Jeremiah 30 5

Jeremiah 30:5 kjv

For thus saith the LORD; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace.

Jeremiah 30:5 nkjv

"For thus says the LORD: 'We have heard a voice of trembling, Of fear, and not of peace.

Jeremiah 30:5 niv

"This is what the LORD says: "?'Cries of fear are heard? terror, not peace.

Jeremiah 30:5 esv

"Thus says the LORD: We have heard a cry of panic, of terror, and no peace.

Jeremiah 30:5 nlt

This is what the LORD says: "I hear cries of fear;
there is terror and no peace.

Jeremiah 30 verses

Jeremiah 30 5 meaning

Jeremiah 30:5 describes the intense state of alarm and utter absence of well-being among God's people. The Lord Himself states that He has heard a widespread cry, signifying deep emotional distress and fear, characterized by extreme trembling, dread, and a complete lack of shalom. This verse powerfully captures the dire present reality of their suffering and anxiety, setting the stage for the subsequent message of comfort and future restoration despite this current pain.

Jeremiah 30 5 Context

Jeremiah chapter 30 inaugurates the "Book of Comfort" (Jeremiah 30-33), which shifts from relentless judgment prophecies to promises of future restoration for Israel and Judah. Despite this overarching theme of hope, verse 5 powerfully roots that hope in the stark reality of the present. The nation is experiencing profound fear and instability, directly attributable to the consequences of their unfaithfulness and the impending or ongoing Babylonian exile. This cry of panic is the bitter fruit of disobedience, making the future promise of deliverance all the more significant. The distress described serves as a necessary backdrop for the subsequent and detailed promises of reunion, a renewed covenant, a restored land, and lasting peace. This specific verse, then, prepares the audience for the coming explanation of "Jacob's distress" mentioned later in the chapter, underscoring the severity of the trouble before the advent of salvation.

Jeremiah 30 5 Word analysis

• For thus says the LORD (כִּי־כֹה אָמַר יְהוָה - Ki-khoh amar YHWH): This phrase acts as a definitive introduction to a divine declaration. It establishes absolute authority for the pronouncement that follows, underscoring that the subsequent description of suffering is not merely human observation but God's own, unimpeachable statement. The use of YHWH, the covenant name of God, reminds the people of His personal relationship with them even amidst judgment.

• We have heard (קוֹל - qol / voice/sound/cry): While the verse typically reads "a cry" or "a sound," the initial Hebrew for "heard" is implied from qol, which means 'sound' or 'voice'. The Qol is not a whisper but a pronounced, audible expression of distress, implying the widespread and intense nature of the suffering. God states He has heard this outcry, emphasizing His omnipresence and attentiveness to their condition, even if it leads to judgment. Some theological interpretations suggest the "We" reflects the divine council or prophetic representation, highlighting a collective awareness of the celestial realm.

• panic (חֲרָדָה - ḥărāḏâ): This word signifies trembling, dread, and deep anxiety. It describes an emotional state where fear has completely gripped a person, causing internal shaking and outward manifestations of terror. It is more than just fear; it suggests a state of agitation and disarray. This trembling is often associated with the terrifying presence or judgment of God or overwhelming external threats.

• of terror (פַּחַד - paḥad): Paḥad carries the sense of sudden dread, apprehension, or fear. It often refers to an object or cause of fear, emphasizing an objective threat that produces the subjective experience of panic (ḥărāḏâ). In many biblical contexts, paḥad can also refer to the 'dread of Isaac' (Gen 31:42), connecting to the profound reverence or fear due to the divine, suggesting this terror may ultimately be traced back to divine action or permission. The repetition and proximity of ḥărāḏâ and paḥad intensify the emotional crisis.

• and no peace (וְאֵין שָׁלוֹם - w'ên shālôm): The definitive negative "no" (w'ên) combined with shalom (wholeness, well-being, completeness, peace, prosperity, security) creates a powerful statement of utter deprivation. Shalom encompasses spiritual, physical, and relational harmony. Its complete absence here indicates a total collapse of security, prosperity, and internal/external tranquility for the nation. This phrase directly contradicts God's original promise of shalom to His obedient people, thus highlighting the tragic consequences of their apostasy. This isn't merely a lack of peace; it's the antithesis of all that Israel deeply desires and understands as true blessing.

Jeremiah 30 5 Bonus section

The divine "We have heard" points to God's intimate awareness of humanity's suffering, often serving as a prelude to intervention or further revelation. Similar motifs of God hearing the cry of His people appear in the Exodus (Ex 2:23-24) where it led to liberation, and in Psalms where pleas for deliverance are common (Ps 18:6). Here, it precedes the promised reversal of the suffering into future hope. The sequence of words for "panic," "terror," and "no peace" is climactic, starting with an internal agitated trembling (ḥărāḏâ), moving to a more encompassing dread (paḥad), and culminating in the definitive and complete lack of fundamental well-being (shālôm). This demonstrates a descending scale from subjective distress to objective deprivation, painting a holistic picture of their calamitous state. This verse, with its immediate reference to deep distress, is critical for understanding the "time of Jacob's distress" (tsarâ l'Ya'aqov) mentioned explicitly in Jer 30:7. Scholars note that this future time of unprecedented tribulation, though spoken to the historical exiles, carries eschatological overtones for the "last days" as seen in Dan 12:1 and Matt 24:21, signifying a universal season of severe testing before ultimate divine salvation and the establishment of a righteous kingdom.

Jeremiah 30 5 Commentary

Jeremiah 30:5 opens the "Book of Comfort" by grounding the coming promises in the stark reality of Judah's present agony. God directly declares that He perceives the profound suffering of His people, not as an indifferent observer, but with an active hearing. The specific words "panic" (ḥărāḏâ) and "terror" (paḥad) vividly portray a people consumed by debilitating fear and dread, an inward trembling coupled with an objective, overwhelming threat. This distress is exacerbated by the declared absence of shalom—not just political quiet, but a total lack of wholeness, well-being, and prosperity at every level. This absence of shalom underscores the profound rupture in their covenant relationship with God due to their disobedience, making their condition one of existential crisis. The Lord's acknowledgment of this severe suffering is crucial; it establishes the authentic context for His subsequent redemptive promises. Before healing can begin, the depth of the wound must be recognized, emphasizing that divine comfort arises precisely from and speaks to genuine and painful realities. This initial picture of overwhelming distress magnifies the coming hope, illustrating that God's restoration will be from the very depths of despair.