Jeremiah 14:3
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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What's striking here is that even the nobles, the highest in society, are reduced to sending their servants to search for water, only to have them return with empty vessels. This isn't just a general drought; it's a societal collapse where basic needs are unmet, leading to a profound, public shame symbolized by covering their heads.
The prophet Jeremiah is describing a devastating drought that has gripped Judah and Jerusalem, causing widespread despair and emptiness. Even the highest officials are reduced to sending their servants to search desperately for water in cisterns and pits, only to find them bone dry. This failure crushes their hopes, leaving them utterly ashamed and bewildered by the severity of God’s judgment.
When disaster strikes, who is affected most? In times of severe drought, even the highest in society are brought to their knees.
A Universal Calamity
Jeremiah paints a grim picture in verses 2 and 3, describing Judah in deep mourning and distress, with even the city gates appearing desolate. This isn't just a drought affecting the common people; it's a widespread crisis. The text highlights how the 'nobles'—the leaders and the wealthy—are forced to send out their servants, or 'little ones' as some translations put it, to search for water. This shows the severity of the situation: everyone, regardless of status, is desperately seeking this essential resource.
Beyond Natural Causes
The commentators emphasize that this isn't a normal, cyclical dry spell. The prophet uses such extreme imagery to convey that this drought is a sign of God's direct judgment. When even the 'pits' and 'cisterns'—places where water was stored or typically found—are empty, it points to a divine hand withholding the rain. This scarcity is meant to be undeniable evidence of God's displeasure.
Imagine the anticipation: sending someone for vital water, only to have them return with nothing. What does this profound disappointment reveal about their hearts?
Hopes Dashed
The core of this verse's tragedy lies in the return of the servants 'with their vessels empty.' This isn't just a minor inconvenience; it's a stark symbol of dashed hopes and utter failure. The effort, the anticipation, the need—all culminate in emptiness.
A Visible Sign of Shame
The reaction is powerful: 'they are ashamed and confounded and cover their heads.' This physical posture signifies deep humiliation and distress. It's a public acknowledgment of their failure and helplessness. The shame isn't just for the servants who failed to find water, but for the nobles who sent them, and by extension, for the entire nation that looked to earthly resources only to find them gone. Covering the head is an ancient sign of profound grief, confusion, and mourning, indicating a state of complete despair when even the basic necessity of water cannot be found.
Understand the original words
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 prophecy, delivered during a time of severe drought and impending judgment, highlights the utter failure of even the most basic resources, forcing even the elite to search desperately for water. It underscores how sin could bring God's curse not just on individuals but on the very land itself.
Late 8th century BC
Hezekiah's Water Projects
Facing the threat of Assyrian invasion, King Hezekiah undertook significant engineering projects in Jerusalem, including a tunnel to bring water from the Gihon Spring into the city and the construction of reservoirs. These were vital for survival during a siege.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem
Under Sennacherib, the Assyrian army besieged Jerusalem. While the city was not captured, the siege severely impacted its resources and demonstrated the precariousness of its situation.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar's forces captured Jerusalem, and King Jehoiakim was taken captive to Babylon along with many of the city's elite and skilled workers. This marked the beginning of Judah's Babylonian exile.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
After a rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar deported King Jehoiachin and another large group of Jerusalem's leaders and people to Babylon. This further weakened the kingdom and its ability to withstand future crises.
This passage describes King Ahab and his officials searching desperately for water during a severe drought, mirroring the actions of Judah's nobles in Jeremiah 14.
Amos 4:8The prophet Amos describes a similar widespread drought where people wandered from city to city seeking water, highlighting the devastating impact of such scarcity.
Lamentations 2:10In the aftermath of Jerusalem's destruction, the elders sit on the ground in silence, covering their heads, a powerful image of shame and grief that resonates with the reaction in Jeremiah 14:3.
Job 1:20When Job faced immense suffering, he tore his robe and shaved his head, then fell to the ground in worship, a profound display of grief and reverence that parallels the 'covering their heads' as a sign of utter distress.
barnesJeremiah 14:3: "And their nobles have sent their little ones to the waters: they came to the pits, and found no water; they returned with their vessels empty; they were ashamed and confounded, and covered their heads."
Little ones - mean ones, the common people. The word is unique to Jeremiah Jer 48:4. The pits - i. e., tanks for holding water. Covered their heads - The sign of grief.
clarkeJeremiah 14:3: "And their nobles have sent their little ones to the waters: they came to the pits, and found no water; they returned with their vessels empty; they were ashamed and confounded, and covered their heads."
Their nobles have sent their little ones - So general was this calamity, that the servants no longer attended to their lords, but every one was interested alone for himself; and the nobles of the land were obliged to employ their own children to scour the land, to see if any wate…
What's striking here is that even the nobles, the highest in society, are reduced to sending their servants to search for water, only to have them return with empty vessels. This isn't just a general drought; it's a societal collapse where basic needs are unmet, leading to a profound, public shame symbolized by covering their heads.
The prophet Jeremiah is describing a devastating drought that has gripped Judah and Jerusalem, causing widespread despair and emptiness. Even the highest officials are reduced to sending their servants to search desperately for water in cisterns and pits, only to find them bone dry. This failure crushes their hopes, leaving them utterly ashamed and bewildered by the severity of God’s judgment.
The prophet Jeremiah is describing a devastating drought that has gripped Judah and Jerusalem, causing widespread despair and emptiness. Even the highest officials are reduced to sending their servants to search desperately for water in cisterns and pits, only to find them bone dry. This failure crushes their hopes, leaving them utterly ashamed and bewildered by the severity of God’s judgment.
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586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Nebuchadnezzar's final siege resulted in the complete destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple. The remaining population was exiled to Babylon, leaving the land devastated and depopulated.
Jeremiah's prophetic ministry (c. 627-586 BC)— this verse
Prophetic Warnings of Drought and Judgment
Jeremiah delivered God's message of impending judgment, including severe drought and famine, due to the people's persistent sin and idolatry. This verse vividly illustrates the devastating effects of such a drought.
"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." — What's striking here is that even the nobles, the highest in society, are reduced to sending their servants to search for water, only to have them return with empty vessels. This isn't just a gener…
