Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink.

JEREMIAH 9:15KJV
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Jeremiah 9:15 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 9:15 mean?

Jeremiah 9:15 describes God declaring that He will punish the people of Israel by giving them "wormwood" to eat and "water of gall" to drink, meaning they will experience intense bitterness and suffering as a consequence of their actions. This verse uses the imagery of bitter food and drink to symbolize the harsh judgment and distress that will come upon them.

In this passage, the prophet Jeremiah is relaying a message from God ("the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel") to the people of Judah, warning them of the consequences of their persistent disobedience and unfaithfulness. The mention of "wormwood" and "gall" draws on substances known for their bitterness and toxicity, emphasizing just how severe and unpleasant the coming punishment will be.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 9:15

  • "wormwood" (לַעֲנָה, la'anah): This word refers to a bitter, poisonous plant, often used in the Hebrew Bible as a symbol for sorrow, calamity, or judgment. Its use here highlights the depth of the suffering God is describing.
  • "gall" (רֹאשׁ, rosh): This term points to a bitter or poisonous substance, possibly a plant or extract, reinforcing the idea of something deeply unpleasant and harmful. The pairing with "wormwood" intensifies the sense of bitterness and distress.
  • "feed" (הֶאֱכִיל, he'ekhíl): The verb here means to cause someone to eat, suggesting that the people will be made to endure this bitterness—they will not be able to avoid it.
  • "drink" (הִשְׁקָה, hishqáh): This verb means to give someone something to drink, again stressing that the people will be forced to experience this suffering directly.

Why Jeremiah 9:15 matters

  • The verse clarifies that the suffering described is not random but a direct result of the people's choices and God's response to their unfaithfulness, making the warning personal and specific.
  • The use of "wormwood" and "gall" connects this verse to other biblical passages where bitterness symbolizes judgment, helping readers see a consistent theme in prophetic warnings.
  • Understanding the concrete meaning of these bitter substances helps modern readers grasp the emotional and physical weight of the punishment being described, rather than seeing it as just poetic language.

Where else these words appear

“wormwood” Hebrew H3939 · used in 8 verses

  • Deuteronomy 29:18 Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood;
  • Jeremiah 23:15 Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets; Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall: for from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land.
  • Lamentations 3:19 Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.

“gall” Hebrew H7219 · used in 12 verses

  • Deuteronomy 29:18 Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood;
  • Job 20:16 He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper's tongue shall slay him.
  • Lamentations 3:5 He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail.

“drink” Hebrew H8248 · used in 72 verses

  • Genesis 2:6 But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.
  • Genesis 40:20 And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants.
  • Psalms 36:8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.