Jeremiah 14:17

¶ Therefore thou shalt say this word unto them; Let mine eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease: for the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous blow.

Therefore thou shalt say {H559} this word {H1697} unto them; Let mine eyes {H5869} run down {H3381} with tears {H1832} night {H3915} and day {H3119}, and let them not cease {H1820}: for the virgin {H1330} daughter {H1323} of my people {H5971} is broken {H7665} with a great {H1419} breach {H7667}, with a very {H3966} grievous {H2470} blow {H4347}.

You are to give them this message: 'Let my eyes stream with tears night and day, unceasingly, because the virgin daughter of my people has been severely broken; she has been dealt a crushing blow.

You are to speak this word to them: ‘My eyes overflow with tears; day and night they do not cease, for the virgin daughter of my people has been shattered by a crushing blow, a severely grievous wound.

And thou shalt say this word unto them, Let mine eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease; for the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous wound.

Commentary

Jeremiah 14:17 is a poignant declaration from the prophet Jeremiah, often called the 'weeping prophet', revealing the depth of sorrow over the impending devastation of Judah. It is a divine command to express profound grief, mirroring God's own heartache for His people.

Context

This verse is situated within a section of Jeremiah (chapters 14-15) where the land is suffering from a severe drought and famine, interpreted as a divine judgment for Judah's widespread idolatry and spiritual apostasy. Despite the physical suffering, the people remain unrepentant. God has just declared that He will not hear their prayers for rain and will instead bring further judgment through sword, famine, and pestilence (Jeremiah 14:12). Jeremiah 14:17 then serves as a prophetic lament, a command for the prophet to embody the sorrow that God feels over the nation's brokenness.

Key Themes

  • Divine and Prophetic Lament: The command, "Let mine eyes run down with tears night and day," is not merely Jeremiah's personal anguish but a prophetic utterance reflecting God's deep sorrow and grief over His people's condition. It signifies a shared lament between the faithful prophet and a grieving God. This deep sorrow foreshadows the ultimate desolation described more fully in the Book of Lamentations.
  • The Brokenness of Judah: The phrase "the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous blow" powerfully conveys the spiritual and national devastation. "Virgin daughter of my people" is a tender yet tragic appellation for Judah, once pure and in covenant relationship with God, now marred by sin and facing irreversible destruction. The "great breach" and "grievous blow" signify the devastating consequences of their persistent rebellion and idolatry, leading to a spiritual and societal collapse, much like the wounds described in Isaiah 1:5.
  • Consequences of Sin: The tears and brokenness are direct results of Judah's unfaithfulness and rejection of God's covenant. This verse underscores the painful reality that sin has severe and lamentable consequences, not only for those who commit it but also for those who love them, including God Himself.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase for "virgin daughter of my people" (betulat ammi) is a poignant term used to describe Israel/Judah, emphasizing their unique relationship with God as His chosen nation, likened to a pure maiden. The use of "virgin" highlights the depth of their fall from grace and the tragic loss of their spiritual integrity. The words for "breach" (shever) and "blow" (makkah) denote severe, irreparable damage, indicating a wound that is not easily healed, reflecting the spiritual and national catastrophe awaiting Judah.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 14:17 offers several enduring lessons:

  • Empathy for Suffering: It calls believers to cultivate a heart of empathy and sorrow for the spiritual and physical suffering in the world, especially for those who are broken by sin and its consequences.
  • Understanding God's Heart: This verse reveals a compassionate God who, even in judgment, grieves over the suffering of His people. God's heart is not one of detached judgment but of profound grief over humanity's self-inflicted wounds and rebellion. This resonates with the compassion seen in Psalm 103:13.
  • Seriousness of Sin: The "great breach" serves as a stark reminder of the destructive power of sin and the importance of repentance and turning back to God.
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Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 8:21

    For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment hath taken hold on me.

  • Lamentations 1:15

    The Lord hath trodden under foot all my mighty [men] in the midst of me: he hath called an assembly against me to crush my young men: the Lord hath trodden the virgin, the daughter of Judah, [as] in a winepress.

  • Lamentations 1:16

    For these [things] I weep; mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water, because the comforter that should relieve my soul is far from me: my children are desolate, because the enemy prevailed.

  • Lamentations 2:13

    What thing shall I take to witness for thee? what thing shall I liken to thee, O daughter of Jerusalem? what shall I equal to thee, that I may comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Zion? for thy breach [is] great like the sea: who can heal thee?

  • Jeremiah 9:1

    ¶ Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!

  • Jeremiah 13:17

    But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for [your] pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD'S flock is carried away captive.

  • Micah 6:13

    Therefore also will I make [thee] sick in smiting thee, in making [thee] desolate because of thy sins.
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