Jeremiah 14:1 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 14:1 mean?

Jeremiah 14:1 introduces a message from God that came to the prophet Jeremiah about a time of severe drought. The verse sets the stage for what follows, letting the reader know that the words to come are directly related to this crisis.

In this verse, the speaker is God, and the recipient is Jeremiah, who is tasked with delivering God’s message to the people of Judah. The situation is a “dearth,” an old word for a drought or famine, which was a serious threat in ancient Israel. This opening line signals that the following verses will address the hardships and spiritual lessons connected to this drought.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 14:1

• word (דָּבָר, davar): This Hebrew word means “message” or “word.” Here, it emphasizes that what follows is not Jeremiah’s own thoughts, but a direct communication from God.
• LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH): This is the personal name of God used in the Hebrew Bible, highlighting the authority and seriousness of the message.
• Jeremiah (יִרְמְיָהוּ, Yirmeyahu): Naming Jeremiah makes clear who is receiving God’s message and who will speak to the people.
• dearth (בַּצֹּרֶת, batzoret): This Hebrew word refers specifically to a drought or a lack of rain, not just a general shortage. It points to a natural disaster that would have immediate and severe effects on daily life.

Why Jeremiah 14:1 matters

• Jeremiah 14:1 clarifies that the following words are not Jeremiah’s opinions but a divine message about a real crisis, grounding the prophecy in a specific historical event.
• The use of the word for drought (בַּצֹּרֶת, batzoret) shows that the problem is not just spiritual but also very practical and urgent for the people.
• This introduction helps the reader understand that the rest of the chapter will deal with both the physical suffering caused by the drought and the spiritual issues that God wants to address through Jeremiah.