Jeremiah 13:20 kjv
Lift up your eyes, and behold them that come from the north: where is the flock that was given thee, thy beautiful flock?
Jeremiah 13:20 nkjv
Lift up your eyes and see Those who come from the north. Where is the flock that was given to you, Your beautiful sheep?
Jeremiah 13:20 niv
Look up and see those who are coming from the north. Where is the flock that was entrusted to you, the sheep of which you boasted?
Jeremiah 13:20 esv
"Lift up your eyes and see those who come from the north. Where is the flock that was given you, your beautiful flock?
Jeremiah 13:20 nlt
Open up your eyes and see
the armies marching down from the north!
Where is your flock ?
your beautiful flock ?
that he gave you to care for?
Jeremiah 13 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 2:17 | Judah's turning away from God | Direct thematic connection |
| Jeremiah 3:2-3 | Adultery with foreign gods | Parallel imagery of unfaithfulness |
| Jeremiah 3:6 | Israel's unfaithfulness | Reinforces the concept of turning away |
| Jeremiah 5:23 | Disobedience due to greed and pride | Links sin to actions |
| Jeremiah 6:10 | Stubborn refusal to hear God's word | Shows the root of their "ways" |
| Jeremiah 13:23 | The impossibility of changing their hearts | Explains the persistent "ways" and "deeds" |
| Jeremiah 22:5-9 | Consequences of unfaithfulness for Judah's rulers | Outcome of sinful "ways" and "deeds" |
| Isaiah 1:16-17 | Call to cleanse actions and deeds | Echoes the consequence of "deeds" |
| Isaiah 3:8 | Judah's sin exposed and judged | Highlights the nation's wrongdoing |
| Isaiah 57:17-18 | God's willingness to heal the backslidden | Contrast to the verse's consequence |
| Ezekiel 16:30-33 | Adulterous acts and the resultant shame | Strong parallel with "wanton ways" |
| Hosea 2:9-10 | God withholding blessings due to unfaithfulness | Similar consequence of spiritual adultery |
| Hosea 4:12 | Spirit of whoredom leading to error | Connects sin to erroneous "ways" |
| Micah 1:5 | Israel's transgressions and sins | Refers to the actions and conduct |
| Matthew 23:27-28 | Jesus' critique of outward piety hiding inner corruption | Parallel to inward corruption producing outward "deeds" |
| Romans 1:21-23 | Sin leading to futility and darkened hearts | Consequence of corrupted "ways" and "deeds" |
| Romans 1:32 | Approval of those who practice sin | Implication of persistent "deeds" |
| Galatians 5:19-21 | Works of the flesh leading to judgment | Connects "deeds" to negative outcomes |
| 1 John 2:15-16 | Love of the world leading away from God | Concept of choosing different "ways" |
| Revelation 2:4-5 | Call to remember from where they have fallen and repent | Consequence of deviating from initial devotion |
Jeremiah 13 verses
Jeremiah 13 20 Meaning
This verse is a powerful lamentation by Jeremiah, revealing the severe consequences of Judah's persistent sin. The phrase "because of your wanton ways" highlights their spiritual adultery and unfaithfulness to God. The reference to "your ways" points to their chosen paths of disobedience, leading to inevitable judgment. The mention of "your deeds" underscores the tangible actions resulting from their corrupted hearts and wills. This verse encapsulates the theological principle that sin, especially unrepentant sin on a national level, brings about desolation and punishment, as their spiritual barrenness results in literal barrenness.
Jeremiah 13 20 Context
Jeremiah chapter 13 depicts Jerusalem's impending destruction and exile due to its unfaithfulness to God. The preceding verses illustrate this through the parable of the linen loincloth, which becomes ruined by being hidden in a cleft of a rock. This symbol represents Judah's spiritual defilement and utter worthlessness before God. The chapter moves from prophecy to lament, capturing the deep sorrow of Jeremiah for his people and the land they have corrupted through their sins. The "ways" and "deeds" of the people, characterized by idolatry and social injustice, have rendered them ripe for divine judgment. The verse in question directly follows this symbolic representation of their ruined state.
Jeremiah 13 20 Word Analysis
"So" (וּכְמוֹ, ukhmo): "and as," or "so also." It draws a parallel between the symbolic action and the actual condition of Judah.
"behold" (הִנֵּה, hinneh): An exclamation used to draw attention, signifying that what follows is of utmost importance and to be observed.
"the Lord" (יְהוָה, YHVH): The personal covenant name of God, emphasizing His relationship with Israel and the covenant responsibilities broken.
"hath seen" (רָאָה, ra’ah): To see, perceive, discern. God's sight is active and involved, not passive observation. He has observed their actions.
"your doings" (עֲלִילוֹתַ֔יִךְ, alilōtayikh): "your deeds," "your actions," "your enterprises." This refers to their outward actions and public behaviors, often used for malicious or sinful deeds.
"for" (כִּֽי, ki): A conjunction indicating reason or cause.
"ye are" (אַ֖תְּ, at): Singular feminine pronoun, possibly referring to Jerusalem or the collective feminine representation of the nation.
"wontous" (זְנוּנַ֖יִךְ, znūnayikh): "your fornication," "your whoredom," "your harlotry." This is a powerful metaphor for idolatry and spiritual infidelity to God, their covenant husband. It describes their deviation from exclusive devotion to God.
"in the field" (בַּשָּׂדֶה, bashādeh): Implies open, public, unashamed participation in these "wanton ways." In contrast to a hidden sin, these were brazen acts of infidelity to God.
"therefore" (לָכֵן, lāken): Indicates a consequence, the direct result of their "doing" and "wanton ways."
"hath withheld" (עָצַר, ‘atsar): "to shut up," "to restrain," "to withhold." God actively ceases to bless or allow natural provisions to flow.
"the heat" (חֹם, chom): Heat, burning heat.
"and the cold" (וְקֹר, v’qor): Coldness, frost. This signifies a disruption of the natural, life-sustaining cycles of the weather, a direct consequence of covenant breaking.
Group Analysis: "your doings" and "your wanton ways": These phrases together pinpoint the dual nature of Judah's sin: the inner inclination (wantonness/idolatry) and its outward expression (doings/deeds). Their public, brazen pursuit of other "gods" and their associated practices have provoked God's judgment, leading to the cessation of normal life-sustaining weather patterns.
Jeremiah 13 20 Bonus Section
The imagery of withholding seasons (heat and cold) speaks to the disruption of the ordered covenant blessings promised by God in Deuteronomy 28 for obedience. When Israel became spiritually unfaithful, they forfeited these blessings and instead inherited curses. The "wanton ways" (זְנוּנַיִךְ) connect directly to Hosea's use of the marriage metaphor for Israel's relationship with God, where idolatry is seen as adultery. The unashamed nature implied by "in the field" suggests a public embrace of sin rather than hidden transgression, making the judgment even more deserved. This verse is part of a larger prophetic pattern where national sin results in natural disasters and ecological imbalance as a visible manifestation of divine displeasure and covenant consequences.
Jeremiah 13 20 Commentary
Jeremiah 13:20 serves as a stark declaration of God's judgment upon Judah for their pervasive spiritual infidelity, metaphorically described as "wanton ways." This unfaithfulness, far from being a private matter, was conducted openly ("in the field"), indicating a deep-seated societal corruption and defiance of their covenant relationship with God. The consequence is not just spiritual desolation but a disruption of the natural order itself. God "withholds the heat and the cold," symbolizing the withdrawal of His sustaining power and blessing. This means the carefully balanced natural systems that support life, previously orchestrated by God, will cease to function favorably. The loss of predictable seasons represents a loss of the natural covenant blessings that Israel expected. Their actions have effectively broken the covenant's favor, resulting in the cessation of God's ordered provision, turning the land to desolation. This verse is a profound reminder that God takes covenant unfaithfulness with ultimate seriousness, and its repercussions extend to all aspects of life.