Major Prophets · Chapter 14 of 52

Jeremiah 14

A devastating drought grips Judah, leaving nobles, farmers, and even wild animals desperate for water. Jeremiah confesses the people's sin and pleads with God, who is called the hope of Israel, not to be a stranger in the land. But God refuses to accept them, exposing the false prophets who promised peace. The chapter ends with a raw prayer clinging to God's covenant and name.

What happens in Jeremiah 14

The word of the LORD comes concerning a severe drought. Judah mourns, the cities languish, and nobles send their servants to find water only to return with empty vessels, ashamed. The ground is cracked, farmers cover their heads, and even the doe abandons her newborn while wild donkeys pant on the heights for lack of grass. Jeremiah intercedes, confessing that their iniquities testify against them, yet appealing to God as the hope of Israel and its savior in trouble, asking why he acts like a stranger, and pleading, leave us not.

But God tells Jeremiah not to pray for the people's good, for he will not accept them and will consume them by sword, famine, and pestilence. When Jeremiah protests that the prophets promised peace, God condemns those lying prophets whom he never sent, decreeing that they and their hearers will perish. The chapter closes with another anguished confession of sin and an appeal to God's name and covenant.

Jeremiah 14 in context

This chapter responds to a drought that becomes a lens for Judah's deeper spiritual crisis before the Babylonian judgment. It alternates between vivid description of suffering, Jeremiah's intercession, and God's refusal, revealing the tension of a prophet caught between his people and God.

The condemnation of false prophets who cried peace continues a major theme in Jeremiah, exposing leaders who offered false hope. Jeremiah's prayers, appealing to God's name, covenant, and reputation, model persistent intercession even when the answer is severe.

Main themes of Jeremiah 14

Jeremiah 14 (KJV)

1The 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. 10Thus 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. 17Therefore 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.

Verses to carry from Jeremiah 14

“O 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.”Jeremiah 14:7

“O 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?”Jeremiah 14:8

“Then 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.”Jeremiah 14:14

Reflection

Jeremiah shows how to pray in a dark season: confess sin honestly, without excuse, yet cling to who God is, the hope of Israel, the savior in trouble. When God seems a distant stranger, appeal to his name and character rather than your own worth. And take comfort that the hope Jeremiah reached toward has drawn near in Christ, God with us.

A prayer from Jeremiah 14