Jeremiah 14 6

Jeremiah 14:6 kjv

And the wild asses did stand in the high places, they snuffed up the wind like dragons; their eyes did fail, because there was no grass.

Jeremiah 14:6 nkjv

And the wild donkeys stood in the desolate heights; They sniffed at the wind like jackals; Their eyes failed because there was no grass."

Jeremiah 14:6 niv

Wild donkeys stand on the barren heights and pant like jackals; their eyes fail for lack of food."

Jeremiah 14:6 esv

The wild donkeys stand on the bare heights; they pant for air like jackals; their eyes fail because there is no vegetation.

Jeremiah 14:6 nlt

The wild donkeys stand on the bare hills
panting like thirsty jackals.
They strain their eyes looking for grass,
but there is none to be found."

Jeremiah 14 6 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Jeremiah 14The drought… their pasture is destroyed because of the drought.14:5
Psalms 107They cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.107:6 (God's deliverance)
Psalms 147He makes grass grow in the fields.147:8 (God's provision)
Isaiah 5Woe to those who join house to house…5:8 (Judgment brings desolation)
Amos 4“I sent food-shortage upon you… and still you did not return to me,” says the LORD.4:6 (Judgments, drought)
Joel 1The fields are laid waste, the ground mourns…1:10 (Drought and despair)
Joel 2The vine has dried up, the fig tree has withered…2:22 (Drought's effects)
Haggai 1You have planted much, but harvested little…1:11 (Drought from God's displeasure)
Matthew 5Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.5:6 (Spiritual thirst)
John 4...everyone who drinks from this water will be thirsty again.4:13 (Jesus offers living water)
John 7On the last day of the festival, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out…7:37 (Jesus offers spiritual drink)
Revelation 18...her plagues will overtake her in a single day…18:8 (Divine judgment)
Lamentations 1The land itself mourns, for there is no pasture…1:6 (Jerusalem's desolation)
Lamentations 4The tongue of the nursing infant clings to the roof of its mouth in thirst.4:4 (Severe suffering)
Jeremiah 8Are the sources of water to fail?8:3 (Divine judgment, scarcity)
Jeremiah 9I will turn this land into a burning waste, barren and desolate.9:10 (Divine judgment, desolation)
Jeremiah 17Let them be ashamed… because of the drought.17:6 (Desolation due to sin)
Jeremiah 50Because of the wrath of the LORD, it shall not be inhabited.50:13 (Destruction)
Psalms 69They gave me bitter food and gave me vinegar to drink.69:21 (Suffering)
Zechariah 14And it shall be that… the streams of water shall be there.14:8 (Future restoration)
Revelation 21And there shall be no more night.21:25 (No more need for light)
Isaiah 25He will swallow up death forever.25:8 (Ultimate victory over death)
Jeremiah 3They will come back and return to the LORD their God, and to David their king.3:1 (Promise of return)
Hosea 2And in that day I will answer, declares the LORD…2:21 (Promise of fertility)

Jeremiah 14 verses

Jeremiah 14 6 Meaning

The drought's severity is so profound that the wild donkeys (or donkeys in general) are opening their mouths in thirst, gasping for breath as their pasture dries up. The land’s vegetation has perished due to lack of rain.

Jeremiah 14 6 Context

This verse occurs within a chapter where Jeremiah is delivering God's message of judgment against Judah. The nation is suffering from a severe drought as a consequence of their disobedience and idolatry. The prophet vividly portrays the effects of this drought on the land and its creatures to underscore the severity of God's displeasure and the extent of the coming judgment. The surrounding verses describe the devastation of the land, the grief of shepherds, and the general distress caused by the lack of rain, leading into pleas for God's mercy. This context highlights a nation experiencing divine discipline.

Jeremiah 14 6 Word Analysis

  • wild donkeys (or wild asses):
    • Hebrew: פְּרָאִים (pĕrĕ’îm) - wild asses, wild donkeys. These creatures are known for their hardiness and ability to survive in arid conditions, making their distress a powerful indicator of extreme hardship.
  • open their mouths:
    • Hebrew: פָּצָה פֶּה (pāṣāh peh) - to open the mouth.
    • Implies gasping, panting, and a desperate cry or exhalation due to intense thirst.
  • their pasture:
    • Hebrew: נָאוּת (nā’ūwṯ) - pasture, meadow.
    • Refers to the grazing lands that have withered and become unproductive.
  • is dried up:
    • Hebrew: יָבֵשׁ (yāḇēš) - to be dried up, withered, parched.
    • Indicates a complete lack of moisture, rendering the land barren.

Jeremiah 14 6 Bonus Section

The wild donkey (Equus hemionus) was native to the Middle East and known for its endurance. Its portrayal here suggests that even the most hardy creatures are failing, indicating an unprecedented level of environmental distress. This specific imagery of wild animals suffering emphasizes that the judgment is pervasive and affects all of creation, not just humans, reflecting a theological understanding where all of creation groans under the weight of sin (Romans 8:22). The verse underscores God’s sovereignty over natural phenomena, using drought as a tool to communicate His displeasure and call His people to repentance.

Jeremiah 14 6 Commentary

Jeremiah 14:6 is a stark depiction of divine judgment manifested through a devastating drought. The image of wild donkeys, resilient animals, gasping for air highlights the extremity of the parched land. This natural disaster is presented not as a random event but as a direct consequence of sin and the withdrawal of God's blessing. The verse emphasizes the interconnectedness of creation and God’s judgment; when humanity disobeys, the natural world also suffers. It serves as a powerful visual metaphor for a land and people in spiritual crisis, desperate for divine intervention and relief, pointing towards the ultimate thirst that can only be quenched by God.