TRV
Translation
King James Version
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.
KJV (with Strong's)
And the people H5971 to whom they prophesy H5012 shall be cast out H7993 in the streets H2351 of Jerusalem H3389 because H6440 of the famine H7458 and the sword H2719; and they shall have none to bury H6912 them H1992, them, their wives H802, nor their sons H1121, nor their daughters H1323: for I will pour H8210 their wickedness H7451 upon them.
Complete Jewish Bible
And the people to whom they are prophesying will be thrown out into the streets of Yerushalayim because of the famine and war, with no one to bury them - them, or their wives, or their sons, or their daughters - because I will pour their own wickedness out upon them.
Berean Standard Bible
And the people to whom they prophesy will be thrown into the streets of Jerusalem because of famine and sword. There will be no one to bury them or their wives, their sons or their daughters. I will pour out their own evil upon them.
American Standard Version
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.
World English Bible Messianic
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 no one to bury them—them, their wives, nor their sons, nor their daughters: for I will pour their wickedness on them.
Geneva Bible (1599)
And the people to whome these prophets doe prophecie, shalbe cast out in the streetes of Ierusalem, because of the famine, and the sword, and there shall be none to bury them, both they, and their wiues, and their sonnes, and their daughters: for I wil powre their wickednes vpon them.
Young's Literal Translation
And the people to whom they are prophesying, Are cast into out-places of Jerusalem, Because of the famine, and of the sword, And they have none burying them, Them, their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, And I have poured out upon them this evil.
In the KJVVerse 19,310 of 31,102
Study This Verse
Commentary on Jeremiah 14 verses 10–16
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.
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.
The dispute between God and his prophet, in this chapter, seems to be like that between the owner and the dresser of the vineyard concerning the barren fig-tree, Luk 13:7. The justice of the owner condemns it to be cut down; the clemency of the dresser intercedes for a reprieve. Jeremiah had been earnest with God, in prayer, to return in mercy to this people. Now here,
I. God overrules the plea which he had offered in their favour, and shows him that it would not hold. In answer to it thus he says concerning this people, Jer 14:10. He does not say, concerning my people, for he disowns them, because they had broken covenant with him. It is true they were called by his name, and had the tokens of his presence among them; but they had sinned, and provoked God to withdraw. This the prophet had owned, and had hoped to obtain mercy for them, notwithstanding this, through intercession and sacrifice; therefore God here tells him, 1. That they were not duly qualified for a pardon. The prophet had owned that their backslidings were many; and, though they were so, yet there was hope for them if they returned. But this people show no disposition at all to return; they have wandered, and they have loved to wander; their backslidings have been their choice and their pleasure, which should have been their shame and pain, and therefore they will be their ruin. They cannot expect God should take up his rest with them when they take such delight in going astray from him after their idols. It is not through necessity or inadvertency that they wander, but they love to wander. Sinners are wanderers from God; their wanderings forfeit God's favour, but it is their loving to wander that quite cuts them off from it. They were told what their wanderings would come to that one sin would hurry them on to another, and all to ruin; and yet they have not taken warning and refrained their feet. So far were they from returning to their God that neither his prophets nor his judgments could prevail upon them to give themselves the least check in a sinful pursuit. This is that for which God is now reckoning with them. When he denies them rain from heaven he is remembering their iniquity and visiting their sin; that is it for which their fruitful land is thus turned into barrenness. 2. That they had no reason to expect that the God they had rejected should accept them; no, not though they betook themselves to fasting and prayer and put themselves to the expense of burnt-offerings and sacrifice: The Lord doth not accept them, Jer 14:10. He takes no pleasure in them (so the word is); for what pleasure can the holy God take in those that take pleasure in his rivals, in any service, in any society, rather than his? "When they fast (Jer 14:12), which is a proper expression of repentance and reformation, - when they offer a burnt offering and an oblation, which was designed to be an expression of faith in a Mediator, - though their prayers be thus enforced, and offered up in those vehicles that used to be acceptable, yet, because they do not proceed from humble, penitent, and renewed hearts, but still they love to wander, therefore I will not hear their cry, be it ever so loud; nor will I accept them, neither their persons nor their performances." It had been long since declared, The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord; and those only are accepted that do well, Gen 4:7. 3. That they had forfeited all benefit by the prophet's prayers for them because they had not regarded his preaching to them. This is the meaning of that repeated prohibition given to the prophet (Jer 14:11): Pray not thou for this people for their good, as before, Jer 7:15; Jer 11:14. This did not forbid him thus to express his good-will to them (Moses continued to intercede for Israel after God had said, Let me alone, Exo 32:10), but it forbade them to expect any good effect from it as long as they turned away their ear from hearing the law. Thus was the doom of the impenitent ratified, as that of Saul's rejection was by that word to Samuel, When wilt thou cease to mourn for Saul? It therefore follows (Jer 14:12), I will consume them, not only by this famine, but by the further sore judgments of sword and pestilence; for God has many arrows in his quiver, and those that will not be convinced and reclaimed by one shall be consumed by another.
II. The prophet offers another plea in excuse for the people's obstinacy, and it is but an excuse, but he was willing to say whatever their case would bear; it is this, That the prophets, who pretended a commission from heaven, imposed upon them, and flattered them with assurances of peace though they went on in their sinful way, Jer 14:13. He speaks of it with lamentation: "Ah! Lord God, the poor people seem willing to take notice of what comes in thy name, and there are those who in thy name tell them that they shall not see the sword nor famine; and they say it as from thee, with all the gravity and confidence of prophets: I will continue you in this place, and will give you assured peace here, peace of truth. I tell them the contrary; but I am one against many, and every one is apt to credit that which makes for them; therefore, Lord, pity and spare them, for their leaders cause them to err." This excuse would have been of some weight if they had not had warning given them, before, of false prophets, and rules by which to distinguish them; so that if they were deceived it was entirely their own fault. But this teaches us, as far as we can with truth, to make the best of bad, and judge as charitably of others as their case will bear.
III. God not only overrules this plea, but condemns both the blind leaders and the blind followers to fall together into the ditch. 1. God disowns the flatteries (Jer 14:14): They prophesy lies in my name. They had no commission from God to prophesy at all: I neither sent them, nor commanded them, nor spoke unto them. They never were employed to go on any errand at all from God; he never made himself known to them, much less by them to the people; never any word of the Lord came to them, no call, no warrant, no instruction, much less did he send them on this errand, to rock them asleep in security. No; men may flatter themselves, and Satan may flatter them, but God never does. It is a false vision, and a thing of nought. Note, What is false and groundless in vain and worthless. The vision that is not true, be it ever so pleasing, is good for nothing; it is the deceit of their heart, a spider's web spun out of their own bowels, and in it they think to shelter themselves, but it will be swept away in a moment and prove a great cheat. Those that oppose their own thoughts of God's word (God indeed says so, but they think otherwise) walk in the deceit of their heart, and it will be their ruin. 2. He passes sentence upon the flatterers, Jer 14:15. As for the prophets, who put this abuse upon the people by telling them they shall have peace, and this affront upon God by telling them so in God's name, let them know that they shall have no peace themselves. They shall fall first by those very judgments which they have flattered others with the hopes of an exemption from. They undertook to warrant people that sword and famine should not be in the land; but it shall soon appear how little their warrants are good for, when they themselves shall be cut off by sword and famine. How should they secure others or foretel peace to them when they cannot secure themselves, nor have such a foresight of their own calamities as to get out of the way of them? Note, The sorest punishment await those who promise sinners impunity in their sinful ways. 3. He lays the flattered under the same doom: The people to whom they prophesy lies, and who willingly suffer themselves to be thus imposed upon, shall die by sword and famine, Jer 14:16. Note, The unbelief of the deceived, with all the falsehood of the deceivers, shall not make the divine threatenings of no effect; sword and famine will come, whatever they say to the contrary; and those will be least safe that are most secure. Impenitent sinners will not escape the damnation of hell by saying that they can never believe there is such a thing, but will feel what they will not fear. It is threatened that this people shall not only fall by sword and famine, but that they shall be as it were hanged up in chains, as monuments of that divine justice which they set at defiance; their bodies shall be cast out, even in the streets of Jerusalem, which of all places, one would think, should be kept clear from such nuisances: there they shall lie unburied; their nearest relations, who should do them that last office of love, being so poor that they cannot afford it, or so weakened with hunger that they are not able to attend it, or so overwhelmed with grief that they have no heart to it, or so destitute of natural affection that they will not pay them so much respect. Thus will God pour their wickedness upon them, that is, the punishment of their wickedness; the full vials of God's wrath shall be poured upon them, to which they have made themselves obnoxious. Note, When sinners are overwhelmed with trouble they must in it see their own wickedness poured upon them. This refers to the wickedness both of the false prophets and of the people; the blind lead the blind, and both fall together into the ditch, where they will be miserable comforters one to another.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 10–16. Public domain.
Copy as
JeromeAD 420
Commentary on Jeremiah
(Verse 15, 16) Therefore, the Lord says these things about the prophets who prophesy in my name, whom I did not send, saying: 'Sword and famine will not be in this land; by sword and famine those prophets will be consumed.' And the people to whom they prophesied will be thrown into the streets of Jerusalem, because of famine and sword. And there will be no one to bury them, their wives, their sons, and their daughters. And I will pour out their own evil upon them. Beware of false prophets, who by promising prosperity, deceive the people of God, so that they may perish and the deceived people may be destroyed in a similar way, and may lie in the streets of Jerusalem, trampling on the Lord's commandments, and may perish by hunger and sword, and there will be no one to bury them; nor may their disgrace be covered by the dust of repentance. For both the prophets themselves and the people, their wives and children, and all generations without any propagator will be in the dung heap. How many lie on the streets of Jerusalem! How many we see receiving their own misfortunes unburied, which, as the Lord pours out, they endure!
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
Copy as
Continue studying Jeremiah 14:16 across the web’s major study libraries — every link below opens this exact verse, chapter, or book on the destination site.
Read & Compare
BibleGatewayThis verse in more than 200 translations and 70 languages.
Bible.comThe YouVersion reader — hundreds of translations, reading plans, and highlights.
ESV.orgCrossway's official English Standard Version reader.
NET BibleThe NET translation with 60,000+ translators' notes on every rendering decision.
STEP BibleTyndale House's free study tool — original text, vocabulary, and scholarly resources.
BibliaLogos Bible Software's free web reader.
USCCBThe New American Bible (Revised Edition) with the U.S. bishops' study notes.
Commentaries
BibleHub CommentariesDozens of classic commentaries on this verse, gathered on one page.
StudyLightMore than 100 commentary sets — the largest collection on the web.
BibleRefPlain-English commentary on what this verse means, verse by verse.
Enduring WordDavid Guzik's free commentary on this chapter, widely used by Bible teachers.
Bible Study ToolsVerse commentary alongside Greek and Hebrew study aids.
Original Language & Research
- BibleHub InterlinearThe verse word by word — original language, transliteration, and English.
- BibleHub LexiconEvery word's original-language definition and Strong's entry.
Blue Letter BibleDeep-study tools — Strong's numbers, concordance, and word studies.
SefariaThe Hebrew text with Rashi and centuries of Jewish commentary.
Sermons, Hymns & Audio
TrulyRandomVerse is not affiliated with these sites and doesn’t control their content. They’re linked because they’re genuinely useful.
SUMMARY
Jeremiah 14:16 pronounces a severe divine judgment upon the people of Judah, who, having been tragically misled by false prophets, are destined to face horrific consequences from widespread famine and the devastating sword. This verse vividly depicts a scene of mass death and profound dishonor in the very streets of Jerusalem, where countless bodies, including those of men, women, and children, will lie unburied. The ultimate and explicit cause of this devastating fate is God's righteous act of pouring out their own accumulated wickedness upon them, serving as a direct and inescapable divine retribution for their persistent rebellion and their willful rejection of His truth.
CONTEXT
Literary Context: Jeremiah 14:16 is situated within a profound lament and a prophecy of impending judgment spanning Jeremiah 14:1-18. The preceding verses establish a grim reality: despite Jeremiah's earnest intercession for Judah amidst a severe drought and famine, God explicitly refuses to hear their cries for relief, underscoring that the unfolding disaster is not merely a natural phenomenon but a direct divine punishment (Jeremiah 14:12). Crucially, Jeremiah 14:14 and Jeremiah 14:15 specifically condemn the false prophets who offered deceptive messages of peace and prosperity, rather than calling the people to genuine repentance. Verse 16 extends this severe judgment from the false prophets themselves to the very populace who willingly listened to and embraced their misleading messages. This highlights the collective culpability of the nation and the comprehensive, inescapable nature of the desolation that would be wrought by the impending Babylonian invasion. The verse serves as a grim and climactic culmination of the warnings presented in the chapter, emphasizing the undeniable reality of God's righteous wrath.
Historical & Cultural Context: The prophecy in Jeremiah 14:16 is set against the tumultuous backdrop of Judah in the late 7th and early 6th centuries BCE, a period characterized by profound political instability, pervasive spiritual apostasy, and the escalating threat of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. Jerusalem, as the capital, held immense significance as both the religious and national heart of the kingdom. The cultural importance of proper burial in the ancient Near East cannot be overstated; it was considered a sacred duty, an essential act of respect for the deceased, and a vital component of familial and societal honor. To be left unburied was universally regarded as a profound curse, a public disgrace, and the ultimate dishonor, signifying complete societal breakdown and divine rejection, as explicitly warned in Mosaic Law (Deuteronomy 28:26). The "famine and the sword" were not merely abstract threats but were common, devastating instruments of divine judgment and warfare in the ancient world, frequently leading to widespread death, disease, and social collapse. This prophecy vividly anticipates the horrors of the Babylonian sieges and the subsequent destruction of Jerusalem, which indeed resulted in mass casualties and the tragic inability to provide proper burials for many.
Key Themes: Jeremiah 14:16 powerfully contributes to several foundational themes prevalent throughout the book of Jeremiah and the broader prophetic literature. Firstly, it starkly underscores the Consequences of False Prophecy and Disobedience. The people's impending suffering is directly linked to their embrace of deceptive messages and their persistent "wickedness" (Hebrew: raʻ), illustrating that both those who propagate falsehood and those who willingly receive it will inevitably face divine retribution. This emphasizes the spiritual danger of uncritically accepting messages that deviate from God's revealed truth. Secondly, the verse highlights the theme of Divine Judgment and Desolation. God's judgment is depicted as absolute, comprehensive, and inescapable, with famine and the sword serving as His chosen instruments of wrath, leading to widespread death and the catastrophic collapse of societal order. This powerfully emphasizes the severity of God's justice against a persistently rebellious people, a recurring motif throughout Jeremiah (e.g., Jeremiah 21:7). Finally, the chilling phrase "none to bury them" profoundly emphasizes the theme of Dishonor in Death. This lack of proper burial signifies not only the overwhelming scale of death but also the ultimate humiliation and desolation, serving as a clear and public sign of God's utter rejection and the complete breakdown of covenant blessings, as foretold in the Mosaic Law (Leviticus 26:33).
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Jeremiah 14:16 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message of divine judgment with chilling clarity. Hyperbole is evident in the depiction of bodies filling the streets with "none to bury them," emphasizing an overwhelming scale of death that far exceeds any normal human capacity for burial. This exaggeration serves to shock the audience into a profound recognition of the severity and totality of God's wrath. Symbolism is powerfully present in "famine and the sword," which are not merely physical threats but represent the instruments of God's covenant curses for disobedience, embodying His active and righteous judgment. The "streets of Jerusalem" symbolize the public shame, utter desolation, and desecration of the once-holy capital city. The striking phrase "I will pour their wickedness upon them" utilizes both Metaphor and the theological principle of Retributive Justice. The act of "pouring" suggests an overflowing, inescapable deluge, metaphorically likening wickedness to a tangible substance that can be poured out. This act signifies a direct, proportional repayment for their sin, where their own evil becomes the very substance of their punishment. This vivid imagery underscores the direct and inevitable link between persistent sin and its devastating consequences.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 14:16 stands as a stark and immutable testament to the unwavering justice of God and the severe, inescapable consequences of spiritual deception and unrepentant sin. It profoundly reveals a God who, despite His profound love, patience, and covenant faithfulness, will not and cannot allow persistent rebellion and the embrace of falsehood to go unpunished. The verse highlights the corporate responsibility of a nation that collectively turns away from divine truth and embraces lies, powerfully demonstrating that both the purveyors of false prophecy and their willing, deceived audience share equally in the impending judgment. The chilling concept of God "pouring" their wickedness upon them underscores the profound biblical principle of divine recompense, where the very nature and fruit of their sin become the substance of their punishment. This is a profound theological statement on the self-destructive nature of evil and God's righteous, just, and active response to it, affirming His holy character.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 14:16 serves as a profound and deeply sobering warning for all generations, urging us to cultivate rigorous spiritual discernment and an unyielding commitment to truth. In an age saturated with an overwhelming deluge of information and competing narratives, it is more crucial than ever to "test the spirits" (1 John 4:1) and diligently compare all messages, whether spiritual, political, or cultural, against the unchanging, authoritative truth of God's revealed Word. This verse powerfully reminds us that there are dire and inescapable consequences not only for those who propagate falsehoods but also for those who passively or actively embrace them, especially when such messages flatter our desires rather than courageously calling us to genuine repentance and costly obedience. It compels us to take God's warnings with utmost seriousness, to repent of any personal or corporate sin, and to earnestly seek genuine reconciliation and restoration with Him. The ultimate and enduring lesson is the absolute necessity of an unwavering commitment to truth, even when it is uncomfortable, unpopular, or challenging, and the profound recognition that God's justice, while severe for persistent wickedness, is always rooted in His perfect character and His ultimate desire for humanity's true flourishing and redemption.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What is the significance of "none to bury them" in ancient culture?
Answer: In ancient Near Eastern cultures, proper burial was a profoundly important and sacred duty, signifying deep respect for the deceased and ensuring their dignified passage. To be left unburied, as chillingly prophesied in Jeremiah 14:16, was considered the ultimate dishonor, a severe curse, and a public humiliation. It indicated a complete societal breakdown, the overwhelming scale of death beyond human capacity, and God's utter rejection of the deceased. This fate was often explicitly associated with covenant curses for severe disobedience, as vividly seen in Deuteronomy 28:26, and underscored the profound depth of divine judgment.
Why does God "pour their wickedness upon them"?
Answer: The phrase "I will pour their wickedness upon them" signifies a direct, active, and deliberate act of divine judgment, where God administers a just and inescapable recompense for the people's persistent sin and rebellion. The powerful imagery of "pouring" suggests an overwhelming and inescapable deluge, indicating that the devastating consequences they experience are not random misfortunes but the direct, inevitable fruit of their own accumulated evil. It highlights the profound biblical principle of retributive justice, where the very nature of their sin becomes the substance and instrument of their punishment, emphasizing God's perfect righteousness in holding His people accountable for their unrepentant actions and their embrace of false prophecy (Proverbs 1:31).
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Jeremiah 14:16 paints a grim and sobering picture of judgment for unrepentant sin and the embrace of falsehood, it ultimately serves as a stark pointer to humanity's profound need for a Savior who can rescue us from the just and inevitable consequences of our own wickedness. The "famine and sword" and the indignity of unburied bodies powerfully foreshadow the ultimate spiritual death and eternal separation from God that sin inexorably brings upon humanity. However, in Christ, we witness the divine and perfect solution to this dire predicament. Jesus, the true Prophet, did not speak comforting words of false peace but courageously declared the challenging truth of God's kingdom, unequivocally calling for repentance and faith (Mark 1:15). He became the ultimate, once-for-all sacrifice, taking the accumulated "wickedness" of all humanity upon Himself, so that God's righteous wrath might be poured out on Him instead of on us (Isaiah 53:6). Through His triumphant death and glorious resurrection, Christ decisively conquered spiritual death and offers true life, profound dignity, and an eternal spiritual "burial" in Him, thereby ensuring that those who believe will never face the ultimate dishonor of being cast out from God's glorious presence (John 11:25-26). He is the one who delivers us from the curse of the law and the just judgment of our sin, graciously offering reconciliation and eternal life where only judgment once stood (Galatians 3:13).