Jeremiah 5:22 Meaning and Explanation
“Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God appeals to the people through creation itself: if they will not fear Him, at least acknowledge His power shown in the sea's boundaries.
The Context of Jeremiah 5:22
God reminds the people of His power through creation: the sea obeys His decree and cannot transgress its boundary.
What Does Jeremiah 5:22 Mean?
God asks two rhetorical questions: 'Fear ye not me? Will ye not tremble at my presence?' These call the people to recognize God's authority. To support His appeal, God points to His work in creation—specifically, the boundary He has set for the sea. Sand forms the shore, and though the waves toss and roar with great force, they cannot transgress this boundary. The sand, seemingly fragile, holds firm by 'perpetual decree.'
This nature imagery teaches a crucial truth: God maintains cosmic order through His word alone. The powerful forces of the sea obey God's limit; by contrast, the foolish people refuse to obey God's moral law. If creation itself respects God's boundary, should not rational beings do so? The reference to creation appeals to observable reality—everyone can see the sea held within its bounds. Yet this very evidence of God's power should move the people to fear Him and accept His judgment. Their refusal to heed the lesson written in nature demonstrates willful blindness.
Jeremiah 5:22 in the Original Language
matzav (מַצָּב), 'bound' — a fixed limit, decree, or order; what is set and cannot be moved.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jeremiah 5:22
What does Jeremiah 5:22 mean?
God appeals to the people through creation itself: if they will not fear Him, at least acknowledge His power shown in the sea's boundaries.
What is the context of Jeremiah 5:22?
God reminds the people of His power through creation: the sea obeys His decree and cannot transgress its boundary.