Jeremiah 14:1 kjv
The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the dearth.
Jeremiah 14:1 nkjv
The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the droughts.
Jeremiah 14:1 niv
This is the word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought:
Jeremiah 14:1 esv
The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought:
Jeremiah 14:1 nlt
This message came to Jeremiah from the LORD, explaining why he was holding back the rain:
Jeremiah 14 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 28:23-24 | "Your skies... brass, your ground... iron... YHWH will send drought..." | Drought as covenant curse |
| Lev 26:19 | "I will break your pride... I will make your heavens like iron..." | Consequences of disobedience: lack of rain |
| 1 Ki 17:1 | "As YHWH... lives, there will be neither dew nor rain these years..." | God's control over drought through Elijah |
| Amos 4:7-8 | "I also withheld the rain... I sent you an empty stomach..." | YHWH orchestrating drought for repentance |
| Hag 1:11 | "I called for a drought on the land..." | Divine drought as judgment |
| Zec 14:17 | "...those... not come up to Jerusalem... upon them there shall be no rain." | Future divine control of rain |
| Isa 1:1 | "The vision of Isaiah... concerning Judah and Jerusalem..." | Similar prophetic superscription |
| Hos 1:1 | "The word of YHWH that came to Hosea..." | Another common prophetic introductory formula |
| Joel 1:1 | "The word of YHWH that came to Joel..." | Standard introduction to a prophetic book |
| Jon 1:1 | "The word of YHWH came to Jonah..." | God's word to a specific prophet |
| Ezek 1:3 | "...The word of YHWH came expressly to Ezekiel..." | Explicit mention of divine word coming to prophet |
| Jer 1:2 | "The word of YHWH came to him..." | Introduction to Jeremiah's prophetic call |
| Psa 33:6 | "By the word of YHWH the heavens were made..." | God's creative power through His word |
| Heb 4:12 | "For the word of God is living and active..." | The active and powerful nature of God's word |
| Exo 7:1 | "See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron your prophet." | Role of a prophet as God's spokesperson |
| Deut 18:18 | "I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command." | God empowering His prophet with His words |
| Psa 104:13 | "He waters the mountains from His upper chambers..." | God's control over nature and water supply |
| Job 5:10 | "He gives rain on the earth and sends waters on the fields." | God as the source of all rain |
| Matt 5:45 | "...He makes His sun rise... and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." | God's general providence of rain |
| Joel 2:12-13 | "...Return to me with all your heart... Rend your heart and not your garments." | Call for repentance in response to judgment |
| Lam 3:22-23 | "The steadfast love of YHWH never ceases; His mercies never come to an end." | Hope and mercy amidst suffering/judgment |
| Isa 58:11 | "...And you shall be like a well-watered garden, like a spring of water..." | Restoration and blessing after obedience |
Jeremiah 14 verses
Jeremiah 14 1 Meaning
Jeremiah 14:1 serves as a clear and concise superscription, acting as an authoritative heading for the prophecy that immediately follows. It unequivocally states that the message delivered by Jeremiah originated directly from YHWH, the covenant God of Israel. The verse specifies the recipient of this divine word as the prophet Jeremiah and identifies its precise subject matter: a severe and distressing drought afflicting the land of Judah. This introduction thus establishes the divine authority of the prophecy, the specific prophetic agent, and the pressing crisis it addresses.
Jeremiah 14 1 Context
Jeremiah 14:1 initiates a section (chapters 14-17) primarily concerned with Judah's profound spiritual crisis, underscored by a devastating physical drought. Historically, this prophecy most likely arose during the reign of King Jehoiakim (c. 609-598 BCE), a period marked by pervasive idolatry, injustice, and reliance on foreign alliances rather than on YHWH. The people continued to disregard Jeremiah's persistent calls for repentance.
In the immediate context, this verse serves as the literary gateway to a series of vivid descriptions of the drought's impact on all aspects of life – the land, animals, and people (Jer 14:2-6). Following this lament, Jeremiah offers fervent prayers of intercession for his people (Jer 14:7-9), but these are met with God's steadfast refusal to turn back His judgment (Jer 14:10-12), due to their deep-seated rebellion. The drought is not presented as a random natural phenomenon but as a direct act or allowance of God, functioning as a tangible sign of His covenant judgment upon His disobedient people and a poignant call to acknowledge their sin.
Jeremiah 14 1 Word analysis
- The word (
דְּבַר, devar): This Hebrew term refers to a message, an utterance, or a communication. In this prophetic context, it carries profound significance, denoting a direct and authoritative divine revelation rather than a mere human observation or opinion. It implies divine action and the intrinsic power and truth contained within God's communication, setting apart what follows as originating from the divine. - of the Lord (
יְהוָה, YHWH): This is the sacred, covenant name of God, frequently translated as "the LORD." It highlights God's personal relationship with Israel, His absolute sovereignty, and His unwavering faithfulness to His covenant, which includes both promised blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. The use of YHWH directly contrasts with the impotence of pagan deities (like Baal) who were believed to control rain. - that came (
הָיָה, hayah): This verb means "to be," "to become," or "to come into being." Here, it signifies the dynamic, active transmission of the divine word to the prophet. It's not passive reception but an active, sovereign act of God bringing His message into existence through His chosen vessel. This formula is common in prophetic literature, marking the beginning of a divine disclosure. - to Jeremiah (
יִרְמְיָהוּ, Yirmeyahu): The name of the prophet, meaning "YHWH lifts up" or "YHWH hurls/establishes." This identifies the human instrument through whom YHWH chooses to communicate His specific message. It establishes his role and legitimacy as God's spokesperson for this particular prophecy. - concerning (
עַל־, al-): A preposition meaning "upon," "about," or "concerning." It precisely defines the subject matter of the prophetic message, focusing the reader's attention on the specific crisis. - the drought (
בַּבַּצָּרוֹת, ba'batzzarot): This noun signifies a severe lack of rain, desolation, or famine. The Hebrew plural form here,בַּצָּרוֹת, (literally "in/concerning the droughts" or "the desolations"), might emphasize the severity, extended duration, or even successive occurrences of drought. This drought is presented not as a natural happenstance but as a matter of divine concern, a consequence within the covenant framework.
Words-group analysis:
- "The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah": This phrase constitutes a classic prophetic superscription. It powerfully establishes the origin and authority of the subsequent message. It underlines that what follows is not Jeremiah's personal thoughts or lament, but a direct, divine utterance initiated by YHWH and supernaturally transmitted to His prophet, commanding immediate and serious attention.
- "concerning the drought": This segment pinpoints the specific historical and physical reality that occasioned the divine revelation. It highlights God's engagement with the physical circumstances of His people, signaling that this natural calamity is intrinsically tied to a spiritual message from YHWH, acting as a profound sign within the covenant.
Jeremiah 14 1 Bonus section
- This opening verse marks the beginning of what some scholars identify as a series of laments, sometimes called the "Drought Laments," which demonstrate Jeremiah's deep empathy for his suffering people even as he delivers God's stern messages.
- The emphasis on "the word of the Lord" serves as a direct polemic against the false prophets of Jeremiah's time who claimed to speak peace when there was no peace (cf. Jer 14:13-14). Their words were their own, lacking divine authority, whereas Jeremiah's came with the gravitas of YHWH's personal revelation.
- The spiritual significance of "drought" can extend beyond physical rain. Just as physical water sustains life, the "word of the Lord" provides spiritual nourishment and guidance. A lack of hearing or heeding God's word (spiritual drought) often precedes and can even contribute to physical desolation.
- The plural "droughts" (batzzarot) might also metaphorically suggest various forms of distress or desolation affecting the nation, all stemming from their spiritual brokenness.
Jeremiah 14 1 Commentary
Jeremiah 14:1 is more than a simple title; it is a declaration of divine intent and authority. By commencing with "The word of the Lord," the text immediately invests the ensuing lament and pronouncement of judgment with unquestionable truth and gravity. This introductory verse situates the entire prophecy about the drought within God's sovereign oversight and purpose, revealing that even a seemingly natural disaster like a lack of rain is directly or indirectly connected to His ongoing relationship with humanity, particularly His covenant people. The drought is thus framed as a divine communication, a stark and unavoidable consequence of Judah's unfaithfulness, demanding urgent introspection and a turning back to YHWH. It is a potent reminder that physical calamities can be spiritual signposts.