Jeremiah 14:17

Therefore thou shalt say this word unto them; Let mine eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease: for the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous blow.

Jeremiah 14:17 (KJV)

Context

The book of Jeremiah records the prophet’s messages to the people of Judah during a time of great spiritual and political turmoil. The nation had turned away from God and persisted in disobedience, and Jeremiah’s prophecies often warned of impending judgment and exile if they did not repent. Jeremiah 14:17 comes in the midst of a severe national crisis, including drought and famine, which were visible signs of God’s judgment upon the people for their idolatry and unfaithfulness.

Meaning

In this verse, Jeremiah is instructed to deliver a specific message of lamentation to the people. The command to speak this word indicates that instead of merely interceding for the people, the prophet is to pronounce a sorrowful lament in their hearing, to assure them of the calamities coming upon them and to make them face the reality of their situation. The phrase “Let mine eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease” expresses an unceasing, profound sorrow. This is not only the prophet’s personal grief but also reflects the depth of anguish God Himself feels for His people.

The “virgin daughter of my people” is a personification of the nation of Judah, emphasizing its former beauty and intimate relationship with God, now shattered. The description of being “broken with a great breach, with a very grievous blow” uses the imagery of a severe, crushing wound or fracture, indicating a devastation that is both massive and incurable. This metaphorical language highlights the spiritual and national crisis that Judah was facing—severe suffering as a consequence of their rebellion against God.

Biblical connections

The tears of Jeremiah echo the sorrow of God over His people’s sin, showing that God is not indifferent to the suffering caused by sin. Even as He executes judgment, His heart is moved with grief. The instruction to speak this word publicly underscores the prophetic role of declaring God’s message faithfully, even when it is a message of sorrow and warning. The tears are a sign of the seriousness of the breach between God and His people, and they serve as a call for the people to recognize the gravity of their condition.

Application

Jeremiah 14:17 reminds us of the importance of obedience to God’s commands and the consequences of turning away from Him. It shows that God is deeply affected by our disobedience and longs for our repentance. We can learn from this passage by examining our own lives and considering whether there are areas where we have strayed from God’s will. It prompts us to seek God’s forgiveness and turn back to Him, trusting in His mercy and grace.

The verse also challenges us to take sin seriously and to lament over the brokenness that sin causes, both in our own lives and in the world around us. Like Jeremiah, we are called to speak God’s truth faithfully, even when it is difficult, and to let our hearts be moved with compassion for those who suffer the consequences of sin. Ultimately, this passage points us to the hope of repentance and restoration, as God’s grief over sin is matched by His desire to forgive and heal those who return to Him.