And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword; and they shall have none to bury them, them, their wives, nor their sons, nor their daughters: for I will pour their wickedness upon them.
JEREMIAH 14:16KJVWhat does Jeremiah 14:16 mean?
Jeremiah 14:16 says that the people who listen to false prophets will suffer terribly in Jerusalem, dying in the streets from famine and war, with no one left to bury them or their families, because God will let their own wickedness fall back on them. This verse shows the serious consequences for both the false prophets and those who follow them.
Jeremiah is speaking to the people of Judah during a time of crisis, warning them that trusting in false messages instead of God’s truth will lead to disaster. The verse paints a vivid picture of the coming judgment: not only will there be physical suffering from famine (lack of food) and the sword (violence or war), but there will also be a breakdown of basic human dignity, as no one will be left to bury the dead. The final line makes it clear that this is a direct result of their own wrongdoing.
The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 14:16
- The word for "people" (עָם, ʿam, H5971) refers to the general population, not just leaders or prophets, making it clear that ordinary people are included in this warning.
- "Prophesy" (נָבָא, navaʾ, H5012) here refers to the act of delivering a message supposedly from God, but in this context, it is false prophecy that leads people astray.
- "Pour" (שָׁפַךְ, shafakh, H8210) is a strong word for spilling or dumping out, emphasizing that the consequences of wickedness will be overwhelming and inescapable.
- "Wickedness" (רַע, raʿ, H7451) means evil or wrongdoing, highlighting that the suffering described is not random but directly tied to the people's own actions.
Why Jeremiah 14:16 matters
- This verse clarifies that following false prophets is not a harmless mistake; it brings real and severe consequences for individuals and families.
- The emphasis on the lack of burial underscores the total devastation and shame that will come upon Jerusalem, which would have been especially shocking in ancient Israelite culture.
- Jeremiah 14:16 connects to the wider passage by showing that God’s judgment is not just against the leaders or prophets, but also against the people who choose to believe lies instead of seeking the truth.