Jeremiah 13 22

Jeremiah 13:22 kjv

And if thou say in thine heart, Wherefore come these things upon me? For the greatness of thine iniquity are thy skirts discovered, and thy heels made bare.

Jeremiah 13:22 nkjv

And if you say in your heart, "Why have these things come upon me?" For the greatness of your iniquity Your skirts have been uncovered, Your heels made bare.

Jeremiah 13:22 niv

And if you ask yourself, "Why has this happened to me?"? it is because of your many sins that your skirts have been torn off and your body mistreated.

Jeremiah 13:22 esv

And if you say in your heart, 'Why have these things come upon me?' it is for the greatness of your iniquity that your skirts are lifted up and you suffer violence.

Jeremiah 13:22 nlt

You may ask yourself,
"Why is all this happening to me?"
It is because of your many sins!
That is why you have been stripped
and raped by invading armies.

Jeremiah 13 verses

Jeremiah 13 22 Meaning

Jeremiah 13:22 addresses the people of Judah, specifically their future bewilderment and self-pity when divine judgment falls upon them. Their question, "Why have these things come upon me?" will arise from a profound disconnect with the magnitude of their sin. The verse reveals God's explicit answer: it is due to their "greatness of iniquity" that they will experience extreme public humiliation and disgrace. The vivid imagery of their "skirts uncovered" and "heels exposed" graphically portrays the complete stripping away of honor, dignity, and protection, akin to the shame of a woman publicly shamed for harlotry. This state of vulnerability and deep shame is the direct consequence of their widespread apostasy and covenant breaking.

Jeremiah 13 22 Context

Jeremiah 13:22 is embedded within a larger prophetic warning about Judah's impending destruction and exile due to their profound unfaithfulness to God. The chapter begins with the parable of the linen belt (Jer 13:1-11), which Jeremiah is commanded to wear, bury, and then retrieve. The belt, initially clinging to Jeremiah, became ruined and useless, symbolizing how God had bound Israel closely to Himself for His glory, but their spiritual corruption rendered them useless and worthy of rejection. Judah, specifically the "daughter of Zion," is portrayed as having deeply ingrained idolatry, described as an "Ethiopian changing his skin" or a "leopard its spots" (Jer 13:23). This highlights the futility of any human effort to change their hearts. Jeremiah 13:12-14 describes an "empty jar" oracle, signifying the pouring out of God's wrath and judgment without mercy. The present verse follows Jeremiah's desperate plea for the people to humble themselves and listen before darkness falls. When Judah eventually faces the calamity and wonders "Why?", verse 22 provides the unambiguous answer: it is directly proportionate to the "greatness of their iniquity." The imagery of uncovered skirts and exposed heels is a powerful metaphor for public shame and utter disgrace, often associated with the punishment for sexual impurity, signifying Judah's spiritual adultery (idolatry).

Jeremiah 13 22 Word analysis

• And if you say in your heart: This highlights a self-deceptive reflection, a moment of profound confusion and complaint arising from deep within Judah's core identity. It signifies their future inability or unwillingness to acknowledge their guilt, even when judgment is imminent or present.

• ‘Why have these things come upon me?’: Lamah (לָמָּה), "why," denotes a cry of bewilderment and perhaps accusation against God, rather than introspection. It indicates a failure to connect the suffering with their own actions. The "things" refer to the calamities and disgrace God will bring.

• — Because of the greatness of your iniquity: This phrase, introduced by a direct "because of," provides God's unequivocal answer. It links the impending disaster directly to the overwhelming extent and severity of their sin.

• greatness (גֹּדֶל, godel): Refers to the magnitude, size, or abundance of something. Here, it stresses the enormous quantity and gravity of Judah's sin, emphasizing that it was not trivial but had reached an immense level.

• iniquity (עָוֹן, avon): A fundamental term for sin, it signifies not merely a misstep but a deliberate bending or twisting away from God's path. It encompasses perversity, guilt, and the punishment that inevitably follows such wrongdoing.

• your skirts have been uncovered (נֶחְשְׂפוּ שׁוּלַיִךְ, nekhasfu shulayikh):

  • skirts (שׁוּלַיִךְ, shulayikh): Refers to the lower hems of a garment, symbolizing modesty, dignity, and personal honor.
  • uncovered (נֶחְשְׂפוּ, nekhasfu): The verb ḥasaf means to draw out, expose, lay bare. In the Nifal conjugation, it is passive, indicating that this exposure is done to them. It represents public shaming, disgrace, and loss of protection, similar to what was inflicted upon captives or women guilty of sexual offenses (spiritual harlotry).

• your heels have been exposed (וַנֶּחְפְּל֛וּ עֲקֵבָיִךְ, va-nekhapekhu aqebayikh):

  • heels (עֲקֵבָיִךְ, aqebayikh): The literal meaning is heel, referring to the lower part of the body. Often linked to vulnerability (Gen 3:15), or in some contexts, the trailing foot, suggesting what is hidden behind. Its exposure further intensifies the imagery of total nakedness and public disgrace.
  • exposed (וַנֶּחְפְּל֛וּ, va-nekhapekhu): This specific verb, khāfakh, means "to turn over, to turn away, to overthrow." While nekhasfu means "uncovered," nekhapekhu carries an implication of a violent overturning or removal, accentuating the brutal and humiliating nature of the exposure. It implies being roughly handled or completely overturned to reveal what was previously covered.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "Why have these things come upon me?" — "Because of the greatness of your iniquity": This juxtaposition presents a powerful prophetic contrast between Judah's blind bewilderment and God's clear, just explanation. It underlines their self-deception and God's righteous judgment, showing His justice in revealing the true cause of their suffering.
  • "your skirts have been uncovered, your heels have been exposed": These parallel phrases amplify the message of utter shame and loss of dignity. "Skirts" often signify modesty and overall body covering, while "heels" pinpoint an even lower, more intimate part of the body, indicating the thoroughness of the disgrace. Together, they create a potent image of a once-honored nation reduced to total vulnerability and public humiliation. This imagery also reflects a complete divine withdrawal of protection, leaving them exposed to their enemies, just as they exposed themselves to idolatry.

Jeremiah 13 22 Bonus section

The Hebrew word nekhapekhu for "exposed" concerning "heels" in Jer 13:22, often translated as "stripped," carries an additional nuance. It is related to "overturn" or "subvert," indicating a more forceful and violent act of uncovering than just a passive exposure. This intensifies the imagery of God's judgment, suggesting a brutal stripping away rather than merely a laying bare. This particular verb choice emphasizes the utter devastation and aggressive shaming that God will permit upon Judah as a direct consequence of their actions, further underscoring the severity of divine wrath. The public humiliation served as a stark lesson not only to Judah but to surrounding nations concerning the fate of those who reject the Lord.

Jeremiah 13 22 Commentary

Jeremiah 13:22 directly addresses the human tendency to question divine judgment without introspection into one's own sin. Judah’s anticipated "why?" reveals their spiritual blindness and impenitence. God's answer is unequivocally tied to the "greatness of their iniquity"—their deep-seated and pervasive spiritual unfaithfulness, idolatry, and rebellion against the covenant. The vivid, almost violent, imagery of "skirts uncovered" and "heels exposed" conveys profound public shame, total loss of dignity, and absolute vulnerability. This is divine retribution, a mirror image of Judah's spiritual harlotry; just as they dishonored God by "prostituting" themselves with other gods, so too will God publicly dishonor them. It signifies that all their pretenses, protections, and perceived honor will be stripped away, leaving them bare before their enemies and the world, suffering a punishment commensurate with their great offenses.