Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version The nobles send their servants for water; they go to the cisterns but find no water. They return with their jars unfilled; dismayed and despairing, they cover their heads. New Living Translation The nobles send servants to get water, but all the wells are dry. The servants return with empty pitchers, confused and desperate, covering their heads in grief. English Standard Version Her nobles send their servants for water; they come to the cisterns; they find no water; they return with their vessels empty; they are ashamed and confounded and cover their heads. Berean Standard Bible The 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. King James Bible And their nobles have sent their little ones to the waters: they came to the pits, and found no water; they returned with their vessels empty; they were ashamed and confounded, and covered their heads. New King James Version Their nobles have sent their lads for water; They went to the cisterns and found no water. They returned with their vessels empty; They were ashamed and confounded And covered their heads. New American Standard Bible “Their nobles have sent their servants for water; They have come to the cisterns and found no water. They have returned with their containers empty; They have been put to shame and humiliated, And they cover their heads, NASB 1995 “Their nobles have sent their servants for water; They have come to the cisterns and found no water. They have returned with their vessels empty; They have been put to shame and humiliated, And they cover their heads. NASB 1977 “And their nobles have sent their servants for water; They have come to the cisterns and found no water. They have returned with their vessels empty; They have been put to shame and humiliated, And they cover their heads. Legacy Standard Bible Their mighty ones have sent their underlings for water; They have come to the trenches and found no water. They have returned with their vessels empty; They have been put to shame and dishonored, And they cover their heads. Amplified Bible “Their nobles have sent their servants for water; They have come to the cisterns and found no water. They have returned with empty vessels; They have been shamed and humiliated, And they cover their heads. Christian Standard Bible Their nobles send their servants for water. They go to the cisterns; they find no water; their containers return empty. They are ashamed and humiliated; they cover their heads. Holman Christian Standard Bible Their nobles send their servants for water. They go to the cisterns; they find no water; their containers return empty. They are ashamed and humiliated; they cover their heads. American Standard Version And their nobles send their little ones to the waters: they come to the cisterns, and find no water; they return with their vessels empty; they are put to shame and confounded, and cover their heads. Contemporary English Version Rulers send their servants to the storage pits for water. But there's none to be found; they return in despair with their jars still empty. English Revised Version And their nobles send their little ones to the waters: they come to the pits, and find no water; they return with their vessels empty: they are ashamed and confounded, and cover their heads. GOD'S WORD® Translation Important people send their assistants out for water. They go to the cisterns, but they don't find any water. They come back with their containers empty. They cover their heads, because they are ashamed and disgraced. Good News Translation The rich people send their servants for water; they go to the cisterns, but find no water; they come back with their jars empty. Discouraged and confused, they hide their faces. International Standard Version Their nobles send their young people for water. They go to the cisterns, but they find no water. They return with their vessels empty. They're disappointed and dismayed, and they cover their heads in shame. Majority Standard Bible The 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. NET Bible The leading men of the cities send their servants for water. They go to the cisterns, but they do not find any water there. They return with their containers empty. Disappointed and dismayed, they bury their faces in their hands. New Heart English Bible Their nobles send their little ones to the waters: they come to the cisterns, and find no water; they return with their vessels empty; they are disappointed and confounded, and cover their heads. Webster's Bible Translation And their nobles have sent their little ones to the waters: they came to the pits, and found no water; they returned with their vessels empty; they were ashamed and confounded, and covered their heads. World English Bible Their nobles send their little ones to the waters. They come to the cisterns, and find no water. They return with their vessels empty. They are disappointed and confounded, and cover their heads. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd their majestic ones have sent their little ones to the water, "" They have come to ditches, "" They have not found water, "" They have turned back—their vessels empty! They have been ashamed, "" And have blushed and covered their head. Young's Literal Translation And their honourable ones have sent their little ones to the water, They have come unto ditches, They have not found water, They have turned back -- their vessels empty! They have been ashamed, And have blushed and covered their head. Smith's Literal Translation And their great ones sent their small ones to the waters; they came to the wells, they found no water; they turned back their vessels empty; they were ashamed and disgraced, and they covered their head. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThe great ones sent their inferiors to the water: they came to draw, they found no water, they carried back their vessels empty: they were confounded and afflicted, and covered their heads. Catholic Public Domain Version The greater ones have sent their lesser ones to the water. They went to draw water; they did not find water; they carried their vessels back empty. They were confounded and afflicted, and so they covered their heads. New American Bible The nobles send their servants for water, but when they come to the cisterns They find no water and return with empty jars. Confounded, despairing, they cover their heads New Revised Standard Version Her nobles send their servants for water; they come to the cisterns, they find no water, they return with their vessels empty. They are ashamed and dismayed and cover their heads, Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd their nobles have sent their least ones for water; they came to the cistern, and found no water; they returned with their vessels empty; they were ashamed and confounded, and covered their heads. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Their Princes sent their wanting ones for water. They came to the pit and they did not find water. They returned their vessels empty; they were ashamed and they were stricken and they covered their heads OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And their nobles send their lads for water: They come to the pits, and find no water; Their vessels return empty; They are ashamed and confounded, and cover their heads. Brenton Septuagint Translation And her nobles have sent their little ones to the water: they came to the wells, and found no water: and brought back their vessels empty. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Drought, Famine, Sword, Pestilence…2“Judah mourns and her gates languish. Her people wail for the land, and a cry goes up from Jerusalem. 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 ground is cracked because no rain has fallen on the land. The farmers are ashamed; they cover their heads.… Cross References Lamentations 4:4 The nursing infant’s tongue clings in thirst to the roof of his mouth. Little children beg for bread, but no one gives them any. Isaiah 3:1 For behold, the Lord GOD of Hosts is about to remove from Jerusalem and Judah both supply and support: the whole supply of food and water, Amos 4:6-8 “I afflicted all your cities with cleanness of teeth and all your towns with lack of bread, yet you did not return to Me,” declares the LORD. / “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. Joel 1:10-12 The 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. Isaiah 41:17 The poor and needy seek water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. I, the LORD, will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. Ezekiel 4:16-17 Then He told me, “Son of man, I am going to cut off the supply of food in Jerusalem. They will anxiously eat bread rationed by weight, and in despair they will drink water by measure. / So they will lack food and water; they will be appalled at the sight of one another wasting away in their iniquity. Hosea 4:3 Therefore the land mourns, and all who dwell in it will waste away with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air; even the fish of the sea disappear. 2 Kings 6:25 So there was a great famine in Samaria. Indeed, they besieged the city so long that a donkey’s head sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a quarter cab of dove’s dung sold for five shekels of silver. Isaiah 5:13 Therefore My people will go into exile for their lack of understanding; their dignitaries are starving and their masses are parched with thirst. Isaiah 50:2 Why was no one there when I arrived? Why did no one answer when I called? Is My hand too short to redeem you? Or do I lack the strength to deliver you? Behold, My rebuke dries up the sea; I turn the rivers into a desert; the fish rot for lack of water and die of thirst. Revelation 6:5-6 And when the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” Then I looked and saw a black horse, and its rider held in his hand a pair of scales. / And I heard what sounded like a voice from among the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine.” Matthew 24:7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. Luke 21:11 There will be great earthquakes, famines, and pestilences in various places, along with fearful sights and great signs from heaven. Mark 13:8 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, as well as famines. These are the beginning of birth pains. Romans 8:22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until the present time. Treasury of Scripture And their nobles have sent their little ones to the waters: they came to the pits, and found no water; they returned with their vessels empty; they were ashamed and confounded, and covered their heads. their nobles. 1 Kings 18:5,6 pits. Jeremiah 2:13 1 Kings 17:7 2 Kings 18:31 they were. Jeremiah 2:26,27 Jeremiah 20:11 Psalm 40:14 covered. Jeremiah 14:4 2 Samuel 15:30 2 Samuel 19:4 Jump to Previous Ashamed Cisterns Confounded Cover Covered Covering Disappointed Empty Fear Find Found Great Heads Holes Honourable Humiliated Jars Little Nobles Ones Overcome Pits Servants Shame Turned Vessels Water WatersJump to Next Ashamed Cisterns Confounded Cover Covered Covering Disappointed Empty Fear Find Found Great Heads Holes Honourable Humiliated Jars Little Nobles Ones Overcome Pits Servants Shame Turned Vessels Water WatersJeremiah 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 nobles The term "nobles" refers to the leaders or aristocracy of Judah, those who held positions of power and influence. In the Hebrew context, these individuals were expected to provide for the people and ensure the well-being of the nation. Their inability to secure water highlights a failure in leadership and a divine judgment upon the land. Historically, the nobles were often seen as responsible for the spiritual and moral direction of the nation, and their actions had significant consequences for the people. 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 Persons / Places / Events 1. NoblesThe leaders or upper class of Judah, who are experiencing the consequences of a drought. 2. Servants Those sent by the nobles to fetch water, representing the dependency of the people on their leaders. 3. Cisterns Storage systems for water, which are empty due to the drought, symbolizing the lack of resources and divine blessing. 4. Judah The southern kingdom of Israel, facing God's judgment through a severe drought. 5. Jeremiah The prophet delivering God's message, highlighting the spiritual and physical desolation of the people. Teaching Points Spiritual Drought and Physical ConsequencesJust as the physical drought in Judah was a result of spiritual unfaithfulness, our spiritual state can have tangible effects on our lives. We must seek God as our source of living water. Leadership and Responsibility The nobles' inability to provide water highlights the responsibility of leaders to guide their people towards righteousness. Christian leaders today must ensure they are leading with integrity and reliance on God. Shame and Repentance The shame and humiliation of the people serve as a call to repentance. When we face the consequences of our actions, we should turn back to God in humility and seek His forgiveness. Dependence on God The empty cisterns remind us that human efforts are insufficient without God's provision. We must depend on Him for our needs and trust in His timing and ways. Covering of Heads This act of covering their heads symbolizes mourning and repentance. It is a reminder of the importance of acknowledging our sins and seeking God's mercy.(3) Their little ones.--Not their children, but their menial servants. The word is peculiar to Jeremiah, and occurs only here and in Jeremiah 48:4. The vivid picture of the messengers running hither and thither to all wells, and springs, and tanks, reminds us of Ahab's search for wells or springs in the time of the great drought of his reign (1Kings 18:5), of the "two or three cities wandering" to the one city that was yet supplied with water of Amos 4:8. The pits.--The tanks or reservoirs where, if anywhere, water might be looked for. Covered their heads.--The extremest sign of a grief too great to utter itself to others, craving to be alone in its wretchedness (2Samuel 15:30; 2Samuel 19:4). The student will recollect it as occurring also in the account of the painting of Agamemnon at the Sacrifice of Iphigenia, ascribed to Timanthes. . . . Verse 3. - Their nobles - i.e. the upper classes of Judah and Jerusalem - have sent their little ones; rather, their mean ones; i.e. their servants, or perhaps (as Naegelsbach and Payne Smith) simply, "the common people;" it was not a matter concerning the rich alone. To the pits; i.e. to the cisterns. Covered their heads; a sign of the deepest mourning (2 Samuel 15:30; 2 Samuel 19:4; Esther 6:12).Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew The noblesוְאַדִּ֣רֵיהֶ֔ם (wə·’ad·di·rê·hem) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural Strong's 117: Wide, large, powerful send שָׁלְח֥וּ (šā·lə·ḥū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out their servants צְעִירֵיהֶ֖ם (ṣə·‘î·rê·hem) Adjective - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural Strong's 6810: Little, insignificant, young for water; לַמָּ֑יִם (lam·mā·yim) Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen they go בָּ֣אוּ (bā·’ū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go to עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against the cisterns, גֵּבִ֞ים (gê·ḇîm) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 1356: A log, well, cistern but find מָ֣צְאוּ (mā·ṣə·’ū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 4672: To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present no לֹא־ (lō-) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no water מַ֗יִם (ma·yim) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen their jars כְלֵיהֶם֙ (ḵə·lê·hem) Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural Strong's 3627: Something prepared, any apparatus return שָׁ֤בוּ (šā·ḇū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again empty. רֵיקָ֔ם (rê·qām) Adverb Strong's 7387: Emptily, ineffectually, undeservedly They are ashamed בֹּ֥שׁוּ (bō·šū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 954: To pale, to be ashamed, to be disappointed, delayed and humiliated; וְהָכְלְמ֖וּ (wə·hā·ḵə·lə·mū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hofal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural Strong's 3637: To wound, to taunt, insult they cover וְחָפ֥וּ (wə·ḥā·p̄ū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural Strong's 2645: To cover, to veil, to encase, protect their heads. רֹאשָֽׁם׃ (rō·šām) Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural Strong's 7218: The head Links Jeremiah 14:3 NIVJeremiah 14:3 NLT Jeremiah 14:3 ESV Jeremiah 14:3 NASB Jeremiah 14:3 KJV Jeremiah 14:3 BibleApps.com Jeremiah 14:3 Biblia Paralela Jeremiah 14:3 Chinese Bible Jeremiah 14:3 French Bible Jeremiah 14:3 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Jeremiah 14:3 Their nobles send their little ones (Jer.) |