Jeremiah 2:24

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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)You are like a wild donkey, sniffing the wind at mating time. Who can restrain her lust? Those who desire her don’t need to search, for she goes running to them!

Context of Jeremiah 2:24

22Although you wash yourself with soap and use an abundance of cleansing powder, the stain of your guilt is still before me,” declares the Sovereign Lord. 23“How can you say, ‘I am not defiled; I have not run after the Baals’? See how you behaved in the valley; consider what you have done. You are a swift she-camel running here and there, 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. 25Do not run until your feet are bare and your throat is dry. But you said, ‘It’s no use! I love foreign gods, and I must go after them.’ 26“As a thief is disgraced when he is caught, so the people of Israel are disgraced— they, their kings and their officials, their priests and their prophets.

Jeremiah 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 barren heights and pant like jackals; their eyes fail for lack of food.”
• Job 11:12But the witless can no more become wise than a wild donkey’s colt can be born human.
• Job 39:5“Who let the wild donkey go free? Who untied its ropes?
• Jeremiah 2:27They say to wood, ‘You are my father,’ and to stone, ‘You gave me birth.’ They have turned their backs to me and not their faces; yet when they are in trouble, they say, ‘Come and save us!’
• Hosea 5:15Then I will return to my lair until they have borne their guilt and seek my face— in their misery 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

• Animals
• Ass (Donkey)
• Church
• Menstruation
• Temptation
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

• Ass
• Attire
• Bitter
• Cry
• Degenerate
• Handle
• Hold
• Holiness
• Noble
• Appetite

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