Jeremiah 14:17

You are to speak this word to them: ‘My eyes overflow with tears; day and night they do not cease, for the virgin daughter of my people has been shattered by a crushing blow, a severely grievous wound.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — God commands Jeremiah to deliver this message to the people during a period of famine, sword, and widespread false prophecy. The declaration occurs as divine judgment is actively being poured out for their rebellion.

The words — The Hebrew תֵּרַדְנָה (teRadnah) literally means “let them run down,” paired with דִמְעָה (dim'ah) for “tears,” emphasizing the relentless downward flow of weeping.

The thread — This motif of unceasing weeping recurs in Jeremiah 9:1, where the prophet wishes his eyes were a fountain to weep day and night over the slain, and in Jeremiah 13:17, where God promises His eyes will overflow with tears.

Why it lands — The text states that continuous weeping results from the crushing of the virgin daughter of God's people, demanding the reader confront the tangible cost of national sin without softening the reality of divine judgment.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

King James Version

Therefore thou shalt say this word unto them; Let mine eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease: for the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous blow.

Cross-references

Jeremiah 8:21 For the brokenness of the daughter of my people I am crushed. I mourn; horror has gripped me.
Jeremiah 9:1 Oh, that my head were a spring of water, and my eyes a fountain of tears! I would weep day and night over the slain daughter of my people.
Jeremiah 13:17 But if you do not listen, I will weep in secret because of your pride. My eyes will overflow with tears, because the LORD’s flock has been taken captive.
Lamentations 1:15 The Lord has rejected all the mighty men in my midst; He has summoned an army against me to crush my young warriors. Like grapes in a winepress, the Lord has trampled the Virgin Daughter of Judah.
Lamentations 2:13 What can I say for you? To what can I compare you, O Daughter of Jerusalem? To what can I liken you, that I may console you, O Virgin Daughter of Zion? For your wound is as deep as the sea. Who can ever heal you?
Micah 6:13 Therefore I am striking you severely, to ruin you because of your sins.
Psalms 39:10 Remove Your scourge from me; I am perishing by the force of Your hand.
Psalms 119:136 My eyes shed streams of tears because Your law is not obeyed.
Isaiah 37:22 this is the word that the LORD has spoken against him: ‘The Virgin Daughter of Zion despises you and mocks you; the Daughter of Jerusalem shakes her head behind you.
Jeremiah 10:19 Woe to me because of my brokenness; my wound is grievous! But I said, “This is truly my sickness, and I must bear it.”