Thus saith the LORD unto this people, Thus have they loved to wander, they have not refrained their feet, therefore the LORD doth not accept them; he will now remember their iniquity, and visit their sins.
JEREMIAH 14:10KJVWhat does Jeremiah 14:10 mean?
Jeremiah 14:10 says that the LORD is speaking to the people of Judah, declaring that because they have chosen to wander away from Him and not restrain themselves from wrongdoing, He will no longer accept them but will instead remember their sins and hold them accountable. The verse explains that their persistent unfaithfulness has led to God’s rejection and coming judgment.
In this verse, God is addressing the nation through the prophet Jeremiah during a time of crisis, likely a drought or disaster. The people are described as loving to "wander," meaning they keep turning away from God’s ways. The LORD’s response is not just disappointment but a decision to act—He will now remember (take account of) their iniquity and "visit" (bring consequences for) their sins, showing that their actions have reached a point where God will no longer overlook them.
The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 14:10
- "Wander" (נָעָה, na‘ah): This word carries the sense of roaming or straying, often used for sheep that leave the safety of the flock. Here, it paints a picture of the people deliberately leaving God’s path.
- "Refrained" (חָשַׁךְ, chashakh): This word means to hold back or restrain. The verse says the people "have not refrained their feet," emphasizing their unwillingness to stop themselves from going astray.
- "Remember" (זָכַר, zakhar): In Hebrew thought, for God to "remember" iniquity means to call it to mind for the purpose of judgment, not just recollection. It signals a shift from patience to action.
- "Visit" (פָּקַד, paqad): This word often means to attend to or punish. Here, it means God will bring consequences for their sins, not just notice them.
Why Jeremiah 14:10 matters
- This verse clarifies that God’s patience has limits; persistent rebellion leads to a point where God will no longer overlook wrongdoing.
- The language of "wandering" and "not refraining their feet" highlights that the people’s unfaithfulness is a matter of ongoing choice, not a one-time mistake.
- Jeremiah 14:10 sets the stage for the rest of the chapter, explaining why God will not respond to the people’s prayers for relief during their crisis—because their hearts have not changed.