Jeremiah 5:4 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jeremiah considers that poverty and ignorance might excuse their rebellion, but finds they lack knowledge of God's ways.
The Context of Jeremiah 5:4
Jeremiah reflects that perhaps ignorance and poverty explain the people's spiritual corruption.
What Does Jeremiah 5:4 Mean?
Jeremiah begins to reason about the source of corruption. Perhaps the problem is with the poor and uneducated masses—they might be excused for moral failure if they lack knowledge and resources. Their foolishness would then stem from ignorance of 'the way of the LORD' and the standards of divine judgment. Yet this reasoning, while sympathetic, only begins to explain the spiritual crisis.
The verse hints that ignorance cannot fully excuse rebellion. Even the poor have access to God's covenant ways through instruction and tradition. The deeper problem is not merely that they don't know, but that they have rejected knowledge and refused to learn. The phrase 'the way of the LORD' points to covenant instruction available to all Israel.
Jeremiah 5:4 in the Original Language
delet (דַּלִּ֖ים), 'poor' — economically vulnerable; carries connotations of weakness and dependence, used empathetically here.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jeremiah 5:4
What does Jeremiah 5:4 mean?
Jeremiah considers that poverty and ignorance might excuse their rebellion, but finds they lack knowledge of God's ways.
What is the context of Jeremiah 5:4?
Jeremiah reflects that perhaps ignorance and poverty explain the people's spiritual corruption.