Jeremiah 14

King James Version

Full text for Jeremiah Chapter 14

1¶ The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the dearth.

2Judah mourneth, and the gates thereof languish; they are black unto the ground; and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up.

3And 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.

4Because the ground is chapt, for there was no rain in the earth, the plowmen were ashamed, they covered their heads.

5Yea, the hind also calved in the field, and forsook [it], because there was no grass.

6And the wild asses did stand in the high places, they snuffed up the wind like dragons; their eyes did fail, because [there was] no grass.

7O LORD, though our iniquities testify against us, do thou [it] for thy name's sake: for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against thee.

8O the hope of Israel, the saviour thereof in time of trouble, why shouldest thou be as a stranger in the land, and as a wayfaring man [that] turneth aside to tarry for a night?

9Why shouldest thou be as a man astonied, as a mighty man [that] cannot save? yet thou, O LORD, [art] in the midst of us, and we are called by thy name; leave us not.

10¶ Thus saith the LORD unto this people, Thus have they loved to wander, they have not refrained their feet, therefore the LORD doth not accept them; he will now remember their iniquity, and visit their sins.

11Then said the LORD unto me, Pray not for this people for [their] good.

12When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and an oblation, I will not accept them: but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence.

13Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, the prophets say unto them, Ye shall not see the sword, neither shall ye have famine; but I will give you assured peace in this place.

14Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.

15Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that prophesy in my name, and I sent them not, yet they say, Sword and famine shall not be in this land; By sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed.

16And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword; and they shall have none to bury them, them, their wives, nor their sons, nor their daughters: for I will pour their wickedness upon them.

17¶ Therefore thou shalt say this word unto them; Let mine eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease: for the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous blow.

18If 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.

19Hast thou utterly rejected Judah? hath thy soul lothed Zion? why hast thou smitten us, and [there is] no healing for us? we looked for peace, and [there is] no good; and for the time of healing, and behold trouble!

20We acknowledge, O LORD, our wickedness, [and] the iniquity of our fathers: for we have sinned against thee.

21Do not abhor [us], for thy name's sake, do not disgrace the throne of thy glory: remember, break not thy covenant with us.

22Are there [any] among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? [art] not thou he, O LORD our God? therefore we will wait upon thee: for thou hast made all these [things].

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Jeremiah 14 opens with a lament over a severe drought in Judah, causing widespread suffering among people and animals. Jeremiah intercedes, acknowledging the people's sin but appealing to God's name and covenant. However, the Lord declares He will not hear their prayers due to their persistent wandering and warns against false prophets who promise peace, stating they and their followers will perish by sword and famine. Jeremiah continues to mourn the impending judgment and again pleads for God's mercy, affirming His sole power over creation.

Medium Summary

The chapter begins with a vivid description of a severe drought afflicting Judah, leading to widespread distress, empty water pits, and suffering animals. Jeremiah then offers a prayer, confessing the people's iniquities but appealing to the Lord's character as the "Hope of Israel" and their covenant God, asking Him not to abandon them. The Lord responds by declaring His refusal to accept their prayers or offerings, stating He will visit their sins with sword, famine, and pestilence due to their persistent backsliding. Jeremiah expresses concern about prophets promising peace, to which the Lord sternly replies that these are false prophets speaking lies in His name, and both they and the people who believe them will face destruction. Jeremiah is commanded to weep for his people's grievous state, witnessing death and famine everywhere. He concludes with another earnest plea, acknowledging Judah's wickedness and their fathers' sins, imploring God to remember His covenant and not forsake them, recognizing Him as the only source of rain and healing.

Long Summary

Jeremiah 14 commences with a dire prophecy concerning a severe drought, or "dearth," afflicting the land of Judah, leading to profound mourning and suffering. The gates of the cities languish, nobles' servants return with empty vessels from dry pits, and even wild animals, like hinds and wild asses, suffer and abandon their young due to the lack of grass and water. In response to this calamity, Jeremiah offers an intercessory prayer, acknowledging the people's manifold iniquities and backslidings, yet appealing to the Lord's character as the "Hope of Israel" and their Saviour. He questions why God seems like a stranger or a helpless man, reminding Him that He is in their midst and they are called by His name, pleading for Him not to leave them. However, the Lord reveals His judgment, declaring that because the people have "loved to wander" and have not refrained their feet, He will not accept them. He states He will remember their iniquity and visit their sins, explicitly forbidding Jeremiah from praying for their good. The Lord further proclaims that He will not hear their fasts or accept their burnt offerings and oblations, but will instead consume them by the sword, famine, and pestilence. Jeremiah then raises a concern about other prophets who promise "assured peace" and no sword or famine. The Lord vehemently refutes these claims, stating that these prophets speak lies in His name, prophesying false visions and deceit from their own hearts, for He neither sent nor commanded them. Consequently, the Lord declares that these false prophets will themselves perish by sword and famine, and the people who believed their lies will be cast out into the streets of Jerusalem, unburied, suffering the same fate. Jeremiah is then commanded to weep continually for the "virgin daughter of my people," who is broken by a great and grievous blow. He describes a land ravaged by the sword in the fields and sickness from famine in the cities, with even prophets and priests wandering in unfamiliar territory. In a final, desperate plea, Jeremiah again confesses the wickedness of Judah and their fathers, questioning if God has utterly rejected them and loathed Zion. He implores God not to abhor them for His name's sake, nor to disgrace the throne of His glory, but to remember and uphold His covenant, affirming that only the Lord, not pagan idols or the heavens, can bring rain, and therefore they will wait upon Him.

Core Concepts

  • The Dearth (Drought)A severe lack of rain causing widespread suffering, described through parched ground, empty water pits, and the distress of both people and animals. It serves as a physical manifestation of God's judgment upon Judah.
  • Jeremiah's IntercessionJeremiah's repeated prayers to God on behalf of Judah, acknowledging their sin but appealing to God's character, name, and covenant, even when God commands him not to pray for their good.
  • Divine Rejection of PrayersThe Lord's explicit refusal to accept Judah's fasts, burnt offerings, or oblations, and His command to Jeremiah not to pray for them, due to their persistent sin and backsliding.
  • False ProphetsIndividuals who prophesy peace and prosperity in the Lord's name without being sent or commanded by Him, speaking lies and deceit. They are condemned to perish by the very calamities they deny.
  • Consequences of SinThe three primary forms of judgment declared by the Lord upon Judah and the false prophets—sword, famine, and pestilence—signifying the severe and inescapable punishment for their iniquity.
  • God's Covenant and NameJeremiah's appeals to God's faithfulness to His covenant and the honor of His name, urging Him not to abandon His people despite their unworthiness and acknowledging their identity as those called by His name.
  • God's Sovereignty over NatureThe affirmation that only the Lord, not idols or the heavens, has the power to bring rain and sustain life, reinforcing His unique deity and the people's ultimate dependence on Him.