Wild donkeys stand on barren heights; they pant for air like jackals; their eyes fail for lack of pasture.”
Parallel translations
- WEB The wild donkeys stand on the bare heights. They pant for air like jackals. Their eyes fail, because there is no vegetation.
- KJV 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.
- NKJV And the wild donkeys stood in the desolate heights; They sniffed at the wind like jackals; Their eyes failed because there was no grass.”
- NASB “The wild donkeys stand on the bare heights; They pant for air like jackals, Their eyes fail Because there is no vegetation.
- NLT The wild donkeys stand on the bare hills panting like thirsty jackals. They strain their eyes looking for grass, but there is none to be found.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Wild donkeys, hardy desert animals, stand gasping for breath with failing eyes because every green thing has withered. The judgment reaches even the most resilient of creatures.
Overview
By pointing to wild donkeys panting like jackals, Jeremiah underscores the totality of the drought; if even untamed animals built for harsh places cannot endure, the situation is dire indeed. The imagery magnifies Judah's guilt, since their sin has brought ruin upon the innocent creation. It also intensifies the cry for the only One who can send rain and restore life.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Jer 2:24a wild donkey at home in the wilderness, sniffing the wind in the heat of her desire. Who can restrain her passion? All who seek her need not weary themselves; in mating season they will find her.
- Job 39:5–6Who set the wild donkey free? Who released the swift donkey from the harness?
- Joel 1:18How the cattle groan! The herds wander in confusion because they have no pasture. Even the flocks of sheep are suffering.
- 1 Sam 14:29“My father has brought trouble to the land,” Jonathan replied. “Just look at how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey.
- Lam 4:17All the while our eyes were failing as we looked in vain for help. We watched from our towers for a nation that could not save us.
- Lam 5:17Because of this, our hearts are faint; because of these, our eyes grow dim—
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Against the failure of false shepherds Jeremiah promises the Righteous Branch, 'The LORD our righteousness,' and the new covenant written on the heart and sealed in the blood of Christ.
How Jeremiah 14:6 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.