Jeremiah 14:3

And their nobles have sent their little ones to the waters: they came to the pits, [and] found no water; they returned with their vessels empty; they were ashamed and confounded, and covered their heads.

And their nobles {H117} have sent {H7971} their little ones {H6810} to the waters {H4325}: they came {H935} to the pits {H1356}{H1360}, and found {H4672} no water {H4325}; they returned {H7725} with their vessels {H3627} empty {H7387}; they were ashamed {H954} and confounded {H3637}, and covered {H2645} their heads {H7218}.

Her nobles send their servants for water; they go to the cisterns but find no water, so they return with empty jars. Ashamed and dismayed, they cover their heads.

The nobles send their servants for water; they go to the cisterns, but find no water; their jars return empty. They are ashamed and humiliated; they cover their heads.

And their nobles send their little ones to the waters: they come to the cisterns, and find no water; they return with their vessels empty; they are put to shame and confounded, and cover their heads.

Jeremiah 14:3 vividly portrays the devastating impact of a severe drought upon the land of Judah. This verse, part of a larger lament, paints a picture of societal desperation where even the privileged are brought low by the lack of water.

Context

This verse is situated within Jeremiah chapter 14, often called the "Drought Chapter." The preceding verses (Jeremiah 14:1-2) introduce the widespread lamentation and mourning throughout Judah due to an unprecedented drought. The prophet Jeremiah is conveying God's message concerning the dire consequences of the people's persistent idolatry and disobedience. The drought is not merely a natural phenomenon but a divine judgment, a withdrawal of God's blessing that was promised for obedience (Deuteronomy 28:12) and withheld for rebellion (Deuteronomy 28:23-24).

Key Themes

  • Severity of Divine Judgment: The drought is so severe that it affects all levels of society, from the common people to the "nobles." This underscores the comprehensive nature of God's judgment when a nation turns from Him.
  • Desperation and Futility: The act of "nobles" sending their "little ones" (children, often seen as innocent and vulnerable) to search for water highlights extreme desperation. Their return "empty" signifies the utter futility of human effort when divine provision is withdrawn.
  • Shame and Humiliation: The phrase "they were ashamed and confounded, and covered their heads" conveys deep public humiliation and despair. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, covering the head was a common sign of grief, shame, or mourning, as seen in 2 Samuel 15:30. Their failure to find water, a basic necessity, was a profound blow to their dignity and hope.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: The physical suffering from the drought is a direct consequence of Judah's spiritual rebellion, a stark reminder that forsaking the "fountain of living waters" leads to spiritual and literal dryness (Jeremiah 2:13).

Linguistic Insights

The term "pits" (Hebrew: גֵּבִים, gevim) refers to cisterns or reservoirs, typically dug to collect and store rainwater. Their emptiness here is particularly poignant, indicating that even these reserves, vital for survival during dry seasons, have completely failed. The parallel Hebrew verbs for "ashamed and confounded" (בּוֹשׁוּ וְחָפְרוּ, boshu v'chaferu) powerfully convey a sense of public disgrace and utter dismay at their plight.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 14:3 serves as a timeless reminder that spiritual choices have tangible consequences. When humanity turns away from God, there can be a "drought" of blessing, peace, and provision. This verse challenges us to consider:

  • Are we seeking satisfaction in "empty pits" (worldly solutions) instead of the true source of life?
  • Do we acknowledge the hand of God in both blessing and discipline?
  • Are we willing to humble ourselves and repent when we experience spiritual or physical "dryness"?

Ultimately, this passage calls for a return to God, the only source capable of filling our vessels and satisfying our deepest thirst.

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.

  • 2 Samuel 15:30

    And David went up by the ascent of [mount] Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that [was] with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.

  • Psalms 40:14

    Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.

  • 2 Kings 18:31

    Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make [an agreement] with me by a present, and come out to me, and [then] eat ye every man of his own vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his cistern:

  • Jeremiah 2:13

    For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, [and] hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

  • Amos 4:8

    So two [or] three cities wandered unto one city, to drink water; but they were not satisfied: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.

  • 1 Kings 18:5

    And Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go into the land, unto all fountains of water, and unto all brooks: peradventure we may find grass to save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all the beasts.

  • 1 Kings 18:6

    So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it: Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.

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