Jeremiah 14:4

Because the ground is chapt, for there was no rain in the earth, the plowmen were ashamed, they covered their heads.

Because the ground {H127} is chapt {H2865}, for there was no rain {H1653} in the earth {H776}, the plowmen {H406} were ashamed {H954}, they covered {H2645} their heads {H7218}.

Because of the ground, which is cracked, since it has not rained in the land, the farmers are ashamed; they cover their heads.

The ground is cracked because no rain has fallen on the land. The farmers are ashamed; they cover their heads.

Because of the ground which is cracked, for that no rain hath been in the land, the plowmen are put to shame, they cover their heads.

Jeremiah 14:4 vividly paints a picture of severe drought and its devastating impact on the land and its people. This verse is part of a larger lament and prophecy concerning the dire conditions in Judah during Jeremiah's ministry.

Context of Jeremiah 14:4

This verse is found within Jeremiah chapter 14, which details a profound drought afflicting Judah. The prophet Jeremiah is conveying God's message to a rebellious nation, highlighting the physical consequences of their spiritual unfaithfulness and idolatry. The drought is presented not merely as a natural disaster, but as a direct result of the nation's disobedience to God, a theme often seen in prophetic literature and the Mosaic covenant (Deuteronomy 28:23-24).

Key Themes and Messages

  • Devastating Consequences of Drought: The description of the "ground is chapt" (cracked or parched) underscores the extreme lack of rain, making agriculture impossible. This highlights the fragility of life without divine provision and the harsh reality of famine.
  • Agricultural Ruin and Shame: The "plowmen were ashamed" because their livelihood and purpose were rendered useless. They could not work the land, which was their primary role and source of sustenance. Their covering of heads signifies deep distress, humiliation, and hopelessness, a common sign of mourning in ancient Near Eastern cultures.
  • Divine Judgment: While not explicitly stated in this single verse, the broader context of Jeremiah 14 makes it clear that this drought is a form of divine judgment for Judah's persistent sin and rebellion against God. It serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of spiritual departure and the need for repentance.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "the ground is chapt" effectively translates the Hebrew term which means 'to be split open' or 'to be broken up,' perfectly describing a parched, cracked earth due to extreme dryness. The act of "covered their heads" is a powerful non-verbal expression of profound sorrow, shame, and despair, often associated with intense grief or public humiliation in biblical times (e.g., 2 Samuel 15:30).

Practical Application and Reflection

Jeremiah 14:4 serves as a powerful reminder of humanity's dependence on God for basic sustenance. It illustrates how natural phenomena can be instruments of divine communication, calling people to repentance and a renewed relationship with their Creator. For us today, this verse can prompt reflection on:

  • Acknowledging Dependence: Recognizing that all provision, including favorable weather and fertile land, ultimately comes from God. We are called to be good stewards of the earth, but also to acknowledge the divine source of its fruitfulness.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: Understanding that spiritual rebellion can have tangible, often difficult, consequences in the physical world. This verse reminds us that actions have consequences, both individually and corporately.
  • Humility in Adversity: The shame of the plowmen teaches us to approach hardship with humility, seeking God's mercy rather than relying solely on human effort or despairing in our circumstances. This passage calls us to seek God wholeheartedly in times of trouble and to turn from unrighteousness.
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.

  • Joel 1:19

    O LORD, to thee will I cry: for the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame hath burned all the trees of the field.

  • Joel 1:20

    The beasts of the field cry also unto thee: for the rivers of waters are dried up, and the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness.

  • Joel 1:11

    Be ye ashamed, O ye husbandmen; howl, O ye vinedressers, for the wheat and for the barley; because the harvest of the field is perished.

  • Jeremiah 3:3

    Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there hath been no latter rain; and thou hadst a whore's forehead, thou refusedst to be ashamed.

  • Deuteronomy 29:23

    [And that] the whole land thereof [is] brimstone, and salt, [and] burning, [that] it is not sown, nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein, like the overthrow of Sodom, and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim, which the LORD overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath:

  • Joel 1:17

    The seed is rotten under their clods, the garners are laid desolate, the barns are broken down; for the corn is withered.

  • Leviticus 26:19

    And I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass:

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