Jeremiah 14:2
“Judah mourns, and her gates languish; her people lament on the ground, and the cry of Jerusalem goes up.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The phrase "her gates languish" isn't just about empty city entrances; it vividly portrays the people themselves, usually gathered at these public places, now defeated and lifeless due to the devastation of drought and famine. The verse emphasizes their profound despair, depicted by faces "black unto the ground"—a striking image of shame and utter hopelessness.
The land of Judah is suffering under a severe drought, causing widespread mourning and despair among its people. Jeremiah describes the desolation as if the very gates of cities are weakened and lifeless, and the people lament, their faces darkened by grief and hunger, with the cries of Jerusalem rising like smoke. This scene of suffering is not an isolated event but a direct consequence of their unfaithfulness to God, as the following verses will reveal.
Imagine your city's busiest squares, market streets, and gathering places completely empty. What does that silence tell you?
Jeremiah uses the image of 'gates' languishing to paint a picture of a devastated land.
More Than Just Doors
The gates of ancient cities were centers of commerce, justice, and social life. They were bustling hubs where people met, conducted business, and received news. When the prophet says the 'gates languish,' he's not just talking about physical structures falling into disrepair. He means the life that filled those gates has withered away.
A Symbol of Empty Lives
This imagery powerfully conveys the emptiness and despair that has gripped Judah. The vibrant pulse of the city has ceased. The lack of water and the resulting famine have silenced the crowds, leaving the gates desolate and the people in deep sorrow.
What are the outward signs that tell you someone is truly heartbroken or in deep pain?
The verse speaks of people being 'black unto the ground.' This isn't just about a bad mood; it's a profound physical and emotional response to overwhelming calamity.
More Than Just Black Clothes
While black clothing was a common symbol of mourning, 'black unto the ground' suggests something deeper. Scholars note it could refer to the pallor and gauntness of faces starved by famine, making them appear dark or sunken. It also implies a posture of deep humility and despair, as if they are so crushed they can barely lift their heads from the earth.
A Manifestation of Despair
This vivid description shows that the suffering wasn't just internal. The physical manifestation of their grief and hunger was evident for all to see. They were prostrate, ashamed, and utterly overwhelmed by their circumstances, their outward appearance mirroring their inner desolation.
Understand the original words
ʾāḇal · Hebrew Verb
To express deep sorrow, grief, or distress, often in the context of bereavement, national calamity, or repentance before God.
ʾāmal · Hebrew Verb
To become weak, feeble, or to wither away, often due to lack of sustenance or hope. In this context, it signifies the cessation of activity and life-giving vitality.
The verse depicts the devastating effects of a severe drought and famine, likely occurring during the turbulent period of Babylonian invasions leading up to Jerusalem's final destruction. This context highlights how the lack of rain was not merely a natural disaster but a profound sign of God's judgment on a sinful people.
Late 8th century BC
Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem
Though Jerusalem survived, the surrounding areas of Judah were ravaged by the Assyrian army under Sennacherib, leading to widespread fear and devastation. This historical event would have been a recent memory or a significant historical precedent for Jeremiah's audience, shaping their understanding of divine judgment.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon defeats the Egyptian-Assyrian forces at Carchemish and begins his conquest of Judah. Jehoiakim is made a vassal, and many of the educated elite, including Daniel, are deported to Babylon.
597 BC
Second Babylonian Deportation
Following Jehoiakim's rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar again besieges Jerusalem and deports a larger portion of the population, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel, to Babylon.
587/586 BC
Fall and Destruction of Jerusalem
After a prolonged siege, Jerusalem falls to the Babylonians. The city walls are broken down, the Temple is destroyed, and the remaining population is largely exiled to Babylon, marking the end of the Southern Kingdom of Judah.
This passage describes Jerusalem as a desolate widow, mirroring the deep mourning and despair in Jeremiah 14:2, emphasizing the profound sense of loss and abandonment.
Joel 1:10Similar to Jeremiah's description, Joel depicts the land's desolation where 'the fields are ruined, the land mourns' due to drought, highlighting the widespread impact of God's judgment.
Isaiah 3:26This verse portrays the 'gates' of Jerusalem lamenting and mourning, a parallel to Jeremiah 14:2 that illustrates how the very public places and the people within them are overwhelmed by distress.
Psalm 107:33-34This psalm speaks of God turning rivers into a wasteland and parched land into springs of water, directly reflecting the cause of the mourning and languishing described in Jeremiah 14:2.
barnesJeremiah 14:2: "Judah mourneth, and the gates thereof languish; they are black unto the ground; and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up."
They are black unto the ground - The people assembled at the gates, the usual places of concourse, are in deep mourning and sit humbly on the ground.
clarkeJeremiah 14:2: "Judah mourneth, and the gates thereof languish; they are black unto the ground; and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up."
The gates thereof languish - The gates being the places of public resort, they are put here for the people. They are black unto the ground - Covered from head to foot with a black garment, the emblem of sorrow and calamity.
The phrase "her gates languish" isn't just about empty city entrances; it vividly portrays the people themselves, usually gathered at these public places, now defeated and lifeless due to the devastation of drought and famine. The verse emphasizes their profound despair, depicted by faces "black unto the ground"—a striking image of shame and utter hopelessness.
The land of Judah is suffering under a severe drought, causing widespread mourning and despair among its people. Jeremiah describes the desolation as if the very gates of cities are weakened and lifeless, and the people lament, their faces darkened by grief and hunger, with the cries of Jerusalem rising like smoke. This scene of suffering is not an isolated event but a direct consequence of their unfaithfulness to God, as the following verses will reveal.
The land of Judah is suffering under a severe drought, causing widespread mourning and despair among its people. Jeremiah describes the desolation as if the very gates of cities are weakened and lifeless, and the people lament, their faces darkened by grief and hunger, with the cries of Jerusalem rising like smoke. This scene of suffering is not an isolated event but a direct consequence of their unfaithfulness to God, as the following verses will reveal.
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When all hope seems lost, what is the first sound you hear? Is it a prayer, a scream, or a groan?
The verse concludes with 'the cry of Jerusalem is gone up.' This isn't just noise; it's a powerful declaration of a people at their absolute limit.
The Sound of Despair
This cry signifies the vocal expression of extreme suffering, despair, and desperation. It’s the sound that escapes when all other options have failed, when prayers feel unanswered, and human remedies are exhausted. It's a raw, unfiltered outpouring of pain.
Acknowledging Divine Judgment
Jeremiah's context suggests this cry also ascends to God as a testament to the severity of the drought and famine. It's a sign that the people recognize—or at least are forced to confront—that this is not merely a natural disaster, but potentially a consequence of God's judgment. Their cries fill the air, a somber announcement of their dire situation reaching the very throne of heaven.
c. 627-580 BC— this verse
Jeremiah's Ministry During Drought and Siege
Jeremiah prophesies during a period of political turmoil, repeated Babylonian invasions, and severe drought and famine in Judah. The lament in Jeremiah 14:2 vividly describes the desperate conditions of famine and mourning that gripped the land and its capital city.
"“Judah mourns, and her gates languish; her people lament on the ground, and the cry of Jerusalem goes up." — The phrase "her gates languish" isn't just about empty city entrances; it vividly portrays the people themselves, usually gathered at these public places, now defeated and lifeless due to the devasta…
