New English Translation
Jeremiah 2:24
24You are like a wild female donkey brought up in the wilderness. In her lust she sniffs the wind to get the scent of a male. No one can hold her back when she is in heat. None of the males need wear themselves out chasing after her. At mating time she is easy to find.
Jeremiah 2:24 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)A wild ass used to the wilderness, that snuffeth up the wind at her pleasure; in her occasion who can turn her away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her.
- New International Version (NIV)a wild donkey accustomed to the desert, sniffing the wind in her craving— in her heat who can restrain her? Any males that pursue her need not tire themselves; at mating time they will find her.
- English Standard Version (ESV)a wild donkey used to the wilderness, in her heat sniffing the wind! Who can restrain her lust? None who seek her need weary themselves; in her month they will find her.
- New King James Version (NKJV)A wild donkey used to the wilderness, That sniffs at the wind in her desire; In her time of mating, who can turn her away? All those who seek her will not weary themselves; In her month they will find her.
Context of Jeremiah 2:24
22You can try to wash away your guilt with a strong detergent. You can use as much soap as you want. But the stain of your guilt is still there for me to see,” says the Lord God. 23“How can you say, ‘I have not made myself unclean. I have not paid allegiance to the gods called Baal.’ Just look at the way you have behaved in the Valley of Hinnom! Think about the things you have done there! You are like a flighty, young female camel that rushes here and there, crisscrossing its path. You are like a wild female donkey brought up in the wilderness. In her lust she sniffs the wind to get the scent of a male. No one can hold her back when she is in heat. None of the males need wear themselves out chasing after her. At mating time she is easy to find. 25Do not chase after other gods until your shoes wear out and your throats become dry. But you say, ‘It is useless for you to try and stop me because I love those foreign gods and want to pursue them!’ 26Just as a thief has to suffer dishonor when he is caught, so the people of Israel will suffer dishonor for what they have done. So will their kings and officials, their priests and their prophets.
Read all of Jeremiah 2Jeremiah 2:24 word by word
פֶּ֣רֶה׀ לִמֻּ֣ד מִדְבָּ֗ר בְּאַוַּ֤ת נַפְשָׁהּ֙ שָׁאֲפָ֣ה ר֔וּחַ תַּאֲנָתָ֖הּ מִ֣י יְשִׁיבֶ֑נָּה כָּל־מְבַקְשֶׁ֙יהָ֙ לֹ֣א יִיעָ֔פוּ בְּחָדְשָׁ֖הּ יִמְצָאֽוּנְהָ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- A wild assפֶּ֫רֶאpere' pereh · wild donkeyH6501
- usedלִמֻּדlimmûd limmûd · discipleH3928
- to the wildernessמִדְבָּרmidbâr · wildernessH4057
- snuffeth upשָׁאַףshâ'aph · to long forH7602
- the windרוּחַrûach · spirit: breathH7307
- at her pleasureנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soul: myselfH5315
- at her pleasureאַוָּה'avvâh · desireH185
- in her occasionתַּאֲנָהta'ănâh tô'ănâh · heatH8385
- who can turn her awayשׁוּבshûb · to return: turn backH7725
- all they that seekבָּקַשׁbâqash · to seekH1245
- her will not wearyיָעֵףyâ‛aph · to faintH3286
- themselves; in her monthחֹ֫דֶשׁchôdesh · monthH2320
- they shall findמָצָאmâtsâ' · to findH4672
Cross-references for Jeremiah 2:24
- Jeremiah 14:6Wild donkeys stand on the hilltops and pant for breath like jackals. Their eyes are strained looking for food, because there is none to be found.”
- Job 11:12But an empty man will become wise, when a wild donkey’s colt is born a human being.
- Job 39:5Who let the wild donkey go free? Who released the bonds of the donkey,
- Jeremiah 2:27They say to a wooden idol, ‘You are my father.’ They say to a stone image, ‘You gave birth to me.’ Yes, they have turned away from me instead of turning to me. Yet when they are in trouble, they say, ‘Come and save us!’
- Hosea 5:15Then I will return again to my lair until they have suffered their punishment. Then they will seek me; in their distress they will earnestly seek me.
Commentaries on Jeremiah 2:24
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 24A wild ass used to the wilderness - Another comparison to express the same thing. Snuffeth up the wind - In a high fever from the inward heat felt at such times, these animals open their mouths and nostrils as wide as possible, to take in large draughts of fresh air, in order to cool them. In her mouth they shall find her - The meaning is, that although such animals are exceedingly fierce and dangerous when they are in this state; yet, as soon as they…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 24A wild donkey used to the wilderness - The type of an untamed and reckless nature. Snuffeth up the wind - The wind brings with it the scent of the male. Israel does not wait until temptation comes of itself, but looks out for any and every incentive to idolatry. Occasion month - i. e., the pairing season.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 20-28Verses 20-28 Notwithstanding all their advantages, Israel had become like the wild vine that bears poisonous fruit. Men are often as much under the power of their unbridled desires and their sinful lusts, as the brute beasts. But the Lord here warns them not to weary themselves in pursuits which could only bring distress and misery. As we must not despair of the mercy of God, but believe that to be sufficient for the pardon of our sins, so neither must we…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 23-37Israel did not act like a loyal wife. Instead, she acted like: A wild animal in heat (Jeremiah 2:23–25) A thief (Jeremiah 2:26–30) A prostitute (Jeremiah 2:31–3:5)Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2424. (Jr 14:6; Job 39:5). "A wild ass," agreeing with "thou" (Jr 2:23). at her pleasure--rather, "in her ardor," namely, in pursuit of a male, sniffing the wind to ascertain where one is to be found [Maurer]. occasion--either from a Hebrew root, "to meet"; "her meeting (with the male for sexual intercourse), who can avert it?" Or better from an Arabic root: "her heat (sexual impulse), who can allay it?" [Maurer]. all they--whichever of the males desire her…Read the comment
Topics related to Jeremiah 2:24
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Jeremiah 2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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