Jeremiah 14:22
Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? art not thou he, O LORD our God? therefore we will wait upon thee: for thou hast made all these things.
Original Language Analysis
הֲיֵ֨שׁ
Are there
H3426
הֲיֵ֨שׁ
Are there
Strong's:
H3426
Word #:
1 of 21
there is or are (or any other form of the verb to be, as may suit the connection)
בְּהַבְלֵ֤י
any among the vanities
H1892
בְּהַבְלֵ֤י
any among the vanities
Strong's:
H1892
Word #:
2 of 21
emptiness or vanity; figuratively, something transitory and unsatisfactory; often used as an adverb
הַגּוֹיִם֙
of the Gentiles
H1471
הַגּוֹיִם֙
of the Gentiles
Strong's:
H1471
Word #:
3 of 21
a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
וְאִם
H518
וְאִם
Strong's:
H518
Word #:
5 of 21
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם
or can the heavens
H8064
הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם
or can the heavens
Strong's:
H8064
Word #:
6 of 21
the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies r
יִתְּנ֣וּ
give
H5414
יִתְּנ֣וּ
give
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
7 of 21
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
הֲלֹ֨א
H3808
הֲלֹ֨א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
9 of 21
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
ה֜וּא
H1931
ה֜וּא
Strong's:
H1931
Word #:
11 of 21
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
יְהוָ֤ה
art not thou he O LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֤ה
art not thou he O LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
12 of 21
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙
our God
H430
אֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙
our God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
13 of 21
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
וּ֨נְקַוֶּה
therefore we will wait
H6960
וּ֨נְקַוֶּה
therefore we will wait
Strong's:
H6960
Word #:
14 of 21
to bind together (perhaps by twisting), i.e., collect; (figuratively) to expect
כִּֽי
H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
16 of 21
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
עָשִׂ֖יתָ
upon thee for thou hast made
H6213
עָשִׂ֖יתָ
upon thee for thou hast made
Strong's:
H6213
Word #:
18 of 21
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
19 of 21
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
Cross References
Joel 2:23Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.Jeremiah 5:24Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.Psalms 135:7He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries.Isaiah 30:23Then shall he give the rain of thy seed, that thou shalt sow the ground withal; and bread of the increase of the earth, and it shall be fat and plenteous: in that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures.Deuteronomy 32:21They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.Isaiah 41:29Behold, they are all vanity; their works are nothing: their molten images are wind and confusion.Psalms 130:5I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.Psalms 25:21Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.Jeremiah 16:19O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit.Jeremiah 10:15They are vanity, and the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.
Historical Context
Despite Judah's pursuit of rain through Baal worship (a fertility deity), only Yahweh controls weather. The drought itself proved Baal's impotence and Yahweh's sovereignty.
Questions for Reflection
- How does understanding God's exclusive sovereignty over creation affect prayer during crisis?
- What does it mean to 'wait upon' God when circumstances seem desperate?
- How do natural disasters expose the impotence of false gods and ideologies?
Analysis & Commentary
The prayer concludes with rhetorical questions exposing idols' impotence: 'Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? art not thou he, O LORD our God?' The 'vanities' (hebel—emptiness, breath) refers to idols. Can they provide rain? No. Can heavens themselves give showers apart from God's command? No. Only 'thou, O LORD our God' controls weather. Therefore: 'therefore we will wait upon thee: for thou hast made all these things.' The conclusion is sound: since only God controls nature, only He can relieve drought. The commitment to 'wait upon thee' expresses faith despite circumstances. This reflects proper theology: recognizing God's exclusive sovereignty leads to patient dependence.