Jeremiah 14:6

Verse

Wild donkeys stand on barren heights; they pant for air like jackals; their eyes fail for lack of pasture.”

American Standard Version (1901)

And the wild asses stand on the bare heights, they pant for air like jackals; their eyes fail, because there is no herbage.

Bible in Basic English

And the asses of the field on the open hilltops are opening their mouths wide like jackals to get air; their eyes are hollow because there is no grass.

Douay-Rheims 1899

And the wild asses stood upon the rocks, they snuffed up the wind like dragons, their eyes failed, because there was no grass.

Free Bible Version

Wild donkeys stand on the bare hills, panting like jackals. Their eyesight fails because they have nothing to eat.

Geneva Bible 1599

And the wilde asses did stande in the hygh places, and drew in their winde like dragons their eyes did faile, because there was no grasse.

King James (Authorized) Version

And the wild asses did stand in the high places, they snuffed up the wind like dragons; their eyes did fail, because there was no grass.

Translation for Translators

The wild donkeys stand on the barren hills, panting like [SIM] thirsty jackals/wolves. They become blind because there is no grass to eat.

Unlocked Literal Bible

The wild donkeys stand on the bare plains and they pant in the wind like jackals. Their eyes fail to work, for there is no vegetation.”

Noah Webster Bible

And the wild asses stood in the high places, they snuffed up the wind like dragons; their eyes failed, because there was no grass.

World English Bible

The wild donkeys stand on the bare heights. They pant for air like jackals. Their eyes fail, because there is no vegetation.

Young's Literal Translation

And wild asses have stood on high places, They have swallowed up wind like dragons, Consumed have been their eyes, for there is no herb.

Context

Drought, Famine, Sword, and Plague

⁵Even the doe in the field deserts her newborn fawn because there is no grass. ⁶Wild donkeys stand on barren heights; they pant for air like jackals; their eyes fail for lack of pasture.”

Summary

This verse depicts the desperate situation of the people of Judah during a severe drought, as they are left in distress and mourning. The lack of water symbolizes their spiritual dryness and separation from God due to their sins. Despite their cries for help, the land remains parched, reflecting the consequences of their disobedience. It serves as a reminder of the importance of repentance and turning back to God in times of trouble, seeking His mercy and restoration.

Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

wild asses--They repair to "the high places" most exposed to the winds, which they "snuff in" to relieve their thirst. dragons--jackals [HENDERSON]. eyes--which are usually most keen in detecting grass or water from the "heights," so much so that the traveller guesses from their presence that there must be herbage and water near; but now "their eyes fail." Rather the reference is to the great boas and python serpents which raise a large portion of their body up in a vertical column ten or twelve feet high, to survey the neighborhood above the surrounding bushes, while with open jaws they drink in the air. These giant serpents originated the widely spread notions which typified the deluge and all destructive agents under the form of a dragon or monster serpent; hence, the dragon temples always near water, in Asia, Africa, and Britain; for example, at Abury, in Wiltshire; a symbol of the ark is often associated with the dragon as the preserver from the waters [KITTO, Biblical CyclopÃ&brvbrdia].

John Gill Bible Commentary

And the wild asses did stand in the high places,.... To see where any grass was to be had, or where the wind blows more freely and cooly, to draw it in; as follows. The Targum renders it, "by the brooks"; and so Jarchi interprets it brooks of water; whither they came as usual to drink, and found them now dried up; and where they stood distressed and languishing, not knowing where to go for any: they snuffed up the wind like dragons: which, being of a hot nature, open their mouths, and draw in the wind and air to cool them. Aelianus (b) reports of the dragons in Phrygia, that they open their mouths, and not only draw in the air, but even birds flying. The word used for dragons signifies large fishes, great whales; and some understand it of crocodiles, who will lift up their heads above water to refresh themselves with the air: their eyes did fail; in looking about for grass; or for want of food, being quite starved and famished: because there was no grass; for their food and nourishment. With great propriety is the herb or grass mentioned, this being the proper food of asses, as Aristotle (c) observes; and with which agrees the Scripture; which represents them as content when they have it; and as ranging about the mountains for it when they have none; being creatures very impatient of hunger and thirst; see Job 6:5 wherefore the Greek writers surname this animal dry and thirsty; and hence the lying story of Tacitus (d), concerning Moses and the children of Israel; who, he says, being ready to perish for want of water, Moses observed a flock of wild asses going from their pasture to a rock covered with trees, and followed them, taking it for herbage, and found large fountains of water. And very pertinently are their eyes said to fail for want of food, and the sight of them grow dim, which is more or less the case of all creatures in such circumstances; but the rather is this observed of the wild ass, because, as an Arabic writer (e) suggests, it is naturally very sharp and clear sighted. (b) De Animal. l. 2. c. 21. (c) Hist. Animal. l. 8. c. 8. (d) Histor. l. 5. c. 3. (e) Damir apud Bochart. Hierozoic. par. 1. l. 3. c. 16. col. 878.