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 verses

Jeremiah 14 6 Meaning

Jeremiah 14:6 vividly portrays the extreme suffering caused by a severe drought in Judah. Even the hardy wild donkeys, typically symbols of freedom and resilience, are depicted in a state of utter exhaustion and despair. They stand on desolate hilltops, desperately gasping for air and any trace of moisture, their eyes failing from dehydration and starvation. Their plight mirrors the suffering of the people, emphasizing the widespread desolation and lack of any life-sustaining element due to the absence of rain and subsequent lack of vegetation.

Jeremiah 14 6 Context

Jeremiah chapter 14 opens a section (14:1-15:9) detailing the severe drought affecting Judah, which Jeremiah calls "the word of the LORD concerning the drought." Verses 2-5 graphically describe the lament of the people, city gates mourning, and the despair of even the nobles sending their servants for water only to find none. The surrounding verses (2-5) establish the extent of human suffering – farmers are ashamed, there is no rain, the land is cracked. Verse 6, by focusing on the wild donkeys, escalates the portrayal of the ecological catastrophe, indicating that even the most resilient wild creatures are succumbing. This sets the stage for Jeremiah's ensuing lament to God and the divine response, which clarifies that the drought is a direct consequence of Judah's unfaithfulness and idolatry, part of the covenant curses outlined in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28. Historically, Judah was facing growing political instability and pressure from rising powers like Babylon, yet its spiritual condition was deeply corrupt, marked by syncretism and disobedience, leading to God's disciplinary judgment.

Jeremiah 14 6 Word analysis

• וְפֶרֶא (vᵉphêre') – "And wild donkey":

  • Word: Perek (Heb. פֶרֶא), meaning "wild ass" or "wild donkey."
  • Significance: This creature is known for its independence, swiftness, hardiness, and ability to survive in arid, desolate environments (Job 39:5-8). Its inclusion here heightens the severity of the drought: if even this robust creature is perishing, the land is in a truly dire state. It symbolizes creation's shared suffering under judgment.

• עָמְדוּ ('āmedu) – "stood":

  • Word: 'Amad (Heb. עָמַד), meaning "to stand," "remain," "take one's stand."
  • Significance: This is not 'fell' but 'stood'—indicating a desperate, almost statuesque immobility born of utter exhaustion rather than defiance. They are too weak to search further, merely rooted to a spot in futility, a poignant image of helplessness.

• בַּשְּׁפָיִם (bashaְshayim) – "on the bare heights":

  • Word: Shaphah (Heb. שְׁפַיִם), referring to "bare hills," "desolate ridges," "plateaus," or dry wadis/ravines. The Septuagint's "φάραγγων" (ravines) reinforces the image of dry riverbeds.
  • Significance: These are places often exposed and dry, yet usually receive some runoff or at least support minimal vegetation. Their barrenness here underscores the absolute lack of moisture everywhere. It implies a total environmental collapse, reaching even the marginal, supposedly resilient landscapes.

• שָׁאֲפוּ (sha'aphu) – "panted":

  • Word: Sha'aph (Heb. שָׁאַף), a strong verb meaning "to gasp," "to pant," "to suck in," "to swallow greedily."
  • Significance: Conveys desperate struggle for breath, drawing in empty air where water should be. It is an act of deep physical distress and intense, unfulfilled longing.

• רוּחַ (ruach) – "wind":

  • Word: Ruach (Heb. רוּחַ), meaning "wind," "breath," "spirit."
  • Significance: In this context, it primarily means 'air' or 'breath.' The animals are so parched and weak they pant for the mere sensation of air, finding no moisture in it. There is a secondary theological echo; for those perishing, even the "breath of life" is insufficient without sustenance.

• כַּתַּנִּים (katannim) – "like jackals":

  • Word: Tanniym (Heb. תַּנִּים), usually rendered "jackals" in this context, but can also mean "sea monsters" or "serpents." Jackals are known for inhabiting desolate places and for their mournful howling cries, associated with ruin and lament.
  • Significance: This simile amplifies the pathos. The donkeys, unlike jackals, are not typically mournful or nocturnal hunters. To behave like jackals emphasizes their desperate, uncharacteristic, and profound suffering and lament-like sounds.

• כָּלוּ (kālû) – "failed":

  • Word: Kalah (Heb. כָּלָה), meaning "to complete," "to bring to an end," "to be consumed," "to fail," "to pine away."
  • Significance: Implies physical breakdown and exhaustion. Their vision is fading, their eyes drying out, a common biblical image for imminent death or despair.

• עֵינֵיהֶן ('êynêhên) – "their eyes":

  • Word: 'Ayin (Heb. עַיִן), meaning "eye," also "spring" or "fountain" (in another usage).
  • Significance: Here it is the organ of sight, which is failing. The irony is poignant; they can no longer see what they desperately seek – water or green pasture. It’s a metaphor for lost hope and near-death. The double meaning of 'ayin' as a spring makes the barrenness even more severe.

• כִּי־אֵין (ki-'ayn) – "because there is no":

  • Word: Ki (Heb. כִּי) "because," 'Ayn (Heb. אֵין) "nothing," "not."
  • Significance: A stark, direct statement of cause. This absolute negation underscores the completeness of the desolation and absence of any hope for relief.

• עֵשֶׂב ('ēśeb) – "grass":

  • Word: 'Eseb (Heb. עֵשֶׂב), meaning "grass," "herb," "vegetation."
  • Significance: Represents the most basic form of sustenance for herbivorous animals. Its complete absence signifies total desolation and the culmination of the drought's devastating impact on the entire ecosystem.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "And wild donkeys stood on the bare heights": This phrase sets a scene of immobility amidst expected activity. The once free and swift animals are rooted in desolate places, depicting an extreme and pervasive stillness of suffering.
  • "They panted for wind like jackals": The comparison to jackals highlights the uncharacteristic mournful desperation and loud, gasping effort. They seek what is empty (wind) when their bodies crave liquid, showing the total absence of life-giving water.
  • "Their eyes failed because there was no grass": This final phrase directly links the physiological collapse (failing eyes, leading to blindness and death) to the absolute scarcity of the most fundamental provision (grass), epitomizing the destructive power of the drought and the covenant curse.

Jeremiah 14 6 Bonus section

The imagery of animals suffering due to human sin is a recurring motif in the Bible, reflecting the interconnectedness of creation under God's covenant. This specific image of the wild donkey contrasts their natural untamed freedom and vitality with their broken, captive state of extreme thirst and exhaustion. This mirrors Judah’s situation—once a free nation, now enslaved by sin and facing imminent subjugation due to their unfaithfulness. The desolate landscape not only results from divine judgment but also stands as a potent symbol of Judah's spiritual barrenness. Their land, once flowing with milk and honey, now offers nothing, emphasizing the magnitude of God's withdrawal of blessing when His people turn away.

Jeremiah 14 6 Commentary

Jeremiah 14:6 is a powerfully evocative verse, presenting a devastating image of ecological collapse and suffering. By focusing on wild donkeys, creatures inherently hardy and symbols of freedom, Jeremiah deepens the impact of the drought's severity. Their desperate standing, panting, and failing eyes in the barren landscape serve as a poignant visual metaphor for Judah's own spiritual desolation and the judgment she faces. The verse conveys not just physical hardship but an utter abandonment of hope in the face of absolute lack. It undergirds the people's subsequent lament, forcing a recognition of how profoundly they have forsaken God, the true source of life and provision, leading to such barrenness in every aspect of their existence. It serves as a warning against spiritual apathy and the consequences of turning away from divine sustenance.