Jeremiah 5:22

5:21 Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not: understanding: Heb. heart

Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?

KJV

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Don’t you fear me?’ says Yahweh ‘Won’t you tremble at my presence, who have placed the sand for the bound of the sea, by a perpetual decree, that it can’t pass it? and though its waves toss themselves, yet they can’t prevail; though they roar, yet they can’t pass over it.’

Fear ye not me? saith the Lord: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?

Fear you not me? says the LORD: will you not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?

5:23 But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone.

What does Jeremiah 5:22 mean?

Jeremiah 5:22 is a verse in the book of Jeremiah, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include יָרֵא (yârêʼ), נְאֻם (nᵉʼum), יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh). It connects to 6 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

Fearיָרֵאyârêʼ/yaw-ray'/H3372to fear; morally, to revere; caus. to frighten

not

me?

saithנְאֻםnᵉʼum/neh-oom'/H5002an oracle

the

LORD:יְהֹוָהYᵉhôvâh/yeh-ho-vaw'/H3068Jehovah, Jewish national name of God

will

not

trembleחוּלchûwl/khool/H2342properly, to twist or whirl (in a circular or spiral manner), i.e. (specifically) to dance, to writhe in pain (especially of parturition) or fear; figuratively, to wait, to pervert

presence,פָּנִיםpânîym/paw-neem'/H6440the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.)

which

have

placedשׂוּםsûwm/soom/H7760to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)

the

sandחוֹלchôwl/khole/H2344sand (as round or whirling particles)

for

the

boundגְּבוּלgᵉbûwl/gheb-ool'/H1366properly, a cord (as twisted), i.e. (by implication) a boundary; by extension the territory inclosed

the

seaיָםyâm/yawm/H3220a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the Mediterranean Sea; sometimes a large river, or an artifical basin; locally, the west, or (rarely) the south

perpetualעוֹלָםʻôwlâm/o-lawm'/H5769properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e. (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial (especially with prepositional prefix) always

decree,חֹקchôq/khoke/H2706an enactment; hence, an appointment (of time, space, quantity, labor or usage)

that

cannot

passעָבַרʻâbar/aw-bar'/H5674to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in copulation)

it:

and

though

the

wavesגַּלgal/gal/H1530something rolled, i.e. a heap of stone or dung (plural ruins), by analogy, a spring of water (plural waves)

thereof

tossגָּעַשׁgâʻash/gaw-ash'/H1607to agitate violently

themselves,

yet

can

they

not

prevail;יָכֹלyâkôl/yaw-kole'/H3201to be able, literally (can, could) or morally (may, might)

though

they

roar,הָמָהhâmâh/haw-maw'/H1993to make a loud sound (like English 'hum'); by implication, to be in great commotion or tumult, to rage, war, moan, clamor

yet

can

they

not

pass

overעָבַרʻâbar/aw-bar'/H5674to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in copulation)

it?

Commentary on Jeremiah 5:22

HENRY_FULL · Jeremiah 5:22

="gen14854" Solomon having pronounced all vanity, and particularly knowledge and learning, which he was so far from giving himself joy of that he found the increase of it did but increase his sorrow, in this chapter he goes on to show what reason he has to be tired of this world, and with what little reason most men are fond of it. I. He shows that there is no true happiness and satisfaction to be had in mirth and pleasure, and the delights of sense, ver. 1-11 . II. He reconsiders the pretensions of wisdom, and allows it to be excellent and useful, and yet sees it clogged with such diminutions of its worth that it proves insufficient to make a man happy, ver. 12-16 . III. He enquires how far the business and wealth of this world will go towards making men happy, and concludes, from his own experience, that, to those who set their hearts upon it, "it is vanity and vexation of spirit," ( ver. 17-23 ), and that, if there be any good in it, it is only to those that sit loose to it, ver. 24-26 .

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Proverbs 14:13

Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.

Isaiah 22:12

And in that day did the Lord GOD of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth:

Isaiah 22:13

And behold joy and gladness, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine: let us eat and drink; for to morrow we shall die.

Jeremiah 7:2

Stand in the gate of the LORD'S house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the LORD, all ye of Judah, that enter in at these gates to worship the LORD.

Amos 6:3

Ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near; seat: or, habitation

1 Peter 4:2

That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

Topics

Impenitence Power of God, the Sea Sea, the

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Jeremiah 5:22.

Genesis 2:8

And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.

Genesis 3:8

And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. cool: Heb. wind

Genesis 32:12

And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.

Genesis 4:15

And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.

Genesis 4:16

And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.

Genesis 4:6

And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?

Genesis 46:3

And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation:

Genesis 6:7

And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. both: Heb. from man unto beast

Frequently asked questions

What does Jeremiah 5:22 say?

Jeremiah 5:22 (King James Version) reads: "Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?"

Is Jeremiah 5:22 in the Old or New Testament?

Jeremiah 5:22 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Jeremiah.

Reflect

As you read Jeremiah 5:22, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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