Jeremiah 14:3

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Jeremiah 14:3-6

Jeremiah 14:3-6. And their nobles, &c. This scarcity of water afflicted not poor persons only, who had not such means of supplying their necessities as the rich; but the greatest among them, who sent their little ones, (or inferiors, as צעיריהם , seems here rather to signify,) to the places made to receive and retain water; who, finding none, returned with their vessels empty, like persons ashamed, and troubled upon seeing their expectations frustrated. Jerusalem, it must be... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 14:1-22

Drought, disease and war (14:1-15:9)A severe drought had hit Judah. People in all walks of life, from nobles to farmers, were affected by it, and they covered their heads as a sign of their distress. They had difficulty in getting enough water to keep themselves alive, and their animals were beginning to suffer from disease. Some had already died because of the lack of food (14:1-6).Pleading on behalf of the people, Jeremiah confesses the nation’s sins. He asks God to cease acting as if he were... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Jeremiah 14:3

to the waters: i.e. to fetch water. and. Some codices, with two early printed editions, Aramaean, Septuagint, and Syriac, read this "and" in the text. covered their heads. The symbol of mourning (2 Samuel 15:30 ; 2 Samuel 19:4 .Esther 6:12; Esther 6:12 ). read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Jeremiah 14:3

Jeremiah 14:3. Little ones to the waters, &c.— Their younger ones for water. Jeremiah 14:6. The wild asses, &c.] The wild asses stood upon the cliffs. These animals are said to stand on the high places or cliffs, because in that situation the current of air is stronger and cooler than in lower places: and for the same reason it is that they are said to snuff up the air like dragons, because they are reputed to delight in cool places. The LXX. omit the words like dragons. AElian tells... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Jeremiah 14:3

3. little ones—rather, "their inferiors," that is, domestics. pits—cisterns for collecting rain water, often met with in the East where there are no springs. covered . . . heads— (2 Samuel 15:30). A sign of humiliation and mourning. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Jeremiah 14:1-16

A lament during drought 14:1-16 read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Jeremiah 14:3

The servants who had gone to draw water returned to their masters empty-handed. The cisterns, which collected rainwater in the cities, were dry. Even the wealthy nobles could find no water, and their servants covered their heads as though to protect themselves from heaven-sent calamity."Covering the head is a token of deep grief turned inwards upon itself; cf. 2 Sam. xv. 30; xix. 5." [Note: Keil, 1:245.] read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 14:1-21

Jeremiah’s Eighth Prophecy (Reign of Jehoiakim?). The Impending Drought and other WoesDialogue between the prophet and God. He intercedes; but in vain, for the nation persists in sin. In this section we probably see the state of matters in the early part of Jehoiakim’s reign. There is no historical allusion to the drought which formed the occasion of the prophecy. read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 14:1-22

1-6. Description of the drought.2. The gates thereof languish] Figurative of the people who collect there. They are black unto] RV ’They sit in black (mourning) upon.’3. Covered their heads] as a sign of grief or confusion: cp. David (2 Samuel 19:4) and Haman (Esther 6:12). 6. They snuffed up the wind] RV ’They pant for air.’ Dragons] RV ’jackals.’7-22. Jeremiah’s pleadings and God’s replies.7. Do thou it] RV ’work thou.’8. As a stranger, etc.] one who has no interest in the people. Turneth... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Jeremiah 14:3

(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 (1 Kings 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,... read more

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