They have sown wheat, but shall reap thorns: they have put themselves to pain, but shall not profit: and they shall be ashamed of your revenues because of the fierce anger of the LORD.
They planted wheat, but they will harvest thorns instead. They worked hard and suffered, but it won't do them any good. They will be disappointed by their crops because of the LORD's burning anger.
God is saying that people's hard work will fail and produce nothing good when they face His judgment for their disobedience.
📚 Historical Context
Jeremiah was prophesying to the people of Judah before the Babylonian exile, warning them about the consequences of their unfaithfulness to God. The agricultural imagery would have been very meaningful to a society that depended heavily on farming for survival. This verse describes how even their basic efforts to grow food and sustain themselves would be frustrated as part of God's judgment.
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