The Meaning of Jeremiah 14:8 Explained

Jeremiah 14:8

KJV: O the hope of Israel, the saviour thereof in time of trouble, why shouldest thou be as a stranger in the land, and as a wayfaring man that turneth aside to tarry for a night?

YLT: O Hope of Israel -- its saviour in time of trouble, Why art Thou as a sojourner in the land? And as a traveller turned aside to lodge?

Darby: Thou hope of Israel, its Saviour in the time of trouble, why wilt thou be as a stranger in the land, and as a traveller that turneth aside to stay a night?

ASV: O thou hope of Israel, the Saviour thereof in the time of trouble, why shouldest thou be as a sojourner in the land, and as a wayfaring man that turneth aside to tarry for a night?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

O the hope  of Israel,  the saviour  thereof in time  of trouble,  why shouldest thou be as a stranger  in the land,  and as a wayfaring man  [that] turneth aside  to tarry for a night? 

What does Jeremiah 14:8 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Yahweh had been Israel"s hope (cf. Jeremiah 17:7; Jeremiah 17:13; Jeremiah 50:7; Psalm 71:5; Joel 3:16; Acts 28:20; Colossians 1:27; 1 Timothy 1:1) and her Savior in times of distress (cf. 2 Samuel 22:3; Psalm 106:21; Isaiah 43:3; Isaiah 43:11; Isaiah 45:15; Isaiah 49:26; Isaiah 60:16; Hosea 13:4). But now He was acting like a stranger or a passing traveler. Such people normally have little real concern for the land through which they travel and the locals around them.

Chapter Summary: Jeremiah 14

1  The grievous famine,
7  causes Jeremiah to pray
10  The Lord will not be entreated for the people
13  false prophets are no excuse for them
17  Jeremiah is moved to complain for them

What do the individual words in Jeremiah 14:8 mean?

The Hope of Israel his Savior in time of trouble why should You be like a stranger in the land and like a traveler [who] turns aside to tarry for a night
מִקְוֵה֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מֽוֹשִׁיע֖וֹ בְּעֵ֣ת צָרָ֑ה לָ֤מָּה תִֽהְיֶה֙ כְּגֵ֣ר בָּאָ֔רֶץ וּכְאֹרֵ֖חַ נָטָ֥ה לָלֽוּן

מִקְוֵה֙  The  Hope 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מִקְוֶה 
Sense: hope.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל  of  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
מֽוֹשִׁיע֖וֹ  his  Savior 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: יָשַׁע 
Sense: to save, be saved, be delivered.
בְּעֵ֣ת  in  time 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, common singular construct
Root: עֵת  
Sense: time.
צָרָ֑ה  of  trouble 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: צָרָה 
Sense: straits, distress, trouble.
לָ֤מָּה  why 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: לָמָּה 
Sense: what, how, of what kind.
תִֽהְיֶה֙  should  You  be 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
כְּגֵ֣ר  like  a  stranger 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular
Root: גֵּר  
Sense: sojourner.
בָּאָ֔רֶץ  in  the  land 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
וּכְאֹרֵ֖חַ  and  like  a  traveler 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: אָרַח  
Sense: to wander, journey, go, keep company with.
נָטָ֥ה  [who]  turns  aside 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָטָה 
Sense: to stretch out, extend, spread out, pitch, turn, pervert, incline, bend, bow.
לָלֽוּן  to  tarry  for  a  night 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: לוּן 
Sense: to lodge, stop over, pass the night, abide.