Jeremiah 14:19

Hast thou utterly rejected Judah? hath thy soul lothed Zion? why hast thou smitten us, and [there is] no healing for us? we looked for peace, and [there is] no good; and for the time of healing, and behold trouble!

Hast thou utterly {H3988} rejected {H3988} Judah {H3063}? hath thy soul {H5315} lothed {H1602} Zion {H6726}? why hast thou smitten {H5221} us, and there is no healing {H4832} for us? we looked {H6960} for peace {H7965}, and there is no good {H2896}; and for the time {H6256} of healing {H4832}, and behold trouble {H1205}!

Have you rejected Y'hudah completely? Is Tziyon loathsome to you? Why have you struck us irreparably? We looked for peace, but to no avail; for a time of healing, but instead found terror!

Have You rejected Judah completely? Do You despise Zion? Why have You stricken us so that we are beyond healing? We hoped for peace, but no good has come, and for the time of healing, but there was only terror.

Hast thou utterly rejected Judah? hath thy soul loathed Zion? why hast thou smitten us, and there is no healing for us? We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of healing, and, behold, dismay!

Commentary

Jeremiah 14:19 captures a poignant and desperate cry from the people of Judah, or perhaps from the prophet Jeremiah on their behalf, to God during a time of severe national crisis. It expresses a deep sense of abandonment and confusion over the ongoing suffering, contrasting sharply with their yearning for relief and peace.

Context

This verse is part of a larger section in Jeremiah (chapters 14-15) detailing a severe drought and famine that gripped the land of Judah. The people are experiencing the devastating consequences of their prolonged disobedience and idolatry, which Jeremiah had been warning them about for years. Despite the dire circumstances, false prophets continued to declare "peace, peace" when there was no true peace. This lament reflects the dawning, painful reality that God's judgment is indeed upon them, and their desperate hopes for a quick recovery are being shattered by persistent trouble.

Key Themes

  • Lament and Despair: The verse is a profound expression of national grief and confusion, questioning God's apparent rejection ("Hast thou utterly rejected Judah? hath thy soul lothed Zion?"). It highlights the raw emotion of a people facing overwhelming calamity.
  • Divine Judgment and Discipline: The phrase "why hast thou smitten us?" acknowledges God's active role in their suffering, understanding it as a form of divine punishment or discipline for their unfaithfulness. It reveals a dawning, albeit painful, recognition of their plight.
  • Shattered Expectations: The people's longing for "peace" (Hebrew: shalom, meaning comprehensive well-being and prosperity) and "healing" (marpe, referring to recovery from affliction) is met with "no good" and "trouble." This stark contrast underscores the severity of their situation and the futility of their misplaced hopes.
  • The Nature of God's Relationship: The lament challenges God, asking if He has truly abandoned His covenant people, Judah, and His chosen city, Zion. This questioning reflects a crisis of faith amidst overwhelming suffering.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "lothed" (ืงึธืฆึทืฅ, qatsats) carries a strong sense of disgust or abhorrence, indicating the depth of the people's perceived abandonment by God. "Smitten" (ื ึธื›ึธื”, nakah) signifies a direct, forceful blow, emphasizing the active nature of the affliction they believe is from God. The contrast between "peace" (ืฉึธืืœื•ึนื, shalom) and "trouble" (ื‘ึฐึผื”ึธืœึธื”, behalah โ€“ meaning terror, dismay, sudden destruction) highlights the complete reversal of their expectations.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 14:19 reminds us that it is biblical to express lament and question God during times of intense suffering, even when we feel abandoned. However, it also serves as a warning against ignoring divine warnings and pursuing false hopes. True peace and healing come from genuine repentance and a return to God, not from empty assurances or superficial solutions. This verse encourages believers to examine their own hearts and seek God's will, even when His discipline feels severe, trusting in His ultimate faithfulness as seen throughout scripture (e.g., Lamentations 3:22-23).

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

  • Lamentations 5:22

    But thou hast utterly rejected us; thou art very wroth against us.

  • Jeremiah 8:15

    We looked for peace, but no good [came; and] for a time of health, and behold trouble!

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:3

    For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

  • Jeremiah 6:30

    Reprobate silver shall [men] call them, because the LORD hath rejected them.

  • Jeremiah 15:18

    Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, [which] refuseth to be healed? wilt thou be altogether unto me as a liar, [and as] waters [that] fail?

  • Psalms 78:59

    When God heard [this], he was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel:

  • Job 30:26

    When I looked for good, then evil came [unto me]: and when I waited for light, there came darkness.
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