Jeremiah 14:2-3
“Judah mourns, and her gates languish; her people lament on the ground, and the cry of Jerusalem goes up. Her nobles send their servants for water; they come to the cisterns; they find no water; they return with their vessels empty; they are ashamed and confounded and cover their heads.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The phrase "her gates languish" is a powerful metaphor. It doesn't just mean the physical gates are neglected, but that the bustling centers of city life, where people gathered for commerce and justice, are now empty and desolate, reflecting the deep sorrow and despair of the entire population.
Jeremiah opens with a stark image of a land suffering from a devastating drought, portraying the people of Judah and the city of Jerusalem in deep mourning. This isn't just a passing hardship; the prophet emphasizes that the withered gates, once bustling with life, and the dust-covered faces speak of a profound despair, a cry of anguish rising to heaven. This scene sets the stage for God's response, which explains the drought as a consequence of their sin and a call to repentance.
Why would a prophet mention the 'gates' of a city when talking about widespread suffering?
In ancient times, the city gates were the bustling centers of public life.
When Jeremiah says the 'gates languish,' he’s not just talking about inanimate structures. He’s painting a picture of a city whose heart has stopped beating. The lifeblood of commerce, justice, and social interaction has dried up. The 'gates' represent the people and their entire way of life, now weakened and failing under the weight of the drought.
What does it mean for people to be 'black unto the ground'?
This phrase vividly describes the physical and emotional toll of severe hardship, especially famine.
This imagery speaks of a suffering so deep it changes one's very appearance and posture, reflecting a loss of dignity and hope.
Whose cry is going up, and to whom?
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.
bôr · Hebrew Noun
An artificial reservoir or pit constructed to store water. In biblical imagery, it represents human attempts to secure sustenance and life apart from the "fountain of living waters" (God).
bûš · Hebrew Verb
A feeling of humiliation, disappointment, or disgrace resulting from failed expectations, sin, or judgment. It is the opposite of being established or standing firm.
This verse paints a vivid picture of a land gripped by a severe, devastating drought. The 'mourning' and 'languishing' describe a populace desperate and suffering from famine, with the 'cry of Jerusalem' echoing the profound despair that falls upon God's people when even basic necessities like water are withheld.
c. 627 BC - 586 BC
Jeremiah's Ministry and Babylonian Threat
Jeremiah prophesied during a tumultuous period, warning Judah of impending judgment from Babylon. His ministry spanned decades, marked by increasing political instability and the rise of Nebuchadnezzar.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar captures Jerusalem and deports a significant portion of the population, including members of the royal family and skilled workers, initiating Judah's exile.
c. 600 BC - 590 BC— this verse
Widespread Drought in Judah
A prolonged period of severe drought gripped the land, leading to crop failure, famine, and deep distress among the people. This is the immediate context for Jeremiah's prophecy.
597 BC
Second Babylonian Deportation
After a rebellion, Jerusalem is again captured, and King Jehoiachin and thousands more are deported to Babylon. This event further intensified Judah's suffering and despair.
This passage echoes the imagery of Jeremiah 14:2, describing the elders of Zion sitting in silence and covering themselves with dust and sackcloth, painting a vivid picture of profound grief and devastation in Jerusalem.
Isaiah 3:26This verse describes the gates of Jerusalem mourning and lamenting, similar to Jeremiah 14:2, highlighting the widespread desolation and sorrow that has gripped the city.
Joel 1:10Joel also speaks of devastation and mourning in the land, where the gates lament and the fields are destroyed, mirroring the sense of calamity and loss found in Jeremiah's prophecy.
Psalm 79:1-4This psalm expresses a deep cry of anguish and despair over Jerusalem's ruin, with the people becoming a reproach and objects of scorn, similar to the cry that ascends 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" is a powerful metaphor. It doesn't just mean the physical gates are neglected, but that the bustling centers of city life, where people gathered for commerce and justice, are now empty and desolate, reflecting the deep sorrow and despair of the entire population.
Jeremiah opens with a stark image of a land suffering from a devastating drought, portraying the people of Judah and the city of Jerusalem in deep mourning. This isn't just a passing hardship; the prophet emphasizes that the withered gates, once bustling with life, and the dust-covered faces speak of a profound despair, a cry of anguish rising to heaven. This scene sets the stage for God's response, which explains the drought as a consequence of their sin and a call to repentance.
Jeremiah opens with a stark image of a land suffering from a devastating drought, portraying the people of Judah and the city of Jerusalem in deep mourning. This isn't just a passing hardship; the prophet emphasizes that the withered gates, once bustling with life, and the dust-covered faces speak of a profound despair, a cry of anguish rising to heaven. This scene sets the stage for God's response, which explains the drought as a consequence of their sin and a call to repentance.
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Jeremiah 14:2 speaks of 'the cry of Jerusalem' ascending. This isn't just a sound; it's a powerful expression of a community in crisis.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Nebuchadnezzar's forces finally conquer Jerusalem, destroying the city and its sacred Temple. This marks the end of the kingdom of Judah and the beginning of a long exile.
"“Judah mourns, and her gates languish; her people lament on the ground, and the cry of Jerusalem goes up. Her nobles send their servants for water; they come to the cisterns; they find no water; they…" — The phrase "her gates languish" is a powerful metaphor. It doesn't just mean the physical gates are neglected, but that the bustling centers of city life, where people gathered for commerce and justi…
