Jeremiah 14 4

Jeremiah 14:4 kjv

Because the ground is chapt, for there was no rain in the earth, the plowmen were ashamed, they covered their heads.

Jeremiah 14:4 nkjv

Because the ground is parched, For there was no rain in the land, The plowmen were ashamed; They covered their heads.

Jeremiah 14:4 niv

The ground is cracked because there is no rain in the land; the farmers are dismayed and cover their heads.

Jeremiah 14:4 esv

Because of the ground that is dismayed, since there is no rain on the land, the farmers are ashamed; they cover their heads.

Jeremiah 14:4 nlt

The ground is parched
and cracked for lack of rain.
The farmers are deeply troubled;
they, too, cover their heads.

Jeremiah 14 verses

Jeremiah 14 4 Meaning

The land itself is depicted as groaning under the weight of its inhabitants' sin. The failure of the fields and vineyards to produce signifies a direct consequence of spiritual unfaithfulness. This barrenness is a manifestation of divine displeasure and judgment upon Judah. The imagery underscores a deep, ecological impact of human sin, demonstrating God's involvement even in the natural order as a response to human actions.

Jeremiah 14 4 Context

Jeremiah 14 is set during a severe drought that grips the land of Judah. The prophet is ministering during a period of significant national distress, exacerbated by Judah's persistent sinfulness and disobedience to God's covenant. This chapter details a prayer of confession offered by Jeremiah on behalf of the people, acknowledging their transgressions and pleading for divine intervention to end the drought. The verse in question describes the parched and unproductive state of the land as a direct consequence of this judgment. The people of Judah were suffering physically because of their spiritual rebellion.

Jeremiah 14 4 Word Analysis

• "The": The definite article, specifying the subject.
• "ground": Hebrew: adamah (אֲדָמָה). Refers to the soil, the earth, the land itself. It signifies the physical territory of Judah.
• "is": Implies a state or condition.
• "chapped": Hebrew: phruur (פָּרֹר). This word conveys the idea of being broken in pieces, shattered, or cracked. It paints a vivid picture of dryness and fragmentation.
• "because": Indicates causation, linking the state of the ground to a reason.
• "there": Refers to the existence of something.
• "is": Again, indicating existence.
• "no": A negation, signifying absence.
• "rain": Hebrew: matar (מָטָר). Specifically refers to falling rain, the essential element for agriculture and life.
• "and": Conjunction joining two clauses.
• "the": Definite article.
• "planters": Hebrew: korem (כֹּרֵם). Specifically refers to a vinedresser or one who cultivates vineyards, highlighting agricultural activities.
• "have": Indicates possession or involvement.
• "lamented": Hebrew: hushamnu (חֻשַּׁמְנוּ), from the root shammam (שָׁמַם). This means to be devastated, astonished, dismayed, or put to shame. It expresses deep distress and mourning over their failed crops.
• "covered": Hebrew: kiseh (כִּסּוּ). Likely referring to covering their heads in grief and despair, a common gesture of mourning and shame. It suggests they have ceased their usual work out of despondency.

Word Groups Analysis:

• "ground is chapped": This phrase graphically illustrates the severe dryness and infertility brought on by the lack of rain. It's an ecological consequence of spiritual barrenness.
• "because there is no rain": Clearly establishes the immediate, physical cause of the ground's condition.
• "the planters have lamented": This points to the human impact and emotional response to the divine judgment. The farmers, the providers, are in despair.
• "covered": This concluding action shows their utter helplessness and recognition of failure, covering themselves in shame and sorrow.

Jeremiah 14 4 Bonus Section

The suffering of the land and its cultivators is a recurring theme in the prophets, serving as a powerful sign pointing to a deeper spiritual crisis. This concept of creation groaning under the weight of sin, as articulated in Romans 8:22, finds an Old Testament precursor here. God's covenant with Israel included promises of fertility linked to obedience (Leviticus 26, Deuteronomy 28), and its breaking resulted in the withdrawal of those blessings. The lament of the planters is a recognition of their dependence on divine favor for their success, a dependence that the nation had largely forgotten by turning to idols. This verse powerfully illustrates the interconnectedness of the spiritual, social, and even environmental realms in the biblical worldview.

Jeremiah 14 4 Commentary

Jeremiah 14:4 describes the land suffering because of a lack of rain, causing the farmers, particularly those who tend vineyards, to be in despair. This drought is not merely a meteorological event but a consequence of God's judgment upon Judah for its sins, as detailed throughout Jeremiah. The parched earth is a metaphor for the spiritual barrenness that results from disobedience. The despair of the planters reflects their recognition that their livelihood, and indeed the nation's survival, depends on God's blessing, which is withheld due to their unfaithfulness. This verse connects the physical well-being of the nation directly to its spiritual state, highlighting the covenantal relationship where obedience brings prosperity and disobedience brings curses, including drought and famine. It foreshadows a larger theme of ecological distress in response to human sin.