Jeremiah 13:22

ยถ 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.

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}.

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.

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

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

Commentary on Jeremiah 13:22 (KJV)

Jeremiah 13:22 delivers a stark divine response to the anticipated question of a rebellious Judah: "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." This verse powerfully highlights the direct link between sin and its severe consequences, specifically the national humiliation and impending exile.

Context

This verse is part of a series of prophecies in the book of Jeremiah, delivered during a critical period in Judah's history, just before the Babylonian exile. Chapter 13 opens with the symbolic act of the linen girdle, which Jeremiah was commanded to wear and then bury, symbolizing Judah's pride and eventual corruption and ruin (Jeremiah 13:9-11). The chapter consistently warns of impending judgment due to Judah's deep-seated idolatry and spiritual adultery. Verse 22 directly addresses the nation's potential denial or lack of self-awareness regarding the reasons for their coming suffering, making it clear that their "greatness of iniquity" is the sole cause.

Key Themes

  • Divine Justice and Accountability: The verse unequivocally states that suffering is a direct consequence of sin. God's judgment is not arbitrary but a just response to the "greatness of thine iniquity."
  • Exposure and Humiliation: The vivid imagery of "skirts discovered, and thy heels made bare" signifies public shame, vulnerability, and utter degradation. This was a common depiction of captives led away in humiliation, stripped of dignity and protection. It foreshadows the Babylonian captivity and exile, where Judah would be exposed and stripped of their national identity and sovereignty.
  • Spiritual Blindness and Denial: The rhetorical question, "Wherefore come these things upon me?" reveals Judah's spiritual blindness and unwillingness to acknowledge their own culpability. Despite clear warnings and blatant disobedience, they were still questioning the cause of their impending doom, much like the foolish and unwise heart mentioned in Jeremiah 5:21.
  • The Gravity of Sin: The phrase "greatness of thine iniquity" emphasizes the extensive and profound nature of Judah's rebellion against God, particularly their persistent idolatry and covenant breaking, which Jeremiah frequently condemns (e.g., Jeremiah 2:13).

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "iniquity" is ืขึธื•ึนืŸ (avon), which carries the sense of perversity, guilt, and the punishment that results from sin. It implies a moral distortion and a deviation from God's righteous path. The phrase "skirts discovered, and thy heels made bare" employs powerful imagery related to stripping and exposing. "Skirts discovered" (ื’ึธืœึฐืชึธื” ืฉืื•ึผืœึทื™ึดืšึฐ - *galtah shulayich*) literally means "your skirts are uncovered" or "your train is removed," signifying public disgrace and sexual exposure, often used in prophetic literature to describe the humiliation of a nation or city by its conquerors.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 13:22 serves as a timeless warning about the inevitable consequences of sin, both individually and corporately. It calls us to:

  1. Self-Examination: Instead of asking "Why me?" when facing difficulties, we should first examine our own hearts and actions for any "greatness of iniquity" that might be contributing to our circumstances.
  2. Accountability: God holds individuals and nations accountable for their choices. Denial of sin only delays repentance and exacerbates its consequences.
  3. Repentance: Understanding that suffering often stems from disobedience should drive us to genuine repentance and a return to God's ways. While God is just in judgment, He is also merciful to those who confess their sins and turn from them.

Reflection

This verse underscores God's unwavering justice and the direct correlation between rebellion and ruin. It reminds us that while judgment is severe, it is always a righteous response to deliberate and persistent sin. The humiliation depicted is not arbitrary but a just reflection of the spiritual nakedness and shame brought about by forsaking the Lord.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“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 โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified 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

    ยถ 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.