King James Version
What Does Jeremiah 8:20 Mean?
“The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.”
Context
18
When I would comfort myself against sorrow, my heart is faint in me. in: Heb. upon
19
Behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people because of them that dwell in a far country: Is not the LORD in Zion? is not her king in her? Why have they provoked me to anger with their graven images, and with strange vanities? them: Heb. the country of them that are far off
20
The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.
21
For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment hath taken hold on me.
22
Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered? recovered: Heb. gone up?
Topics in This Verse
Commentary
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers(20) **The harvest is past . . .**—The question of Jehovah, admitting of no answer but a confession of guilt, is met by another cry of despair from the sufferers of the future. They are as men in a year of famine—“The harvest is past,” and there has been no crop for men to reap.
**Summer.**—In Isaiah 16:9; Jeremiah 40:10, and elsewhere, the word is rendered by “summer fruits.” “The summer” (better, *the fruit-gathering*) is ended, and yet they are not saved from misery and death. All has failed alike. The whole formula had probably become proverbial for extremest misery. It is well to remember that the barley-harvest coincided with the Passover, the wheat-harvest with Pentecost, the fruit-gathering with the autumn Feast of Tabernacles.
Charles John Ellicott (1819–1905). Public Domain.
Historical Context
This verse is found in the book of Jeremiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.
Theological Significance
Jeremiah 8:20 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.
Cross-References
Verses related to Jeremiah 8:20
Cross-references from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge