Jeremiah 18 14

Jeremiah 18:14 kjv

Will a man leave the snow of Lebanon which cometh from the rock of the field? or shall the cold flowing waters that come from another place be forsaken?

Jeremiah 18:14 nkjv

Will a man leave the snow water of Lebanon, Which comes from the rock of the field? Will the cold flowing waters be forsaken for strange waters?

Jeremiah 18:14 niv

Does the snow of Lebanon ever vanish from its rocky slopes? Do its cool waters from distant sources ever stop flowing?

Jeremiah 18:14 esv

Does the snow of Lebanon leave the crags of Sirion? Do the mountain waters run dry, the cold flowing streams?

Jeremiah 18:14 nlt

Does the snow ever disappear from the mountaintops of Lebanon?
Do the cold streams flowing from those distant mountains ever run dry?

Jeremiah 18 verses

Jeremiah 18 14 Meaning

This verse describes a profound spiritual reality: just as snow and cold rain come from heaven, influencing the land and causing it to yield produce or remain barren, so too do God's words have a potent, unchanging effect on people's lives, bringing either life and fruitfulness or judgment. God's pronouncements are not idle words; they carry inherent power and consequence.

Jeremiah 18 14 Context

Jeremiah 18 explores God's sovereignty over the nations and his interaction with his people through the prophet's experiences. The preceding verses depict Jeremiah at the potter's house, symbolizing God's right to shape and reshape individuals and nations according to his will. Chapter 18 itself warns Judah of impending judgment due to their persistent idolatry and disobedience, likening them to faulty pottery that cannot be remade. Jeremiah 18:14 stands as a declaration of God's faithfulness to his divine order and purpose, even amidst human apostasy.

Jeremiah 18 14 Word Analysis

• "Will": This indicates a rhetorical question, emphasizing a certainty about God's divine actions.
• "the snow": Refers to snow, a natural phenomenon.
• "of Lebanon": Identifies the origin of the snow, known for its high, often snow-capped mountains. Lebanon's snow symbolized purity, coldness, and steadfastness.
• "leave": Means to forsake, depart from, or fail to come.
• "its": Possessive pronoun, referring to the snow.
• "cold provisions": Translates the Hebrew word tsayyd (צַיִּד), which can mean "prey," "game," or "provisions" procured by hunting or gathering. In this context, it conveys the sustenance or vital element that snow provides, chilling and sustaining the land in a particular way. It signifies the vital properties brought by the snow.
• "from the highest heights?": Refers to the remote and lofty origins of the snow in the mountains of Lebanon, implying its distance from ordinary human reach and its divine provision. The Hebrew phrase emphasizes the utmost peaks.
• "or will": Again, a rhetorical question, posing an alternative to the first.
• "the distant, cold waters": Translates the Hebrew word zrim (זָּרִים), meaning "foreign" or "strange" waters. In this context, it suggests waters that come from an unexpected or unaccustomed source, or waters that are cool and refreshing, originating from distant springs or from the melting snows. It highlights their unusual or foreign origin compared to local springs.
• "be dried up": Indicates evaporation, ceasing to flow, or being depleted.

Words-group by Words-group analysis

• "the snow of Lebanon leave its cold provisions": This phrase juxtaposes a powerful natural force (snow of Lebanon) with the idea of it failing in its essential function ("cold provisions"). The snow from the high mountains is expected to sustain and refresh; for it to fail would be an anomaly in God's creation.
• "or will the distant, cold waters be dried up": Similarly, this poses the impossibility of distant, refreshing waters vanishing. The idea is that sources of life and sustenance, especially those ordained by God, do not simply cease to be.

Jeremiah 18 14 Bonus Section

This verse strongly emphasizes the concept of God's unchangeability (Malachi 3:6), linking it to the reliability of natural laws He instituted. The "provisions" from the snow refer to its ability to melt slowly, providing consistent moisture to the parched land. The "cold waters" represent pure, refreshing water sources. The imagery is a testament to God's power to ordain and sustain His creation. This contrasts with the Israelites' tendency to forsake the "fountain of living waters" (Jeremiah 2:13) for cisterns that cannot hold water, symbolizing their turning away from God's truth and sustenance to man-made or idolatrous substitutes. The effectiveness of God's Word is further elaborated in Isaiah 55:10-11, which directly parallels the rain and snow imagery, stating that God's word "shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I intend and shall succeed in the thing for which I send it."

Jeremiah 18 14 Commentary

Jeremiah 18:14 uses vivid natural imagery to make a theological point about God's faithfulness and the immutable nature of his word. The prophet draws a parallel between God's actions and the dependable cycles of nature. The snow from the towering mountains of Lebanon, known for its purity and life-sustaining properties in the dry climate, and the cool waters from remote springs, are presented as fixed elements in God's design. The verse rhetorically asks if these natural phenomena would cease their ordained function. The implied answer is no. Just as God upholds the natural order and ensures that the snow and waters fulfill their purpose, so too will His Word fulfill what it is sent to accomplish. God's promises, declarations, and judgments are as reliable and constant as these natural provisions. This verse underscores the unchangeable character of God and the efficacy of His communication. It's a reminder to Judah that God's spoken pronouncements will have their intended effect, whether it leads to blessing or judgment.