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

This verse highlights the devastating consequences of Israel's persistent sinfulness. God's blessings, which were meant to sustain them, were withheld due to their iniquities. The verse signifies a spiritual drought, where the lack of rain symbolizes the absence of God's favor and the failure of the earth to produce, reflecting the spiritual barrenness brought about by disobedience.

Jeremiah 5 24 Context

Jeremiah chapter 5 records God's indictment against Judah for their pervasive sins, including idolatry, injustice, and hypocrisy. Despite God’s attempts to discipline them with lesser judgments, the people failed to repent. Jeremiah 5:24 speaks within this broader context of divine judgment and the people's continued defiance. The prophet is conveying God's message that the blessings they should have received, such as timely rain and agricultural prosperity, were being withheld because of their deep-seated wickedness. This verse is a critical part of Jeremiah’s message of impending Babylonian exile, a consequence of their prolonged unfaithfulness to the covenant. The message is directed to the people of Judah during a period marked by moral decay and spiritual blindness, leading to national catastrophe.

Jeremiah 5 24 Word Analysis

• the rain (Hebrew: מַטְרִ֔)

  • Matar: Refers to rain, specifically seasonable rain. Essential for agriculture and sustenance in the arid ancient Near East. Its withholding signifies a loss of life-giving divine provision.

• and the snow (Hebrew: וְשֶׁ֥לֶג)

  • Sheleg: Snow. While less common in the specific climate of Jerusalem compared to rain, it still represents atmospheric blessings, often associated with winter moisture. Its mention expands the scope of God’s withheld meteorological provisions.

• from heaven (Hebrew: מִשָּׁמַ֖יִם)

  • Shamayim: Sky, heavens. Points to the celestial origin of all good gifts, indicating that God, from His throne above, controls and dispenses these blessings.

• and the floods (Hebrew: וְגַֽדִּ⸩)

  • Gadim: Floods, floods of waters, rains. Often used to describe abundant rainfall or streams, suggesting a complete cessation of water sources from the sky.

• from your God (Hebrew: מֵאֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ)

  • Elohim: God. Used here in the singular form addressing the singular entity of God. Emphasizes that these withheld blessings originate from their covenant God, Yahweh, whom they have abandoned.

• of heaven (Hebrew: שָׁמַ֖יִם)

  • Shamayim: Heaven. Reinforces that the source of these natural phenomena is divinely controlled.

• these (Hebrew: הָאֵ֔לֶּה)

  • Eleh: These. Refers back to the blessings (rain, snow, floods) that were formerly provided by God.

• Word Group Analysis:

  • "the rain and the snow from heaven" - This phrase emphasizes the natural cycle of water from God's domain, crucial for the survival and prosperity of the land. The absence of these speaks of a disruption in the created order, a direct consequence of God’s displeasure.
  • "and the floods from your God of heaven" - This further emphasizes the source and comprehensive nature of these divine provisions. The "floods" might imply even greater abundance of water. The pronoun "your" implies covenant relation, highlighting that what they are losing is precisely what was promised to them as a covenant people.

Jeremiah 5 24 Bonus Section

The imagery of withheld rain was a significant theological concept in ancient Israel. Rain was understood not merely as a natural phenomenon but as a direct sign of God’s covenant faithfulness and blessing. Therefore, drought was interpreted as a sign of God's displeasure and judgment against sin. Prophets often employed this imagery to communicate God's anger and the consequences of covenant breaking. This verse connects directly to the legal framework of the Mosaic Covenant (Deuteronomy 28:23-24), where obedience brought rain and prosperity, while disobedience brought drought and ruin. This theme echoes throughout the Old Testament, reinforcing the integral link between the people's moral and spiritual condition and the land's fertility. The New Testament continues to speak of spiritual blessings and how they are affected by our walk with God, although not always in terms of literal rain. For instance, the metaphor of spiritual thirst and living water found in John chapter 4 and 7, and the concept of the Holy Spirit as a "refreshing rain" in Deuteronomy 32:2 and Hosea 14:5.

Jeremiah 5 24 Commentary

This verse functions as a stark reminder that natural blessings are conditional upon obedience to God. Judah had experienced God's favor, but their spiritual adultery led to the withdrawal of these vital provisions. The inability of the land to produce symbolized the spiritual barrenness and the lack of God's presence among a sinful people. This illustrates that divine provision is intrinsically linked to a right relationship with God, and sin severs that connection. The lack of rain and snow meant no crops, no pasture, and ultimately, famine and distress. This foreshadows the broader destruction and desolation that would come upon Judah as a nation due to their continued apostasy. The prophecy serves as a call to repentance, reminding them that God’s faithfulness was being met with their faithlessness.