Jeremiah 4:3Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Thus says the Lord to the people of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem. The security of the city does not rest on its structural fortitude or the magnitude of its stones, but rather on the moral integrity of its people. In the same way, the city's betrayal stems not from the frailty of its buildings, but from the wickedness of its citizens. Enrich your fields and refrain from sowing among thorns. The Prophet urges us to treat our souls as one would in agricultural pursuits: the souls that, due to past neglect, have yielded nothing but evil and unfruitful deeds, he instructs us to cultivate with the plow of knowledge, for the soul cannot accept the divine seed without first casting aside the thorns. Therefore, it is written, Depart from evil, and do good (Psalm 36:27).

The Lord speaks to the people of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem, urging them to kindle a light for themselves, which signifies the law of the Lord. They should keep it in their view and allow its guidance to lead their steps. This mirrors the message found in the Psalms: Thy word is a lamp unto my feet (Psalm 118:105). They should avoid planting among thorns and refrain from presenting offerings to idols, which they have crafted with their own hands, expecting to gain from those very creations, only to find themselves in decline.

For the Lord speaks to the people of Judah and Jerusalem, urging them to cultivate a new ground and to refrain from sowing among thorns. The Lord calls them to consecrate themselves and to remove the impurities of their hearts, lest His anger erupt like a blazing fire, unquenchable due to the wickedness of their intentions. Whereas the original text states, "Circumcise yourselves unto the Lord, and take away the foreskins of your hearts," Symmachus interprets this as "Purify yourselves unto the Lord, and remove the evil from your hearts," associating circumcision with purity, and foreskin with sin. The faithful within Judah and Jerusalem are admonished not to sow amidst the thorns that the gospel warns against, which may choke the divine seed.

Revitalize your grounds and refrain from planting thorns; tend to your spirits and eliminate the remembrance of false gods. For He refers to them as ‘thorns.’

The prophetic declaration states, “Thou shalt not sow in thorns” (Jeremiah 4:3), implying that one should not share God’s truths with those who are consumed by greed and indulgence. The Divine commandments refer to thorns as the deceptive pleasures and distractions that hold no value for the soul.