Jeremiah 14:5

5 And the roe, giving birth in the field, lets her young one be uncared for, because there is no grass.

Jeremiah 14:5 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 14:5

Yea, the hind also calved in the field
Or brought forth her young in the field; of which see ( Job 39:1-4 ) , and which they sometimes did through fear, particularly when frightened with thunder and lightning; and which are common in a time of heat and drought, which is the case here; see ( Psalms 29:9 ) of these sort of creatures there were great plenty in Judea and the parts adjacent. Aelianus ^F26 says, the harts in Syria are bred on the highest mountains, Amanus, Lebanon, and Carmel; which were mountains on the borders of the land of Canaan; and the flesh of these was much used for food by the Jews; see ( Deuteronomy 12:15 Deuteronomy 12:22 ) ( Deuteronomy 14:4 Deuteronomy 14:5 ) ( 15:22 ) : and forsook it;
which, as it is a loving creature to its mate, so very careful of its young, and provident for it, and nourishes it, as Pliny

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FOOTNOTES:

F1 observes. The reason of such uncommon usage follows: because there was no grass;
for the hind to feed upon, and so had no milk to suckle its young with; and therefore left it to seek for grass elsewhere, that it might have food for itself, and milk for its young.
F26 De Anima. l. 5. c. 56.
F1 Nat. Hist. l. 8. c. 32.

Jeremiah 14:5 In-Context

3 Their great men have sent their servants for water: they come to the holes and there is no water to be seen; they come back with nothing in their vessels; they are overcome with shame and fear, covering their heads.

4 Those who do work on the land are in fear, for there has been no rain on the land, and the farmers are shamed, covering their heads.

5 And the roe, giving birth in the field, lets her young one be uncared for, because there is no grass.

6 And the asses of the field on the open hilltops are opening their mouths wide like jackals to get air; their eyes are hollow because there is no grass.

7 Though our sins give witness against us, do something, O Lord, for the honour of your name: for again and again we have been turned away from you, we have done evil against you.