Jeremiah 5:14

Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.

Wherefore thus saith {H559} the LORD {H3068} God {H430} of hosts {H6635}, Because ye speak {H1696} this word {H1697}, behold, I will make {H5414} my words {H1697} in thy mouth {H6310} fire {H784}, and this people {H5971} wood {H6086}, and it shall devour {H398} them.

Therefore ADONAI Elohei-Tzva'ot says: "Because you people speak this way, I will make my words fire in your mouth, [Yirmeyahu,] and this people wood; so that it will devour them.

Therefore this is what the LORD God of Hosts says: โ€œBecause you have spoken this word, I will make My words a fire in your mouth and this people the wood it consumes.

Wherefore thus saith Jehovah, the God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.

Commentary

Jeremiah 5:14 presents a stark and powerful declaration from the LORD, revealing the severe consequences awaiting the people of Judah due to their persistent sin and disregard for God's warnings. Through the prophet Jeremiah, God announces that His words, delivered by Jeremiah, will become a consuming fire against a rebellious nation, likened to wood.

Context of Jeremiah 5:14

This verse is situated within a series of pronouncements where the prophet Jeremiah confronts the moral decay, idolatry, and spiritual unfaithfulness prevalent in Judah during the late 7th century BC. Chapter 5 vividly details the people's deceit, injustice, and refusal to acknowledge God, despite His repeated calls for repentance. The phrase "Because ye speak this word" likely refers to the people's defiant or dismissive attitude towards God's warnings, or their general sinful speech and actions that provoke divine wrath. God's response is a direct and forceful judgment, indicating that the time for mere warnings is over, and consequences are imminent, often understood in the context of the impending Babylonian invasion that would devastate Jerusalem.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment: The verse unequivocally highlights God's active role in judging sin and rebellion. His patience has limits, and unrepentant disobedience leads to severe retribution. This demonstrates God's righteousness and justice in dealing with His covenant people who have strayed.
  • The Power and Authority of God's Word: Jeremiah's message is not merely human counsel but the very word of God, imbued with divine power. When God declares His word will be "fire," it signifies its irresistible and destructive force against those who oppose Him. This echoes other prophetic declarations about the potency of God's truth, such as in Jeremiah 23:29, where His word is also likened to fire and a hammer, breaking down resistance.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: The metaphor of "fire" consuming "wood" vividly illustrates the complete and devastating nature of the judgment. The people, like dry wood, are utterly vulnerable to the scorching power of God's righteous anger, a direct result of their unfaithfulness and rejection of His covenant.

Linguistic Insights

The title "LORD God of hosts" (Hebrew: ื™ึฐื”ื•ึธื” ืึฑืœึนื”ึตื™ ืฆึฐื‘ึธืื•ึนืช, Yahweh Elohei Tseva'ot) is significant. "Hosts" refers to armies or heavenly bodies, emphasizing God's omnipotence, sovereignty, and His command over all creation, including the forces of judgment. This title underscores that the impending disaster is not random but a deliberate act of the all-powerful God. The imagery of "fire" (ืึตืฉื, 'esh) and "wood" (ืขึตืฅ, 'etz) is a common biblical metaphor for destruction and consumption, making the divine threat profoundly clear and visceral. The KJV's "devour them" perfectly captures the destructive intent.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 5:14 serves as a timeless reminder of the seriousness of God's word and the importance of heeding divine warnings. For us today, it underscores several vital truths:

  • Respect for God's Word: We must never treat God's commands and prophecies lightly. His word carries inherent power and truth, and ignoring it has real, often severe, consequences. It is a living and active force, not just ancient text.
  • The Reality of Judgment: While God is merciful and long-suffering, He is also just. Unrepented sin and persistent rebellion against His will invite His judgment. This applies both individually and collectively, reminding us that God is not mocked.
  • Call to Repentance: The severity of this verse implicitly calls for repentance and a turning back to God. Understanding the destructive power of divine judgment should motivate a humble response and a commitment to obedience, as seen in other calls for repentance throughout the prophets (e.g., Joel 2:13, urging us to tear our hearts and not our garments).

Ultimately, this verse reinforces the biblical principle that God's character includes both profound love and unwavering justice, and He will act decisively when His people persist in rebellion and unbelief.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 23:29

    [Is] not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer [that] breaketh the rock in pieces?

  • Jeremiah 1:9

    Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.

  • Hosea 6:5

    Therefore have I hewed [them] by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments [are as] the light [that] goeth forth.

  • Revelation 11:5

    And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.

  • Revelation 11:6

    These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.

  • 2 Kings 1:10

    And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I [be] a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.

  • 2 Kings 1:14

    Behold, there came fire down from heaven, and burnt up the two captains of the former fifties with their fifties: therefore let my life now be precious in thy sight.
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