Therefore I said, Surely these are poor; they are foolish: for they know not the way of the LORD, nor the judgment of their God.

JEREMIAH 5:4KJV
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Jeremiah 5:4 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 5:4 mean?

Jeremiah 5:4 describes the prophet Jeremiah’s reaction as he observes the people of Judah, thinking that their lack of understanding and wrongdoing must be because they are “poor” and “foolish,” not knowing the way of the LORD or God’s judgment. Jeremiah assumes that these people are simply ignorant of God’s expectations and justice.

In this verse, Jeremiah is speaking to himself as he tries to make sense of why so many in Jerusalem are living unjustly and ignoring God’s ways. He wonders if the problem is that the common people have not been taught or do not understand what God wants, so they act without knowledge of the LORD (יהוה, Yahweh) or His standards for right and wrong. This sets up Jeremiah’s next step, where he decides to approach the leaders to see if they are any different.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 5:4

  • “Poor” (דַּלִּים, dallim): This word means more than just lacking money; it often refers to people with little power, influence, or education. Jeremiah is not just talking about poverty, but about those who might not have had the chance to learn.
  • “Foolish” (אֱוִילִים, evilim): This word carries the sense of lacking sense or wisdom, not just being silly. Jeremiah is suggesting these people are not willfully rebellious, but rather lack understanding.
  • “Way” (דֶּרֶךְ, derekh): This word means a path or manner of life. Not knowing “the way of the LORD” suggests they do not know how God wants them to live, not just that they are unaware of rules.
  • “Judgment” (מִשְׁפָּט, mishpat): This word means justice or the right decision. Jeremiah is concerned that the people do not understand God’s standards for justice and fairness.

Why Jeremiah 5:4 matters

  • Jeremiah 5:4 shows Jeremiah’s initial hope that ignorance, not stubbornness, explains the people’s wrongdoing, which highlights his compassion and desire to give them the benefit of the doubt.
  • The verse sets up a contrast between the common people and the leaders, preparing the reader for Jeremiah’s realization that the problem is widespread and not limited to one group.
  • By focusing on knowing “the way of the LORD” and “the judgment of their God,” the verse emphasizes that true faith involves understanding and living by God’s standards, not just outward belonging to God’s people.