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Jeremiah 45:5

in Jeremiah 45

But as for you, do you seek great things for yourself? Stop seeking! For I will bring disaster on every living creature, declares the LORD, but wherever you go, I will grant your life as a spoil of war.”

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not; for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith Jehovah; but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest.

KJV

And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not: for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the Lord: but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest.

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This verse in Jeremiah 45

Commentary

6 notes on this verse

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

And seekest thou great things for thyself? - Nothing better can be expected of this people: thy hopes in reference to them are vain. Expect no national amendment, till national judgments have taken place. And as for any benefit to thyself, think it sufficient that God has determined to preserve thy life amidst all these dangers. But thy life will I give unto thee for a prey - This is a proverbial expression. We have met with it before, Jer 21:9, Jer 38:2, Jer 39:18; and it appears to have this meaning.

This site's exposition

This is what the LORD says: Throughout the land I will demolish what I have built

on Jeremiah 45:4-5

The answer sets Baruch’s grief inside the ruin: “I will demolish what I have built and uproot what I have planted.” Baruch is rebuked for seeking “great things for yourself”. The promise, “I will grant your life as a spoil of war,” is the one given to Ebed-melech in 39:18.

The record, by era

The Reformation1 voice

A commentator

John Calvin

1509–1564

Commentaries (1554)

But the reason I have stated ought to be borne in mind, that this book we have now in our hands was not written by Jeremiah himself, but that it contains collected summaries, afterwards formed into one volume. Here is told us a special prophecy concerning Baruch, who, as we know, was the Prophet's scribe, and not only his scribe or amanuensis, but also his disciple.

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

Dost thou expect to be rich and honourable and to make a figure now? "It is absurd for thee to be now painting thy own cabin. Canst thou expect to be high when all are brought low, to be full when all about thee are empty?" To seek ourselves more than the public welfare, especially to seek great things to ourselves when the public is in danger, is very unbecoming Israelites.
Seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not,.... Riches and wealth honour and esteem, peace and prosperity; these were not to be sought after and expected, when the whole nation would be involved in such a general calamity.

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

It is striking how Jeremiah, who once used such complaining language himself, is enabled now to minister the counsel requisite for Baruch when falling into the same sin (Jer 12:1-5; This is part of God's design in suffering His servants to be tempted, that their temptations may adapt them for ministering to their fellow servants when tempted.

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens

How the passage was read

What the Jewish commentators add

And you seek great things for yourself? [“Great things” means] prophecies. Cf. “Please tell me all the great things etc.” (II Kings:4). “Call to me..and I will tell you great, etc,” (above:3).
Rashi: France, 1040–1105 · Rashi on Jeremiah 45:5:1, via Sefaria, The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
and it is all the land that is being judged with this uprooting and tearing down.
Rashi: France, 1040–1105 · Rashi on Jeremiah 45:4:1, via Sefaria, The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg

This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.

Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 4 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.

The words behind it

26 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • וְאַתָּ֛הand you

    veatahH859 →1094 times

  • תְּבַקֶּשׁ־you are seeking

    tevakesh-H1245 →225 times

  • לְךָ֥for <the> yourself

    lekha

  • גְדֹל֖וֹתgreat [things]

    gedolotH1419 →526 times

  • אַל־may not

    ʾal-H408 →724 times

  • תְּבַקֵּ֑שׁyou seek [them]

    tevakeshH1245 →225 times

  • כִּ֡יfor

    kiH3588 →4482 times

  • הִנְנִי֩here I

    hiniH2005 →316 times

  • מֵבִ֨יא[am] about to bring

    mevi'H935 →2568 times

  • רָעָ֤הcalamity

    raahH7451 →662 times

  • עַל־on

    ʾal-H5921 →5755 times

  • כָּל־all

    kol-H3605 →5413 times

  • בָּשָׂר֙flesh

    basarH1320 →270 times

  • נְאֻם־[the] utterance of

    neum-H5002 →376 times

  • יְהוָ֔הYahweh

    yahwehH3068 →6520 times

  • וְנָתַתִּ֨יand I will give

    venatatiH5414 →2011 times

  • לְךָ֤to <the> you

    lekha

  • אֶֽת־<obj.>

    ʾet-H853 →10935 times

  • נַפְשְׁךָ֙life your

    nafshekhaH5315 →754 times

  • לְשָׁלָ֔לto plunder

    leshalalH7998 →73 times

  • עַ֥לat

    ʾalH5921 →5755 times

  • כָּל־all

    kol-H3605 →5413 times

  • הַמְּקֹמ֖וֹתthe places

    hamekomotH4725 →401 times

  • אֲשֶׁ֥רwhere

    ʾasherH834 →5497 times

  • תֵּֽלֶךְ־you will go

    telekh-H1980 →1546 times

  • שָֽׁם׃ סthere

    shamH8033 →834 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Jeremiah 39:18For I will surely rescue you so that you do not fall by the sword. Because you have trusted in Me, you will escape with your life like a spoil of war, declares the LORD.’”13 worksHebrews 13:5Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”11 works1 Timothy 6:6–9Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain.11 worksMatthew 6:25–32Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?10 worksRomans 12:16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but enjoy the company of the lowly. Do not be conceited.10 worksJeremiah 21:9Whoever stays in this city will die by sword and famine and plague, but whoever goes out and surrenders to the Chaldeans who besiege you will live; he will retain his life like a spoil of war.10 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
Psalms 131:1My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty. I do not aspire to great things or matters too lofty for me.9 worksJeremiah 25:26all the kings of the north, both near and far, one after another—all the kingdoms on the face of the earth. And after all of them, the king of Sheshach will drink it too.8 worksZephaniah 2:3Seek the LORD, all you humble of the earth who carry out His justice. Seek righteousness; seek humility. Perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD’s anger.8 worksGenesis 6:12And God looked upon the earth and saw that it was corrupt; for all living creatures on the earth had corrupted their ways.7 works2 Kings 5:26But Elisha questioned him, “Did not my spirit go with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to accept money and clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, menservants and maidservants?6 worksJeremiah 38:2“This is what the LORD says: Whoever stays in this city will die by sword and famine and plague, but whoever surrenders to the Chaldeans will live; he will retain his life like a spoil of war, and he will live.6 worksZephaniah 3:8Therefore wait for Me,” declares the LORD, “until the day I rise to testify. For My decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out upon them My indignation—all My burning anger. For all the earth will be consumed by the fire of My jealousy.6 worksMark 9:35Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the last of all and the servant of all.”6 works1 Corinthians 7:26–32Because of the present crisis, I think it is good for a man to remain as he is.5 worksIsaiah 66:16For by fire and by His sword, the LORD will execute judgment on all flesh, and many will be slain by the LORD.4 worksLuke 17:31On that day, let no one on the housetop come down to retrieve his possessions. Likewise, let no one in the field return for anything he has left behind.4 worksMatthew 20:21“What do you want?” He inquired. She answered, “Declare that in Your kingdom one of these two sons of mine may sit at Your right hand, and the other at Your left.”3 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Hebrews 13:5

    Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”

    it leads to

    • Deuteronomy 31:8

      The LORD Himself goes before you; He will be with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.”

    • Joshua 1:5

      No one shall stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so will I be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.

    • Deuteronomy 31:6

      Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or terrified of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”

    • 1 Samuel 12:22

      Indeed, for the sake of His great name, the LORD will not abandon His people, because He was pleased to make you His own.

    • Isaiah 41:17

      The poor and needy seek water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. I, the LORD, will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.

  • Through

    Romans 12:16

    Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but enjoy the company of the lowly. Do not be conceited.

    it leads to

    • 1 Peter 3:8

      Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tenderhearted and humble.

    • Proverbs 3:7

      Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

    • James 3:13–17

      Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

Where this verse is studied

About Jeremiah

Jeremiah Lamenting the Destruction of Jerusalem, Rembrandt, 1630. Public domain.
Jeremiah Lamenting the Destruction of Jerusalem, Rembrandt, 1630. Public domain.
Jeremiah: the study guide →Read Jeremiah 45 →

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the Old Testament; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentaries; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Read on in Jeremiah 45 →