New International VersionThe ground is cracked because there is no rain in the land; the farmers are dismayed and cover their heads.
New Living TranslationThe ground is parched and cracked for lack of rain. The farmers are deeply troubled; they, too, cover their heads.
English Standard VersionBecause of the ground that is dismayed, since there is no rain on the land, the farmers are ashamed; they cover their heads.
Berean Standard BibleThe ground is cracked because no rain has fallen on the land. The farmers are ashamed; they cover their heads.
King James BibleBecause the ground is chapt, for there was no rain in the earth, the plowmen were ashamed, they covered their heads.
New King James VersionBecause the ground is parched, For there was no rain in the land, The plowmen were ashamed; They covered their heads.
New American Standard BibleBecause the ground is cracked, For there has been no rain on the land. The farmers have been put to shame, They have covered their heads.
NASB 1995“Because the ground is cracked, For there has been no rain on the land; The farmers have been put to shame, They have covered their heads.
NASB 1977“Because the ground is cracked, For there has been no rain on the land; The farmers have been put to shame, They have covered their heads.
Legacy Standard BibleBecause the ground is dismayed, For there has been no rain on the land, The farmers have been put to shame; They have covered their heads.
Amplified Bible“The ground is cracked Because there has been no rain on the land; The farmers are distressed, And they have covered their heads [in shame].
Christian Standard BibleThe ground is cracked since no rain has fallen on the land. The farmers are ashamed; they cover their heads.
Holman Christian Standard BibleThe ground is cracked since no rain has fallen on the land. The farmers are ashamed; they cover their heads.
American Standard VersionBecause of the ground which is cracked, for that no rain hath been in the land, the plowmen are put to shame, they cover their heads.
Contemporary English VersionThere has been no rain, and farmers feel sick as they watch cracks appear in the dry ground.
English Revised VersionBecause of the ground which is chapt, for that no rain hath been in the land, the plowmen are ashamed, they cover their heads.
GOD'S WORD® TranslationThe ground is cracked because there has been no rain in the land. The farmers are disappointed. They cover their heads.
Good News TranslationBecause there is no rain and the ground is dried up, the farmers are sick at heart; they hide their faces.
International Standard VersionThe ground is cracked, because there has been no rain in the land. The farmers are disappointed, and they cover their heads in shame.
NET BibleThey are dismayed because the ground is cracked because there has been no rain in the land. The farmers, too, are dismayed and bury their faces in their hands.
New Heart English BibleBecause of the ground which is cracked, because no rain has been in the land, the plowmen are disappointed, they cover their heads.
Webster's Bible TranslationBecause the ground is chapt, for there was no rain on the earth, the plowmen were ashamed, they covered their heads. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThe ground is cracked because no rain has fallen on the land. The farmers are ashamed; they cover their heads.
World English BibleBecause of the ground which is cracked, because no rain has been in the land, the plowmen are disappointed. They cover their heads. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionBecause the ground has been broken, "" For there has been no rain in the land, "" Farmers have been ashamed, "" They have covered their head.
Young's Literal Translation Because the ground hath been broken, For there hath been no rain in the land, Ashamed have been husbandmen, They have covered their head.
Smith's Literal TranslationFor the land was broken, for there was no rain in the land; the husbandmen were ashamed, they covered their head. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleFor the destruction of the land, because there came no rain upon the earth, the husbandmen were confounded, they covered their heads.
Catholic Public Domain VersionBecause of the devastation of the earth, because rain did not fall upon the earth, the farmers were confounded; they covered their heads.
New American Biblebecause of the ruined soil; Because there is no rain in the land the farmers are confounded, they cover their heads.
New Revised Standard Versionbecause the ground is cracked. Because there has been no rain on the land the farmers are dismayed; they cover their heads. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleBecause of the evil deeds of the land, the ground is parched, no rain has fallen upon it; the farmers are ashamed, they covered their heads.
Peshitta Holy Bible TranslatedBecause of the deeds of the land there was no rain. The farmers were disgraced and they covered their heads OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Because of the ground which is cracked, For there hath been no rain in the land, The plowmen are ashamed, they cover their heads.
Brenton Septuagint TranslationAnd the labours of the land failed, because there was no rain: the husbandmen were ashamed, they covered their heads.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context Drought, Famine, Sword, Pestilence… 3The nobles send their servants for water; they go to the cisterns, but find no water; their jars return empty. They are ashamed and humiliated; they cover their heads. 4The groundis crackedbecausenorainhas fallen on the land.The farmersare ashamed;they covertheir heads.5Even the doe in the field deserts her newborn fawn because there is no grass.…
Cross References Joel 1:10-12The field is ruined; the land mourns. For the grain is destroyed, the new wine is dried up, and the oil fails. / Be dismayed, O farmers, wail, O vinedressers, over the wheat and barley, because the harvest of the field has perished. / The grapevine is dried up, and the fig tree is withered; the pomegranate, palm, and apple—all the trees of the orchard—are withered. Surely the joy of mankind has dried up.
Amos 4:7-8“I also withheld the rain from you when the harvest was three months away. I sent rain on one city but withheld it from another. One field received rain; another without rain withered. / People staggered from city to city for water to drink, but they were not satisfied; yet you did not return to Me,” declares the LORD.
Isaiah 5:6I will make it a wasteland, neither pruned nor cultivated, and thorns and briers will grow up. I will command the clouds that rain shall not fall on it.”
Deuteronomy 28:23-24The sky over your head will be bronze, and the earth beneath you iron. / The LORD will turn the rain of your land into dust and powder; it will descend on you from the sky until you are destroyed.
1 Kings 17:1Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was among the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there will be neither dew nor rain in these years except at my word!”
Haggai 1:10-11Therefore, on account of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth has withheld its crops. / I have summoned a drought on the fields and on the mountains, on the grain, new wine, and oil, and on whatever the ground yields, on man and beast, and on all the labor of your hands.”
Leviticus 26:19-20I will break down your stubborn pride and make your sky like iron and your land like bronze, / and your strength will be spent in vain. For your land will not yield its produce, and the trees of the land will not bear their fruit.
2 Chronicles 7:13If I close the sky so there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send a plague among My people,
Ezekiel 14:13“Son of man, if a land sins against Me by acting unfaithfully, and I stretch out My hand against it to cut off its supply of food, to send famine upon it, and to cut off from it both man and beast,
Zechariah 8:10-12For before those days neither man nor beast received wages, nor was there safety from the enemy for anyone who came or went, for I had turned every man against his neighbor. / But now I will not treat the remnant of this people as I did in the past,” declares the LORD of Hosts. / “For the seed will be prosperous, the vine will yield its fruit, the ground will yield its produce, and the skies will give their dew. To the remnant of this people I will give all these things as an inheritance.
Matthew 5:45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
James 5:17-18Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. / Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth yielded its crops.
Revelation 11:6These witnesses have power to shut the sky so that no rain will fall during the days of their prophecy, and power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they wish.
Luke 4:25But I tell you truthfully that there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and great famine swept over all the land.
Acts 14:17Yet He has not left Himself without testimony to His goodness: He gives you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness.”
Treasury of Scripture Because the ground is beat down, for there was no rain in the earth, the plowmen were ashamed, they covered their heads. the ground. Leviticus 26:19,20 And I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass: … Deuteronomy 28:23,24 And thy heaven thatis over thy head shall be brass, and the earth thatis under theeshall be iron… Deuteronomy 29:23And that the whole land thereofis brimstone, and salt,and burning,that it is not sown, nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein, like the overthrow of Sodom, and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim, which the LORD overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath: the plowmen. Joel 1:11,17 Be ye ashamed, O ye husbandmen; howl, O ye vinedressers, for the wheat and for the barley; because the harvest of the field is perished… Jump to Previous AshamedCoverCoveredCoveringCrackedDisappointedDismayedEarthFarmersFearGroundHeadHeadsHusbandmenPlowmenRainShameShamedWorkJump to Next AshamedCoverCoveredCoveringCrackedDisappointedDismayedEarthFarmersFearGroundHeadHeadsHusbandmenPlowmenRainShameShamedWorkJeremiah 14 1.The grievous famine,7.causes Jeremiah to pray.10.The Lord will not be entreated for the people.13.false prophets are no excuse for them.17.Jeremiah is moved to complain for them.The ground is crackedThis phrase highlights the severe drought conditions affecting the land. In the ancient Near East, agriculture was heavily dependent on seasonal rains. Cracked ground signifies extreme dryness and a lack of moisture necessary for crops to grow. This imagery is often used in the Bible to symbolize spiritual barrenness and judgment from God (e.g., Isaiah 24:4). because no rain has fallen on the land. Rain was seen as a blessing from God, essential for survival and prosperity. The absence of rain indicates divine displeasure and serves as a form of judgment. InDeuteronomy 28:23-24, lack of rain is listed as a curse for disobedience. This drought can be seen as a fulfillment of such warnings, emphasizing the covenant relationship between God and His people. The farmers are ashamed; Farmers, who rely on the land for their livelihood, experience shame due to their inability to produce crops. In an agrarian society, failure to provide for one's family and community was a source of deep embarrassment. This shame also reflects a spiritual dimension, as the people recognize their dependence on God for sustenance and the consequences of their collective sin. they cover their heads. Covering one's head is a traditional expression of mourning and despair in ancient cultures, including Israel. This act signifies deep sorrow and repentance. In2 Samuel 15:30, David covers his head as he flees from Absalom, indicating grief and humility. Here, it underscores the farmers' acknowledgment of their helplessness and the need for divine intervention. Persons / Places / Events 1. JeremiahA prophet called by God to deliver messages of warning and hope to the people of Judah. His ministry was marked by deep personal suffering and a profound sense of duty to God's word. 2. JudahThe southern kingdom of Israel, which was facing severe drought and impending judgment due to its persistent idolatry and disobedience to God. 3. The FarmersRepresenting the people of Judah, they are depicted as being in a state of shame and despair due to the drought, which symbolizes the spiritual barrenness of the nation. 4. The DroughtA physical manifestation of God's judgment on Judah for their sins, serving as a call to repentance and a return to faithfulness. 5. The LandThe physical territory of Judah, which is suffering due to the lack of rain, symbolizing the spiritual desolation of the people. Teaching Points Spiritual Drought and RepentanceJust as physical drought leads to cracked ground, spiritual drought results from a lack of connection with God. Believers are called to examine their lives for areas of spiritual dryness and seek God's forgiveness and renewal. Shame and HumilityThe farmers' shame reflects the appropriate response to sin. True repentance involves acknowledging our failures and humbling ourselves before God. Dependence on GodThe drought reminds us of our dependence on God for both physical and spiritual sustenance. In times of need, we must turn to Him as our ultimate provider. The Consequences of DisobedienceThe drought serves as a tangible reminder of the consequences of turning away from God's commands. It encourages believers to remain faithful and obedient to His word. Hope in RestorationWhile the drought signifies judgment, it also points to the hope of restoration. God desires to heal and restore His people when they turn back to Him. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1.What is the meaning of Jeremiah 14:4?
2.How does Jeremiah 14:4 illustrate the consequences of turning away from God?
3.What can we learn about God's judgment from Jeremiah 14:4's drought imagery?
4.How does Jeremiah 14:4 connect with other biblical warnings about disobedience?
5.In what ways can we apply Jeremiah 14:4 to modern spiritual droughts?
6.How should believers respond to God's discipline as seen in Jeremiah 14:4?
7.What historical events might Jeremiah 14:4 be referencing regarding drought and famine in ancient Judah?
8.How does Jeremiah 14:4 reflect God's judgment and mercy in the Old Testament?
9.What theological implications does the drought in Jeremiah 14:4 have on understanding divine punishment?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Jeremiah 14?
11.What do 'Latter Rain' and 'Former Rain' mean?
12.Does Jeremiah 12:4's description of a mourning land and withered vegetation align with any verifiable historical or archaeological evidence?
13.Jeremiah 14:1-6: Does any historical or archeological evidence confirm or challenge the account of a severe drought at that time?
14.Could the drought and crop failures (Haggai 1:9-11) be purely natural occurrences rather than direct punishment from God?What Does Jeremiah 14:4 Mean The ground is cracked• Visual evidence of severe drought: fissured soil crying out that something is terribly wrong (Jeremiah 14:2). • A literal picture of the judgment God warned about inDeuteronomy 28:23-24—“the sky over your head shall be bronze, and the earth beneath you iron.” • Similar scenes appear when Elijah prayed for no rain (1 Kings 17:7) and when the Lord withheld showers inAmos 4:7, underscoring that God controls the weather to awaken His people. Because no rain has fallen on the land• The drought is not random; it fulfills covenant warnings that turning from the Lord brings withheld rain (Deuteronomy 11:16-17;1 Kings 8:35). • By stopping what sustains life, God lovingly disciplines, calling Judah to repent before worse calamity (Jeremiah 5:24-25;Hosea 6:1-3). • The phrase reminds us that every raindrop is mercy from God, and rebellion can interrupt that mercy (Psalm 65:9-10). The farmers are ashamed• In an agrarian society, farmers expect fruit from their toil; failure brings public humiliation (Jeremiah 12:13). • Joel uses the same language: “Be ashamed, O farmers… because the harvest of the field has perished” (Joel 1:11). • Their shame exposes how sin’s ripple effects wound everyday people, not just kings and priests. They cover their heads• Covering the head was a common sign of mourning and disgrace (2 Samuel 15:30;Esther 6:12). • Earlier in this same chapter the water-drawers “covered their heads” when the wells were empty (Jeremiah 14:3), showing communal grief. • The gesture admits helplessness; only God can lift the veil of sorrow (Isaiah 61:3). summaryJeremiah 14:4 paints a literal scene of drought-cracked earth, empty skies, and humiliated farmers. Each detail fulfills covenant warnings that disobedience brings withheld rain. The cracked ground testifies to God’s righteous rule over creation; the farmers’ shame shows sin’s personal cost. Yet even this judgment is a mercy-call: when the people turn back, the God who withholds rain is eager to send showers of blessing (Zechariah 10:1;James 5:18). (4) The ground is chapt.--The word is so vivid as describing the long fissures of the soil in a time of drought that one admits with reluctance that no such meaning is found in the Hebrew word, which simply means is struck with terror.The translators apparently followed Luther, who gives lechzet--"languishes for thirst," "gapes open with exhaustion," and so applied to the earth, "is cracked or chapt." As the "gates" inJeremiah 14:2 stood for the people of the city, so the "ground" stands here as in visible sympathy with the tillers of the soil, the "plowmen" of the next clause. They covered their heads.--There is a singular, almost awful, pathos in the iteration of this description. Cities and country alike are plunged into the utter blackness of despair. Verse 4. - The ground is chapt. Perhaps: but it is more obvious to render, is dismayed, according to the usual meaning of the word. Words which properly belong to human beings are often, by a "poetic fallacy," applied to inanimate objects (as in Ver. 2). In the earth; rather, in the land.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew The groundהָאֲדָמָה֙(hā·’ă·ḏā·māh)Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 127:Ground, landis crackedחַ֔תָּה(ḥat·tāh)Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular Strong's 2865:To prostrate, to break down, either, by violence, by confusion and fearbecauseכִּ֛י(kî)Conjunction Strong's 3588:A relative conjunctionnoלֹא־(lō-)Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808:Not, norainגֶ֖שֶׁם(ḡe·šem)Noun - masculine singular Strong's 1653:Rain, showerhas fallen on the land.בָּאָ֑רֶץ(bā·’ā·reṣ)Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 776:Earth, landThe farmersאִכָּרִ֖ים(’ik·kā·rîm)Noun - masculine plural Strong's 406:A plowman, husbandmanare ashamed;בֹּ֥שׁוּ(bō·šū)Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 954:To pale, to be ashamed, to be disappointed, delayedthey coverחָפ֥וּ(ḥā·p̄ū)Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 2645:To cover, to veil, to encase, protecttheir heads.רֹאשָֽׁם׃(rō·šām)Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural Strong's 7218:The head
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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 14:4 Because of the ground which is cracked (Jer.) |