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.

Therefore I said {H559}, Surely these are poor {H1800}; they are foolish {H2973}: for they know {H3045} not the way {H1870} of the LORD {H3068}, nor the judgment {H4941} of their God {H430}.

My reaction was, "These must be the poor, the foolish, not knowing the way of ADONAI or the rulings of their God.

Then I said, “They are only the poor; they have played the fool, for they do not know the way of the LORD, the justice of their God.

Then I said, Surely these are poor; they are foolish; for they know not the way of Jehovah, nor the law of their God:

Jeremiah 5:4 presents the prophet Jeremiah's initial assessment of the common people in ancient Judah, concluding that their lack of understanding regarding God's ways and judgments is the root cause of their spiritual folly and moral decay.

Context

This verse is part of a larger prophetic lament and warning delivered by Jeremiah during a critical period in Judah's history, shortly before the Babylonian exile. God had instructed Jeremiah to "run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem" (Jeremiah 5:1) to find if there was anyone who executed justice or sought truth. Jeremiah's search initially leads him to observe the common people, believing their ignorance might be excusable due to their social standing or lack of education. He attributes their widespread sin not to deliberate malice, but to a fundamental "ignorance of God's law" and His righteous expectations. This sets the stage for his subsequent observation of the leaders in the following verse (Jeremiah 5:5), revealing an even deeper spiritual corruption.

Key Themes

  • Spiritual Ignorance: The central theme is the profound lack of spiritual knowledge among the people. They are described as "foolish" because they do not comprehend God's moral standards or His covenant relationship with them. This ignorance leads to widespread sin and a departure from divine principles.
  • The Way of the LORD: This phrase (Hebrew: derek Yahweh) signifies God's established path of righteousness, His moral commands, His covenant requirements, and His divine will. It encompasses both His laws and His character. Their ignorance of this "way" means they are living contrary to God's design for their lives and their nation.
  • The Judgment of God: The word "judgment" (Hebrew: mishpat) here refers not primarily to divine punishment, but to God's righteous ordinances, His just decrees, and His standard of justice. To not know God's "judgment" means they do not understand His principles of justice, equity, and righteousness that should govern their society and personal conduct. They fail to live by God's ethical framework.
  • Consequences of Unbelief/Ignorance: The verse implicitly highlights that a lack of true knowledge of God and His ways inevitably leads to moral decline and spiritual blindness, which ultimately invites divine discipline.

Linguistic Insights

The term "foolish" (Hebrew: nabal) used here implies more than mere unintelligence; it often denotes moral depravity and spiritual insensitivity, a person who ignores God and His commands. It's the kind of foolishness that leads to corruption, as seen in Psalm 14:1 where "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God." The "way of the LORD" (derek Yahweh) is a recurring biblical concept, emphasizing the path of life God intends for His people, rooted in His statutes and commands, as often illuminated in the Psalms.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 5:4 serves as a timeless reminder of the critical importance of knowing God and His Word. For believers today, it underscores that true wisdom and a righteous life stem from an intimate understanding of God's "way" and His "judgments."

  • Seek Knowledge of God: We are called to diligently study God's Word (2 Timothy 2:15) and seek to understand His character, His commands, and His purposes. Ignorance of God is not bliss; it leads to spiritual and moral peril.
  • Live by God's Standards: Understanding God's "judgment" (His righteous standards) means actively striving to live justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with Him (Micah 6:8). This applies to personal ethics, societal engagement, and our interactions with others.
  • Beware of Spiritual Apathy: The verse warns against a casual or indifferent attitude towards spiritual truth. A lack of concern for God's will can lead to foolish choices and detrimental consequences, even if not born of outright rebellion.

Ultimately, this verse challenges us to move beyond superficial faith and cultivate a deep, transformative knowledge of the Lord and His righteous paths, ensuring our lives reflect His wisdom and justice.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Jeremiah 8:7

    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.

  • Hosea 4:6

    ¶ My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

  • Matthew 11:5

    The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

  • Isaiah 28:9

    ¶ Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? [them that are] weaned from the milk, [and] drawn from the breasts.

  • Isaiah 28:13

    But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, [and] there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

  • Isaiah 27:11

    When the boughs thereof are withered, they shall be broken off: the women come, [and] set them on fire: for it [is] a people of no understanding: therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them, and he that formed them will shew them no favour.

  • Jeremiah 7:8

    Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit.

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