Jeremiah 14:10

KJV

¶ 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.

KJV (with Strong's)

Thus saith {H559} the LORD {H3068} unto this people {H5971}, Thus have they loved {H157} to wander {H5128}, they have not refrained {H2820} their feet {H7272}, therefore the LORD {H3068} doth not accept {H7521} them; he will now remember {H2142} their iniquity {H5771}, and visit {H6485} their sins {H2403}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Here is what ADONAI says to this people: "They so love to wander, they don't restrain their feet; so ADONAI does not want them. Now he will remember their crimes, and he will punish their sins."

Berean Standard Bible

This is what the LORD says about this people: “Truly they love to wander; they have not restrained their feet. So the LORD does not accept them; He will now remember their guilt and call their sins to account.”

American Standard Version

Thus saith Jehovah unto this people, Even so have they loved to wander; they have not refrained their feet: therefore Jehovah doth not accept them; now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 14:10 serves as a stark divine indictment against the people of Judah, revealing the depth of their rebellion and the inevitable consequences. Amidst a devastating drought, which was itself a sign of divine displeasure, the Lord declares that Judah's persistent and willful devotion to sin, characterized by an unyielding refusal to turn from their wicked ways, has rendered them unacceptable in His sight. Consequently, God's justice will be fully enacted as He actively remembers and addresses their accumulated iniquity and transgressions.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 14 opens with a vivid description of a severe drought afflicting Judah, a calamity that Jeremiah interprets as divine judgment rather than mere natural disaster. The chapter then transitions into a lament from the people, which, despite its outward expression of distress, is revealed by God as lacking genuine repentance. Jeremiah 14:10 immediately follows the Lord's direct response to this superficial lament, unequivocally stating the reason for His non-acceptance and impending judgment. This verse sets the stage for the subsequent dialogue between Jeremiah and the Lord regarding the false prophets who promise peace, contrasting their deceit with God's unvarnished truth about Judah's spiritual state and the coming discipline. It underscores the profound chasm between Judah's self-perception and God's righteous assessment of their covenant unfaithfulness.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The prophetic ministry of Jeremiah occurred during the tumultuous final decades of the Kingdom of Judah, a period marked by political instability, shifting allegiances between regional powers (Egypt and Babylon), and pervasive spiritual decline. Despite repeated warnings from prophets like Jeremiah, the people of Judah, including their kings and religious leaders, had largely abandoned the Mosaic covenant, embracing idolatry, social injustice, and syncretistic practices. The "wandering" mentioned in the verse refers not merely to physical straying but to a deep-seated spiritual apostasy and moral corruption, a willful departure from the commands of [Yahweh, their covenant God](/deuteronomy/6-4 "Deuteronomy 6:4 - The Shema"). The drought, a common form of divine judgment in the ancient Near East and explicitly promised in the covenant for disobedience ([Deuteronomy 28:23-24](/deuteronomy/28-23 "Deuteronomy 28:23-24 - Curses for Disobedience")), served as a tangible manifestation of God's displeasure, yet the people failed to grasp its true spiritual significance, clinging instead to deceptive assurances from false prophets.
* **Key Themes:** Jeremiah 14:10 powerfully articulates several core themes prevalent throughout the book of Jeremiah and the prophetic literature. Firstly, it highlights **Persistent Disobedience**, portraying Judah's sin not as an accidental deviation but as a "loved" inclination, a deliberate and cherished pursuit of paths contrary to God's will. Their refusal to "refrain their feet" emphasizes a willful lack of self-control and an active choice to persist in unrighteousness, despite the consequences. Secondly, the verse underscores **Divine Rejection**, as God declares, "the LORD doth not accept them." This signifies God's refusal to acknowledge or approve of their superficial religious acts or cries for help, as their hearts remained stubbornly unrepentant. True worship, as taught throughout Scripture, demands genuine repentance and obedience, not mere outward ritual ([Isaiah 1:11-15](/isaiah/1-11 "Isaiah 1:11-15 - God's Rejection of Superficial Worship")). Finally, the verse proclaims **Inevitable Judgment**, as God vows to "remember their iniquity, and visit their sins." In this context, "remember" is an active determination to bring forth consequences, and "visit" denotes a decisive intervention of judgment, ensuring that their actions receive just recompense. This aligns with the universal biblical principle that [the wages of sin is death](/romans/6-23 "Romans 6:23 - The Wages of Sin").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Loved (Hebrew, _ʼâhab'_):** From H157, this primitive root signifies having affection for, to like, or to be a friend. In Jeremiah 14:10, its application to "wander" is profoundly ironic and tragic. It indicates that Judah's deviation from God's path was not accidental or coerced, but rather a cherished inclination, a deliberate and affectionate embrace of sin and idolatry. This highlights a deep-seated spiritual perversion where what should be abhorrent is instead desired.
* **Wander (Hebrew, _nûwaʻ'_):** From H5128, this root means to waver, to go up and down, to be moved, or to be a vagabond. When combined with "loved," it paints a picture of a people who found satisfaction or comfort in their restless, aimless movement away from God's established ways. It implies a deliberate, habitual straying from the covenant path, rather than an unintentional misstep.
* **Refrained (Hebrew, _châsak'_):** From H2820, this root means to restrain, refrain, withhold, or hold back. The phrase "they have not refrained their feet" emphasizes Judah's active choice *not* to cease their sinful course. It speaks to a lack of self-control and a stubborn unwillingness to turn back, despite divine warnings and the visible consequences of their actions (like the drought).
* **Visit (Hebrew, _pâqad'_):** From H6485, this primitive root means to visit with friendly or hostile intent, to oversee, muster, or charge. In this context, it unequivocally carries a hostile intent, signifying divine intervention in judgment. God's "visiting" their sins means He will actively bring about the just consequences and recompense for their transgressions, ensuring that their actions do not go unpunished.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Thus saith the LORD unto this people":** This opening phrase establishes the divine authority and directness of the message. It is not Jeremiah's opinion but a direct oracle from Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel, addressed specifically to the unfaithful people of Judah. It underscores the gravity and certainty of the pronouncement.
* **"Thus have they loved to wander, they have not refrained their feet":** This clause describes the core of Judah's offense. "Loved to wander" indicates a willful, even affectionate, embrace of spiritual deviation and moral corruption. It suggests a deep-seated inclination towards sin rather than accidental straying. The parallel phrase, "they have not refrained their feet," reinforces this by highlighting their active unwillingness to cease their sinful practices, demonstrating a stubborn refusal to exercise self-control or turn back to God.
* **"therefore the LORD doth not accept them":** This is the immediate divine consequence of their persistent, willful sin. Because their hearts are far from Him and they refuse to repent, God declares them unacceptable. This rejection applies to their prayers, their sacrifices, and any outward show of piety, as their inner disposition remains rebellious. It signifies a breach in the covenant relationship from God's side due to their unfaithfulness.
* **"he will now remember their iniquity, and visit their sins":** This final clause pronounces the active judgment that will follow God's non-acceptance. "Remember" in this biblical context is not merely a cognitive recall but an active determination to bring forth the consequences of past actions. "Iniquity" (H5771, _ʻâvôn'_) refers to perversity or moral evil, while "sins" (H2403, _chaṭṭâʼâh'_) denotes an offence or habitual sinfulness. To "visit" their sins means God will intervene decisively to execute judgment, ensuring that their accumulated transgressions receive their just recompense.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 14:10 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message. **Anthropomorphism** is evident in the depiction of God "remembering" and "visiting" sins, attributing human actions and cognitive processes to the divine to make His active engagement in judgment comprehensible. The phrase "loved to wander" uses **Irony** and **Paradox**, as it presents a perverse affection for that which leads to destruction, highlighting the profound spiritual blindness of the people. The imagery of "not refrained their feet" is a form of **Synecdoche**, where "feet" represents the entirety of their actions and conduct, emphasizing their unyielding movement away from God. Furthermore, the verse exhibits **Parallelism** in the final clause, "he will now remember their iniquity, and visit their sins," where two closely related ideas are expressed in similar grammatical structures, intensifying the pronouncement of judgment and underscoring the certainty of divine retribution for both the perversity of their nature ("iniquity") and the specific acts of rebellion ("sins").

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 14:10 is a profound theological statement on the nature of God's justice and the consequences of persistent human rebellion. It reveals that God's patience, while vast, is not infinite, and His holiness demands a response to unrepentant sin. The verse underscores the principle that true relationship with God requires not just outward adherence but an inward heart of devotion and obedience. When a people willfully and habitually choose to deviate from God's path, even loving their wandering, they forfeit His acceptance and invite His righteous judgment. This passage serves as a stark reminder that God is not mocked; He sees the true disposition of the heart and will act accordingly, ensuring that justice is served for all unconfessed and unrepented iniquity.

* [Psalm 7:11](/psalms/7-11 "Psalm 7:11 - God is a Righteous Judge")
* [Proverbs 1:24-31](/proverbs/1-24 "Proverbs 1:24-31 - Wisdom's Rejection and Consequences")
* [Hosea 4:16](/hosea/4-16 "Hosea 4:16 - Israel's Stubbornness")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 14:10 serves as a timeless mirror for self-examination, challenging individuals and communities to honestly assess the true state of their hearts before God. It confronts the dangerous illusion that outward religious observance or superficial lament can substitute for genuine repentance and a transformed life. The phrase "loved to wander" is particularly piercing, prompting us to ask if there are areas in our lives where we harbor an affection for sin, clinging to habits or attitudes that contradict God's will, rather than actively striving for holiness. Do we, like Judah, refuse to "refrain our feet" from paths of disobedience, or are we quick to confess and turn from our transgressions? This verse calls us to a radical sincerity in our faith, reminding us that God desires truth in the inward parts ([Psalm 51:6](/psalms/51-6 "Psalm 51:6 - Truth in the Inward Parts")) and a heart fully devoted to Him. Only through genuine repentance and a commitment to obedience can we experience His acceptance and avoid the inevitable consequences of unaddressed sin.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be "loving to wander" from God's revealed will, even subtly?**
* **Am I truly "refraining my feet" from sinful habits, or am I making excuses for continued disobedience?**
* **What does "God doth not accept them" imply about the nature of my worship and prayers if my heart is not fully yielded to Him?**
* **How does the concept of God "remembering" and "visiting" iniquity impact my understanding of divine justice and my urgency to repent?**

### FAQ

**What does it mean that the LORD "doth not accept them"?**

Answer: This phrase signifies God's rejection of the people's superficial piety and their cries for help. Despite their lamentations during the drought, their hearts remained unrepentant and stubbornly devoted to sin. God's acceptance is conditional upon genuine faith, obedience, and a repentant heart. He does not accept outward religious acts or pleas for mercy if the underlying attitude is one of continued rebellion and a refusal to turn from sin. It highlights that God looks beyond external appearances to the true condition of the heart, as seen in passages like [1 Samuel 16:7](/1_samuel/16-7 "1 Samuel 16:7 - God Looks at the Heart"). Their unfaithfulness to the covenant meant they were no longer in a right standing that would warrant His favor or intervention on their behalf.

**What is the significance of God saying He will "remember their iniquity, and visit their sins"?**

Answer: In biblical language, when God "remembers" (H2142, _zâkar'_) something, it is not merely a cognitive recall but an active determination to bring about a promised outcome, whether blessing or judgment. Here, it means God is actively bringing to mind their accumulated moral evil ("iniquity," H5771, _ʻâvôn'_) and specific transgressions ("sins," H2403, _chaṭṭâʼâh'_) with the intent to respond. To "visit" (H6485, _pâqad'_) their sins means He will intervene decisively to execute the just consequences for their actions. This is a declaration of impending divine judgment, assuring that their persistent rebellion will not go unpunished. It underscores God's justice and faithfulness to His covenant warnings, where disobedience brings specific curses ([Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 14:10, with its stark declaration of divine non-acceptance and impending judgment for persistent sin, powerfully sets the stage for the necessity of Christ. Humanity's "loved to wander" and refusal to "refrain their feet" from sin is the universal condition that separates us from a holy God. The Old Testament consistently reveals that no amount of human effort, sacrifice, or superficial lament could bridge this chasm or earn divine acceptance. It is precisely into this desperate human predicament that Jesus Christ steps as the ultimate solution. He is the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), offering the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice that fully appeases God's righteous wrath against iniquity. Through His atoning death and resurrection, Christ provides the means by which God can "accept" us, not based on our flawed obedience, but on His perfect righteousness imputed to those who believe ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Our Righteousness")). Furthermore, where Judah could not "refrain their feet," Christ enables a new life of obedience through the power of the Holy Spirit, transforming our hearts from loving to wander to loving to walk in His ways ([Romans 8:3-4](/romans/8-3 "Romans 8:3-4 - The Law Fulfilled in Us")). Thus, the judgment threatened in Jeremiah 14:10 falls upon Christ for those who are in Him, allowing God to "remember" our sins no more ([Hebrews 8:12](/hebrews/8-12 "Hebrews 8:12 - God Remembers Sins No More")) and to "visit" us with grace and reconciliation instead of wrath.

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

Hosea 9:9

They have deeply corrupted [themselves], as in the days of Gibeah: [therefore] he will remember their iniquity, he will visit their sins.

Hosea 8:13

They sacrifice flesh [for] the sacrifices of mine offerings, and eat [it; but] the LORD accepteth them not; now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins: they shall return to Egypt.

Psalms 119:101

¶ I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.

Jeremiah 6:20

To what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt offerings [are] not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto me.

Amos 5:22

Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept [them]: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts.

Hebrews 8:12

For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

Jeremiah 31:34

And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.