Jeremiah 19:14

Then came Jeremiah from Tophet, whither the LORD had sent him to prophesy; and he stood in the court of the LORD'S house; and said to all the people,

Then came {H935} Jeremiah {H3414} from Tophet {H8612}, whither the LORD {H3068} had sent {H7971} him to prophesy {H5012}; and he stood {H5975} in the court {H2691} of the LORD'S {H3068} house {H1004}; and said {H559} to all the people {H5971},

Then Yirmeyahu returned from Tofet, where ADONAI had sent him to prophesy, stood in the courtyard of ADONAI's house and said to all the people,

Then Jeremiah returned from Topheth, where the LORD had sent him to prophesy, and he stood in the courtyard of the house of the LORD and proclaimed to all the people,

Then came Jeremiah from Topheth, whither Jehovah had sent him to prophesy; and he stood in the court of Jehovah’s house, and said to all the people:

Commentary

Jeremiah 19:14 marks a pivotal moment in the prophet Jeremiah's ministry, highlighting the public and authoritative nature of God's message to Judah. Having just delivered a symbolic, dire prophecy of judgment in the Valley of Hinnom, specifically at Tophet, he now returns to the very heart of Jerusalem's religious life.

Context

The prophet Jeremiah had been sent by the LORD to Tophet, a notorious site in the Valley of Hinnom (which later became synonymous with Gehenna), just outside Jerusalem. This place was infamous for the abhorrent practice of child sacrifice to the pagan god Molech, a significant aspect of Judah's deep-seated idolatry and rebellion against God (Jeremiah 32:35). There, Jeremiah had performed the symbolic act of breaking a potter's flask, signifying God's impending shattering of Judah and Jerusalem due to their unfaithfulness. His return to the "court of the LORD'S house"—the Temple complex—underscores the inescapable nature of God's judgment and the necessity for His message to be heard in the most sacred and public spaces, not just in the places of obvious sin.

Key Themes

  • Divine Commission and Authority: The phrase "whither the LORD had sent him to prophesy" emphasizes that Jeremiah's words were not his own, but a direct message from God. This divine backing gave his otherwise unpopular and harsh prophecies undeniable authority.
  • Public Proclamation of Truth: By standing "in the court of the LORD'S house" and speaking "to all the people," Jeremiah ensured that God's message of judgment and call to repentance was delivered openly and broadly. The shift from the desolate valley to the bustling Temple court highlights that God's word applies to all, from the most corrupt to those engaging in religious rituals.
  • The Inescapability of God's Word: The movement from the defiled Tophet to the holy Temple signifies that God's judgment and call to repentance apply everywhere. No place, however sacred or seemingly secure, is immune from the consequences of unfaithfulness and rebellion against the Lord.

Linguistic Insights

The name "Tophet" (Hebrew: Topheth) is often associated with the idea of a "burning place" or "drum" (possibly from drums used to drown out the cries of sacrificed children). It became a byword for a place of extreme defilement and judgment, evolving into the New Testament concept of Gehenna. The Hebrew word for "prophesy" (nava') means to speak under divine inspiration, reinforcing Jeremiah's role as God's chosen messenger.

Practical Application

This verse serves as a powerful reminder that God's truth is not to be confined or hidden. It must be proclaimed openly, even in places where religious activity occurs, especially if such activity is accompanied by hypocrisy or sin. It also highlights the courage required of those who speak God's truth, often against the prevailing popular opinion or entrenched religious systems. For believers today, it underscores the importance of hearing and heeding God's message, which addresses both the deepest sins and the call to genuine repentance and obedience to His voice, whether in the "Tophet" of our personal struggles or the "temple" of our worship.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 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 — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 26:2

    Thus saith the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD'S house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD'S house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word:

  • 2 Chronicles 20:5

    And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court,

  • Jeremiah 19:2

    And go forth unto the valley of the son of Hinnom, which [is] by the entry of the east gate, and proclaim there the words that I shall tell thee,

  • Jeremiah 19:3

    And say, Hear ye the word of the LORD, O kings of Judah, and inhabitants of Jerusalem; Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, the which whosoever heareth, his ears shall tingle.

  • Jeremiah 17:19

    ¶ Thus said the LORD unto me; Go and stand in the gate of the children of the people, whereby the kings of Judah come in, and by the which they go out, and in all the gates of Jerusalem;

  • Luke 21:37

    And in the day time he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called [the mount] of Olives.

  • Luke 21:38

    And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.
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