Jeremiah 14:16

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Jeremiah 14:16 (KJV) delivers a stark prophecy of judgment against the people of Judah who had listened to false prophets, depicting the severe consequences of their collective sin and rebellion against God.

Context

This verse is part of a larger lament and prophecy of judgment in Jeremiah chapter 14, where the prophet Jeremiah intercedes for Judah during a severe drought and famine. However, God reveals that His judgment is coming due to the people's deep-seated sin and their reliance on false prophets who promised peace and prosperity instead of calling for repentance (Jeremiah 14:14). The preceding verses (Jeremiah 14:12, Jeremiah 14:15) speak of God's refusal to hear their cries and the specific doom awaiting the false prophets themselves. Jeremiah 14:16 extends this judgment to the populace who accepted their lies, facing the grim reality of the impending Babylonian invasion and its devastating effects on Jerusalem.

Key Themes

  • Consequences of False Prophecy and Disobedience: The verse powerfully illustrates that both those who speak falsehood in God's name and those who willingly embrace such lies will face divine retribution. The people's suffering is a direct result of their own "wickedness" and rejection of God's true word.
  • Divine Judgment and Desolation: God's judgment is portrayed as absolute and inescapable. The "famine and the sword" are instruments of His wrath, leading to widespread death. This prophecy highlights the severity of God's justice against a persistently rebellious people.
  • Dishonor in Death: The phrase "none to bury them" signifies ultimate dishonor and desolation. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, proper burial was a sacred duty and a sign of respect. To be left unburied was a severe curse and a profound humiliation, indicating a complete societal breakdown and the extent of God's judgment (Deuteronomy 28:26).

Linguistic Insight

The phrase "I will pour their wickedness upon them" uses the Hebrew verb נָתַךְ (nathak), which means "to pour out" or "to melt." This imagery suggests a complete and overwhelming outpouring, much like molten metal, emphasizing the intensity and totality of God's judgment. It's not merely a consequence but an active, decisive act of divine justice, where the very essence of their sin is returned upon them in the form of punishment.

Related Scriptures

  • For more on the dangers of false prophets, see Jeremiah 23:16-17 and Ezekiel 13:3.
  • The recurring theme of famine and sword as instruments of divine judgment is also seen in Ezekiel 5:12 and Lamentations 2:21, reflecting the covenant curses for disobedience outlined in Leviticus 26:25.
  • The concept of God pouring out His wrath or judgment is a powerful biblical motif, found even in the New Testament, such as in Revelation 16:1 concerning the bowls of wrath.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 14:16 serves as a somber reminder of the critical importance of spiritual discernment. It urges believers to carefully evaluate the messages they receive, ensuring they align with God's revealed truth, even if that truth is challenging (1 John 4:1). The verse underscores that there are severe consequences for embracing falsehood and rejecting God's authentic word. It calls us to take God's warnings seriously, to repent of sin, and to seek genuine reconciliation with Him, understanding that His justice is inevitable for persistent wickedness, but so is His mercy for those who turn to Him (Lamentations 3:22-23).

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.
  • Jeremiah 7:33

    And the carcases of this people shall be meat for the fowls of the heaven, and for the beasts of the earth; and none shall fray [them] away.
  • Jeremiah 15:2

    And it shall come to pass, if they say unto thee, Whither shall we go forth? then thou shalt tell them, Thus saith the LORD; Such as [are] for death, to death; and such as [are] for the sword, to the sword; and such as [are] for the famine, to the famine; and such as [are] for the captivity, to the captivity.
  • Jeremiah 15:3

    And I will appoint over them four kinds, saith the LORD: the sword to slay, and the dogs to tear, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the earth, to devour and destroy.
  • Proverbs 1:31

    Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
  • Psalms 79:2

    The dead bodies of thy servants have they given [to be] meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth.
  • Psalms 79:3

    Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and [there was] none to bury [them].
  • Jeremiah 13:22

    ¶ 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.

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