Jeremiah 14:3 kjv
And 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.
Jeremiah 14:3 nkjv
Their nobles have sent their lads for water; They went to the cisterns and found no water. They returned with their vessels empty; They were ashamed and confounded And covered their heads.
Jeremiah 14:3 niv
The nobles send their servants for water; they go to the cisterns but find no water. They return with their jars unfilled; dismayed and despairing, they cover their heads.
Jeremiah 14:3 esv
Her nobles send their servants for water; they come to the cisterns; they find no water; they return with their vessels empty; they are ashamed and confounded and cover their heads.
Jeremiah 14:3 nlt
The nobles send servants to get water,
but all the wells are dry.
The servants return with empty pitchers,
confused and desperate,
covering their heads in grief.
Jeremiah 14 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 14:3 | Nobles send their servants to the waterpits... | Direct context of drought and its impact. |
| Psalm 42:1 | As the deer pants for the water brooks... | Illustrates intense longing for divine help. |
| Psalm 63:1 | O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you... | Parallel spiritual thirst and seeking. |
| Isaiah 41:17 | When the poor and needy seek water... | God's compassion for those in distress. |
| Jeremiah 8:7 | Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed times... | Contrasts animal instinct with human unfaithfulness. |
| Deuteronomy 28:23 | The heavens over your head shall be bronze, and the earth under you iron. | Curse for disobedience includes drought. |
| Leviticus 26:19 | I will break your proud glory, and I will make your heavens like iron and your earth like bronze. | Another consequence of rebellion. |
| Habakkuk 3:17-18 | Though the fig tree does not bud... I will rejoice in the Lord. | Declaration of faith amidst devastation. |
| Psalm 107:33-34 | He turns rivers into a desert, and springs of water into thirsty ground, because of the wickedness of their inhabitants. | Divine judgment causing desolation. |
| John 4:14 | but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. | Jesus offers living water, superior to earthly means. |
| John 7:37 | If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. | Invitation to Christ for spiritual satisfaction. |
| Revelation 7:16 | They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore... | Ultimate end of thirst in God's presence. |
| Lamentations 5:10 | Our skin is black like an oven, because of the scorching wind of hunger. | Description of suffering from deprivation. |
| Jeremiah 17:18 | Let them be put to shame who persecute me, but let me not be put to shame; let them be dismayed, but let not me be dismayed; bring upon them the day of evil, and crush them with double destruction! | Jeremiah's plea for justice. |
| Ezekiel 47:8-9 | Then he said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region... wherever the stream goes every living creature that swarms will live.” | Vision of life-giving water from God's sanctuary. |
| Joel 1:20 | The wild animals also cry out to you because the rivers have dried up, and fire has consumed the pastures of the wilderness. | Animals also suffer from drought, highlighting severity. |
| Hosea 4:3 | Therefore the land mourns; and everyone who dwells in it languishes, along with the wild beasts of the field and the birds of the heavens, and even the fish of the sea are taken away. | Impact of sin on all creation. |
| Proverbs 25:13 | Like the coolness of snow in harvest time is a faithful messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his master. | Contrast of refreshing leadership with present desolation. |
| Zechariah 10:1 | Ask rain from the Lord in the season of spring rain, from the Lord who makes the storm clouds, who gives them showers of rain, that every field may give grass to each person. | The need to ask God for essential provisions. |
| Matthew 5:6 | “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. | Spiritual hunger and thirst for righteousness. |
Jeremiah 14 verses
Jeremiah 14 3 Meaning
The nobles of Judah sent their servants to bring water from the cisterns because the land was parched due to a severe drought. This act highlights the desperate state of the people and their reliance on man-made sources when divine provision fails. The image of nobility themselves resorting to this underscores the widespread impact of the affliction.
Jeremiah 14 3 Context
Jeremiah chapter 14 vividly describes a devastating drought afflicting Judah. This is presented as a consequence of the people's sinfulness and the leaders' unfaithfulness. The prophet Jeremiah is commanded by God to proclaim this judgment and to intercede for the people, though he is forbidden from doing so effectively because of their deep-seated iniquity. The verse specifically illustrates the physical hardship and the strain on societal structures, as even the nobles have to depend on their servants to find the most basic necessity: water. This reflects the overall theme of divine discipline in the Old Testament for disobedience.
Jeremiah 14 3 Word Analysis
- Nobles (Hebrew: khōlēl) : This word refers to officials or princes, indicating a position of authority and influence. Their involvement signifies a societal breakdown where even the elite are not exempt from hardship and must delegate essential tasks.
- Sent (Hebrew: shālach) : To dispatch or send forth. It implies an active commissioning of individuals to perform a task.
- Their servants (Hebrew: ‘abdēhēm) : Those who are under the authority of the nobles. The need for servants highlights the nobles' inability to procure water themselves, indicating a dependency and lack of personal resourcefulness in this crisis.
- For water (Hebrew: lĕma-yim) : The fundamental requirement for life. The absence of it leads to suffering and death.
- And found no water (Hebrew: wĕlō’-mātzā’-māyim) : Emphasizes the complete failure to secure this essential resource, indicating the extent of the drought and its pervasiveness. The use of the Niphal conjugation of mātzā (to find) implies that water was not found, as opposed to actively not being looked for.
- Cisterns (Hebrew: borōt) : Man-made reservoirs or pits dug to store water. The reliance on cisterns suggests that natural water sources have dried up, and even stored water is becoming scarce or inaccessible.
- Empty (Hebrew: bōqū’īm) : Describing the cisterns as barren or void. This conveys a sense of desolation and futility in their search.
Words-Group By Words-Group Analysis
- "The nobles sent their servants": This phrase juxtaposes status with action. It shows that leadership, despite its privileges, is not insulated from the physical effects of drought. It also reveals a societal hierarchy still functioning, but under immense pressure, as even the "important" people need others to perform basic survival tasks.
- "For water and found no water": This is a striking paradox. The search for water was the objective, yet the outcome was the complete absence of it. This linguistic structure emphasizes the utter futility and despair of their efforts. The repeated phrase "water" highlights its critical importance and the acute lack thereof.
- "The cisterns were empty": This vividly paints the picture of the drought's severity. Cisterns were crucial for survival during dry periods, so their emptiness signifies that the natural means of coping have been exhausted, leaving the people vulnerable.
Jeremiah 14 3 Bonus Section
The severe drought described here is a tangible manifestation of divine displeasure, often linked to the curses outlined in Deuteronomy 28 and Leviticus 26 for covenant disobedience. The helplessness of the nobles mirrors the spiritual inability of those who turn away from God to find true sustenance. The image of empty cisterns stands in stark contrast to the abundant living water offered by Jesus in the New Testament (John 4:14), which satisfies eternally. This verse, therefore, not only depicts historical suffering but also points to humanity's universal need for God's provision, which transcends physical requirements and speaks to a deeper spiritual thirst.
Jeremiah 14 3 Commentary
Jeremiah 14:3 serves as a potent illustration of God’s judgment through drought, a recurring theme in scripture used to discipline a disobedient people. The plight of Judah’s nobles seeking water through their servants and finding cisterns empty powerfully conveys the pervasive and inescapable nature of the affliction. It signifies that, when God withdraws His favor, even the most secure human systems and resources fail. The verse highlights a fundamental truth: human power and earthly provisions are ultimately insufficient; true sustenance comes from God’s provision, which is withheld due to sin. It sets the stage for understanding the deeper spiritual thirst and the ultimate solution found in Christ, who offers living water.