Jeremiah 5:24 Meaning and Explanation
“Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The people do not acknowledge God as the source of life's necessities—rain for crops and the seasons that sustain them.
The Context of Jeremiah 5:24
The people fail to acknowledge God as the source of life's necessities—rain and seasonal provision for the harvest.
What Does Jeremiah 5:24 Mean?
The verse describes what the people refuse to do: they do not say in their hearts, 'Let us fear the LORD our God.' Instead of recognizing God as the source of their livelihood, they take the natural world for granted. God gives rain—both the early rains (former) and late rains (latter) essential to agriculture in Palestine. He orders the seasons and has decreed the harvest weeks. Every natural process that sustains their life reflects divine provision and order.
This verse shows that even practical dependence on God should move them to reverence and obedience. They eat bread they did not make, drink water God provides, live in seasons He orders. Yet they do not connect these basic gifts to gratitude toward God or to obedience to His law. The refusal to acknowledge God as provider is a root sin leading to idolatry and covenant breaking. If they would only say in their hearts, 'Let us fear the LORD,' their rebellion would end. But this most basic recognition is absent.
Jeremiah 5:24 in the Original Language
malqosh (מַלְקוֹשׁ), 'latter' — the spring rains; essential to bring the grain harvest to completion in Palestine.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jeremiah 5:24
What does Jeremiah 5:24 mean?
The people do not acknowledge God as the source of life's necessities—rain for crops and the seasons that sustain them.
What is the context of Jeremiah 5:24?
The people fail to acknowledge God as the source of life's necessities—rain and seasonal provision for the harvest.