The verse highlights God's incredible power by pointing to a seemingly insignificant boundary—sand—that holds back the immense force of the ocean. This emphasizes that even the most tempestuous elements obey His sovereign "perpetual decree," a truth the rebellious Israelites seemed to ignore.
Do you not fear me? declares the LORD. Do you not tremble before me? I placed the sand as the boundary for the sea, a perpetual barrier that it cannot pass; though the waves toss, they cannot prevail; though they roar, they cannot pass over it.
English Standard Version (ESV)
God questions Judah's lack of fear, pointing to His control over the powerful, chaotic sea, restrained by a simple, shifting boundary of sand. This demonstrates His awesome power, which inanimate nature obeys, yet His own people foolishly disregard. This divine restraint on the sea serves as a stark contrast to Judah's unruliness and rebellion against God's decrees.
Even the most powerful, chaotic forces in nature ultimately answer to God. How does this affect our perspective on life's storms?
Jeremiah uses the image of the sea to highlight God's supreme authority. Even when waves crash and roar with incredible power, they are held back by a boundary of sand. This isn't a natural strength of the sand itself, but a testament to God's 'perpetual decree.' He sets limits that even the wildest elements cannot overcome.
This shows us that what appears chaotic or out of control in our world is actually held in check by God's sovereign hand. The sea, a symbol of immense, untamable power, is a clear demonstration of His might. If the sea obeys, how much more should we tremble and respect the One who commands it?
Jeremiah contrasts the obedience of inanimate nature with the disobedience of humanity. What does this say about true understanding?
The prophet challenges the people: 'Do you not fear me? Do you not tremble before me?' He points to the sea's respect for its divinely appointed boundary as an example of proper reverence. The sea, devoid of reason, obeys. Yet, the people of Judah, endowed with intellect and understanding, fail to fear God.
This highlights a profound truth: true wisdom isn't just about knowledge, but about recognizing and responding to God's authority. The people's failure to fear God makes them 'monsters' in comparison to the sea, lacking the basic sense that even inanimate elements possess. Their foolishness lies in their rebellion against the One who controls all things.
Understand the original words
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YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The covenant name of God (Yahweh), the self-existent, eternal, and personal God of Israel who is faithful to His promises.
yare · Hebrew Verb
A reverent, awe-filled submission to God; it involves recognizing His majesty, holiness, and sovereignty, leading to obedience and avoiding sin.
chul · Hebrew Verb
To shake or quake, often representing a physical manifestation of deep awe, terror, or overwhelming reverence in the presence of God's power.
This passage describes God's sovereign power over the sea, directly paralleling Jeremiah's point that God set boundaries the waves cannot overcome.
Psalm 104:9This verse echoes Jeremiah's theme, stating God's decree for the waters to not overflow the land, highlighting the perpetual nature of God's control over creation.
Proverbs 8:29This passage speaks of God setting limits for the sea during creation, reinforcing the idea of a divine, established order that even powerful natural forces must obey.
Matthew 8:27This New Testament account shows Jesus commanding the wind and waves, demonstrating his divine authority over the tumultuous sea, aligning with Jeremiah's portrayal of God's ultimate power.
calvinJeremiah 5:22: "Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?"
- Fear ye not me? saith the Lord: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves th…
pooleJeremiah 5:22: "Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?"
Fear ye not me: either a convincing argument to persuade them to submit unto him; Will ye not submit to me, that can rule the sea? which, as unruly a thing as it is, yet quietly yields to my wil…
The verse highlights God's incredible power by pointing to a seemingly insignificant boundary—sand—that holds back the immense force of the ocean. This emphasizes that even the most tempestuous elements obey His sovereign "perpetual decree," a truth the rebellious Israelites seemed to ignore.
God questions Judah's lack of fear, pointing to His control over the powerful, chaotic sea, restrained by a simple, shifting boundary of sand. This demonstrates His awesome power, which inanimate nature obeys, yet His own people foolishly disregard. This divine restraint on the sea serves as a stark contrast to Judah's unruliness and rebellion against God's decrees.
God questions Judah's lack of fear, pointing to His control over the powerful, chaotic sea, restrained by a simple, shifting boundary of sand. This demonstrates His awesome power, which inanimate nature obeys, yet His own people foolishly disregard. This divine restraint on the sea serves as a stark contrast to Judah's unruliness and rebellion against God's decrees.
"Do you not fear me? declares the LORD. Do you not tremble before me? I placed the sand as the boundary for the sea, a perpetual barrier that it cannot pass; though the waves toss, they cannot prevail; though…" — The verse highlights God's incredible power by pointing to a seemingly insignificant boundary—sand—that holds back the immense force of the ocean. This emphasizes that even the most tempestuous eleme…
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Last reviewed October 2026
