King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the LORD.
Complete Jewish Bible:
Storks in the sky know their seasons; doves, swallows and cranes their migration times; but my people do not know the rulings of ADONAI!
Berean Standard Bible:
Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons. The turtledove, the swift, and the thrush keep their time of migration, but My people do not know the requirements of the LORD.
American Standard Version:
Yea, the stork in the heavens knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle-dove and the swallow and the crane observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the law of Jehovah.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Yea, the stork{H2624} in the heaven{H8064} knoweth{H3045} her appointed times{H4150}; and the turtle{H8449} and the crane{H5483} and the swallow{H5693} observe{H8104} the time{H6256} of their coming{H935}; but my people{H5971} know{H3045} not the judgment{H4941} of the LORD{H3068}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Isaiah 1:3
- The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: [but] Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.
Jeremiah 5:4
- Therefore I said, Surely these [are] poor; they are foolish: for they know not the way of the LORD, [nor] the judgment of their God.
Jeremiah 5:5
- I will get me unto the great men, and will speak unto them; for they have known the way of the LORD, [and] the judgment of their God: but these have altogether broken the yoke, [and] burst the bonds.
Proverbs 6:6
- ¶ Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
Proverbs 6:8
- Provideth her meat in the summer, [and] gathereth her food in the harvest.
Isaiah 5:12
- And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of his hands.
Song of Solomon 2:12
- The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing [of birds] is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Jeremiah 8:7
Jeremiah 8:7 is a verse from the Old Testament, specifically from the book of Jeremiah, which records the prophecies and messages of the prophet Jeremiah. The historical context of this verse is set during a time of great moral and religious decay in Judah, prior to and during the reign of King Zedekiah, around the 6th century BCE. This was a period when the people of Judah were turning away from God, engaging in idolatry, and ignoring the covenantal laws that God had established with their ancestors.
In this verse, Jeremiah contrasts the instinctual behavior of migratory birds with the spiritual ignorance of the people of Judah. The stork, turtledove, crane, and swallow are all mentioned as creatures that faithfully observe their appointed times for migration, a natural cycle that occurs without fail. These birds, through their innate knowledge, understand the timing of their movements and act accordingly.
Jeremiah uses this observable phenomenon from nature to highlight the stark contrast with the people of Judah, who, despite being given the law and the prophets, fail to recognize and adhere to the "judgment of the LORD." The term "judgment" here can be understood as God's justice, law, or the impending consequences of their actions. The people's lack of knowledge and disregard for God's will is seen as particularly egregious when compared to the instinctive obedience of the birds to the natural order.
The themes of this verse include the reliability of nature as a witness to God's order, the expectation of obedience and awareness from God's people, and a critique of spiritual apathy and moral decline. Jeremiah's message is a call to repentance and a plea for the people to return to the covenant relationship with God, to recognize His sovereignty, and to live according to His judgments and statutes. It serves as a poignant reminder of the consequences of forsaking divine guidance for temporal pursuits.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H2624
There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חֲסִידָה
Transliteration: chăçîydâh
Pronunciation: khas-ee-daw'
Description: feminine of חָסִיד; the kind (maternal) bird, i.e. a stork; [idiom] feather, stork. - Strong's Number: H8064
There are 395 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁמַיִם
Transliteration: shâmayim
Pronunciation: shaw-mah'-yim
Description: dual of an unused singular שָׁמֶה; from an unused root meaning to be lofty; the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies revolve); air, [idiom] astrologer, heaven(-s). - Strong's Number: H3045
There are 873 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָדַע
Transliteration: yâdaʻ
Pronunciation: yaw-dah'
Description: a primitive root; to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.); acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware, (un-) awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, [idiom] could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to) discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel, can have, be (ig-) norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have (knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, [phrase] be learned, [phrase] lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, [idiom] prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell, understand, have (understanding), [idiom] will be, wist, wit, wot. - Strong's Number: H4150
There are 213 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מוֹעֵד
Transliteration: môwʻêd
Pronunciation: mo-ade'
Description: or מֹעֵד; or (feminine) מוֹעָדָה; (2 Chronicles 8:13), from יָעַד; properly, an appointment, i.e. a fixed time or season; specifically, a festival; conventionally ayear; by implication, an assembly (as convened for a definite purpose); technically the congregation; by extension, the place of meeting; also a signal (as appointed beforehand); appointed (sign, time), (place of, solemn) assembly, congregation, (set, solemn) feast, (appointed, due) season, solemn(-ity), synogogue, (set) time (appointed). - Strong's Number: H8449
There are 14 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: תּוֹר
Transliteration: tôwr
Pronunciation: tore
Description: or תֹּר; probably the same as תּוֹר; a ring-dove, often (figuratively) as a term of endearment; (turtle) dove. - Strong's Number: H5483
There are 131 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: סוּס
Transliteration: çûwç
Pronunciation: soos
Description: or סֻס; from an unused root meaning to skip (properly, for joy); a horse (as leaping); also a swallow (from its rapid flight); crane, horse (-back, -hoof). Compare פָּרָשׁ. - Strong's Number: H5693
There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָגוּר
Transliteration: ʻâgûwr
Pronunciation: aw-goor'
Description: passive part (but with active sense) of an unused root meaning to twitter; probably the swallow; swallow. - Strong's Number: H8104
There are 440 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁמַר
Transliteration: shâmar
Pronunciation: shaw-mar'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.; beward, be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep(-er, self), mark, look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save (self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch(-man). - Strong's Number: H6256
There are 258 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֵת
Transliteration: ʻêth
Pronunciation: ayth
Description: from עַד; time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc.; [phrase] after, (al-) ways, [idiom] certain, [phrase] continually, [phrase] evening, long, (due) season, so (long) as, (even-, evening-, noon-) tide, (meal-), what) time, when. - Strong's Number: H935
There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בּוֹא
Transliteration: bôwʼ
Pronunciation: bo
Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way. - Strong's Number: H5971
There are 1654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עַם
Transliteration: ʻam
Pronunciation: am
Description: from עָמַם; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock; folk, men, nation, people. - Strong's Number: H4941
There are 406 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִשְׁפָּט
Transliteration: mishpâṭ
Pronunciation: mish-pawt'
Description: from שָׁפַט; properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant's) divine law, individual or collective), including the act, the place, the suit, the crime, and the penalty; abstractly, justice, including a participant's right or privilege (statutory or customary), or even a style; [phrase] adversary, ceremony, charge, [idiom] crime, custom, desert, determination, discretion, disposing, due, fashion, form, to be judged, judgment, just(-ice, -ly), (manner of) law(-ful), manner, measure, (due) order, ordinance, right, sentence, usest, [idiom] worthy, [phrase] wrong. - Strong's Number: H3068
There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהֹוָה
Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.