Jeremiah 6:4 Prepare for battle against her; rise up, let us attack at noon. Woe to us, for the daylight is fading; the evening shadows grow long.

◄ Jeremiah 6:4 ►

New International Version
“Prepare for battle against her! Arise, let us attack at noon! But, alas, the daylight is fading, and the shadows of evening grow long.

New Living Translation
They shout, ‘Prepare for battle! Attack at noon!’ ‘No, it’s too late; the day is fading, and the evening shadows are falling.’

English Standard Version
“Prepare war against her; arise, and let us attack at noon! Woe to us, for the day declines, for the shadows of evening lengthen!

Berean Standard Bible
‘Prepare for battle against her; rise up, let us attack at noon. Woe to us, for the daylight is fading; the evening shadows grow long.

King James Bible
Prepare ye war against her; arise, and let us go up at noon. Woe unto us! for the day goeth away, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out.

New King James Version
“Prepare war against her; Arise, and let us go up at noon. Woe to us, for the day goes away, For the shadows of the evening are lengthening.

New American Standard Bible
‘Prepare for war against her; Arise, and let’s attack at noon. Woe to us, for the day declines, For the shadows of the evening lengthen!

NASB 1995
“Prepare war against her; Arise, and let us attack at noon. Woe to us, for the day declines, For the shadows of the evening lengthen!

NASB 1977
“Prepare war against her; Arise, and let us attack at noon. Woe to us, for the day declines, For the shadows of the evening lengthen!

Legacy Standard Bible
Set yourselves apart for war against her; Arise, and let us go up at noon. Woe to us, for the day declines, For the shadows of the evening stretch out!

Amplified Bible
“[They shout], ‘Prepare for war against her; Arise, let us [take her by surprise and] attack her at noon. But alas, the daylight pales, The evening shadows grow long.

Christian Standard Bible
Set them apart for war against her; rise up, let’s attack at noon. Woe to us, for the day is passing; the evening shadows grow long.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Set them apart for war against her; rise up, let’s attack at noon. Woe to us, for the day is passing; the evening shadows grow long.

American Standard Version
Prepare ye war against her; arise, and let us go up at noon. Woe unto us! for the day declineth, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out.

Contemporary English Version
Kings will tell their troops, "If we reach Jerusalem in the morning, we'll attack at noon. But if we arrive later,

English Revised Version
Prepare ye war against her; arise, and let us go up at noon. Woe unto us! for the day declineth, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
[The shepherds say,] 'Prepare yourselves for war against Zion. Let's attack at noon! How horrible it will be for us. The day is passing, and the shadows of evening are growing longer.

Good News Translation
They will say, "Prepare to attack Jerusalem! Get ready! We'll attack at noon!" But then they will say, "It's too late, the day is almost over, and the evening shadows are growing long.

International Standard Version
Prepare for war against her. Get ready, let's attack at noon! How terrible for us that the day is coming to an end, and that the evening shadows are lengthening.

Majority Standard Bible
?Prepare for battle against her; rise up, let us attack at noon. Woe to us, for the daylight is fading; the evening shadows grow long.

NET Bible
They will say, 'Prepare to do battle against it! Come on! Let's attack it at noon!' But later they will say, 'Oh, oh! Too bad! The day is almost over and the shadows of evening are getting long.

New Heart English Bible
"Prepare war against her; arise, and let us go up at noon. Woe to us. For the day declines, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out.

Webster's Bible Translation
Prepare ye war against her; arise, and let us go up at noon. Woe to us! for the day departeth, for the shadows of the evening are lengthened.

World English Bible
“Prepare war against her! Arise! Let’s go up at noon. Woe to us! For the day declines, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
“Sanctify the battle against her, "" Rise, and we go up at noon. Woe to us, for the day has turned, "" For the shades of evening are stretched out,

Young's Literal Translation
Sanctify ye against her the battle, Rise, and we go up at noon. Woe to us, for turned hath the day, For stretched out are the shades of evening,

Smith's Literal Translation
Consecrate ye war against her; arise, and we will go up at noon. Wo to us! for the day turned away, for the shadows of the evening will stretch forth.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
Prepare ye war against her: arise, and let us go up at midday: woe unto us, for the day is declined, for the shadows of the evening are grown longer.

Catholic Public Domain Version
‘Sanctify a war against her! Rise up together, and let us ascend at midday.’ ‘Woe to us! For the day has declined; for the shadows of the evening have grown longer.’

New American Bible
“Prepare for war against her, Up! let us rush upon her at midday!” “Woe to us! the day is waning, evening shadows lengthen!”

New Revised Standard Version
“Prepare war against her; up, and let us attack at noon!” “Woe to us, for the day declines, the shadows of evening lengthen!”

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
Prepare war against her; and say, Arise, let us go up at noon. Woe to us! for the day is spent, and the shadows of the evening are lengthened.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Prepare war against her, and they shall say: “Arise, go up at noonday! Woe to us, for the day has declined and the shadows of the evening have grown long!

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
Prepare ye war against her; Arise, and let us go up at noon!' 'Woe unto us! for the day declineth, For the shadows of the evening are stretched out!'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Prepare yourselves for war against her; rise up, and let us go up against her at noon. Woe to us! for the day has gone down, for the shadows of the day fail.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Jerusalem's Final Warning
…3Shepherds and their flocks will come against her; they will pitch their tents all around her, each tending his own portion: 4‘Prepare for battle against her; rise up, let us attack at noon. Woe to us, for the daylight is fading; the evening shadows grow long. 5Rise up, let us attack by night and destroy her fortresses!’ ”…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Isaiah 13:4-5
Listen, a tumult on the mountains, like that of a great multitude! Listen, an uproar among the kingdoms, like nations gathered together! The LORD of Hosts is mobilizing an army for war. / They are coming from faraway lands, from the ends of the heavens—the LORD and the weapons of His wrath—to destroy the whole country.

Joel 3:9-11
Proclaim this among the nations: “Prepare for war; rouse the mighty men; let all the men of war advance and attack! / Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, ‘I am strong!’ / Come quickly, all you surrounding nations, and gather yourselves. Bring down Your mighty ones, O LORD.

Zephaniah 1:7-8
Be silent in the presence of the Lord GOD, for the Day of the LORD is near. Indeed, the LORD has prepared a sacrifice; He has consecrated His guests. / “On the Day of the LORD’s sacrifice I will punish the princes, the sons of the king, and all who are dressed in foreign apparel.

Amos 5:18-20
Woe to you who long for the Day of the LORD! What will the Day of the LORD be for you? It will be darkness and not light. / It will be like a man who flees from a lion, only to encounter a bear, or who enters his house and rests his hand against the wall, only to be bitten by a snake. / Will not the Day of the LORD be darkness and not light, even gloom with no brightness in it?

Ezekiel 7:7
Doom has come to you, O inhabitants of the land. The time has come; the day is near; there is panic on the mountains instead of shouts of joy.

Isaiah 22:5
For the Lord GOD of Hosts has set a day of tumult and trampling and confusion in the Valley of Vision—of breaking down the walls and crying to the mountains.

Zechariah 14:1-3
Behold, a day of the LORD is coming when your plunder will be divided in your presence. / For I will gather all the nations for battle against Jerusalem, and the city will be captured, the houses looted, and the women ravished. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be removed from the city. / Then the LORD will go out to fight against those nations, as He fights in the day of battle.

Revelation 16:14
These are demonic spirits that perform signs and go out to all the kings of the earth, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty.

Matthew 24:6-8
You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come. / Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. / All these are the beginning of birth pains.

Luke 21:20-22
But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, you will know that her desolation is near. / Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country stay out of the city. / For these are the days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written.

1 Thessalonians 5:2-3
For you are fully aware that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. / While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

Revelation 19:19
Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies assembled to wage war against the One seated on the horse, and against His army.

Isaiah 5:26-30
He lifts a banner for the distant nations and whistles for those at the ends of the earth. Behold—how speedily and swiftly they come! / None of them grows weary or stumbles; no one slumbers or sleeps. No belt is loose and no sandal strap is broken. / Their arrows are sharpened, and all their bows are strung. The hooves of their horses are like flint; their chariot wheels are like a whirlwind. ...

Micah 3:5-6
This is what the LORD says: “As for the prophets who lead My people astray, who proclaim peace while they chew with their teeth, but declare war against one who puts nothing in their mouths: / Therefore night will come over you without visions, and darkness without divination. The sun will set on these prophets, and the daylight will turn black over them.

Nahum 3:1-3
Woe to the city of blood, full of lies, full of plunder, never without prey. / The crack of the whip, the rumble of the wheel, galloping horse and bounding chariot! / Charging horseman, flashing sword, shining spear; heaps of slain, mounds of corpses, dead bodies without end—they stumble over their dead—

Treasury of Scripture

Prepare you war against her; arise, and let us go up at noon. Woe to us! for the day goes away, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out.

Prepare.

Jeremiah 5:10
Go ye up upon her walls, and destroy; but make not a full end: take away her battlements; for they are not the LORD'S.

Jeremiah 51:27,28
Set ye up a standard in the land, blow the trumpet among the nations, prepare the nations against her, call together against her the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashchenaz; appoint a captain against her; cause the horses to come up as the rough caterpillers…

Isaiah 5:26-30
And he will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss unto them from the end of the earth: and, behold, they shall come with speed swiftly: …

at noon.

Jeremiah 15:8
Their widows are increased to me above the sand of the seas: I have brought upon them against the mother of the young men a spoiler at noonday: I have caused him to fall upon it suddenly, and terrors upon the city.

Zephaniah 2:4
For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up.

for the.

Jeremiah 8:20
The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.

shadows.

Song of Solomon 2:17
Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether.

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Alas Arise Attack Battle Daylight Declines Declineth Departeth Evening Fading Grow High Lengthened Noon Ours Prepare Ready Rise Sanctify Shades Shadows Sorrow Stretched Sun Turned War Wo Woe

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Alas Arise Attack Battle Daylight Declines Declineth Departeth Evening Fading Grow High Lengthened Noon Ours Prepare Ready Rise Sanctify Shades Shadows Sorrow Stretched Sun Turned War Wo Woe

Jeremiah 6

1. The enemies sent against Judah,
4. encourage themselves.
6. God sets them on work because of their sins.
9. The prophet laments the judgments of God because of their sins.
18. He proclaims God's wrath.
26. He calls the people to mourn for the judgment on their sins.

Berean Study Bible

Prepare for battle
The phrase "Prepare for battle" in Jeremiah 6:4 is a call to arms, a rallying cry for the forces of destruction that are about to descend upon Jerusalem. The Hebrew root word here is "קדש" (qadash), which means to consecrate or sanctify. This is significant because it implies that the battle is not merely a physical confrontation but a divinely ordained event. In the historical context, this reflects the impending Babylonian invasion, which God allowed as a judgment against Judah's persistent sinfulness. The call to prepare is both a literal and spiritual readiness, emphasizing the seriousness of the coming judgment.

against her
The pronoun "her" refers to Jerusalem, personified as a city under siege. In the Hebrew text, cities and nations are often depicted in feminine terms, which can evoke a sense of vulnerability and intimacy. Jerusalem, the heart of Judah, is the focal point of God's covenant people, and its impending destruction is a profound moment of divine judgment. Historically, Jerusalem was the center of worship and the location of the Temple, making its fall a significant theological event, symbolizing the breach of the covenant relationship between God and His people.

Arise, let us attack at noon
The command "Arise, let us attack at noon" suggests urgency and determination. The Hebrew word for "arise" is "קום" (qum), which conveys a sense of standing up or taking action. Noon, typically a time of rest due to the heat, is chosen here to emphasize the relentless nature of the attackers. This reflects the historical reality of the Babylonian tactics, which were thorough and unyielding. Spiritually, it serves as a metaphor for the unexpected and relentless nature of divine judgment when God's patience has been exhausted.

Woe to us, for the day is waning
The lament "Woe to us, for the day is waning" captures a sense of impending doom and regret. The Hebrew word "אוי" (oy) is an expression of distress and sorrow. The imagery of the day waning suggests that time is running out, and the opportunity for repentance is slipping away. Historically, this reflects the last moments before the Babylonian siege fully envelops the city. Theologically, it serves as a warning to heed God's call to repentance before it is too late, highlighting the urgency of turning back to God.

for the shadows of evening are lengthening
The phrase "for the shadows of evening are lengthening" paints a vivid picture of the encroaching darkness. In Hebrew, the word for shadows "צללים" (tzalalim) evokes the idea of obscurity and impending night. This imagery signifies the approach of judgment and the end of an era for Jerusalem. Historically, it marks the final stages before the city's fall. Spiritually, it serves as a reminder of the consequences of persistent disobedience and the need for vigilance in maintaining a right relationship with God. The lengthening shadows symbolize the closing window of opportunity for repentance and redemption.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(4) Prepare ye war.--Literally, Sanctify. The opening of the battle was accompanied by sacrifices, divinations, and prayers. Compare Deuteronomy 20:1-3 for the practice of the Israelites, and Ezekiel 21:20-22 for that of the Chaldaeans, which was, of course, present to Jeremiah's mind. The cry thus given with dramatic force comes from the soldiers of the invading army impatient for the fight. They are so eager that, instead of resting at noon, as usual, for their mid-day meal, they would fain press on for the assault. Their orders are against this, and, as the shadows lengthen, they raise their cry of complaint, "Alas for us, the day declines . . ." Then, impatient still, unwilling to wait, as their commanders bid them, for an attack at day-break, they shout, "Let us go by night."

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 4. - Prepare ye war; literally, sanctify (or, consecrate) war. The foes are dramatically described as urging each other on at the different stages of the campaign. The war is to be opened with sacrifices (comp. Isaiah 13:3 with 1 Samuel 13:9); next there is a forced march, so as to take the city by storm, when the vigilance of its defenders is relaxed in the fierce noontide heat (comp. Jeremiah 15:8); evening surprises the foe still on the way, but they press steadily on, to do their work of destruction by night. The rapidity of the marches of the Chaldeans impressed another prophet of the reign of Josiah - Habakkuk (see Habakkuk 1:6, 8). Woe unto us! for the day goeth away; rather, Alas for us! for the day hath turned.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

“Prepare
קַדְּשׁ֤וּ (qad·də·šū)
Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 6942: To be set apart or consecrated

for battle
מִלְחָמָ֔ה (mil·ḥā·māh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4421: A battle, war

against her;
עָלֶ֙יהָ֙ (‘ā·le·hā)
Preposition | third person feminine singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

rise up,
ק֖וּמוּ (qū·mū)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 6965: To arise, stand up, stand

let us attack
וְנַעֲלֶ֣ה (wə·na·‘ă·leh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common plural
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

at noon.
בַֽצָּהֳרָ֑יִם (ḇaṣ·ṣā·ho·rā·yim)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 6672: A light, double light, noon

Woe to us,
א֥וֹי (’ō·w)
Interjection
Strong's 188: Lamentation, Oh!

for
כִּי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

the daylight
הַיּ֔וֹם (hay·yō·wm)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day

is fading;
פָנָ֣ה (p̄ā·nāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6437: To turn, to face, appear, look

the evening
עָֽרֶב׃ (‘ā·reḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6153: Evening

shadows
צִלְלֵי־ (ṣil·lê-)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 6752: Shadow

grow long.
יִנָּט֖וּ (yin·nā·ṭū)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5186: To stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend

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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 6:4 Prepare you war against her (Jer.)