Jeremiah 2:25

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst: but thou saidst, There is no hope: no; for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go.

Complete Jewish Bible:

"Stop before your shoes wear out, and your throat is dry from thirst! But you say, 'No, it's hopeless! I love these strangers, and I'm going after them.'

Berean Standard Bible:

You should have kept your feet from going bare and your throat from being thirsty. But you said, ‘It is hopeless! For I love foreign gods, and I must go after them.’

American Standard Version:

Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst. But thou saidst, It is in vain; no, for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Withhold^{H4513} thy foot^{H7272} from being unshod^{H3182}, and thy throat^{H1627} from thirst^{H6773}: but thou saidst^{H559}, There is no hope^{H2976}: no; for I have loved^{H157} strangers^{H2114}, and after^{H310} them will I go^{H3212}.

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Commentary for Jeremiah 2:25

Jeremiah 2:25 is part of the larger text of the prophet Jeremiah, who lived during a tumultuous period in the history of Judah, around the 7th to 6th centuries BCE. This verse is situated within a section of Jeremiah's prophecies that address the waywardness of the people of Judah and Jerusalem. In this context, God, through the prophet, is chastising the people for their spiritual adultery—turning away from the one true God to worship false deities, a common theme in the Old Testament prophetic literature.

The specific imagery used in Jeremiah 2:25 evokes a powerful rebuke. The call to "withhold thy foot from being unshod" suggests that the people should not be complacent or feel secure in their current state, as if they were at home and could leisurely remove their shoes. Similarly, "thy throat from thirst" implies that they should not be in a state of spiritual satisfaction or contentment, as if they had quenched their spiritual thirst. The people, however, respond with resignation, saying, "There is no hope." This despair is a consequence of their own actions, as they admit to having "loved strangers," referring to foreign gods, and declare their intention to continue pursuing them.

The historical context of this verse reflects the religious syncretism that was prevalent in Judah, where the people mixed the worship of Yahweh with the worship of other gods from surrounding cultures. This was in direct violation of the covenant that God had established with Israel, which called for exclusive worship of Yahweh. Jeremiah's message here is a call to repentance, urging the people to turn back to God before it is too late. The verse captures the deep frustration and sorrow of God over His people's unfaithfulness and the consequences that their choices will inevitably bring—consequences that Jeremiah warns will include exile and captivity if they do not change their ways.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H4513
   There are 29 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מָנַע
   Transliteration: mânaʻ
   Pronunciation: maw-nah'
   Description: a primitive root; to debar (negatively or positively) from benefit or injury; deny, keep (back), refrain, restrain, withhold.
   
2. Strong's Number: H7272
   There are 232 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: רֶגֶל
   Transliteration: regel
   Pronunciation: reh'-gel
   Description: from רָגַל; a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a step; by euphemistically the pudenda; [idiom] be able to endure, [idiom] according as, [idiom] after, [idiom] coming, [idiom] follow, (broken-)foot(-ed, -stool), [idiom] great toe, [idiom] haunt, [idiom] journey, leg, [phrase] piss, [phrase] possession, time.
   
3. Strong's Number: H3182
   There are 5 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָחֵף
   Transliteration: yâchêph
   Pronunciation: yaw-khafe'
   Description: from an unused root meaning to take off the shoes; unsandalled; barefoot, being unshod.
   
4. Strong's Number: H1627
   There are 8 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: גָּרוֹן
   Transliteration: gârôwn
   Pronunciation: gaw-rone'
   Description: or (shortened) גָּרֹן; from גָּרַר; (compare גַּרְגְּרוֹת); the throat (as roughened by swallowing); [idiom] aloud, mouth, neck, throat.
   
5. Strong's Number: H6773
   There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: צִמְאָה
   Transliteration: tsimʼâh
   Pronunciation: tsim-aw'
   Description: feminine of צָמָא; thirst (figuratively, of libidinousnes); thirst.
   
6. Strong's Number: H559
   There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָמַר
   Transliteration: ʼâmar
   Pronunciation: aw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
   
7. Strong's Number: H2976
   There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָאַשׁ
   Transliteration: yâʼash
   Pronunciation: yaw-ash'
   Description: a primitive root; to desist, i.e. (figuratively) to despond; (cause to) despair, one that is desperate, be no hope.
   
8. Strong's Number: H157
   There are 257 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָהַב
   Transliteration: ʼâhab
   Pronunciation: aw-hab'
   Description: or אָהֵב ; a primitive root; to have affection for (sexually or otherwise); (be-) love(-d, -ly, -r), like, friend.
   
9. Strong's Number: H2114
   There are 76 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: זוּר
   Transliteration: zûwr
   Pronunciation: zoor
   Description: a primitive root; to turn aside (especially for lodging); hence to be aforeigner, strange, profane; specifically (active participle) to commit adultery; (come from) another (man, place), fanner, go away, (e-) strange(-r, thing, woman).
   
10. Strong's Number: H310
    There are 766 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אַחַר
    Transliteration: ʼachar
    Pronunciation: akh-ar'
    Description: from אָחַר; properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses); after (that, -ward), again, at, away from, back (from, -side), behind, beside, by, follow (after, -ing), forasmuch, from, hereafter, hinder end, [phrase] out (over) live, [phrase] persecute, posterity, pursuing, remnant, seeing, since, thence(-forth), when, with.
    
11. Strong's Number: H3212
    There are 938 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יָלַךְ
    Transliteration: yâlak
    Pronunciation: yaw-lak'
    Description: a primitive root (compare הָלַךְ); to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses); [idiom] again, away, bear, bring, carry (away), come (away), depart, flow, [phrase] follow(-ing), get (away, hence, him), (cause to, made) go (away, -ing, -ne, one's way, out), grow, lead (forth), let down, march, prosper, [phrase] pursue, cause to run, spread, take away (-journey), vanish, (cause to) walk(-ing), wax, [idiom] be weak.