Jeremiah 6 24

Jeremiah 6:24 kjv

We have heard the fame thereof: our hands wax feeble: anguish hath taken hold of us, and pain, as of a woman in travail.

Jeremiah 6:24 nkjv

We have heard the report of it; Our hands grow feeble. Anguish has taken hold of us, Pain as of a woman in labor.

Jeremiah 6:24 niv

We have heard reports about them, and our hands hang limp. Anguish has gripped us, pain like that of a woman in labor.

Jeremiah 6:24 esv

We have heard the report of it; our hands fall helpless; anguish has taken hold of us, pain as of a woman in labor.

Jeremiah 6:24 nlt

We have heard reports about the enemy,
and we wring our hands in fright.
Pangs of anguish have gripped us,
like those of a woman in labor.

Jeremiah 6 verses

Jeremiah 6 24 Meaning

This verse describes a profound state of unpreparedness and inability to respond in a time of imminent danger and judgment. It highlights the spiritual and emotional paralysis that has befallen the people, rendering them incapable of acting or escaping.

Jeremiah 6 24 Context

Jeremiah 6 is part of God's judgment pronouncement against Judah for their persistent sinfulness and rebellion. The people have turned away from God, engaging in idolatry, injustice, and false security. The prophet Jeremiah is tasked with delivering a stern message of impending doom. Chapter 6 vividly depicts the coming Babylonian invasion as God’s instrument of wrath. The verses leading up to verse 24 describe the enemy forces gathering, likened to hunters, and the people's utter lack of readiness. This specific verse captures the chilling paralysis that has gripped the nation as they face the consequence of their spiritual apostasy.

Jeremiah 6 24 Word analysis

• “Hear” (Shma – שׁמע): A command to listen, but not just with the ears; it implies attentive hearing, understanding, and obedience.
• “ye”: Plural second-person pronoun, addressing the entire nation.
• “tidings” (Shmu'ah – שׁמוּעה): News, report, something heard.
• “great” (Gadol – גּדל): Significant, important, momentous.
• “From” (Me’eth – מֵאֵת): Indicating the source.
• “us”: Referring to the people of Judah or Jerusalem.
• “the nation” (Ha- Goy – הַגּוֹי): Refers to the foreign invader, likely the Babylonians, highlighting their identity as a Gentile power.
• “unto thee”: Directed towards Jerusalem or its inhabitants.
• “The great nation”: Emphasizes the power and scale of the approaching enemy.
• “is stirred up” (Ur – עור): Woken up, roused, animated, activated, typically with negative or alarming connotations in this context, suggesting hostile intent and movement.
• “From the farthest parts” (Merchoq – מֵרְחֹק): From distant lands, emphasizing the far-reaching threat.
• “From the sides of the earth” (Yarktheey Orov – יַרְכְּתֵי עֵבֶר): Literally "wings" or "sides of the horizon/earth," signifying a threat from all directions or from the extreme ends of the known world.
• “She shall not,” (Lo’ – לֹא): A strong negation.
• “she;”: Refers back to "the great nation" or possibly even Judah in its passive state.
• “hath”: Indicative of a past action with present results.
• “ability to know” (Yadha – יָדַע): To have knowledge, to understand, to comprehend. The emphasis is on a cognitive failure.
• “shame.” (Bosheth – בֹּשֶׁת): Shame, disgrace, confusion, often associated with the exposure of sin or failure. In this context, it implies an inability to recognize their sin or its consequences, or an inability to feel the shame that their sin warrants. It points to a deep spiritual and moral blindness.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "The great nation is stirred up from the farthest parts of the earth:" This phrase signifies the gathering and mobilization of a powerful foreign army. The remoteness ("farthest parts of the earth") amplifies the sense of overwhelming threat coming from beyond their borders, making escape and resistance seem impossible.
• "Her voice": Although not explicitly stated in English translation, implied is the terrifying sound and impact of this approaching force.
• "They shall not know how to shame": This is the crucial part. It signifies a profound lack of moral discernment and emotional response. They are so consumed by their sin and delusion of security that they are numb to the gravity of their situation and the disgrace they deserve. They cannot register shame because their conscience has been seared or they are completely given over to their wicked ways. It's not just a failure to feel shame; it's a failure to know shame, to possess the capacity for this fundamental human moral response.

Jeremiah 6 24 Bonus section

The phrase "not know how to shame" is a potent description of a moral and spiritual bankruptcy that precedes total destruction. It speaks to a loss of moral equilibrium. Throughout Scripture, shame is often a precursor to repentance (Jer. 3:3) or a consequence of sin (Ezek. 16:52). Here, the absence of shame indicates a state so far removed from righteousness that the very capacity for godly sorrow is lost. This profound inability to feel shame is a mark of the ungodly and a sign that the nation is ripe for judgment because they have grown accustomed to their sin and lost the internal compass that should guide them to repentance and self-correction.

Jeremiah 6 24 Commentary

Jeremiah 6:24 presents a stark image of a nation utterly unprepared for judgment, not because of a lack of warnings, but due to a pervasive spiritual and moral insensitivity. The "great nation" stirs up, representing an overwhelming military force, yet Judah’s reaction is not fear, resolve, or even shame. Instead, they are described as not knowing how to be ashamed. This isn't mere cowardice; it's a deeper, more dangerous condition of spiritual blindness. They have become so desensitized by their habitual sin and misplaced trust in worldly systems that they lack the capacity to recognize their perilous state or to feel the disgrace it merits. Their spiritual senses are dulled, rendering them numb to impending doom and unable to respond in a way that even acknowledges their failure. This verse serves as a chilling warning against complacency and the soul-destroying effect of unrepented sin, which ultimately paralyzes one's ability to respond to God's truth and grace.