Jeremiah 14:22
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Here, Jeremiah powerfully contrasts the impotence of idols with God's absolute sovereignty. The verse isn't just about asking for rain; it's a stark reminder that while the heavens can give showers, they only do so because God orchestrates them, making Him the ultimate source of all provision.
Are there any among the false gods of the nations that can bring rain? Or can the heavens give showers? Are you not he, O LORD our God? We set our hope on you, for you do all these things.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jeremiah is speaking to the people of Judah during a severe drought that has gripped the land. After confessing their deep sinfulness and pleading for God's mercy, the prophet now turns to remind them that only the LORD, their God, has the power to bring the life-giving rain they desperately need, unlike the useless idols of other nations.
When disaster strikes, who do you turn to? The nations had their gods, but Jeremiah points to a startling truth about their utter inability to help.
The people of Judah were facing a severe drought, a devastating judgment. Jeremiah confronts them with a powerful question: can any of the gods the surrounding nations worship actually bring rain?
The 'Vanities' of the Nations
He calls these idols 'vanities' – empty, worthless things. They were man-made, powerless, and incapable of intervening in the natural world. They couldn't control the skies or send a single drop of rain. This highlights the stark contrast between the false gods and the true God.
God's Sovereign Control
Jeremiah emphasizes that even the heavens themselves, the very source of rain, operate not by their own will but by God's command. This is a profound statement of God's absolute sovereignty over creation. He alone holds the power to send rain and sustain life.
In the face of judgment and the failure of all other options, where does true hope lie? Jeremiah reveals the unique and exclusive source of hope for his people.
The desperate situation of drought forces Judah to confront their misplaced trust. Their idols are useless, and even the natural elements are subject to a higher power.
Recognizing God's Identity
Jeremiah then turns directly to the LORD, asking, 'Are you not he, O LORD our God?' This isn't a question of doubt, but a rhetorical affirmation. It declares that the LORD is the one capable of providing relief. He is their God, the covenant-keeping Creator.
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Placing Hope in the Creator
Because of this truth, the people resolve, 'We set our hope on you, for you do all these things.' Their hope is not in a general deity, but in the specific God who has acted in history and sovereignly controls all of creation, including the rain. Their hope is grounded in His power and His promises.
Understand the original words
hebel · Hebrew Noun
Meaning "vanity" or "emptiness," these represent idols that are powerless and exist only as illusions. They are contrasted with the living, acting God of Israel.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal, covenantal name of God revealed to Israel. It signifies His self-existence, eternity, and faithfulness to His people.
qavah · Hebrew Verb
The expectant, confident waiting upon God for deliverance or provision. It is grounded in the assurance that God is faithful and capable of acting on behalf of those who trust Him.
This passage, spoken during a devastating drought that compounded the trauma of war and exile, underscores the people's desperate realization that only the LORD, not foreign idols or the impersonal heavens, holds the power to bring life-sustaining rain.
c. 605 BC
Nebuchadnezzar's First Deportation
As part of his campaigns, Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon deports Judeans, including members of the royal family and educated elite, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of Judah's subservience to Babylon and foreshadows future exiles.
c. 597 BC
Jehoiachin's Deportation
Following a rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar besieges Jerusalem and deports King Jehoiachin, along with thousands of other Judeans and treasures, to Babylon. This second major deportation significantly weakens the kingdom.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple Destruction
After a prolonged siege and further rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar's forces conquer Jerusalem, destroy Solomon's Temple, and deport the majority of the remaining population to Babylon. This event marks the end of Judah as an independent kingdom and the devastation of its religious center.
c. 586 BC— this verse
Widespread Drought in Judah
During and after the Babylonian invasions, the land of Judah suffers from severe drought. This natural disaster exacerbates the suffering caused by war and exile, leading to widespread famine and despair.
c. 540 BC
Jeremiah's Prophecies Circulate
Jeremiah's collected prophecies, written during the turbulent final decades of Judah and the early years of the exile, begin to circulate among the exiles in Babylon and those who remained in the devastated land.
This passage vividly contrasts the power of Baal, the false god of the nations, with the true power of the LORD, mirroring Jeremiah's point that only God can bring the needed rain.
Job 38:22-30God challenges Job by asking if he controls the storehouses of snow and hail, the rain and dew, highlighting that these natural phenomena are entirely under His sovereign command, just as Jeremiah declares.
Psalm 147:8This psalm explicitly states that God 'covers the heavens with clouds, he prepares rain for the earth,' directly supporting Jeremiah's plea that the LORD, not idols or the heavens themselves, is the source of rain.
Matthew 5:45Jesus teaches that God 'makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust,' emphasizing God's universal, benevolent provision, which includes the rain the people so desperately need.
Acts 14:15-17Paul, like Jeremiah, confronts the futility of idols by pointing to the living God who 'did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons,' affirming God's sovereignty over nature.
clarkeJeremiah 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."
Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles - Probably the dearth was now coming, as there had been a long want of rain. It was the prerogative of the true God to give rain and send showers at the prayers of his people. Therefore we will wait upon thee - If thou do not…
calvinJeremiah 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."
Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? art thou not he, O LORD our God? therefore we will wait upon thee: for thou hast made all these things.
An in idolis (vel, vanitatibus) gentium, qui pluere faciat…
Here, Jeremiah powerfully contrasts the impotence of idols with God's absolute sovereignty. The verse isn't just about asking for rain; it's a stark reminder that while the heavens can give showers, they only do so because God orchestrates them, making Him the ultimate source of all provision.
Jeremiah is speaking to the people of Judah during a severe drought that has gripped the land. After confessing their deep sinfulness and pleading for God's mercy, the prophet now turns to remind them that only the LORD, their God, has the power to bring the life-giving rain they desperately need, unlike the useless idols of other nations.
Jeremiah is speaking to the people of Judah during a severe drought that has gripped the land. After confessing their deep sinfulness and pleading for God's mercy, the prophet now turns to remind them that only the LORD, their God, has the power to bring the life-giving rain they desperately need, unlike the useless idols of other nations.
"Are there any among the false gods of the nations that can bring rain? Or can the heavens give showers? Are you not he, O LORD our God? We set our hope on you, for you do all these things." — Here, Jeremiah powerfully contrasts the impotence of idols with God's absolute sovereignty. The verse isn't just about asking for rain; it's a stark reminder that while the heavens can give showers…
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Last reviewed October 2026
