Jeremiah 14 10

Jeremiah 14:10 kjv

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.

Jeremiah 14:10 nkjv

Thus says the LORD to this people: "Thus they have loved to wander; They have not restrained their feet. Therefore the LORD does not accept them; He will remember their iniquity now, And punish their sins."

Jeremiah 14:10 niv

This is what the LORD says about this people: "They greatly love to wander; they do not restrain their feet. So the LORD does not accept them; he will now remember their wickedness and punish them for their sins."

Jeremiah 14:10 esv

Thus says the LORD concerning this people: "They have loved to wander thus; they have not restrained their feet; therefore the LORD does not accept them; now he will remember their iniquity and punish their sins."

Jeremiah 14:10 nlt

So this is what the LORD says to his people:
"You love to wander far from me
and do not restrain yourselves.
Therefore, I will no longer accept you as my people.
Now I will remember all your wickedness
and will punish you for your sins."

Jeremiah 14 verses

Jeremiah 14 10 Meaning

This verse reveals God's direct condemnation of the people of Judah. It asserts that their deep-seated and persistent spiritual waywardness is not accidental but actively cherished. They deliberately chose to stray from God's path, showing no restraint in their sinful pursuits. Consequently, God emphatically rejects their prayers and offerings. The verse concludes with the declaration that He will now decisively hold them accountable, recalling and justly punishing their long-standing iniquity and transgressions.

Jeremiah 14 10 Context

Jeremiah chapter 14 opens with a vivid description of a severe drought afflicting Judah, presented as a clear sign of divine judgment. Verses 1-6 depict the physical and emotional distress across society, leading the people to a superficial confession of sin and an appeal to God (v. 7-9). Jeremiah 14:10, however, marks a sharp turning point: God directly responds, unequivocally stating the true reason for His withdrawal and the basis for impending judgment. It establishes that their lamentations are hollow because their hearts remain firmly set on disobedience. This verse immediately precedes God's command to Jeremiah not to pray for this people, reinforcing the irreversible nature of their present course due to their cherished rebellion. Historically, Judah faced the Babylonian threat, and culturally, such a drought invoked the covenant curses outlined in Deuteronomy, signaling God's covenantal response to widespread apostasy and the worship of Baal, a false god often associated with rain and fertility.

Jeremiah 14 10 Word analysis

• Thus says the LORD (כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה - koh amar YHWH): This common prophetic formula serves as an authoritative declaration, establishing the divine origin and unquestionable nature of the message. It is God's direct, revealed word.
• concerning this people (עַל־הָעָם הַזֶּה - al ha-am hazzeh): Clearly identifies the specific addressee as the collective community of Judah, emphasizing their corporate responsibility and judgment.
• They have loved (אָהֲבוּ - ahavu): A strong verb indicating deep affection and deliberate choice. Their wandering is not a mistake or a weakness but a cherished, willful decision, highlighting a profound misdirection of their desires.
• to wander (לָנוּעַ - lanu'a): Signifies movement, staggering, or going astray. In this context, it represents spiritual deviation, straying from God's defined path into sin, idolatry, and unfaithfulness. It implies an unsettled, undisciplined spiritual state.
• they have not restrained (לֹא חָשְׂכוּ - lo khas'khu): The verb "khasak" means to hold back, spare, or withhold. Its negation signifies a complete lack of self-control or discipline. They indulged every inclination without any self-imposed limits.
• their feet (רַגְלֵיהֶם - raglehem): Represents the entirety of their conduct, actions, and chosen course of life. This indicates that their whole way of living has been unchecked and misdirected.
• therefore (וְלָכֵן - velakhen): A crucial conjunctive, linking the people's deliberate actions directly to God's response, emphasizing a just cause-and-effect relationship in line with the covenant.
• the LORD does not accept them (יְהוָה לֹא רָצָם - YHWH lo ratsam): "Ratsah" means to be pleased with, accept favorably, or delight in. God's rejection is a categorical refusal of their person and any of their overtures, including their superficial lamentations or rituals. He finds no favor in their state.
• now he will remember (עַתָּה יִזְכֹּר - attah yizkor): "Atah" (now) stresses the immediacy and certainty of the impending divine action. "Zakar" (remember) in God's context does not imply recalling forgotten information but rather taking decisive action based on what is known, leading to an active intervention of judgment.
• their iniquity (עֲוֹנָם - avonam): Refers to perverse distortion, moral crookedness, guilt, or culpability. It points to the intrinsic wrongness and rebellion against divine standards.
• and punish their sins (וְיִפְקֹד חַטֹּאתָם - ve-yifkod chattotam): "Pakad" (visit, inspect, attend to) when referring to God in judgment context means a precise reckoning or visitation to exact retribution, not mere observation. "Chatta't" refers to missing the mark, moral wrongdoing, or specific transgressions. This combination indicates a thorough divine audit and just retribution for both their inherent guilt and their concrete acts of transgression.

• "They have loved to wander; they have not restrained their feet": This phrase describes an intentional, self-willed pursuit of disobedience, cherished by the people rather than resisted. It portrays a lifestyle of unhindered spiritual and moral deviation from God's appointed path. Their "feet" symbolize their chosen life-course, which they actively allowed to stray into forbidden territory.
• "therefore the LORD does not accept them; now he will remember their iniquity and punish their sins": This declares the direct, covenantal consequence of their deep-seated rebellion. God's rejection is a direct outcome of their chosen disloyalty. His "remembering" their iniquity and "punishing" their sins indicates an active, specific, and imminent judgment that comprehensively addresses both their ingrained guilt and their overt transgressions.

Jeremiah 14 10 Bonus section

• This verse powerfully illustrates the principle of sowing and reaping; the people's actions of "loving to wander" directly led to God's reactive "not accepting" and subsequent "punishing."
• The specific phrase "loved to wander" stands in stark contrast to the expected covenant relationship of fidelity and commitment, showcasing the depth of their spiritual unfaithfulness, akin to spiritual adultery.
• The word "remember" (זָכַר - zakar) in a divine context is often associated with action. When God "remembers" iniquity, it means He is about to act decisively in judgment, whereas when He remembers His covenant, He acts in faithfulness. Here, it heralds divine reckoning.
• The judgment articulated is not capricious but an alignment with covenant curses (e.g., Deut 28) for consistent and unrepentant disobedience, indicating God's adherence to His own spoken word.
• It underscores a profound truth about the human heart: without the Spirit of God and self-discipline, the natural inclination is to stray, and even to "love" that straying, leading to ultimate separation from God's favor.

Jeremiah 14 10 Commentary

Jeremiah 14:10 profoundly articulates God's righteous judgment against Judah's persistent and beloved rebellion. It peels back the veneer of their superficial lamentation during the drought, exposing a heart fundamentally devoted to paths divergent from God's will. Their "love to wander" underscores a cherished inclination towards spiritual apostasy and a positive enjoyment of their sinful deviations, not a reluctant stumble. This deliberate embrace of unfaithfulness manifests as "unrestrained feet," meaning they placed no limits on their desires or actions that defied God's commands. Consequently, God, who perfectly discerns their hearts, emphatically declares He "does not accept them," dismissing their petitions and finding no pleasure in their pretense of repentance. The phrase "now he will remember their iniquity and punish their sins" signifies an impending, definitive act of divine justice. God's remembrance is not passive recall but an active, decisive movement towards holding them fully accountable for both their underlying guilt and specific transgressions. This verse highlights that God's justice is a direct and certain response to sustained, unrepentant rebellion, underscoring that outward religious observances are meaningless without sincere inward obedience. It serves as a stark warning that while God is patient, there comes a point where deliberate, cherished sin triggers His decisive and just recompense.