Jeremiah 5:4 web — Then I said, "Surely these are poor. They are foolish; for they don't know the way of Yahweh, nor the law of their God.

World English Bible

"Then I said, "Surely these are poor. They are foolish; for they don't know the way of Yahweh, nor the law of their God."

— Jeremiah 5:4, World English Bible

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Jeremiah 5:4 in Other Translations

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Jeremiah 5 — Context

1

"Run back and forth through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places of it, if you can find a man, if there are any who does justly, who seeks truth; and I will pardon her.

2

Though they say, 'As Yahweh lives;' surely they swear falsely."

3

O Yahweh, don't your eyes look on truth? You have stricken them, but they were not grieved. You have consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction. They have made their faces harder than a rock. They have refused to return.

4

Then I said, "Surely these are poor. They are foolish; for they don't know the way of Yahweh, nor the law of their God.

5

I will go to the great men, and will speak to them; for they know the way of Yahweh, and the law of their God." But these with one accord have broken the yoke, and burst the bonds.

6

Therefore a lion out of the forest shall kill them, a wolf of the evenings shall destroy them, a leopard shall watch against their cities; everyone who goes out there shall be torn in pieces; because their transgressions are many, [and] their backsliding is increased.

7

"How can I pardon you? Your children have forsaken me, and sworn by what are no gods. When I had fed them to the full, they committed adultery, and assembled themselves in troops at the prostitutes' houses.

Jeremiah 5:4 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Jeremiah 5:4 say?
Jeremiah 5:4 in the World English Bible reads: “Then I said, "Surely these are poor. They are foolish; for they don't know the way of Yahweh, nor the law of their God.”
Where is Jeremiah 5:4 in the Bible?
Jeremiah 5:4 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Jeremiah, chapter 5, verse 4.
Who wrote Jeremiah?
Jeremiah is traditionally attributed to Jeremiah, with scribal help from Baruch. It was written c. 627–580 BC.
What is the book of Jeremiah about?
Jeremiah, the "weeping prophet," ministered through Judah's slow-motion collapse — pleading with kings and people to repent, suffering imprisonment for his message, and ultimately watching Jerusalem fall. Yet in the midst of judgment he promises a new covenant written on the heart.
What are the major themes of Jeremiah?
Jeremiah explores themes including Judgment, Repentance, New Covenant, Suffering Prophet, Hope. These themes shape the meaning and context of Jeremiah 5:4.
What translation should I read Jeremiah 5:4 in?
Jeremiah 5:4 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Jeremiah 5:4?
Jeremiah 5:4 reads (WEB): “Then I said, "Surely these are poor. They are foolish; for they don't know the way of Yahweh, nor the law of their God.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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