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Jeremiah 8: Is There No Balm in Gilead?

In Jeremiah 8 God asks why his people fall and do not get up again. Even the stork and the swallow know their seasons, but the people did not know God's law. Jeremiah grieved over the hurt of his people. He asked whether there was no balm in Gilead and no physician there.

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Read Jeremiah 8

World English Bible · 22 verses

  1. 1 “At that time,” says Yahweh, “they will bring the bones of the kings of Judah, the bones of his princes, the bones of the priests, the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, out of their graves.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  2. 2 They will spread them before the sun, the moon, and all the army of the sky, which they have loved, which they have served, after which they have walked, which they have sought, and which they have worshiped. They will not be gathered or be buried. They will be like dung on the surface of the earth.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  3. 3 Death will be chosen rather than life by all the residue that remain of this evil family, that remain in all the places where I have driven them,” says Yahweh of Armies.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  4. 4 “Moreover you shall tell them, ‘Yahweh says: “‘Do men fall, and not rise up again? Does one turn away, and not return?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  5. 5 Why then have the people of Jerusalem fallen back by a perpetual backsliding? They cling to deceit. They refuse to return.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  6. 6 I listened and heard, but they didn’t say what is right. No one repents of his wickedness, saying, “What have I done?” Everyone turns to his course, as a horse that rushes headlong in the battle.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  7. 7 Yes, the stork in the sky knows her appointed times. The turtledove, the swallow, and the crane observe the time of their coming; but my people don’t know Yahweh’s law.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  8. 8 “‘How do you say, “We are wise, and Yahweh’s law is with us”? But, behold, the false pen of the scribes has made that a lie.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  9. 9 The wise men are disappointed. They are dismayed and trapped. Behold, they have rejected Yahweh’s word. What kind of wisdom is in them?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  10. 10 Therefore I will give their wives to others and their fields to those who will possess them. For everyone from the least even to the greatest is given to covetousness; from the prophet even to the priest everyone deals falsely.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  11. 11 They have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, “Peace, peace,” when there is no peace.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  12. 12 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed. They couldn’t blush. Therefore they will fall among those who fall. In the time of their visitation they will be cast down, says Yahweh.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  13. 13 “‘I will utterly consume them, says Yahweh. No grapes will be on the vine, no figs on the fig tree, and the leaf will fade. The things that I have given them will pass away from them.’”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  14. 14 “Why do we sit still? Assemble yourselves! Let’s enter into the fortified cities, and let’s be silent there; for Yahweh our God has put us to silence, and given us poisoned water to drink, because we have sinned against Yahweh.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  15. 15 We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of healing, and behold, dismay!This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  16. 16 The snorting of his horses is heard from Dan. The whole land trembles at the sound of the neighing of his strong ones; for they have come, and have devoured the land and all that is in it, the city and those who dwell therein.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  17. 17 “For, behold, I will send serpents, adders among you, which will not be charmed; and they will bite you,” says Yahweh.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  18. 18 Oh that I could comfort myself against sorrow! My heart is faint within me.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  19. 19 Behold, the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people from a land that is very far off: “Isn’t Yahweh in Zion? Isn’t her King in her?” “Why have they provoked me to anger with their engraved images, and with foreign idols?”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  20. 20 “The harvest is past. The summer has ended, and we are not saved.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  21. 21 For the hurt of the daughter of my people, I am hurt. I mourn. Dismay has taken hold of me.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  22. 22 Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then isn’t the health of the daughter of my people recovered?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

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Jeremiah 8 · Preschool

God Can Heal

Name Date

Color the birds and the healing jar. God is the best helper!

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then isn’t the health of the daughter of my people recovered?”

Jeremiah 8:22 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Then explain that balm is a medicine that helps hurts get better. Jeremiah wanted his people to be healed. Pray together and ask God to help anyone who is hurting.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.

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