Jeremiah 13:22

KJV

¶ And if thou say in thine heart, Wherefore come these things upon me? For the greatness of thine iniquity are thy skirts discovered, [and] thy heels made bare.

KJV (with Strong's)

And if thou say {H559} in thine heart {H3824}, Wherefore come {H7122} these things upon me? For the greatness {H7230} of thine iniquity {H5771} are thy skirts {H7757} discovered {H1540}, and thy heels {H6119} made bare {H2554}.

Complete Jewish Bible

And if you ask yourself, "Why have these things happened to me?" it is because of your many sins that your skirts are pulled up and you have been violated.

Berean Standard Bible

And if you ask yourself, “Why has this happened to me?” It is because of the magnitude of your iniquity that your skirts have been stripped off and your body has been exposed.

American Standard Version

And if thou say in thy heart, Wherefore are these things come upon me? for the greatness of thine iniquity are thy skirts uncovered, and thy heels suffer violence.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 13:22 presents a stark divine response to Judah's anticipated question regarding the cause of their impending suffering. The Lord unequivocally declares that their national humiliation and impending exile are not arbitrary but are direct consequences of the "greatness of thine iniquity," vividly portrayed through the imagery of public exposure and degradation. This verse underscores God's unwavering justice and the direct correlation between persistent rebellion and severe judgment, highlighting Judah's spiritual blindness to their own culpability.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 13:22 is situated within a series of prophetic pronouncements in the book of Jeremiah, specifically within a section (chapters 13-16) that emphasizes Judah's deep-seated corruption and the inevitability of divine judgment leading to exile. The chapter opens with the symbolic act of the linen sash, which Jeremiah is commanded to wear and then bury, symbolizing Judah's initial closeness to God and their subsequent spiritual decay and ruin, as detailed in [Jeremiah 13:9-11](/jeremiah/13-9-11 "Jeremiah 13:9-11 - The Ruined Girdle"). This imagery establishes a theme of defilement and impending destruction. The verses immediately preceding 13:22 speak of Judah's stubbornness and their inability to change their ways, likening them to an Ethiopian changing his skin or a leopard his spots, as stated in [Jeremiah 13:23](/jeremiah/13-23 "Jeremiah 13:23 - Inability to Change"). Thus, verse 22 serves as a direct, unvarnished explanation from God for the calamities that will befall a people who refuse to acknowledge their sin or repent. It is a divine answer to a question God knows they will ask, preempting their denial.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The prophecies of Jeremiah were delivered during a tumultuous period in Judah's history, spanning the reigns of the last kings before the Babylonian exile (late 7th to early 6th century BCE). Judah, as a vassal state, was caught between the rising power of Babylon and the declining influence of Egypt. Despite repeated warnings from prophets like Jeremiah, the nation persisted in widespread idolatry, covenant breaking, and social injustice, mirroring the sins that led to the downfall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel centuries earlier. The imagery of "skirts discovered, and thy heels made bare" draws from ancient Near Eastern cultural practices associated with the humiliation of captives. Conquering armies would often strip defeated populations, especially women, of their clothing and dignity as they were led away into exile. This act of public nakedness was the ultimate expression of shame, vulnerability, and loss of sovereignty, signifying complete subjugation and the stripping away of all protection and honor. For Judah, this foreshadowed the impending Babylonian captivity, where they would be exposed and shamed before the nations.
* **Key Themes:** Jeremiah 13:22 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in the book of Jeremiah and biblical theology. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Justice and Accountability**, unequivocally stating that suffering is a direct consequence of sin, not arbitrary punishment. God's judgment is a righteous response to the "greatness of thine iniquity." Secondly, the vivid imagery of "skirts discovered, and thy heels made bare" emphasizes **Exposure and Humiliation**, portraying the profound public shame, vulnerability, and degradation that awaits Judah. This foreshadows the **Babylonian captivity and exile**, a theme prevalent throughout the book, notably in [Jeremiah 25:11](/jeremiah/25-11 "Jeremiah 25:11 - Seventy Years of Babylonian Captivity"). Thirdly, the rhetorical question, "Wherefore come these things upon me?" exposes Judah's **Spiritual Blindness and Denial** of their culpability, despite numerous warnings and blatant disobedience. This denial is a recurring motif, as seen in Judah's "foolish and unwise heart" described in [Jeremiah 5:21](/jeremiah/5-21 "Jeremiah 5:21 - Judah's Lack of Understanding"). Lastly, the phrase "greatness of thine iniquity" underscores the **Gravity and Profundity of Sin**, particularly Judah's persistent idolatry and covenant breaking, which Jeremiah frequently condemns as spiritual adultery, as illustrated in [Jeremiah 2:13](/jeremiah/2-13 "Jeremiah 2:13 - Judah's Forsaking God").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **say (Hebrew, _ʼâmar'_):** From H559, a primitive root meaning "to say" with great latitude. In this context, it refers to the internal questioning or anticipated thought process of the people of Judah. It highlights their spiritual blindness and denial, as they would ponder the reasons for their suffering without acknowledging their own sin as the cause. This internal dialogue reveals a profound disconnect between their actions and their understanding of divine consequences.
* **iniquity (Hebrew, _ʻâvôn'_):** From H5771, meaning "perversity, i.e., (moral) evil; fault, iniquity, mischief, punishment (of iniquity), sin." This word is central to the verse, as it names the fundamental cause of Judah's impending judgment. It encompasses not just isolated acts of sin but a deep-seated moral distortion and deviation from God's righteous path, implying both the guilt of wrongdoing and the punishment that inevitably follows. The "greatness" of this iniquity underscores its extensive and pervasive nature within the nation.
* **discovered (Hebrew, _gâlâh'_):** From H1540, a primitive root meaning "to denude (especially in a disgraceful sense); by implication, to exile (captives being usually stripped); figuratively, to reveal." When applied to "skirts," it signifies public exposure, stripping away dignity and protection, and revealing shame. This term vividly portrays the humiliation and vulnerability that Judah would experience, akin to being led away as a captive, stripped bare. It connects directly to the concept of exile and the public revelation of their spiritual nakedness.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And if thou say in thine heart, Wherefore come these things upon me?"**: This clause sets up a rhetorical question, anticipating Judah's bewildered or self-pitying inquiry when judgment falls. It reveals their spiritual obtuseness and unwillingness to connect their persistent disobedience with the unfolding consequences. The phrase "in thine heart" emphasizes an internal, perhaps unspoken, questioning, highlighting their deep-seated denial and lack of self-awareness regarding their own culpability.
* **"For the greatness of thine iniquity"**: This is God's direct and unequivocal answer to Judah's anticipated question. It establishes a clear cause-and-effect relationship: the suffering is not random or unjust, but a precise and proportionate response to the magnitude and pervasiveness of their sin. The term "greatness" (H7230, _rôb'_) emphasizes the abundance, extent, and severity of their moral evil and rebellion against the Lord.
* **"are thy skirts discovered, and thy heels made bare."**: This clause vividly depicts the consequence of their great iniquity. The imagery of "skirts discovered" (H7757, _shûwl'_, meaning "skirt" or "train," combined with H1540, _gâlâh'_, "discovered/uncovered") refers to the public stripping and shaming of a nation, often used in prophetic literature to describe the humiliation of a city or people by its conquerors. "Heels made bare" (H6119, _ʻâqêb'_, "heel," combined with H2554, _châmaç'_, "made bare" or "maltreated violently") further intensifies this image of complete exposure and vulnerability, signifying utter degradation, loss of dignity, and the stripping away of all protection, symbolic of their impending exile and subjugation.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 13:22 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its message. The verse begins with a **Rhetorical Question**, "Wherefore come these things upon me?", which is not meant to be answered by the audience but serves to highlight Judah's spiritual blindness and denial. God immediately provides the answer, making the question a device for emphasis. The core of the verse relies on vivid **Metaphor and Symbolism**. The "skirts discovered" and "heels made bare" are not literal physical acts in this context but powerful symbols of public humiliation, shame, vulnerability, and the complete loss of dignity and protection that would accompany national defeat and exile. This imagery often carries connotations of sexual exposure in prophetic literature, signifying the nation's spiritual adultery and the stripping away of their honor by God. There is also an element of **Personification**, as the nation of Judah is addressed as a "thou," a female figure whose garments are stripped, emphasizing the intimate and deeply shaming nature of the judgment. Finally, the verse clearly demonstrates **Cause and Effect**, directly linking the "greatness of thine iniquity" to the resulting "skirts discovered, and thy heels made bare," thereby establishing God's righteous justice.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 13:22 profoundly articulates the biblical principle of divine justice, where sin inevitably leads to severe consequences. It underscores that God's judgment is not arbitrary but a righteous and proportionate response to human rebellion and unfaithfulness. The humiliation depicted is a direct reflection of Judah's spiritual nakedness and shame brought about by their persistent idolatry and covenant breaking. This verse serves as a timeless reminder that while God is merciful, He is also holy and just, holding individuals and nations accountable for their choices. The exposure of Judah's "skirts" and "heels" symbolizes the stripping away of their national pride, security, and identity, revealing the true state of their spiritual condition before God and the nations. This divine action is often intended to lead to repentance, though in Judah's case, their stubbornness made the judgment unavoidable.

* [Isaiah 47:2-3](/isaiah/47-2-3 "Isaiah 47:2-3 - Humiliation of Babylon"): This passage uses similar imagery of stripping and exposure to describe the humiliation and downfall of Babylon, illustrating a common prophetic motif for national disgrace and defeat.
* [Ezekiel 16:37-39](/ezekiel/16-37-39 "Ezekiel 16:37-39 - Jerusalem's Shame Exposed"): Here, God explicitly states He will gather Jerusalem's lovers and expose her nakedness before them, a powerful parallel to Jeremiah's imagery, signifying the public revelation of her spiritual adultery and the resulting shame.
* [Galatians 6:7](/galatians/6-7 "Galatians 6:7 - Sowing and Reaping"): This New Testament verse encapsulates the timeless spiritual principle articulated in Jeremiah 13:22: "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows." It affirms the universal truth that actions, particularly sinful ones, have inevitable consequences.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 13:22 serves as a timeless and sobering warning about the inevitable consequences of persistent sin, both individually and corporately. It challenges us to move beyond a superficial understanding of suffering and to engage in deep self-examination. Instead of asking "Why me?" or blaming external circumstances when difficulties arise, this verse calls us to first look inward and honestly assess whether any "greatness of iniquity" in our lives, our communities, or our nations might be contributing to our struggles. God's judgment, though severe, is always just and rooted in His holy character. Understanding that suffering often stems from disobedience should not lead to despair but to genuine repentance and a turning back to God's ways. It is a call to accountability, reminding us that denial of sin only delays true healing and exacerbates its consequences. For the believer, this means embracing humility, confessing our sins, as encouraged in [1 John 1:9](/1_john/1-9 "1 John 1:9 - Confessing Sins"), and seeking to walk in obedience, trusting in God's mercy and restorative power even as we acknowledge His justice.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **When facing difficulties, do I first look inward to examine my own heart and actions, or do I tend to blame external circumstances?**
* **How might the "greatness of iniquity" manifest in my personal life, my community, or my nation today, and what might be its potential consequences?**
* **What does this verse teach me about the nature of God's justice and His patience with human sin?**
* **In what ways can I actively respond to the call for repentance and accountability in my own life, aligning myself more fully with God's righteous standards?**

### FAQ
**What does "skirts discovered, and thy heels made bare" mean in this context?**

Answer: This vivid imagery refers to the public humiliation and complete exposure of a nation. In ancient Near Eastern warfare, it was common for conquering armies to strip captives, especially women, of their clothing as they were led away into exile. This act symbolized the loss of dignity, honor, protection, and sovereignty. For Judah, it prophetically depicted the profound shame, vulnerability, and degradation they would experience during the Babylonian captivity, stripped of their national identity and security. It also carries connotations of spiritual nakedness, revealing their unfaithfulness and spiritual adultery before God.

**Why does God allow His people to suffer such severe consequences?**

Answer: God's allowance of suffering, as seen in Jeremiah 13:22, is not arbitrary or malicious. Instead, it is often a direct consequence of persistent sin and rebellion against His covenant. For Judah, their "greatness of iniquity"—their widespread idolatry, injustice, and disobedience—provoked God's righteous judgment. While painful, such suffering serves multiple purposes: it demonstrates God's justice, acts as a disciplinary measure to call His people to repentance, as seen in [Hebrews 12:6](/hebrews/12-6 "Hebrews 12:6 - The Lord Disciplines Those He Loves"), and ultimately aims to restore them to a right relationship with Him. It underscores that God takes sin seriously and holds His people accountable.

**How does this verse relate to God's love and mercy?**

Answer: While Jeremiah 13:22 highlights God's justice and the severity of His judgment, it does not negate His love and mercy. Rather, it shows that God's love includes discipline. Just as a loving parent disciplines a wayward child, God's judgments are often a painful but necessary means to bring His people back to Himself. His warnings, delivered through prophets like Jeremiah, were acts of mercy, providing opportunities for repentance before the full weight of judgment fell. Even in judgment, God often preserves a remnant and promises future restoration, demonstrating His enduring faithfulness and compassion for those who eventually turn to Him, as beautifully expressed in [Lamentations 3:22-23](/lamentations/3-22-23 "The Lord's Compassions Never Fail").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 13:22, with its stark portrayal of sin's consequences and the resulting public humiliation, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment not in the judgment of believers but in the vicarious suffering of Jesus Christ. While Judah's "greatness of iniquity" led to their skirts being discovered and heels made bare, Jesus, the sinless Lamb of God, willingly endured the ultimate shame and exposure on the cross to cover our spiritual nakedness. He was stripped of His garments and mocked, as recorded in [Matthew 27:28](/matthew/27-28 "Matthew 27:28 - Jesus Stripped and Mocked"), bearing the very public humiliation and curse that humanity deserved for its rebellion against God. In becoming sin for us, as stated in [2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us"), Christ took upon Himself the full weight of our iniquity, allowing Himself to be "discovered" and "made bare" so that we might be clothed in His righteousness, as prophesied in [Isaiah 61:10](/isaiah/61-10 "Isaiah 61:10 - Garments of Salvation"), and stand unashamed before a holy God. His sacrifice transforms the judgment due to our sin into grace and mercy, offering a spiritual covering and dignity that far surpasses any earthly shame, fulfilling the promise of a new covenant where sin is remembered no more, as affirmed in [Hebrews 8:12](/hebrews/8-12 "Hebrews 8:12 - God Forgives Iniquities").

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Nahum 3:5

Behold, I [am] against thee, saith the LORD of hosts; and I will discover thy skirts upon thy face, and I will shew the nations thy nakedness, and the kingdoms thy shame.

Jeremiah 16:10

¶ And it shall come to pass, when thou shalt shew this people all these words, and they shall say unto thee, Wherefore hath the LORD pronounced all this great evil against us? or what [is] our iniquity? or what [is] our sin that we have committed against the LORD our God?

Jeremiah 16:11

Then shalt thou say unto them, Because your fathers have forsaken me, saith the LORD, and have walked after other gods, and have served them, and have worshipped them, and have forsaken me, and have not kept my law;

Jeremiah 5:19

And it shall come to pass, when ye shall say, Wherefore doeth the LORD our God all these [things] unto us? then shalt thou answer them, Like as ye have forsaken me, and served strange gods in your land, so shall ye serve strangers in a land [that is] not yours.

Deuteronomy 7:17

If thou shalt say in thine heart, These nations [are] more than I; how can I dispossess them?

Hosea 2:10

And now will I discover her lewdness in the sight of her lovers, and none shall deliver her out of mine hand.

Lamentations 1:8

Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore she is removed: all that honoured her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness: yea, she sigheth, and turneth backward.