Jeremiah 5 24

Jeremiah 5:24 kjv

Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.

Jeremiah 5:24 nkjv

They do not say in their heart, "Let us now fear the LORD our God, Who gives rain, both the former and the latter, in its season. He reserves for us the appointed weeks of the harvest."

Jeremiah 5:24 niv

They do not say to themselves, 'Let us fear the LORD our God, who gives autumn and spring rains in season, who assures us of the regular weeks of harvest.'

Jeremiah 5:24 esv

They do not say in their hearts, 'Let us fear the LORD our God, who gives the rain in its season, the autumn rain and the spring rain, and keeps for us the weeks appointed for the harvest.'

Jeremiah 5:24 nlt

They do not say from the heart,
'Let us live in awe of the LORD our God,
for he gives us rain each spring and fall,
assuring us of a harvest when the time is right.'

Jeremiah 5 verses

Jeremiah 5 24 Meaning

Jeremiah 5:24 highlights Judah's profound spiritual negligence and ingratitude. Despite experiencing God's faithful provision of essential rains (both early and late, in their proper seasons) and the assurance of a dependable harvest, they failed to acknowledge or fear the LORD in their hearts. This verse identifies their spiritual blindness as a key reason for the coming judgment, illustrating a people who benefited immensely from God's consistent natural blessings yet refused to give Him the rightful reverence and worship due. Their internal disposition was devoid of awe for the God who sustained their very existence.

Jeremiah 5 24 Context

Jeremiah chapter 5 depicts Judah's deep-seated corruption and rebellion, highlighting their utter refusal to repent despite Jeremiah's earnest warnings. The prophet laments the pervasive moral decay, noting a complete absence of justice and truth throughout Jerusalem (Jer 5:1). God searches for one righteous person, yet finds none who truly seek integrity or acknowledge Him (Jer 5:1-2). The people are explicitly called out for their spiritual stubbornness; they are without discernment, having eyes but not seeing, and ears but not hearing (Jer 5:21). The verses immediately preceding 5:24 declare that the people possess a "rebellious and a backsliding heart" (Jer 5:23). Despite God's sustained goodness, providing resources essential for life and livelihood, the people have chosen to rebel. Historically, Israel's agricultural society depended heavily on regular rainfall. The absence of rain symbolized God's displeasure, and its presence, His blessing. In this culture, attributing the rains and harvest cycles to a deity was commonplace, especially within pagan worship, particularly that of Baal, who was venerated as the god of storms, fertility, and rain. Jeremiah's message here is a direct polemic against such beliefs, forcefully asserting that the LORD alone is the true source of all provision, and their neglect of Him is therefore utterly inexcusable and deeply sinful.

Jeremiah 5 24 Word analysis

• They do not say: This phrase points to an internal failure, not just a lack of outward confession. It signifies a profound absence of internal deliberation, recognition, or sincere contemplation of God's nature and deeds. Their hearts are spiritually silent towards Him.
• in their hearts (`libbam`, Hebrew: לִבָּם): In ancient Hebrew thought, the 'heart' (lev) is not merely the seat of emotion, but the center of one's entire being—intellect, will, desires, and moral consciousness. So, "in their hearts" implies that at the very core of their thoughts and intentions, they failed to acknowledge God. It suggests an inward apathy and intellectual stubbornness, a wilful ignorance, rather than mere forgetfulness.
• ‘Let us now fear: This indicates an absence of spiritual awakening or an appeal to reverential awe. "Fear" (`yare`, Hebrew: יָרֵא) in this context means much more than mere terror; it is a deep and profound reverence, respect, adoration, and submission to God's authority and holy character. It is recognizing His supreme power, justice, and love, leading to a desire to please Him and obey His commands. Their lack of "now fearing" signifies a complete failure to engage with God in this fundamental manner.
• the LORD our God: This emphasizes their covenant relationship (`YHWH Eloheynu`, Hebrew: יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ). "YHWH" (the LORD) is the personal, covenant name of God, highlighting His faithfulness and redemptive character. "Our God" signifies a claimed relationship, yet one they failed to honor through their actions and hearts. They acknowledge His identity conceptually but not experientially or reverentially.
• who gives rain (`hanoten geshem`, Hebrew: הַנֹּתֵן גֶּשֶׁם): This phrase attributes direct, active agency to God. He is the specific and singular source of the vital rain. This was a critical point in Israel, where rain was paramount for survival, and pagan cultures attributed it to gods like Baal. The verse subtly rebukes any reliance on false gods by directly stating God as the giver.
• both the autumn and spring rains (`yoreh umalkosh`, Hebrew: יוֹרֶה וּמַלְקוֹשׁ): These are the specific Hebrew terms for the early and latter rains.
  • Autumn/Early rain (`yoreh`): Falls in October-November, saturating the parched ground after summer, allowing for plowing and the germination of seeds.
  • Spring/Latter rain (`malkosh`): Falls in March-April, providing crucial moisture for the ripening of grain just before harvest. These two rains bracket the agricultural season and are essential for a successful crop.
  They represent the timely and meticulous provision of God for sustaining life.

Words-group analysis:

• "They do not say in their hearts, ‘Let us now fear the LORD our God’": This entire phrase reveals a deep spiritual dysfunction. It's not about what they utter outwardly, but a complete absence of internal reflection, acknowledgment, and a reverential attitude toward the one true God who is actively providing for them. It underscores spiritual deadness.
• "who gives rain, both the autumn and spring rains in their season": This part emphasizes God's direct, personal, and precisely timed intervention in sustaining their agricultural life. It highlights His benevolence, wisdom, and active involvement, directly challenging any notion of naturalistic cycles independent of God or pagan deities.
• "who keeps for us the appointed weeks of the harvest": This expands on God's sustaining power. It shows that He not only initiates the growing season with rain but faithfully oversees it to its very conclusion, guaranteeing the harvest. This speaks to His trustworthiness, detailed care, and His unwavering commitment to His created order, for the benefit of His people, despite their ingratitude.

Jeremiah 5 24 Bonus section

This verse carries a profound implication for understanding human accountability in relation to God's natural revelation. Even without special revelation (Scripture), God's attributes, especially His power and wisdom, are "clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made" (Rom 1:20). Judah's failure to "fear the LORD" even when daily surrounded by undeniable evidence of His providence (rain, harvest cycles) indicates a wilful suppression of truth, which is a major theme throughout the Bible regarding humanity's sin. Their lack of reverence was not due to ignorance, but spiritual rebellion in the face of abundant divine grace manifest in creation. In New Testament theology, "rain" can also be used metaphorically to represent the pouring out of the Holy Spirit (e.g., in Zec 10:1 context for rain; Joel 2:23-29). This verse emphasizes that neglecting God in His consistent provision has grave consequences, hinting at a broader principle that the Lord will eventually withdraw blessings from those who persistently ignore and defy Him, whether those blessings are natural, spiritual, or relational.

Jeremiah 5 24 Commentary

Jeremiah 5:24 is a sharp indictment of Judah's spiritual blindness and profound ingratitude. Despite experiencing God's consistent, tangible provision—the vital early rains to soften the ground for planting, the crucial latter rains to ripen the crops, and the dependable sequence of the harvest seasons—the people failed to acknowledge or revere the LORD in their innermost being. Their failure wasn't just in action but in heart; they simply didn't consider, worship, or obey the God who sustained their very existence. This demonstrates a pervasive lack of spiritual discernment, where they enjoyed the blessings but refused to recognize the Benefactor. The verse also serves as a strong polemic against the idolatrous practices of the time, particularly the worship of Baal, by unequivocally stating that it is the LORD, and not any pagan deity, who orchestrates the cycles of nature for their good. This spiritual dullness and ungratefulness left them without excuse, setting the stage for divine judgment which would include the withdrawal of these very blessings (Jer 5:25).