Discovery BoxJeremiah 14:4 
Context14:4 They are dismayed because the ground is cracked 1
because there has been no rain in the land.
The farmers, too, are dismayed
and bury their faces in their hands.
Jeremiah 14:22
Context14:22 Do any of the worthless idols 2 of the nations cause rain to fall?
Do the skies themselves send showers?
Is it not you, O Lord our God, who does this? 3
So we put our hopes in you 4
because you alone do all this.”
1 tn For the use of the verb “is cracked” here see BDB 369 s.v. חָתַת Qal.1 and compare the usage in Jer 51:56 where it refers to broken bows. The form is a relative clause without relative pronoun (cf., GKC 486-87 §155.f). The sentence as a whole is related to the preceding through a particle meaning “because of” or “on account of.” Hence the subject and verb have been repeated to make the connection.
2 tn The word הֶבֶל (hevel), often translated “vanities”, is a common pejorative epithet for idols or false gods. See already in 8:19 and 10:8.
3 tn Heb “Is it not you, O
4 tn The rhetorical negatives are balanced by a rhetorical positive.
