Jeremiah 14:2

KJV

Judah mourneth, and the gates thereof languish; they are black unto the ground; and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up.

KJV (with Strong's)

Judah {H3063} mourneth {H56}, and the gates {H8179} thereof languish {H535}; they are black {H6937} unto the ground {H776}; and the cry {H6682} of Jerusalem {H3389} is gone up {H5927}.

Complete Jewish Bible

"Y'hudah is mourning, her gates are languishing; they sit on the ground in gloom; Yerushalayim sends up a cry of anguish.

Berean Standard Bible

“Judah mourns and her gates languish. Her people wail for the land, and a cry goes up from Jerusalem.

American Standard Version

Judah mourneth, and the gates thereof languish, they sit in black upon the ground; and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 14:2 vividly portrays the profound national distress and despair gripping the kingdom of Judah. This verse, situated within a lament concerning a severe drought, describes the widespread suffering affecting the people, the city's vital functions, and the very landscape, culminating in a collective cry of anguish rising from Jerusalem. It underscores the dire consequences of spiritual rebellion and divine judgment, painting a picture of a nation brought to its knees by calamity.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 14:2 is part of a larger lament (Jeremiah 14:1-15:9) that opens with the declaration "The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought." This section immediately follows prophecies of Judah's impending destruction and serves as a poignant illustration of the immediate and tangible effects of God's judgment. The preceding chapters detail Judah's persistent idolatry and covenant unfaithfulness, providing the theological backdrop for the drought as a punitive measure. The lament continues by describing the suffering of animals and people, the prophet's intercession, and God's refusal to relent due to the depth of their sin, emphasizing the severity of the judgment and the nation's desperate state.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The prophecy of Jeremiah unfolded during the twilight years of the Kingdom of Judah, a period marked by political instability, shifting alliances, and the looming threat of the Babylonian Empire. Droughts were a recurrent and devastating natural phenomenon in ancient Israel, often interpreted as a direct consequence of covenant disobedience (cf. the curses outlined in [Deuteronomy 28:23-24](/deuteronomy/28-23-24 "Deuteronomy 28:23-24 - Curses for Disobedience")). City gates (Hebrew: `shaʻar`) were not merely entrances but bustling centers of public life—where legal judgments were rendered, commerce thrived, and social gatherings occurred. Their "languishing" signifies a complete cessation of normal societal functions and public despair. The act of "mourning" and being "black unto the ground" reflects ancient Near Eastern mourning customs, which often involved donning sackcloth, sitting in ashes, and expressing profound grief, symbolizing extreme humiliation and sorrow.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Jeremiah. Firstly, it highlights the theme of **Divine Judgment and Consequences of Sin**. The drought is presented as a direct result of Judah's unfaithfulness, demonstrating God's active involvement in the affairs of His people and the tangible repercussions of their rebellion, as seen in [Jeremiah 2:13](/jeremiah/2-13 "Jeremiah 2:13 - Judah's Forsaking of God"). Secondly, it underscores the theme of **National Despair and Lament**. The widespread mourning, the languishing gates, and the collective cry emphasize the depth of the nation's suffering and their desperate state, echoing the laments found throughout the book of [Lamentations](/lamentations/1 "The Book of Lamentations"), particularly [Lamentations 1:4](/lamentations/1-4 "Lamentations 1:4 - Zion's Gates Desolate"). Finally, it touches upon **Prophetic Intercession and God's Unyielding Justice**, as Jeremiah frequently intercedes for his people even as God declares His judgment.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **mourneth (Hebrew, _ʼâbal'_):** From H56, a primitive root meaning "to bewail; lament, mourn." This word signifies a deep, public expression of grief, often accompanied by outward signs of sorrow such as weeping, wailing, and ritualistic acts of lamentation. In this context, it conveys a pervasive, national sorrow, indicating that the entire populace of Judah (H3063, _Yᵉhûwdâh_) is consumed by grief.
* **languish (Hebrew, _ʼâmal'_):** From H535, a primitive root meaning "to droop; by implication to be sick, to mourn; languish, be weak, wax feeble." This term vividly describes a state of weakening, fading, or withering. Applied to the "gates" (H8179, _shaʻar_), it symbolizes the collapse of vital societal functions, the cessation of normal life, and the profound feebleness that has overtaken the urban centers, which were once bustling hubs of activity.
* **black (Hebrew, _qâdar'_):** From H6937, a primitive root meaning "to be ashy, i.e. darkcolored; by implication, to mourn (in sackcloth or sordid garments); be black(-ish), be (make) dark(-en), [idiom] heavily, (cause to) mourn." This word evokes a sense of deep gloom, desolation, and mourning. It can refer to the parched, blackened earth (H776, _ʼerets_) due to drought, or metaphorically to the people themselves, whose faces or garments are darkened by sorrow and physical hardship, bowing low in profound grief and humiliation.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Judah mourneth":** This opening clause immediately establishes the pervasive and profound grief afflicting the entire kingdom of Judah. It is not a localized sorrow but a national lament, indicating a widespread calamity that has touched every individual and community within the land. The active verb "mourneth" emphasizes the ongoing and deeply felt nature of their distress.
* **"and the gates thereof languish":** The "gates" (H8179, _shaʻar_) represent the very heart of the city's public, economic, and social life. Their "languishing" (H535, _ʼâmal_) signifies a complete breakdown of normal activity. Commerce has ceased, justice is no longer administered, and public gatherings are absent. This imagery powerfully conveys the paralysis and despair that have gripped the urban centers, indicating a societal collapse where the vibrancy of life has withered away.
* **"they are black unto the ground":** This phrase paints a stark picture of desolation and extreme suffering. "Black" (H6937, _qâdar_) can refer to the parched, cracked, and dust-covered earth (H776, _ʼerets_) due to the drought, symbolizing the barrenness and death that have claimed the land. Alternatively, it can describe the people themselves, darkened by exposure, hunger, and grief, perhaps bowing in utter despair with their faces to the ground, a posture of extreme humility and mourning. It conveys a sense of utter hopelessness and abject misery.
* **"and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up":** The "cry" (H6682, _tsᵉvâchâh_) here is not a quiet sigh but a "screech (of anguish)," a loud, desperate wail. The capital city, Jerusalem (H3389, _Yᵉrûwshâlaim_), is depicted as the epicenter of this collective anguish, its desperate plea "gone up" (H5927, _ʻâlâh_)—a powerful image suggesting the intensity of their distress reaching heavenward, perhaps as a desperate appeal for divine intervention.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 14:2 employs several potent **literary devices** to convey its message of profound national distress. **Personification** is evident in "Judah mourneth," attributing human emotion to the entire kingdom, and even more strikingly, in "the gates thereof languish," giving the inanimate city gates the ability to suffer and waste away. This device effectively communicates the widespread and deeply felt impact of the calamity. The phrase "they are black unto the ground" utilizes vivid **imagery** to evoke a sense of desolation and mourning, whether referring to the parched earth or the people themselves. This visual detail powerfully conveys the severity of the drought and the accompanying grief. Finally, the "cry of Jerusalem is gone up" is an example of **metonymy**, where "Jerusalem" stands for its inhabitants, and the "cry" represents their collective anguish and desperate plea. This emphasizes the widespread nature of the suffering and the intensity of their lamentation, rising like an offering to God.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 14:2 powerfully illustrates the Old Testament principle that national sin leads to national judgment. The drought and the ensuing despair are not random occurrences but direct consequences of Judah's persistent idolatry and covenant breaking. This verse underscores God's sovereignty over creation and His use of natural phenomena as instruments of discipline, calling His people back to repentance. It highlights the interconnectedness of spiritual health and societal well-being, demonstrating that when a nation turns from God, the very fabric of its existence begins to unravel, leading to widespread suffering and a desperate cry for deliverance. The lament itself, even in its despair, implicitly acknowledges God as the ultimate source of help, even if His judgment is currently active.

* [Deuteronomy 28:15-24](/deuteronomy/28-15-24 "Deuteronomy 28:15-24 - Curses for Disobedience")
* [Isaiah 3:26](/isaiah/3-26 "Isaiah 3:26 - Desolation of Jerusalem")
* [Psalm 107:6](/psalms/107-6 "Psalm 107:6 - Crying to the Lord in Trouble")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 14:2 serves as a timeless reminder that societal distress often has deep spiritual roots. It challenges us to look beyond immediate symptoms of suffering—whether economic hardship, social unrest, or environmental crisis—to consider underlying issues of communal and individual faithfulness to God. The widespread mourning and languishing gates depicted in the verse call us to lament not only our personal struggles but also the brokenness and spiritual barrenness of our communities and nations. It prompts us to consider how our collective actions, or inactions, might contribute to spiritual drought and its attendant consequences. Ultimately, this passage is a call to humility, repentance, and a renewed turning to God, recognizing that true healing and restoration begin with acknowledging our dependence on Him and aligning our lives with His righteous ways.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How might the "languishing gates" of our modern society manifest, and what spiritual issues might they reflect?**
* **In what ways do we, individually or communally, "mourn" or experience "blackness unto the ground" due to spiritual disconnect from God?**
* **What does it mean for the "cry" of our communities to "go up" to God, and how should we respond to such cries?**
* **How does this verse challenge our understanding of suffering, particularly in relation to divine judgment and human responsibility?**

### FAQ
**What is the significance of "the gates thereof languish" in Jeremiah 14:2?**

Answer: The phrase "the gates thereof languish" is highly symbolic and significant. In ancient Near Eastern cities, the gates (Hebrew: `shaʻar`) were far more than mere entry points. They were the vibrant centers of public life: places where legal judgments were rendered, commercial transactions took place, public announcements were made, and social gatherings occurred. Therefore, for the gates to "languish" (Hebrew: `ʼâmal`) means that all normal civic, economic, and social activity has ceased. It signifies a profound societal breakdown, a paralysis of daily life, and a widespread despair that has gripped the very heart of the community. It paints a picture of a city that is no longer functioning, indicative of the severe impact of the drought and divine judgment on every aspect of life in Judah. This imagery is powerfully echoed in other laments, such as [Lamentations 1:4](/lamentations/1-4 "Lamentations 1:4 - The Desolation of Zion's Gates"), where the gates of Zion are described as desolate.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Jeremiah 14:2 vividly portrays the consequences of Judah's sin and the resulting divine judgment, it also subtly points forward to the ultimate solution found in Christ. The desperate "cry of Jerusalem" that "is gone up" foreshadows the ultimate human need for a deliverer, a need that humanity cannot meet on its own. In the New Testament, Jesus Christ is revealed as the [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God") who takes away the sin of the world, addressing the root cause of the "mourning" and "languishing" depicted in Jeremiah. He is the one who [bears our griefs and carries our sorrows](/isaiah/53-4 "Isaiah 53:4 - The Suffering Servant"), ultimately offering a path to reconciliation and restoration that the Old Covenant system could not fully provide. The spiritual drought of sin, which led to the physical drought in Jeremiah's time, finds its ultimate remedy in Christ, who offers [living water](/john/4-10 "John 4:10 - Jesus Offers Living Water") to those who thirst, ensuring that those who come to Him will never thirst again. Through His atoning sacrifice and resurrection, Christ transforms the "black unto the ground" despair into the hope of new life, establishing a new covenant where true peace and flourishing are possible, not through human effort or national righteousness, but through faith in Him, as promised in [Jeremiah 31:31-34](/jeremiah/31-31-34 "Jeremiah 31:31-34 - The New Covenant").

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

Isaiah 3:26

And her gates shall lament and mourn; and she [being] desolate shall sit upon the ground.

Jeremiah 8:21

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

1 Samuel 5:12

And the men that died not were smitten with the emerods: and the cry of the city went up to heaven.

Zechariah 7:13

Therefore it is come to pass, [that] as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the LORD of hosts:

Lamentations 4:8

Their visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets: their skin cleaveth to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick.

Lamentations 4:9

[They that be] slain with the sword are better than [they that be] slain with hunger: for these pine away, stricken through for [want of] the fruits of the field.

Jeremiah 11:11

¶ Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and though they shall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them.