Jeremiah 8:15
We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of health, and behold trouble!
Original Language Analysis
קַוֵּ֥ה
We looked
H6960
קַוֵּ֥ה
We looked
Strong's:
H6960
Word #:
1 of 8
to bind together (perhaps by twisting), i.e., collect; (figuratively) to expect
לְשָׁל֖וֹם
for peace
H7965
לְשָׁל֖וֹם
for peace
Strong's:
H7965
Word #:
2 of 8
safe, i.e., (figuratively) well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, i.e., health, prosperity, peace
וְאֵ֣ין
H369
ט֑וֹב
but no good
H2896
ט֑וֹב
but no good
Strong's:
H2896
Word #:
4 of 8
good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good
לְעֵ֥ת
came and for a time
H6256
לְעֵ֥ת
came and for a time
Strong's:
H6256
Word #:
5 of 8
time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc
Historical Context
This lament would characterize Jerusalem's inhabitants during the sieges of 597 and 586 BC. Having been promised by court prophets that God would defend His city and temple, they watched Babylonian armies surround their walls. Lachish Letter IV mentions 'watching for the signals from Lachish'—desperate military communications during Nebuchadnezzar's campaign. The psychological devastation of realized judgment exceeded physical suffering.
Questions for Reflection
- How does false hope based on false teaching compound suffering when reality arrives?
- What distinguishes genuine biblical hope from wishful thinking based on what we want God to do?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
This verse captures disappointed hope: 'We looked for peace, but no good came.' The Hebrew qivvinu leshalom (קִוִּינוּ לְשָׁלוֹם) indicates confident expectation of the false prophets' 'shalom' message (v. 11). 'And for a time of health, and behold trouble!' uses the contrast between marpeh (מַרְפֵּא, healing) and be'atah (בְּעָתָה, terror, calamity). The false prophets had promised healing; reality delivered terror. This verse exposes false hope's bitter fruit—those who believed lying prophets discovered too late that their confidence was misplaced. The contrast between expected shalom and experienced be'atah represents total reversal of hope.