Jeremiah 1:14

Then the LORD said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land.

Then the LORD {H3068} said {H559} unto me, Out of the north {H6828} an evil {H7451} shall break forth {H6605} upon all the inhabitants {H3427} of the land {H776}.

Then ADONAI said to me, "From the north calamity will boil over onto everyone living in the land,

Then the LORD said to me, “Disaster from the north will be poured out on all who live in the land.

Then Jehovah said unto me, Out of the north evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land.

Commentary

Context of Jeremiah 1:14

Jeremiah 1:14 is a pivotal declaration in the prophet Jeremiah's early ministry, delivered directly by God. Jeremiah, called by God from a young age (see Jeremiah 1:5), was tasked with delivering a difficult message of judgment to the kingdom of Judah. This verse immediately follows the vision of a "seething pot" facing from the north (see Jeremiah 1:13), which visually underscored the source and nature of the impending doom. At this time, Judah was steeped in idolatry and moral corruption, despite repeated warnings from God. The geopolitical landscape was volatile, with the powerful Neo-Babylonian Empire rising in the north, poised to become God's instrument of judgment against His disobedient people.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment and Sovereignty: The phrase "Then the LORD said unto me" emphasizes that this is not Jeremiah's personal opinion, but a direct, authoritative pronouncement from God. It highlights God's absolute sovereignty over nations and history, demonstrating His active role in bringing consequences for unrepentant sin. The impending "evil" is a divine judgment.
  • The Threat from the North: The repeated emphasis on "out of the north" is a crucial prophetic indicator. Historically, major invasions of Judah often came from the north, as the eastern and western borders were protected by desert and sea, respectively. This specifically points to the rising power of Babylon (also known as the Chaldeans), which would ultimately conquer Judah, destroy Jerusalem, and lead its inhabitants into exile. Other passages in Jeremiah also speak of this northern threat, such as Jeremiah 4:6 and Jeremiah 6:1.
  • Comprehensive Calamity: The phrase "upon all the inhabitants of the land" signifies that the judgment would be widespread and unavoidable. It indicates a national catastrophe, affecting everyone in Judah, not just a select few, due to the pervasive nature of their rebellion against God.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word translated "evil" in "an evil shall break forth" is ra'ah (רָעָה). While ra'ah can certainly mean moral wickedness, in this context, it primarily refers to calamity, disaster, or affliction. It is the devastating consequence of Judah's moral evil. The word "break forth" (Hebrew: tip·pa·ṯaḥ, תִּפָּתַח) conveys the strong imagery of something being opened or unleashed, like a floodgate or a wound bursting open, suggesting an overwhelming, unstoppable, and painful force.

Practical Application and Significance

Jeremiah 1:14 serves as a timeless reminder of several enduring truths:

  • God's Warnings are Serious: God is faithful to warn His people before bringing judgment. These warnings are not idle threats but expressions of His justice and His desire for repentance. Ignoring divine warnings carries severe consequences, as seen in Judah's eventual downfall.
  • Consequences of Sin: The verse underscores the reality that sin has consequences, both for individuals and for nations. Judah's persistent idolatry and disobedience led directly to this prophesied "evil." This principle is echoed throughout scripture, such as in the warnings given in Deuteronomy 28:15 and following.
  • God's Sovereignty Over Nations: Even wicked nations like Babylon can be used by God as instruments of His righteous judgment (compare Isaiah 10:5). This demonstrates that God remains in control of history, working through human events to accomplish His divine purposes.
  • Call to Repentance: Though this verse is a prophecy of judgment, it implicitly serves as a call to repentance. The purpose of such warnings is to urge people to turn from their wicked ways and return to God, thereby averting the impending disaster.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Isaiah 41:25 (3 votes)

    I have raised up [one] from the north, and he shall come: from the rising of the sun shall he call upon my name: and he shall come upon princes as [upon] morter, and as the potter treadeth clay.

  • Jeremiah 4:6 (3 votes)

    Set up the standard toward Zion: retire, stay not: for I will bring evil from the north, and a great destruction.

  • Jeremiah 10:22 (3 votes)

    Behold, the noise of the bruit is come, and a great commotion out of the north country, to make the cities of Judah desolate, [and] a den of dragons.

  • Jeremiah 6:1 (3 votes)

    ¶ O ye children of Benjamin, gather yourselves to flee out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and set up a sign of fire in Bethhaccerem: for evil appeareth out of the north, and great destruction.

  • Ezekiel 1:4 (2 votes)

    ¶ And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness [was] about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire.

  • Jeremiah 50:9 (2 votes)

    ¶ For, lo, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country: and they shall set themselves in array against her; from thence she shall be taken: their arrows [shall be] as of a mighty expert man; none shall return in vain.

  • Jeremiah 31:8 (2 votes)

    Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, [and] with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither.