Tree of Life Version
Jeremiah 4:22
22“For My people are foolish. They do not know Me. They are senseless children, and they have no understanding. They are wise to do evil, but to do good they do not know.”
Jeremiah 4:22 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.
- New International Version (NIV)“My people are fools; they do not know me. They are senseless children; they have no understanding. They are skilled in doing evil; they know not how to do good.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)"For my people are foolish; they know me not; they are stupid children; they have no understanding. They are 'wise'—in doing evil! But how to do good they know not."
- New King James Version (NKJV)“For My people are foolish, They have not known Me. They are silly children, And they have no understanding. They are wise to do evil, But to do good they have no knowledge.”
Context of Jeremiah 4:22
20Disaster on disaster is reported. So the whole land is ruined. My tents are suddenly ravaged, my curtains in an instant. 21How long must I see the battle standard and hear the sound of the shofar? “For My people are foolish. They do not know Me. They are senseless children, and they have no understanding. They are wise to do evil, but to do good they do not know.” 23I looked at the earth and behold, it was deserted and desolate, and at the heavens and they had no light. 24I looked at the mountains— behold, they were shaking and all the hills swaying to and fro.
Read all of Jeremiah 4Jeremiah 4:22 word by word
כִּ֣י׀ אֱוִ֣יל עַמִּ֗י אוֹתִי֙ לֹ֣א יָדָ֔עוּ בָּנִ֤ים סְכָלִים֙ הֵ֔מָּה וְלֹ֥א נְבוֹנִ֖ים הֵ֑מָּה חֲכָמִ֥ים הֵ֙מָּה֙ לְהָרַ֔ע וּלְהֵיטִ֖יב לֹ֥א יָדָֽעוּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- For my peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
- foolishאֱוִיל'ĕvîyl · fool(ish)H191
- they have not knownיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
- sottishסָכָלsâkâl · foolH5530
- childrenבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- and they have none understandingבִּיןbîyn · to understandH995
- wiseחָכָםchâkâm · wiseH2450
- to do evilרָעַעrâ‛a‛ · be evilH7489
- but to do goodיָטַבyâţab · be goodH3190
Cross-references for Jeremiah 4:22
- Jeremiah 5:4Then I said: These are only the poor. They are foolish. For they do not know the way of Adonai, the ordinance of their God.
- Jeremiah 8:7Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed times, and the turtledove, swallow and crane observe the time of their migration, but My people do not know the judgments of Adonai.
- Deuteronomy 32:6Is this how you pay back Adonai, O foolish, unwise people? Isn’t He your Father who ransomed you? He made you and established you.
- Psalms 14:1For the music director, of David. The fool said in his heart: “There is no God.” They are corrupt; their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.
- Isaiah 1:3The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its manger, but Israel does not know, My people do not understand.”
- Isaiah 6:9Then He said: “Go! Tell this people: ‘Hear without understanding, and see without perceiving.’
- Isaiah 27:11When the boughs are withered, they will be broken off. Women come and set them on fire, for it is a people of no understanding. Therefore their Maker will show them no mercy—He who formed them will give them no grace.
- Psalms 49:10Will he live forever— and never see the Pit?
- Jeremiah 42:19Adonai has spoken concerning you, O remnant of Judah: “Do not go to Egypt. Know for sure that I have forewarned you this day!
- Hosea 4:1Hear the word of Adonai, Bnei-Yisrael! For Adonai has a dispute with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, no covenant loyalty, and no knowledge of God in the land.
- Matthew 23:16“Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘Whoever swears by the Temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the Temple, he is obligated.’
- Romans 1:22Claiming to be wise, they became fools.
- Romans 3:11There is no one who understands, no one who seeks after God.
- Hosea 5:4They will not give up their evil deeds to return to their God. For a spirit of prostitution is in them, and Adonai they have not known.
- John 16:3They will do these things because they have never known the Father or Me.
- Romans 1:28And just as they did not see fit to recognize God, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what is not fitting.
Commentaries on Jeremiah 4:22
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 19-31Verses 19-31 The prophet had no pleasure in delivering messages of wrath. He is shown in a vision the whole land in confusion. Compared with what it was, every thing is out of order; but the ruin of the Jewish nation would not be final. Every end of our comforts is not a full end. Though the Lord may correct his people very severely, yet he will not cast them off. Ornaments and false colouring would be of no avail. No outward privileges or profession, no…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2222. Jehovah's reply; they cannot be otherwise than miserable, since they persevere in sin. The repetition of clauses gives greater force to the sentiment. wise ... evil ... to do good ... no knowledge--reversing the rule (Ro 16:19) "wise unto ... good, simple concerning evil."Read the comment
Topics related to Jeremiah 4:22
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Jeremiah 4
- 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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