Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst: but thou saidst, There is no hope: no; for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go.
JEREMIAH 2:25KJVWhat does Jeremiah 2:25 mean?
Jeremiah 2:25 describes God warning the people of Judah not to exhaust themselves chasing after other gods, using images of going barefoot and being thirsty to show the cost of their actions. Despite this warning, the people stubbornly insist there is no hope of change, saying they love foreign gods and will keep following them.
In this verse, God is speaking through the prophet Jeremiah to the people of Judah, who have turned away from Him to worship other gods. The language paints a vivid picture of someone worn out from pursuing these "strangers"—foreign gods—yet refusing to stop. The verse highlights both God's warning and the people's determined rejection, setting the stage for the wider message of Jeremiah about faithfulness and the consequences of spiritual unfaithfulness.
The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 2:25
- "Withhold" (כָּלָא, kalaʾ H4513) means to restrain or hold back. Here, God urges the people to stop themselves from further harm.
- "Unshod" (יָחֵף, yaḥēf H3182) refers to being barefoot, which in ancient times suggested hardship or desperation; it shows how far the people have gone in their pursuit.
- "Strangers" (זָר, zar H2114) means foreigners or outsiders, in this context referring to foreign gods. The word emphasizes that these objects of devotion are not only different but also do not belong to Israel.
- "Hope" (יָאֵשׁ, yaʾēsh H2976) carries the sense of despair or giving up. The people respond that there is no point in trying to change, showing their deep resignation.
Why Jeremiah 2:25 matters
- Jeremiah 2:25 clears up the idea that the people’s idolatry was casual; the verse shows it as a desperate, costly pursuit that leaves them worn out and empty.
- The verse reveals the stubbornness of the people, who openly admit their attachment to foreign gods and their refusal to turn back, even when warned.
- This verse connects to the wider passage by showing the depth of Judah’s spiritual unfaithfulness and setting up God’s case against them in the chapters that follow.