Jeremiah 15:18 kjv
Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuseth to be healed? wilt thou be altogether unto me as a liar, and as waters that fail?
Jeremiah 15:18 nkjv
Why is my pain perpetual And my wound incurable, Which refuses to be healed? Will You surely be to me like an unreliable stream, As waters that fail?
Jeremiah 15:18 niv
Why is my pain unending and my wound grievous and incurable? You are to me like a deceptive brook, like a spring that fails.
Jeremiah 15:18 esv
Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Will you be to me like a deceitful brook, like waters that fail?
Jeremiah 15:18 nlt
Why then does my suffering continue?
Why is my wound so incurable?
Your help seems as uncertain as a seasonal brook,
like a spring that has gone dry."
Jeremiah 15 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 8:22 | "Is there no balm in Gilead?" | Questioning lack of healing |
| Jeremiah 30:12 | "For thus says the LORD: Your hurt is grievous, your wound incurable." | Emphasizes the severity of the affliction |
| Psalm 38:3 | "There is no soundness in my flesh because of Your anger..." | Personal suffering due to sin |
| Psalm 69:20 | "Reproach has broken my heart, and I am full of gloom;" | Shared sorrow of the suffering servant |
| Isaiah 53:3 | "He is despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows..." | Christ's suffering for sin |
| Isaiah 63:9 | "In all their affliction he was afflicted..." | God's empathy with his people's pain |
| Ezekiel 13:10 | "because they have misled my people, saying 'Peace,' when there is no peace." | False prophets creating illusions |
| Matthew 26:38 | "Then he said to them, 'My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here and watch with me.'" | Jesus' anguish mirroring Jeremiah's |
| Romans 9:2 | "that I have great sorrow and unceasing pain in my heart." | Paul's sorrow for his kinsmen |
| 2 Corinthians 12:7 | "So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the exceptional revelations, there was given to me a thorn in my flesh..." | Personal affliction for a greater purpose |
| Genesis 27:33 | "...and Jacob swore what Isaac feared. Jacob arose and went..." | Betrayal and deception within family |
| Deuteronomy 28:28 | "The LORD will strike you with madness and with blindness and with dismay of heart." | Consequence of disobedience |
| 1 John 5:16 | "If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin that does not lead to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—life pertaining to those who are not sinning toward death." | Prayer for sinful brethren |
| Amos 8:11 | "Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord GOD, when I will send a famine on the land—not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD." | Spiritual famine due to God's word withheld |
| Leviticus 26:37 | "And they will stumble over one another, as in a military campaign..." | Consequence of being unable to stand |
| 1 Kings 18:18 | "And Elijah said to Ahab, 'I am not the one who is troubling Israel, but you and your father’s house, because you have abandoned the commandments of the LORD...'" | Blame shifting and responsibility |
| Psalm 55:12-14 | "For it is not an enemy who taunts me— then I could bear it... But it is you, a man my equal, my companion, my familiar friend." | Betrayal by a close associate |
| Proverbs 25:13 | "Like the coolness of snow in harvest, so is a faithful messenger to those who send him. He refreshes the soul of his master." | Contrast to a deceitful stream |
| Proverbs 12:25 | "Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes it glad." | Impact of despair and false comfort |
| Luke 21:33 | "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away." | The enduring nature of God's word |
Jeremiah 15 verses
Jeremiah 15 18 Meaning
This verse expresses Jeremiah's deep suffering due to the persistent sin and apostasy of his people, which he perceives as a wound that will not heal. He laments that their iniquity and rebellion have brought God's judgment, making him feel like a deceptive stream, one that fails to provide life-giving water. This highlights the profound emotional toll that spiritual unfaithfulness takes on the prophet.
Jeremiah 15 18 Context
Jeremiah 15 is situated within a larger section where Jeremiah expresses his ongoing anguish and complaint to God regarding the relentless sin of Judah and the severe consequences they face. In this chapter, God responds directly to Jeremiah's plea, affirming the seriousness of Judah's transgression and indicating that not even intercession would suffice to avert judgment. The prophet’s lament in verse 18 is a personal expression of his grief, fueled by the spiritual barrenness and deceptive nature of his people's apostasy, which prevents true healing and revival. The historical backdrop is one of increasing Babylonian threat and Judah’s persistent idolatry and disobedience, setting the stage for the impending destruction of Jerusalem.
Jeremiah 15 18 Word Analysis
"Why is my pain (Hebrew:
tsaw'ad-צָעַד) perpetual (Hebrew:shemetsah-שְׁמֹצָה) and my wound (Hebrew:makah-מַכָּה) incurable (Hebrew:ropha-רָפָא, in negative formlo' rapu-לֹא רָפָא)?"tsaw'adusually relates to walking or stepping, here it signifies ongoing affliction or persistent sorrow that "walks with him."shemetsahis rare and suggests permanence, a constant affliction that doesn't cease.makahdenotes a blow, wound, or stripe, emphasizing the deep injury caused by the people's sin.rophais to heal or cure;lo' rapusignifies a complete lack of healing, emphasizing the severity of the spiritual sickness.
"Will you be to me (Hebrew:
kemu-כְּמוֹ) like a deceitful (Hebrew:kahahesh-כַּחֲשׁ) stream (Hebrew:'eynan-עֵינָן),kemuimplies becoming like something, a comparison of what God or the situation appears to be.kahaheshderived fromchasah, can mean to bewitch, deceive, or mislead. It points to something that promises life or sustenance but fails.'eynanrefers to a spring or source of water.
like an unreliable (Hebrew:
lo' 'emunah-לֹא אֱמוּנָה) water (Hebrew:mayim-מַיִם)?"lo' 'emunahliterally means "not faith" or "no faithfulness," emphasizing the unreliability and lack of consistent provision, akin to drought or unfaithfulness in relationships.mayimsignifies water, representing life, sustenance, and God's provision.
Phrase/Passage Analysis:
The prophet views his pain as a persistent, incurable wound, indicating the profound damage done by the people's actions. His comparison of God to a deceitful, unreliable stream expresses his despair that even the source of life seems to have failed him, mirroring the unfaithfulness of his people who fail to provide spiritual sustenance to the nation. This highlights the deep personal agony of witnessing God's judgment fall due to human iniquity, feeling that even divine support has become unstable.
Jeremiah 15 18 Bonus Section
Jeremiah's lament in this verse can be seen as echoing the larger theme of Israel's unfaithfulness in the Old Testament, often depicted as adultery and a breaking of covenant. The "deceitful stream" imagery speaks to a spiritual drought, where God’s blessings and presence are perceived to be withdrawn because of sin. This is a powerful expression of a prophet experiencing vicariously the consequences of his nation's sin and the perceived absence of God's life-giving presence. His questioning isn't of God's ultimate power, but of the current experience of divine unreliability due to sin. This resonates with New Testament descriptions of Christ's suffering and Paul's own deep sorrow for his people.
Jeremiah 15 18 Commentary
Jeremiah expresses profound despair over the persistent sin of his people, which he sees as an unending, incurable wound. He questions God’s faithfulness, feeling as though God has become like a deceptive stream—one that promises life-giving water but fails, leaving him spiritually parched and unable to find true healing. This reflects the immense emotional burden of prophetic ministry when faced with widespread national sin and judgment. Jeremiah's personal anguish stems from his deep connection to his people and his commitment to God's covenant, which is being broken by their persistent unfaithfulness. The imagery of a deceitful stream underscores the loss of reliable spiritual sustenance and the pervading sense of betrayal, both from the people and from the perceived absence of God’s immediate, life-sustaining presence in their crisis.