Jeremiah 4:2
New International Version
and if in a truthful, just and righteous way you swear, ‘As surely as the LORD lives,’ then the nations will invoke blessings by him and in him they will boast.”

New Living Translation
Then when you swear by my name, saying, ‘As surely as the LORD lives,’ you could do so with truth, justice, and righteousness. Then you would be a blessing to the nations of the world, and all people would come and praise my name.”

English Standard Version
and if you swear, ‘As the LORD lives,’ in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, then nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.”

Berean Standard Bible
and if you can swear, ‘As surely as the LORD lives,’ in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, then the nations will be blessed by Him, and in Him they will glory.”

King James Bible
And thou shalt swear, The LORD liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.

New King James Version
And you shall swear, ‘The LORD lives,’ In truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; The nations shall bless themselves in Him, And in Him they shall glory.”

New American Standard Bible
And if you will swear, ‘As the LORD lives,’ In truth, in justice, and in righteousness; Then the nations will bless themselves in Him, And in Him they will boast.”

NASB 1995
And you will swear, ‘As the LORD lives,’ In truth, in justice and in righteousness; Then the nations will bless themselves in Him, And in Him they will glory.”

NASB 1977
And you will swear, ‘As the LORD lives,’ In truth, in justice, and in righteousness; Then the nations will bless themselves in Him, And in Him they will glory.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And you will swear, ‘As Yahweh lives,’ In truth, in justice, and in righteousness; Then the nations will be blessed in Him, And in Him they will boast.”

Amplified Bible
And if you swear [your oaths], ‘As the LORD lives,’ In truth, in justice, and in righteousness, Then the nations will bless themselves in Him, And in Him they will glory.”

Christian Standard Bible
then you can swear, “As the LORD lives,” in truth, justice, and righteousness, and then the nations will be blessed by him and will boast in him.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
then you can swear, “As the LORD lives,” in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, then the nations will be blessed by Him and will pride themselves in Him.

American Standard Version
and thou shalt swear, As Jehovah liveth, in truth, in justice, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.

Contemporary English Version
Make promises only in my name, and do what you promise! Then all nations will praise me, and I will bless them.

English Revised Version
and thou shalt swear, As the LORD liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
if you take the oath, "As the LORD lives..." in an honest, fair, and right way, then the nations will be blessed, and they will be honored by me."

Good News Translation
it will be right for you to swear by my name. Then all the nations will ask me to bless them, and they will praise me."

International Standard Version
If you swear, 'as surely as the LORD lives,' in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, then nations will be blessed by him, and in him they will boast."

Majority Standard Bible
and if you can swear, ‘As surely as the LORD lives,’ in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, then the nations will be blessed by Him, and in Him they will glory.”

NET Bible
You must be truthful, honest and upright when you take an oath saying, 'As surely as the LORD lives!' If you do, the nations will pray to be as blessed by him as you are and will make him the object of their boasting."

New Heart English Bible
and you shall swear, 'As the LORD lives,' in truth, in justice, and in righteousness. The nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory."

Webster's Bible Translation
And thou shalt swear, The LORD liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.

World English Bible
and you will swear, ‘As Yahweh lives,’ in truth, in justice, and in righteousness. The nations will bless themselves in him, and they will glory in him.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And you have sworn—YHWH lives, "" In truth, in judgment, and in righteousness, "" And nations have blessed themselves in Him, "" And they boast themselves in Him.”

Young's Literal Translation
And thou hast sworn -- Jehovah liveth, In truth, in judgment, and in righteousness, And blessed themselves in Him have nations, And in Him they boast themselves.

Smith's Literal Translation
And thou swearest, Jehovah lives in truth, in judgment, and in justice; and the nations were blessed in him, and in him shall they praise.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And thou shalt swear: As the Lord liveth, in truth, and in judgement, and in justice: and the Gentiles shall bless him, and shall praise him.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And you will swear, ‘As the Lord lives,’ in truth and in judgment and in justice.” And the Gentiles will bless him, and they will praise him.

New American Bible
And swear, “As the LORD lives,” in truth, in judgment, and in justice, Then the nations shall bless themselves in him and in him glory.

New Revised Standard Version
and if you swear, “As the LORD lives!” in truth, in justice, and in uprightness, then nations shall be blessed by him, and by him they shall boast.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And you shall swear, The LORD liveth in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the Gentiles shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And you shall swear: "LORD JEHOVAH is living in the truth, and in judgment and in righteousness, and the nations shall be blessed in him, and in him they shall be glorified!”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And wilt swear: 'As the LORD liveth' In truth, in justice, and in righteousness; Then shall the nations bless themselves by Him, And in Him shall they glory.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
The Lord lives, with truth, in judgment and righteousness, then shall nations bless by him, and by him they shall praise God in Jerusalem.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
God Calls Israel by His Promise
1“If you will return, O Israel, return to Me,” declares the LORD. “If you will remove your detestable idols from My sight and no longer waver, 2and if you can swear, ‘As surely as the LORD lives,’ in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, then the nations will be blessed by Him, and in Him they will glory.” 3For 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.…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 6:13
Fear the LORD your God, serve Him only, and take your oaths in His name.

Isaiah 45:23
By Myself I have sworn; truth has gone out from My mouth, a word that will not be revoked: Every knee will bow before Me, every tongue will swear allegiance.

Matthew 5:33-37
Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’ / But I tell you not to swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; / or by the earth, for it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. ...

Romans 14:11
It is written: “As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before Me; every tongue will confess to God.”

Philippians 2:10-11
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, / and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Zechariah 8:8
I will bring them back to dwell in Jerusalem, where they will be My people, and I will be their faithful and righteous God.”

Hosea 4:1
Hear the word of the LORD, O children of Israel, for the LORD has a case against the people of the land: “There is no truth, no loving devotion, and no knowledge of God in the land!

1 Timothy 2:7
For this reason I was appointed as a preacher, an apostle, and a faithful and true teacher of the Gentiles. I am telling the truth; I am not lying about anything.

John 4:23-24
But a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such as these to worship Him. / God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”

Psalm 63:11
But the king will rejoice in God; all who swear by Him will exult, for the mouths of liars will be shut.

Isaiah 65:16
Whoever invokes a blessing in the land will do so by the God of truth, and whoever takes an oath in the land will swear by the God of truth. For the former troubles will be forgotten and hidden from My sight.

2 Corinthians 1:23
I call God as my witness that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth.

Revelation 10:6
And he swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and everything in it, the earth and everything in it, and the sea and everything in it: “There will be no more delay!

1 Kings 8:31-32
When a man sins against his neighbor and is required to take an oath, and he comes to take an oath before Your altar in this temple, / then may You hear from heaven and act. May You judge Your servants, condemning the wicked man by bringing down on his own head what he has done, and justifying the righteous man by rewarding him according to his righteousness.

James 5:12
Above all, my brothers, do not swear, not by heaven or earth or by any other oath. Simply let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, so that you will not fall under judgment.


Treasury of Scripture

And you shall swear, The LORD lives, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.

shalt swear

Jeremiah 5:2
And though they say, The LORD liveth; surely they swear falsely.

Deuteronomy 10:20
Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name.

Isaiah 45:23
I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.

in truth

Jeremiah 9:24
But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.

1 Kings 3:6
And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.

Psalm 99:4
The king's strength also loveth judgment; thou dost establish equity, thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob.

and the nations

Genesis 22:18
And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

Psalm 72:17
His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed.

Isaiah 65:16
That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes.

and in him

Jeremiah 9:24
But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.

Isaiah 45:25
In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.

1 Corinthians 1:31
That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in 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














and if you swear
The act of swearing in biblical times was a solemn declaration or promise, often invoking God's name as a witness to the truth of one's words. In Hebrew, the word for swear is "שָׁבַע" (shaba), which carries the connotation of making a binding oath. This phrase underscores the seriousness with which God views our words and promises, reminding us of the importance of integrity and truthfulness in our commitments.

As surely as the LORD lives
This phrase is a common oath formula in the Old Testament, emphasizing the certainty and unchanging nature of God. The Hebrew word for LORD here is "יהוה" (YHWH), the sacred name of God, which signifies His eternal existence and faithfulness. By swearing "as surely as the LORD lives," one is invoking the highest standard of truth, acknowledging God's sovereignty and the reality of His presence.

in truth
The Hebrew word for truth is "אֱמֶת" (emet), which conveys the idea of firmness, reliability, and faithfulness. Truth is a fundamental attribute of God's character, and His people are called to reflect this attribute in their lives. This phrase challenges believers to live and speak with honesty and integrity, aligning their actions with the truth of God's Word.

in justice
The Hebrew term for justice is "מִשְׁפָּט" (mishpat), which refers to the act of judging rightly, according to God's standards. Justice is a key theme throughout Scripture, reflecting God's righteous nature and His desire for His people to act justly in their relationships with others. This phrase calls believers to uphold fairness and righteousness in all their dealings.

and in righteousness
Righteousness, or "צְדָקָה" (tsedaqah) in Hebrew, denotes a state of moral purity and uprightness. It is closely related to justice but emphasizes personal holiness and ethical conduct. This phrase encourages believers to pursue a life that is pleasing to God, characterized by moral integrity and adherence to His commandments.

then the nations will be blessed by Him
This part of the verse points to the broader impact of Israel's faithfulness. The Hebrew word for nations is "גּוֹיִם" (goyim), often referring to the Gentiles. The promise that the nations will be blessed echoes the Abrahamic covenant (Genesis 12:3), highlighting God's plan to use Israel as a channel of blessing to the entire world. It underscores the missional aspect of God's people living in obedience to Him.

and in Him they will glory
The Hebrew word for glory is "הָלַל" (halal), which means to boast or praise. This phrase envisions a future where the nations recognize and celebrate the greatness of God because of the witness of His people. It serves as a reminder of the ultimate purpose of God's covenant with Israel: to bring glory to His name among all peoples. This calls believers to live in such a way that their lives point others to the majesty and goodness of God.

(2) And thou shalt swear.--The conditions are continued: If thou wilt swear by the living Jehovah ["the Lord liveth" being the received formula of adjuration], in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness.

And the nations shall bless themselves in him.--This forms the completion of the sentence. If the conditions of a true repentance are fulfilled by Israel, then the outlying heathen nations shall bless themselves in Jehovah--i.e., shall own Him and adore Him, be blessed by Him.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
and if you can swear,
וְנִשְׁבַּ֙עְתָּ֙ (wə·niš·ba‘·tā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 7650: To seven oneself, swear

‘As surely as the LORD
יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

lives,’
חַי־ (ḥay-)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life

in truth,
בֶּאֱמֶ֖ת (be·’ĕ·meṯ)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 571: Stability, certainty, truth, trustworthiness

in justice,
בְּמִשְׁפָּ֣ט (bə·miš·pāṭ)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4941: A verdict, a sentence, formal decree, divine law, penalty, justice, privilege, style

and in righteousness,
וּבִצְדָקָ֑ה (ū·ḇiṣ·ḏā·qāh)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 6666: Rightness, subjectively, objectively

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

will be blessed by Him,
וְהִתְבָּ֥רְכוּ (wə·hiṯ·bā·rə·ḵū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1288: To kneel, to bless God, man, to curse

and in Him
ב֛וֹ (ḇōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

they will glory.”
יִתְהַלָּֽלוּ׃ (yiṯ·hal·lā·lū)
Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1984: To shine


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 4:2 And you shall swear As Yahweh lives (Jer.)
Jeremiah 4:1
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