Jeremiah 5:8

KJV

They were [as] fed horses in the morning: every one neighed after his neighbour's wife.

KJV (with Strong's)

They were as fed {H2109} horses {H5483} in the morning {H7904}: every one {H376} neighed {H6670} after his neighbour's {H7453} wife {H802}.

Complete Jewish Bible

They have become like well-fed horses, lusty stallions, each one neighing after his neighbor's wife.

Berean Standard Bible

They are well-fed, lusty stallions, each neighing after his neighbor’s wife.

American Standard Version

they were as fed horses roaming at large; every one neighed after his neighbor’s wife.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 5:8 delivers a searing indictment of Judah's profound moral depravity, vividly portraying a society consumed by unbridled lust and rampant infidelity. The verse employs striking animalistic imagery to underscore the pervasive and unashamed pursuit of illicit sexual desires, revealing a complete breakdown of moral and covenantal boundaries that contributed significantly to God's impending judgment upon His people.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 5 is part of a larger prophetic discourse where God, through Jeremiah, searches Jerusalem for even one righteous person, only to find widespread corruption and rebellion. This chapter follows the initial laments and warnings, detailing specific sins that have provoked divine wrath. Verses 1-7 establish the people's refusal to repent and their persistent idolatry. Jeremiah 5:8 specifically zeroes in on the pervasive sexual immorality, which is presented not as an isolated sin but as a societal norm, demonstrating a profound spiritual unfaithfulness that mirrors Judah's abandonment of their covenant with God. The verses immediately following, such as [Jeremiah 5:9](/jeremiah/5-9 "Jeremiah 5:9 - God's Judgment on Sin"), directly link this moral decay to the coming divine retribution, emphasizing that such widespread sin cannot go unpunished.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Jeremiah prophesied during a tumultuous period in Judah's history, spanning the reigns of the last kings before the Babylonian exile (late 7th to early 6th centuries BCE). This era was marked by political instability, spiritual apostasy, and the pervasive influence of pagan cults, which often incorporated fertility rites and sexual promiscuity into their worship. Against this backdrop, the Mosaic Law, particularly the [commandment against adultery](/exodus/20-14 "Exodus 20:14 - The Seventh Commandment"), was a foundational pillar of Israelite society and their covenant relationship with Yahweh. The widespread infidelity described in Jeremiah 5:8 indicates a profound societal collapse, where the sacred institution of marriage and the very fabric of covenant loyalty were disregarded, reflecting their spiritual adultery against God.
* **Key Themes:** The verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Jeremiah and the broader prophetic literature. It highlights the **rampant adultery and lust** that had become endemic, illustrating a society where carnal appetites superseded divine commands. This points to a profound **lack of self-control** and discipline, reducing individuals to their base instincts. Consequently, the passage underscores the severe **moral degradation** that had afflicted Judah, where shame and moral compass were lost. Most significantly, this sexual infidelity serves as a potent symbol of Judah's **covenant unfaithfulness** to God, their divine Husband, echoing the prophetic imagery found in books like [Hosea](/hosea/1 "Hosea 1 - The Prophet's Marriage to Gomer") where Israel's idolatry is depicted as spiritual prostitution. The vivid imagery in Jeremiah 5:8 thus encapsulates the spiritual and moral bankruptcy that necessitated God's severe judgment.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **fed (Hebrew, _zûwn'_):** From a primitive root meaning "to nourish" or "to be plump," this word describes the horses as well-nourished, vigorous, and full of restless energy. In the context of the men of Judah, it suggests they are not weak or deprived, but rather robust and strong, yet their strength is channeled into unrestrained, destructive desires, indicating an abundance of physical capacity without moral restraint.
* **neighed (Hebrew, _tsâhal'_):** This root means "to gleam" or "to be cheerful," and by transference, "to sound clear" or "to cry aloud." Applied to horses, it describes their loud, eager cry. When used metaphorically for humans, as here, it vividly portrays a public, uninhibited, and almost animalistic expression of desire. It emphasizes the lack of shame or hiddenness in their pursuit of illicit sexual encounters, making their sin brazen and overt.
* **wife (Hebrew, _ʼishshâh'_):** This feminine noun refers to a woman, specifically a wife. The direct object of their lust is not just any woman, but specifically "his neighbour's wife." This detail is crucial, as it highlights the direct violation of the seventh commandment against adultery ([Exodus 20:14](/exodus/20-14 "Exodus 20:14 - The Commandment Against Adultery")), a sin that strikes at the heart of familial and societal order, and symbolizes the deeper spiritual adultery against God.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"They were [as] fed horses in the morning":** This clause establishes a powerful simile comparing the men of Judah to well-fed, vigorous stallions. The "fed" aspect implies robust health and unbridled energy, not hunger or deprivation. The phrase "in the morning" (Hebrew: _shâkâh_), while literally meaning "in the morning," is noted in the Strong's concordance as potentially a mistake for a root meaning "to roam (through lust)." If this deeper meaning is intended, it intensifies the image: these individuals are not merely energetic from the start of the day, but are already roaming with lustful intent, full of an insatiable, animalistic drive. This imagery underscores their lack of self-control and their readiness to pursue their desires without restraint.
* **"every one neighed after his neighbour's wife":** This second clause makes the comparison explicit and shocking. The "neighing" evokes the loud, public, and unashamed cry of a stallion in heat, pursuing a mare. Applied to men, it graphically illustrates their open, brazen, and widespread pursuit of adultery. The phrase "every one" emphasizes the pervasive nature of this sin, indicating it was not an isolated incident but a common, almost normalized behavior. The specific target, "his neighbour's wife," highlights the direct violation of God's covenant law and the profound disrespect for the sanctity of marriage and community bonds.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 5:8 is rich in **Simile** and **Metaphor**, comparing the men of Judah to "fed horses" to vividly convey their unbridled lust and lack of moral restraint. This is a powerful instance of **Zoomorphism**, where human behavior is reduced to animalistic instincts, stripping the people of their dignity and highlighting their moral degradation. The word "neighed" (Hebrew: _tsâhal_) is a strong example of **Onomatopoeia**, mimicking the sound of a horse and thereby intensifying the auditory and emotional impact of their brazen pursuit of illicit desires. The verse also employs **Hyperbole** to emphasize the pervasive and shocking extent of the sexual immorality, suggesting that such behavior was not merely present but rampant and unashamed throughout society.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 5:8 serves as a stark theological commentary on the consequences of spiritual apostasy and the breakdown of covenant fidelity. The rampant sexual immorality described is not merely a social problem but a profound theological one, symbolizing Judah's spiritual adultery against Yahweh, their divine Husband. When a people forsakes God, the source of all moral order, their society inevitably descends into chaos and depravity. This verse illustrates the depth of human depravity when left to its own devices, highlighting how unchecked desires lead to the violation of foundational divine commands and the erosion of societal trust. It underscores God's unwavering justice, demonstrating that such widespread sin cannot go unpunished, and foreshadows the severe judgment that will befall Judah.

* [Exodus 20:14](/exodus/20-14 "Exodus 20:14 - The Seventh Commandment Against Adultery")
* [Hosea 4:1-2](/hosea/4-1-2 "Hosea 4:1-2 - Israel's Unfaithfulness and Judgment")
* [Matthew 5:27-28](/matthew/5-27-28 "Matthew 5:27-28 - Jesus' Teaching on Adultery and Lust")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 5:8 stands as a timeless warning, urging us to confront the insidious nature of unchecked desires and the societal decay that inevitably follows spiritual abandonment. For believers today, this verse powerfully calls us to a radical commitment to personal purity and moral integrity, recognizing that true freedom is found not in unrestrained indulgence but in disciplined submission to God's will. It challenges us to cultivate self-control over our thoughts, eyes, and actions, especially in an age saturated with sexualized imagery and casual attitudes toward fidelity. Furthermore, it compels us to uphold the sanctity of marriage as a sacred covenant, reflecting Christ's relationship with the Church, and to resist any cultural currents that erode its foundational importance. Ultimately, this passage reminds us that moral corruption is often a symptom of deeper spiritual unfaithfulness, prompting us to examine our own hearts and ensure our ultimate allegiance remains with God, preventing the kind of spiritual and societal breakdown witnessed in ancient Judah.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might my own desires, if left unchecked, lead to spiritual or moral compromise?**
* **How does the pervasive nature of sin in Jeremiah's time compare to moral challenges in society today, and what is my role in resisting such trends?**
* **What practical steps can I take to cultivate greater self-control and uphold the sanctity of marriage and purity in my personal life and community?**

### FAQ
**Why is the imagery of "fed horses" used to describe the people of Judah?**

Answer: The imagery of "fed horses" (specifically stallions) is used to vividly portray the people's state of being well-nourished, vigorous, and full of restless energy, yet utterly lacking in moral restraint. Just as a well-fed horse might be full of unbridled power and prone to run wild, so too were the people of Judah. This metaphor emphasizes that their sin was not born of weakness or deprivation, but rather from an abundance of physical capacity channeled into unbridled lust. The KJV's "in the morning" (H7904) might even carry a deeper Hebrew nuance suggesting they were "roaming through lust" from the very start of their day, highlighting their eagerness and insatiable appetite for illicit sexual encounters, reducing them to their base, animalistic instincts.

**How does this verse relate to Judah's broader spiritual condition and God's covenant with them?**

Answer: Jeremiah 5:8 is a powerful illustration of Judah's profound spiritual unfaithfulness, which is often depicted in the Old Testament as spiritual adultery or prostitution. Just as physical adultery breaks the sacred covenant of marriage, Judah's widespread sexual immorality symbolized their broken covenant with God. They had forsaken the Lord, their divine Husband, for idols and illicit practices, violating the very heart of the Mosaic Law, particularly the [seventh commandment](/exodus/20-14 "Exodus 20:14 - The Commandment Against Adultery"). This moral decay was a direct consequence and manifestation of their spiritual apostasy, demonstrating a complete disregard for God's authority and their covenant obligations, thus necessitating divine judgment as described throughout [Jeremiah](/jeremiah/1 "Jeremiah 1 - The Book of Jeremiah").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 5:8, with its stark depiction of unbridled lust and covenant infidelity, finds its ultimate fulfillment and radical solution in Jesus Christ. While the Old Covenant exposed humanity's inability to keep God's commands, even the seventh commandment against adultery, Christ came not to abolish the Law but to fulfill it ([Matthew 5:17](/matthew/5-17 "Matthew 5:17 - Jesus Fulfills the Law")). He elevates the standard beyond mere external compliance, declaring that lust in the heart is itself a form of adultery ([Matthew 5:28](/matthew/5-28 "Matthew 5:28 - Jesus on Lust")). This highlights that the problem is not merely outward behavior but the deep-seated corruption of the human heart, which Jeremiah 5:8 so vividly portrays. Jesus, the spotless [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), offers forgiveness for such pervasive sin, as seen in His compassionate encounter with the woman caught in adultery ([John 8:1-11](/john/8-1-11 "John 8:1-11 - Jesus and the Adulterous Woman")), and provides the Holy Spirit to empower believers to live lives of self-control and purity, transforming them into new creations ([2 Corinthians 5:17](/2_corinthians/5-17 "2 Corinthians 5:17 - New Creation in Christ")). Furthermore, Christ is the faithful Bridegroom who establishes a new covenant with His Church, a relationship characterized by unwavering fidelity and purity, contrasting sharply with Judah's spiritual adultery and offering the ultimate hope for true covenant faithfulness ([Ephesians 5:25-27](/ephesians/5-25-27 "Ephesians 5:25-27 - Christ's Love for the Church")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Jeremiah 13:27

I have seen thine adulteries, and thy neighings, the lewdness of thy whoredom, [and] thine abominations on the hills in the fields. Woe unto thee, O Jerusalem! wilt thou not be made clean? when [shall it] once [be]?

Ezekiel 22:11

And one hath committed abomination with his neighbour's wife; and another hath lewdly defiled his daughter in law; and another in thee hath humbled his sister, his father's daughter.

Genesis 39:9

[There is] none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou [art] his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

Job 31:9

¶ If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or [if] I have laid wait at my neighbour's door;

2 Samuel 11:2

And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman [was] very beautiful to look upon.

2 Samuel 11:4

And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.

Exodus 20:17

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that [is] thy neighbour's.