Jeremiah14

Jeremiah 14 opens with a lament over a severe drought in Judah, causing widespread suffering among people and animals. Jeremiah intercedes, acknowledging the people's sin but appealing to God's name and covenant. However, the Lord declares He will not hear their prayers due to their persistent wandering and warns against false prophets who promise peace, stating they and their followers will perish by sword and famine. Jeremiah continues to mourn the impending judgment and again pleads for God's mercy, affirming His sole power over creation.
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The Great Drought

1
The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the dearth. ​
2
Judah mourneth, and the gates thereof languish; they are black unto the ground; and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up. ​
3
And their nobles have sent their little ones to the waters: they came to the pits, and found no water; they returned with their vessels empty; they were ashamed and confounded, and covered their heads. ​
4
Because the ground is chapt, for there was no rain in the earth, the plowmen were ashamed, they covered their heads. ​
5
Yea, the hind also calved in the field, and forsook it, because there was no grass.
6
And the wild asses did stand in the high places, they snuffed up the wind like dragons; their eyes did fail, because there was no grass.

Acknowledgment of Sin and Prayer for Mercy

7
O LORD, though our iniquities testify against us, do thou it for thy name's sake: for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against thee. ​
8
O the hope of Israel, the saviour thereof in time of trouble, why shouldest thou be as a stranger in the land, and as a wayfaring man that turneth aside to tarry for a night? ​
9
Why shouldest thou be as a man astonied, as a mighty man that cannot save? yet thou, O LORD, art in the midst of us, and we are called by thy name; leave us not.

The LORD Rejects the People's Prayer

10
Thus saith the LORD unto this people, Thus have they loved to wander, they have not refrained their feet, therefore the LORD doth not accept them; he will now remember their iniquity, and visit their sins. ​
11
Then said the LORD unto me, Pray not for this people for their good. ​
12
When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and an oblation, I will not accept them: but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence. ​

Jeremiah Intercedes Regarding False Prophets

13
Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, the prophets say unto them, Ye shall not see the sword, neither shall ye have famine; but I will give you assured peace in this place. ​
14
Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart. ​
15
Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that prophesy in my name, and I sent them not, yet they say, Sword and famine shall not be in this land; By sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed. ​
16
And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword; and they shall have none to bury them, them, their wives, nor their sons, nor their daughters: for I will pour their wickedness upon them. ​

Jeremiah’s Lament and the People’s Final Plea

17
Therefore thou shalt say this word unto them; Let mine eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease: for the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous blow. ​
18
If I go forth into the field, then behold the slain with the sword! and if I enter into the city, then behold them that are sick with famine! yea, both the prophet and the priest go about into a land that they know not.
19
Hast thou utterly rejected Judah? hath thy soul lothed Zion? why hast thou smitten us, and there is no healing for us? we looked for peace, and there is no good; and for the time of healing, and behold trouble! ​
20
We acknowledge, O LORD, our wickedness, and the iniquity of our fathers: for we have sinned against thee.
21
Do not abhor us, for thy name's sake, do not disgrace the throne of thy glory: remember, break not thy covenant with us. ​
22
Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? art not thou he, O LORD our God? therefore we will wait upon thee: for thou hast made all these things. ​

Study Notes for Jeremiah 14

Verse 1

This chapter introduces a specific prophecy concerning a severe drought (dearth), which was understood as a direct covenant curse (Deut. 28:23-24) resulting from Judah’s persistent idolatry.

Verse 2

The 'gates thereof languish' describes the complete paralysis of civil life; the city gates were the centers for commerce, justice, and social gathering.

Verse 3

The failure of the nobles to find water, even sending their servants (little ones) to distant pits, illustrates the extreme societal breakdown and desperation caused by the famine.

Verse 4

The shame of the plowmen underscores the completeness of the agricultural disaster; the inability to work the land signified that the foundation of the economy and life itself had failed.

Verse 7

This is Judah’s first lament, acknowledging their sin while immediately appealing to God’s honor and reputation ('thy name’s sake') as the basis for receiving mercy.

Verse 8

The people challenge God, asking why He acts like a temporary guest or a 'stranger' rather than the ever-present Savior and protector of Israel.

Verse 10

God’s response indicates that their repentance is superficial; though they lament, their hearts still 'love to wander' into idolatry, meaning their formal rituals are rejected.

Verse 11

This is the second of three times (cf. 7:16; 11:14) that God explicitly forbids Jeremiah from interceding for Judah, signaling that the divine decision for judgment is final and irreversible.

Verse 12

God rejects their religious rituals (fasts, burnt offerings) because they are offered without genuine obedience or repentance, emphasizing that justice precedes ritual acceptance.

Verse 13

Jeremiah attempts to mitigate the judgment by shifting the blame to the false prophets, who were actively misleading the people by promising 'assured peace' (*shalom*).

Verse 14

The LORD condemns the false prophets sharply, noting that their messages are based on self-deception and unauthorized 'divination,' not divine command.

Verse 15

The punishment is perfectly fitting: those who promised safety from the sword and famine will themselves be consumed by those very curses.

Verse 16

A terrible aspect of the judgment is the lack of burial, which was considered the ultimate societal disgrace and a sign of utter rejection in the ancient Near East.

Verse 17

Jeremiah is commanded to embody the divine grief, weeping continually for the destruction of the 'virgin daughter of my people,' an image emphasizing Judah’s vulnerability and former status.

Verse 19

The people’s second lament questions God’s utter rejection, highlighting the painful contrast between their expectation of 'peace' and the reality of inescapable 'trouble.'

Verse 21

Appealing to the 'throne of thy glory' (likely the Temple in Jerusalem), they argue that destroying Judah and the Temple would bring disgrace upon God’s name among the surrounding nations.

Verse 22

This final verse serves as a powerful confession of monotheism, affirming that Yahweh alone controls creation (rain) and rejecting the 'vanities of the Gentiles' (idols), concluding their desperate plea with renewed commitment.

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