Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?
Don't you fear me? says the LORD. Won't you tremble in my presence? I am the one who set the sand as a boundary for the sea by an everlasting command that it cannot cross. Even though the waves crash and toss violently, they cannot overcome it. Though they roar loudly, they still cannot pass over that boundary.
God is asking why people don't respect His awesome power, pointing to how He controls even the mighty ocean as proof of His authority.
📚 Historical Context
In the 7th century BC, the prophet Jeremiah was speaking to the people of Judah during a time of moral decline and impending judgment from Babylon, as they had turned to idolatry and ignored God's covenant. He used powerful imagery from creation, like the boundaries of the sea, to remind them of God's supreme authority and to call for repentance amid their rebellion. This verse emphasizes God's unchanging control over nature as a rebuke to a nation that had forgotten to fear Him.
Explore Similar Verses
Ask the AI Assistant
Have a question about this chapter or verse? Ask below for a clear explanation.