Jeremiah 30:15

Why criest thou for thine affliction? thy sorrow is incurable for the multitude of thine iniquity: because thy sins were increased, I have done these things unto thee.

Jeremiah 30:15 (KJV)

Context

Jeremiah 30:15 stands within the section often called the Book of Consolation (Jeremiah 30-33), where God both pronounces judgment on Israel and promises future restoration. The LORD addresses the nation’s collective rebellion, using a rhetorical question to invite self-reflection: “Why criest thou for thine affliction?” The implied answer is that the people should recognize the cause of their suffering rather than complain about it.

Meaning

The verse describes affliction as a sore or wound and sorrow as incurable, not because God is unwilling to heal, but because the multitude of iniquity has made the wound severe. The Hebrew word for “iniquity” points to guilt that is great and flagrant, and the phrase “thy sins were increased” indicates that Israel’s transgressions have multiplied. The declaration “I have done these things unto thee” makes clear that the judgment is a direct consequence of their own actions. When people persist in sin, they have no reason to complain of the punishment that follows.

Biblical connections

Another formulation in the same passage emphasizes that “the wrath of the LORD is not turned away from the children of Israel, but that all of them shall be smitten together.” Both expressions—incurable sorrow and unrelenting wrath—point to the same truth: sin brings severe, often seemingly irreversible, suffering. Yet the broader message of the Book of Consolation does not end with judgment. Later verses in Jeremiah 30-33 speak of God’s promise to heal wounds, restore the bruised nation, and bring redemption after the period of punishment.

Application

This verse serves as a sobering reminder of the cost of rebellion. It challenges readers to examine their own lives and recognize that deep spiritual pain often stems from multiplied sin that human effort cannot heal. The rhetorical question urges honest self-reflection instead of complaint.

Reflection

Yet the verse also sets the stage for hope. Because God identifies the cause of the wound, He also provides the cure. The same God who declares judgment is the One who promises restoration, showing that His ultimate purpose is renewal, not perpetual condemnation.