TRV
Study This Verse
Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Jeremiah 5:20–24. His three-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
The prophet, having reproved them for sin and threatened the judgments of God against them, is here sent to them again upon another errand, which he must publish in Judah; the purport of it is to persuade them to fear God, which would be an effectual principle of their reformation, as the want of that fear had been at the bottom of their apostasy.
I.He complains of the shameful stupidity of this people, and their bent to backslide from God, speaking as if he knew not what course to take with them. For,
1.Their understandings were darkened and unapt to admit the rays of the divine light: They are a foolish people and without understanding; they apprehend not the mind of God, though ever so plainly declared to them by the written word, by his prophets, and by his providence (Jer 5:21): They have eyes, but they see not, ears, but they hear not, like the idols which they made and worshipped, Psa 115:5, Psa 115:6, Psa 115:8. One would have thought that they took notice of things, but really they did not; they had intellectual faculties and capacities, but they did not employ and improve them as they ought. Herein they disappointed the expectations of all their neighbours, who, observing what excellent means of knowledge they had, concluded, Surely they are a wise and an understanding people (Deu 4:6), and yet really they are a foolish people and without understanding. Note, We cannot judge of men by the advantages and opportunities they enjoy: there are those that sit in darkness in a land of light, that live in sin even in a holy land, that are bad in the best places.
2.Their wills were stubborn and unapt to submit to the rules of the divine law (Jer 5:23): This people has a revolting and a rebellious heart; and no wonder when they were foolish and without understanding, Psa 82:5. Nay, it is the corrupt bias of the will that bribes and besots the understanding: none so blind as those that will not see. The character of this people is the true character of all people by nature, till the grace of God has wrought a change. We are foolish, slow of understanding, and apt to mistake and forget; yet that is not the worst. We have a revolting and a rebellious heart, a carnal mind, that is enmity against God, and is not in subjection to his law, not only revolting from him by a rooted aversion to that which is good, but rebellious against him by a strong inclination to that which is evil. Observe, The revolting heart is a rebellious one: those that withdraw from their allegiance to God do not stop there, but by siding in with sin and Satan take up arms against him. They have revolted and gone. The revolting heart will produce a revolting life. They are gone, and they will go (so it may be read); now nothing will be restrained from them, Gen 11:6.
II.He ascribed this to the want of the fear of God.
When he observes them to be without understanding he asks, "Fear you not me, saith the Lord, and will you not tremble at my presence? Jer 5:22. If you would but keep up an awe of God, you would be more observant of what he says to you: and, did you but understand your own interest better, you would be more under the commanding rule of God's fear." When he observes that they have revolted and gone he adds this, as the root and cause of their apostasy (Jer 5:24), Neither say they in their hearts, Let us now fear the Lord our God. Therefore so many bad thoughts come into their mind, and hurry them to that which is evil, because they will not admit and entertain good thoughts, and particularly not this good thought, Let us now fear the Lord our God. It is true it is God's work to put his fear into our hearts; but it is our work to stir up ourselves to fear him, and to fasten upon those considerations which are proper to affect us with a holy awe of him; and it is because we do not do this that our hearts are so destitute of his fear as they are, and so apt to revolt and rebel.
III.He suggests some of those things which are proper to possess us with a holy fear of God.
1.We must fear the Lord and his greatness, Jer 5:22. Upon this account he demands our fear: Shall we not tremble at his presence, and not be afraid of affronting him, or trifling with him, who in the kingdom of nature and providence gives such incontestable proofs of his almighty power and sovereign dominion? Here is one instance given of very many that might be given: he keeps the sea within compass. Though the tides flow with a mighty strength twice every day, and if they should flow on awhile would drown the world, though in a storm the billows rise high and dash to the shore with incredible force and fury, yet they are under check, they return, they retire, and no harm is done. This is the Lord's doing, and, if it were not common, it would be marvellous in our eyes. He has placed the sand for the bound of the sea, not only for a meer-stone, to mark out how far it may come and where it must stop, but as a mound, or fence, to put a stop to it. A wall of sand shall be as effectual as a wall of brass to check the flowing waves, when God is pleased to make it so; nay, that is chosen rather, to teach us that a soft answer, like the soft sand, turns away wrath, and quiets a foaming rage, when grievous words, like hard rocks, do but exasperate, and make the waters cast forth so much the more mire and dirt. This bound is placed by a perpetual decree, by an ordinance of antiquity (so some read it), and then it sends us as far back as to the creation of the world, when God divided between the sea and dry land, and fixed marches between them, Gen 1:9, Gen 1:10 (which is elegantly described, Psa 104:6, etc., and Job 38:8, etc.), or to the period of Noah's flood, when God promised that he would never drown the world again, Gen 9:11. An ordinance of perpetuity - so our translation takes it. It is a perpetual decree; it has had its effect all along to this day and shall still continue till day and night come to an end. This perpetual decree the waters of the sea cannot pass over nor break through. Though the waves thereof toss themselves, as the troubled sea does when it cannot rest, yet can they not prevail; though they roar and rage as if they were vexed at the check given them, yet can they not pass over. Now this is a good reason why we should fear God; for,
(1.)By this we see that he is a God of almighty power and universal sovereignty, and therefore to be feared and had in reverence.
(2.)This shows us how easily he could drown the world again and how much we continually lie at his mercy, and therefore we should be afraid of making him our enemy.
(3.)Even the unruly waves of the sea observe his decree and retreat at his check, and shall not we then? Why are our hearts revolting and rebellious, when the sea neither revolts nor rebels?
2.We must fear the Lord and his goodness, Hos 3:5. The instances of this, as of the former, are fetched from God's common providence, Jer 5:24. We must fear the Lord our God, that is, we must worship him, and give him glory, and be always in care to keep ourselves in his love, because he is continually doing us good: he gives us both the former and the latter rain, the former a little after seed-time, the latter a little before harvest, and both in their season; and by this means he reserves to us the appointed weeks of harvest. Harvest is reckoned by weeks, because in a few weeks enough is gathered to serve for sustenance the year round. The weeks of the harvest are appointed us by the promise of God, that seed-time and harvest shall not fail. And in performance of that promise they are reserved to us by the divine providence, otherwise we should come short of them. In harvest mercies therefore God is to be acknowledged, his power, and goodness, and faithfulness, for they all come from him. And it is good reason why we should fear him, that we may keep ourselves in his love, because we have such a necessary dependence upon him. The fruitful seasons were witnesses for God, even to the heathen world, sufficient to leave them inexcusable in their contempt of him (Act 14:17); and yet the Jews, who had the written word to explain their testimony by, were not wrought upon to fear the Lord, though it appears how much it is our interest to do so.
Historical interpretation
Historical Reception
4 surviving comments on this verse. Each one is dated, so this reads as a timeline rather than a list.
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Through all the story of waters be mindful of that first word, “Let the waters be gathered.” It was necessary for them to flow that they might reach their own place. Then, being in the places appointed, they were to remain by themselves and not to advance further. For this reason, according to the saying of Ecclesiastes, “All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea does not overflow.” It is through the divine command that waters flow, and it is due to that first legislation, “Let the waters be gathered into one place,” that the sea is enclosed within boundaries. For fear that the flowing water, spreading beyond the beds that hold it, always passing on and filling up one place after another, should continuously flood all the lands, it was ordered to be gathered into one place. Therefore, the sea, frequently raging with the winds and rising up in waves to towering heights, whenever it merely touches the shores breaks its onrush into foam and retires. “Will you not then fear me, says the Lord? I have set the sand as a bound for the sea.” With the weakest of all things, sand, the sea, irresistible in its violence, is bridled.
When I say “we,” I do not refer to human power but to the grace of God, who in the weakness of people shows forth his own power. This the prophet, speaking in the person of the Lord, says, “Will not you, then, fear me? I have set the sand as the boundary for the sea.” For by this weakest and most contemptible of all things, sand, the mighty One has bound the great and ponderous sea. Therefore, since our condition is somewhat similar, it would follow that some of the true brethren should be sent continuously from your charity to visit us in our afflictions and that affectionate letters should come more frequently to us, on the one hand to strengthen our zeal, and on the other to correct us if we fail in any respect. Indeed, we do not deny that we are subject to many faults, since we are people and are living in the flesh.
(Verse 22 onward) So you will not fear, says the Lord, and you will not be in pain before me? (or will you fear?) I have set the sand as a boundary for the sea, an eternal decree that will not pass. And the waves of the sea will be disturbed, and they will not be able to pass through it. This people has become stubborn and rebellious in their heart: they have turned away and gone, and they have not said in their heart: Let us fear the Lord our God, who gives us rain in its season, both the early and the late rains, preserving the harvest for us. He narrates the benefits to accuse the ungrateful. 'Will you not fear me,' he says, 'who have bestowed such great favors upon you? I do not desire the love of the perfect, but the fear of beginners, who have set the shore as a boundary to the sea; who, by my command, have restrained the powerful element and the immense masses of waves, according to what is written: 'He has placed a boundary, and it shall not pass.' (Ps. 148:6) They hear and perceive me, who do not possess the capacity to hear; and my foolish people, having become foolish by their own fault, not only despise me, but also provoke the gentle God. They turned away from me, he said, and they turned their backs on me, and they left quickly; and their conscience did not withhold them, to say in their hearts: Let us fear him, who gives us temporary and late rain. Through all these things it shows the good abundance of the annual harvest, for which the first edition of the Aquila, and Symmachus, have interpreted as weeks. In Hebrew, it is written Sabaoth, which signifies both weeks and abundance due to the ambiguity of the word.
The vessel was severely tossed by the violence of the tempest and the breaking of the waves. And along with the ship, the faith of the disciples also was tossed, so to speak, by similar agitations. But Christ, whose authority extends over all, immediately arose. He at once appeased the storm, restrained the blasts of wind, quieted their fear and yet further proved by his actions that he is God at whom all created things tremble and quake and to whose nods is subject the very nature of the elements. He rebuked the tempest, and Matthew says that the manner of the rebuke was with God-like authority. He tells us that our Lord said to the sea: “Peace! Be still!” What can there be more grand than this in majesty? Or what can equal its sublimity? Appropriately worthy of God is the word and the might of the commandment, so that we too may utter the praise written in the book of Psalms: “You rule the power of the sea. You still the turbulence of its waves.” He too has himself said somewhere by one of the holy prophets, “Why do you not fear me,” says the Lord, “nor tremble at my presence? I who have set the sand as the bound of the sea, a commandment forever, and it has not passed it.” For the sea is subject to the will of him who made all creation and is, as it were, placed under the Creator’s feet, varying its motions at all times according to his good pleasure and yielding submission to his lordly will.
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Summary
Jeremiah 5:22 presents a profound rhetorical challenge from the LORD to the unfaithful people of Judah, questioning their lack of reverence and awe. God underscores His absolute sovereignty and undeniable power by pointing to His miraculous control over the vast and tumultuous sea, which, despite its inherent might, is perpetually confined by the seemingly insignificant sand through His unyielding decree. This powerful imagery serves as a stark contrast to Judah's widespread moral and spiritual corruption and their blatant disregard for divine commands, compelling them to recognize that if the formidable forces of nature submit to God's word, humanity has an even greater, rational obligation to fear and obey Him.
Context
Literary Context
Jeremiah 5 is a scathing indictment against the spiritual and moral decay of Judah, detailing their pervasive unfaithfulness, idolatry, and social injustice. The chapter opens with God's desperate search for one righteous person in Jerusalem, quickly revealing the depth of their spiritual depravity and the absence of truth (Jeremiah 5:1). The people have broken covenant, rejected God's prophets, and become utterly unresponsive to divine warnings, demonstrating spiritual blindness and stubborn hearts (Jeremiah 5:21). In this immediate context, Jeremiah 5:22 functions as a climactic rhetorical question, a direct challenge from the Creator to His rebellious creation. It uses the undeniable evidence of His power over the natural world as a foundational argument for their required reverence, setting the stage for the impending judgment that will inevitably follow such persistent disobedience. The verse highlights the irrationality of their rebellion when even inanimate creation obeys.
Historical & Cultural Context
Jeremiah prophesied during a turbulent and pivotal period in Judah's history, spanning the reigns of several kings from Josiah to Zedekiah, as the nation teetered on the brink of Babylonian exile. This era was marked by profound political instability, shifting international alliances, and a deep-seated spiritual apostasy, where syncretism and idolatry were rampant despite Josiah's earlier reforms. The people had largely abandoned the covenant with Yahweh, adopting the pagan practices of surrounding nations. In the ancient Near East, the sea was often viewed as a symbol of chaos, untamed power, and even primordial evil, as seen in various creation mythologies where deities struggled to subdue the waters. Against this backdrop, God's assertion of His absolute and effortless control over the sea in Jeremiah 5:22 would have been a profoundly powerful statement. It underscored His unique sovereignty, distinguishing Him from the impotent idols and demonstrating His unparalleled might over all forces, natural or human, that might seem chaotic or uncontrollable.
Key Themes
This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Jeremiah and the broader prophetic literature. Firstly, it highlights God's Absolute Sovereignty and Power, emphasizing that the Creator alone has the authority to set immutable laws for the most formidable elements of His creation. The sea, with all its might and roar, is utterly subservient to His "perpetual decree," underscoring that if God can control the untamed ocean, He certainly has authority over humanity and their actions. Secondly, it addresses the theme of Divine Authority and Unchangeable Decrees. God's word is not merely a suggestion but an eternal, unalterable command that even nature must obey, reinforcing His reliability and the futility of defying His will. This contrasts sharply with the people's casual disregard for His moral and spiritual laws, as seen throughout the book (Jeremiah 7:23-24). Thirdly, the rhetorical question "Fear ye not me?" exposes Human Rebellion and Lack of Reverence. Despite witnessing God's power daily in creation, Judah failed to acknowledge Him and live in awe of His presence, a recurring theme of Israel's unfaithfulness (Isaiah 1:2-3). Finally, the verse implicitly warns of The Inevitable Consequence of Disobedience. If God's decrees for nature are unyielding, then His decrees concerning human conduct and judgment will also be carried out, implying that their lack of fear will ultimately lead to divine judgment, a consistent message throughout Jeremiah's prophecies (Jeremiah 6:19).
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
This primitive root signifies not merely terror or fright, but a profound reverence, awe, and respectful submission that leads to obedience. In this context, it implies a proper acknowledgment of God's majesty, power, and authority, which should naturally elicit a response of humble worship and adherence to His will. The rhetorical question challenges Judah's failure to possess this foundational reverence for their Creator.
Derived from the root meaning "to whirl," this refers to sand as fine, whirling particles. In this verse, it represents an apparently insignificant, loose, and porous material. Its designation as the "bound" for the mighty sea highlights the miraculous and counter-intuitive nature of God's control. The weakest element is made entirely sufficient by divine decree to restrain the most powerful natural force.
This term, often appearing with "perpetual" (ʻôwlâm), denotes an unchangeable, divinely established law, ordinance, or statute. It signifies a fixed, immutable command or appointment. In Jeremiah 5:22, it underscores the steadfastness and absolute immutability of God's command over creation, contrasting sharply with the transient and unreliable nature of human covenants and promises, and emphasizing the futility of defying His established order.
Verse Breakdown
"Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence,"
This opening rhetorical question is a direct and indignant challenge from Yahweh to His people. It expresses divine astonishment at Judah's utter lack of reverence and awe. The "presence" of the LORD refers to His manifest power and authority, which should naturally evoke a response of fear (in the sense of awe and respect) and trembling—a deep, visceral reaction to His might and holiness.
"which have placed the sand [for] the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it:"
God immediately provides the irrefutable evidence for why they should fear Him. He is the one who, with seemingly fragile "sand," has established an unbreachable "bound" for the vast and powerful "sea." This boundary is not temporary but set by a "perpetual decree," an eternal and unchangeable law that the sea itself cannot transgress, demonstrating God's absolute and unwavering control over creation.
"and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail;"
This clause further emphasizes the sea's inherent power and restless, chaotic nature ("toss themselves"), acknowledging its mighty force. However, despite this internal energy and potential for overwhelming destruction, the sea's waves "cannot prevail" against the divinely established boundary. Their strength is utterly nullified by God's decree, highlighting the futility of any force attempting to defy the Creator's will.
"though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?"
The final clause personifies the sea, giving it a voice ("roar"), perhaps suggesting its frustration, immense power, or untamed energy. Yet, even with its tumultuous sound and apparent might, it "cannot pass over" the boundary. This reiterates the unyielding nature of God's command and serves as a powerful metaphor for Judah's own rebellious "roaring" against God's law, which, like the sea, will ultimately be unable to overcome His sovereign will or escape His judgment.
Literary Devices
Jeremiah 5:22 is rich in literary devices that amplify its powerful message. The most prominent is the Rhetorical Question, "Fear ye not me? ...will ye not tremble at my presence?" This is not a genuine inquiry for information but a forceful assertion designed to provoke introspection, expose the profound spiritual blindness, and highlight the moral failure of the people. It underscores the absurdity of their lack of reverence in the face of such overwhelming divine power. Personification is vividly employed in the description of the sea, whose "waves... toss themselves" and "roar." This imbues the sea with a sense of agency, making its ultimate, compelled submission to God's decree even more striking and a direct rebuke to human willfulness. The sea itself serves as a powerful Symbolism for chaos, untamed power, and potentially even the rebellious nations or forces that seem uncontrollable. By demonstrating His absolute control over the sea, God asserts His ultimate authority over all forms of chaos and rebellion. Finally, the verse employs stark Juxtaposition and Contrast. The seemingly weak and formless "sand" is contrasted with the immense, dynamic power of the "sea," highlighting the miraculous and counter-intuitive nature of God's decree. This also creates a profound contrast between the sea's compelled obedience to God's "perpetual decree" and Judah's willful, defiant disobedience to His moral and spiritual laws, despite their rational capacity for understanding.
Theological and Thematic Connections
Jeremiah 5:22 profoundly articulates God's absolute sovereignty, not only as the Creator who establishes the natural order but also as the moral Governor who expects reverence and obedience from His intelligent creatures. The unyielding obedience of the natural world to God's decree serves as a powerful rebuke to humanity's rebellion. If the vast and powerful sea, a symbol of untamed chaos, submits without question to the boundaries set by a mere "sand," how much more should humanity, endowed with reason and conscience, submit to the divine will? This verse underscores that true wisdom begins with the "fear of the LORD," which is not a cowering terror but a reverential awe that acknowledges His supreme authority and leads to a life of obedience and trust. It reminds us that God's power is not abstract but tangibly demonstrated in the created order, making human defiance all the more inexcusable.
Reflection and Application
Jeremiah 5:22 serves as a timeless mirror, inviting us to examine the depth of our own reverence for God. In a world that often dismisses divine authority or seeks to redefine truth, this verse stands as an unwavering declaration of God's unassailable power and the immutability of His decrees. It challenges us to move beyond a superficial acknowledgment of God to a profound, heart-transforming awe that shapes our every thought, word, and deed. Just as the raging sea, despite its might, cannot transgress the boundaries set by a simple grain of sand at God's command, so too are we called to live within the moral and spiritual boundaries He has established for our good. Recognizing His immense power over creation should inspire not only humility in our own limitations but also profound trust in His providential care, knowing that the God who controls the chaotic forces of nature is also sovereign over the complexities and uncertainties of our lives. Our response to His revealed will should be one of humble submission and joyful obedience, reflecting the order and purpose He has woven into the very fabric of the cosmos.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does "Fear ye not me?" mean in this context?
In Jeremiah 5:22, "fear" (Hebrew yârêʼ) does not primarily mean to be terrified, but rather to hold God in profound reverence, awe, and respectful submission. It implies acknowledging His supreme authority, power, and holiness, which should naturally lead to obedience and worship. The rhetorical question expresses God's astonishment and indignation that His people, despite witnessing His undeniable power in creation, fail to show Him this foundational reverence. It's a call to proper recognition of who He is, as demonstrated by His control over the natural world, such as setting boundaries for the sea (Psalm 33:8-9).
How does God's control over the sea relate to His control over human affairs?
God's control over the sea in Jeremiah 5:22 serves as a powerful metaphor and irrefutable evidence of His absolute sovereignty over all creation, including human affairs. If the LORD can effortlessly command the vast, powerful, and seemingly untamable ocean to stay within its bounds by a "perpetual decree," then He certainly has the power and authority to govern human actions, establish moral laws, and execute judgment. The sea's compelled obedience highlights the inexcusable nature of Judah's willful rebellion. It implies that just as natural laws are immutable, so too are God's moral laws, and His decrees concerning human conduct and judgment will inevitably be fulfilled (Isaiah 45:9-10).
What is the significance of the "sand" as the "bound of the sea"?
The "sand" (Hebrew chôwl) as the "bound" (Hebrew gᵉbûwl) of the sea is highly significant because it represents an apparently weak, loose, and porous material. This highlights the miraculous and counter-intuitive nature of God's power. It is not the inherent strength of the sand that holds back the mighty ocean, but the divine "perpetual decree" (Hebrew ʻôwlâm chôq). This imagery underscores that God's power operates not by brute force alone, but by His spoken word and unchangeable will. It demonstrates that even the most formidable forces of nature are utterly subservient to His quiet command, making His authority undeniable and His people's rebellion all the more egregious (Job 26:10).
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
Jeremiah 5:22, with its powerful depiction of God's sovereign control over the chaotic sea, finds its ultimate fulfillment and most profound expression in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The very God who "placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree" is revealed in the New Testament as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created and by whom all things hold together (Colossians 1:16-17). Jesus, as the incarnate Son of God, demonstrates this same divine authority over creation, most vividly seen when He rebukes the wind and the waves, commanding, "Peace! Be still!" and immediately there is a great calm (Mark 4:39). This miracle is a direct echo of the Creator's power in Jeremiah 5:22, revealing that the "presence" at which all should tremble is embodied in Him. Furthermore, the "fear of the LORD" that Judah lacked is perfectly exemplified in Christ's obedient life and His submission to His Father's will, even unto death (Philippians 2:8). Through His atoning sacrifice, Jesus addresses the very rebellion and lack of reverence that Jeremiah condemned, offering a path for humanity to be reconciled to the sovereign God and to live in true, reverent awe, no longer under the judgment of a broken covenant but under the grace of a new one (Hebrews 12:28-29). He is the ultimate fulfillment of God's perpetual decree, not only in creation but in redemption, bringing order to the chaos of sin and establishing an eternal kingdom that cannot be shaken.