Jeremiah 14:22

14:22 Do any of the worthless idols ¹  of the nations cause rain to fall?

Do the skies themselves send showers?

Is it not you, O Lord our God, who does this? ² 

So we put our hopes in you ³ 

because you alone do all this.”

Jeremiah 37:17

37:17 Then King Zedekiah had him brought to the palace. There he questioned him privately and asked him, ⁴  “Is there any message from the Lord?” Jeremiah answered, “Yes, there is.” Then he announced, ⁵  “You will be handed over to the king of Babylon.” ⁶ 

[14:22]  ¹ 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.

[14:22]  ² tn Heb “Is it not you, O Lord our God?” The words “who does” are supplied in the translation for English style.

[14:22]  ³ tn The rhetorical negatives are balanced by a rhetorical positive.

[37:17]  ⁴ tn Heb “Then King Zedekiah sent and brought him and the king asked him privately [or more literally, in secret] and said.”

[37:17]  ⁵ tn Heb “Then he said.”

[37:17]  ⁶ sn Jeremiah’s answer even under duress was the same that he had given Zedekiah earlier. (See Jer 34:3 and see the study note on 34:1 for the relative timing of these two incidents.)