And if thou say in thine heart, Wherefore come these things upon me? For the greatness of thine iniquity are thy skirts discovered, and thy heels made bare.
JEREMIAH 13:22KJVWhat does Jeremiah 13:22 mean?
Jeremiah 13:22 describes God’s warning to Jerusalem that the people’s suffering and shame are the result of their own wrongdoing. The verse pictures their punishment as public exposure, saying their “skirts discovered” and “heels made bare” happen because of the greatness of their iniquity.
The prophet Jeremiah is speaking God’s message to the people of Judah, who are facing disaster because they have turned away from God. When they wonder why these troubles have come upon them, Jeremiah answers that their sins are the cause, using the image of public humiliation to show how serious their situation is.
The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 13:22
- “Iniquity” (עָוֹן, ʿavon): This word means guilt or moral wrongdoing, not just a mistake. The verse stresses that the people’s own choices have brought about their shame.
- “Skirts” (שׁוּלָיִם, shulayim) and “discovered” (גָּלָה, galah): These words together describe being exposed or uncovered, a symbol of deep disgrace in ancient times. The image is meant to be shocking, highlighting how complete their shame is.
- “Heels” (עָקֵב, akev) and “bare” (חָפַשׂ, chafas): The phrase about bare heels suggests being forced to walk barefoot, another sign of humiliation and defeat, often associated with captives or slaves.
Why Jeremiah 13:22 matters
- Jeremiah 13:22 makes it clear that the suffering of the people is not random or unfair, but directly connected to their own actions and choices.
- The verse uses strong, visual language to communicate the seriousness of turning away from God, making the consequences vivid and memorable.
- This verse fits into Jeremiah’s larger message, where he repeatedly calls the people to recognize the real reasons behind their troubles and to take responsibility for their actions.