Jeremiah 5:25 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 5:25 mean?

Jeremiah 5:25 says that the people's wrongdoing has blocked them from receiving good things from God. The verse makes clear that their own actions—specifically their iniquities and sins—have caused blessings to be withheld.

In this verse, the prophet Jeremiah is speaking to the people of Judah during a time when they are experiencing hardship and judgment. He points out that it is not God’s unwillingness to bless them, but rather their persistent wrongdoing that has “turned away” and “withheld” the good things God would have given. The verse is part of a larger warning about the consequences of turning away from God’s ways.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 5:25

• "iniquities" (עֲוֹנוֹת, ʿăwōnōt, H5771): This word often refers to deeply rooted moral faults or guilt, not just isolated mistakes. Jeremiah is highlighting that the people’s ongoing, serious wrongdoing has real consequences.
• "sins" (חַטֹּאות, ḥaṭṭāʾōt, H2403): This word points to acts of missing the mark or falling short of what is right. The verse uses both “iniquities” and “sins” to stress the depth and breadth of the people’s failures.
• "withholden" (מָנַע, mānaʿ, H4513): This word means to hold back or restrain. The verse is saying that good things have been actively kept away, not just absent by chance.
• "good" (טוֹב, ṭōḇ, H2896): This word covers all kinds of blessings, from rain and harvest to peace and well-being. Jeremiah is saying that all sorts of good things are being withheld because of the people’s choices.

Why Jeremiah 5:25 matters

• Jeremiah 5:25 clarifies that the lack of blessing is not random or due to God’s lack of care, but directly connected to the people’s own actions.
• The verse emphasizes personal responsibility, showing that the people’s choices have real, practical effects on their lives and community.
• In the wider passage, this verse helps explain why judgment is coming on Judah, connecting their spiritual condition to the hardships they are experiencing.