Jeremiah 14:18

If I go forth into the field, then behold the slain with the sword! and if I enter into the city, then behold them that are sick with famine! yea, both the prophet and the priest go about into a land that they know not.

If I go forth {H3318} into the field {H7704}, then behold the slain {H2491} with the sword {H2719}! and if I enter {H935} into the city {H5892}, then behold them that are sick {H8463} with famine {H7458}! yea, both the prophet {H5030} and the priest {H3548} go about {H5503} into a land {H776} that they know {H3045} not.

If I go out in the field, I see those slain with the sword. If I enter the city, I see the victims of famine. Meanwhile, prophets and cohanim ply their trade in the land, knowing nothing.'"

If I go out to the country, I see those slain by the sword; if I enter the city, I see those ravaged by famine! For both prophet and priest travel to a land they do not know.’”

If I go forth into the field, then, behold, the slain with the sword! and if I enter into the city, then, behold, they that are sick with famine! for both the prophet and the priest go about in the land, and have no knowledge.

Commentary

Jeremiah 14:18 vividly portrays the devastating consequences of God's judgment upon Judah, expressed through the prophet Jeremiah's lament. This verse paints a grim picture of widespread suffering, both in the countryside and within the cities, culminating in the exile of even the nation's spiritual leaders.

Context

This verse is part of a larger lament in Jeremiah chapter 14, which primarily details a severe drought and famine afflicting Judah. While the people cry out to God, the Lord declares that He will not hear their prayers due to their persistent idolatry and reliance on false prophets. Jeremiah 14:18 specifically outlines the results of the impending divine judgment, moving beyond the famine to include war and forced displacement. It reflects the prophet's deep anguish over the inevitable Babylonian invasion and subsequent exile, which would utterly decimate the land and its people.

Key Themes

  • Widespread Desolation: The verse emphasizes that no place is safe from the judgment. "Into the field" signifies the rural areas, where people are "slain with the sword" (killed in battle or massacres). "Into the city" points to urban centers, where inhabitants are "sick with famine," likely due to sieges cutting off food supplies. This illustrates the comprehensive nature of the impending doom and the severe consequences of national sin.
  • Divine Judgment for Disobedience: The suffering described is not random but a direct consequence of Judah's unfaithfulness to God's covenant. It serves as a stark reminder of the warnings found in the Law concerning disobedience (Deuteronomy 28:15ff).
  • Exile of Spiritual Leaders: The most poignant part of the verse reveals that "both the prophet and the priest go about into a land that they know not." This signifies the complete breakdown of society, where even those entrusted with spiritual guidance and intercession are swept away into forced exile. This underscores the severity of the judgment and the failure of false prophets who promised peace (Jeremiah 14:14) instead of calling the people to repentance.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase "slain with the sword" (חַלְלֵי־חֶרֶב, hallelê-ḥereḇ) powerfully conveys the violent, brutal deaths occurring in the open country, typical of warfare. Similarly, "sick with famine" (תַּחֲלֻאֵי רָעָב, taḥaluʾê raʿaḇ) literally means "sicknesses of hunger," emphasizing the debilitating and often fatal effects of starvation. The phrase "go about into a land that they know not" (הָלְכוּ אֶל־אֶרֶץ לֹא יָדָעוּ, halekhû el-eretz lo' yade'u) vividly depicts the disorientation and forced displacement of exile, a fate common to those taken captive to Babylon, highlighting their loss of home, identity, and security.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 14:18 serves as a sobering reminder of the serious consequences of rejecting God's truth and embracing sin. It highlights:

  • The Reality of Consequences: God's warnings are not idle threats. Disobedience can lead to severe and widespread suffering, even for those in positions of spiritual authority. This verse reminds us that actions have repercussions, both individually and nationally.
  • The Importance of True Leadership: The failure of the prophets and priests to lead the people back to God contributed to the nation's downfall. This emphasizes the critical need for spiritual leaders who faithfully proclaim God's word, regardless of popular opinion, and guide people towards righteousness.
  • God's Justice and Sovereignty: While painful, the judgment described here is an act of divine justice, demonstrating God's ultimate control over history and His commitment to His covenant, even when it involves discipline. It points to the need for humble repentance and a return to God as the only true path to healing and restoration.
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Cross-References

  • Ezekiel 7:15 (7 votes)

    The sword [is] without, and the pestilence and the famine within: he that [is] in the field shall die with the sword; and he that [is] in the city, famine and pestilence shall devour him.

  • Lamentations 1:20 (5 votes)

    Behold, O LORD; for I [am] in distress: my bowels are troubled; mine heart is turned within me; for I have grievously rebelled: abroad the sword bereaveth, at home [there is] as death.

  • Jeremiah 8:10 (4 votes)

    Therefore will I give their wives unto others, [and] their fields to them that shall inherit [them]: for every one from the least even unto the greatest is given to covetousness, from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.

  • Deuteronomy 28:36 (3 votes)

    The LORD shall bring thee, and thy king which thou shalt set over thee, unto a nation which neither thou nor thy fathers have known; and there shalt thou serve other gods, wood and stone.

  • Jeremiah 6:13 (3 votes)

    For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one [is] given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.

  • Jeremiah 5:31 (3 votes)

    The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love [to have it] so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?

  • Jeremiah 52:6 (3 votes)

    And in the fourth month, in the ninth [day] of the month, the famine was sore in the city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land.