM

דבר

d-b-r

To speak; davar can mean a word, matter, or thing.

“words / spake” in this verse is ha-devarim. The verse uses ⁨דְּבָרִים⁩ (devarim, “words”) and ⁨דִּבֶּר⁩ (dibber, “spake”) from the same root. English presents speech and subject matter as separate ideas, while Hebrew holds them together: the LORD’s speaking is joined to the matter it concerns.

ALSO GROWS

davar: Word; matter; thing.

דָּבָר

The “words” in this verse belong to the very matter they address.

dibber: He spoke; uttered.

דִּבֶּר

This is the verb used for what the LORD did, sharing its root with the “words” themselves.

THE PATTERN

Scripture presents God’s word as speech that reaches the people and the life it addresses.

But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.

Deuteronomy 30:14 · KJVThe word is close to a person’s mouth and heart, reaching into lived experience.

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Isaiah 55:11 · KJVGod’s word reaches the matter it is sent toward and accomplishes its work there.

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12 · KJVThe word is living and reaches into the reader’s inner life.

THE THREAD

Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.

Jeremiah 1:9 · KJV

“My words” here comes from the same ⁨דבר⁩ root as “words” and “spake” in Jeremiah 30:4. Together, the verses show divine speech reaching people through words that belong to the matter being spoken.

Read the SDV Bible.

Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.

Get Selah Verse

The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.

Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us