Jeremiah 14:20We acknowledge, Yahweh, our wickedness, and the iniquity of our fathers; for we have sinned against you.
The setting
Jerusalem, ~605 BC. Severe drought devastates Judah. Jeremiah leads the people in desperate prayer as crops fail and cisterns run dry. Modern-day Jerusalem, Israel.
The emotion here: crushed by national guilt, speaking for a dying people
The original word
avon (עָוֹן) — twisted guilt that warps generations, not just individual sin
Why it matters
This drought was so severe that nobles sent servants to find water but returned with empty vessels
Read with care
What most readers miss in Jeremiah 14:20
This is a CORPORATE confession - Jeremiah speaks for the entire nation, not just himself
Common misconceptionPeople think this is about personal sin, but Jeremiah is confessing on behalf of the entire nation - he's interceding for people who won't repent themselves.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Jeremiah 14:20
Bible Genome reading
Jeremiah 14:20 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Jeremiah 14:20 comes from the book of Jeremiah, written during the Divided Kingdom period. These words are attributed to Jeremiah. The dominant emotion in this verse is grieving, with a comfort power of 50% and a tone that is reverent. It belongs to the prayer genre of biblical literature. Key themes include confession, repentance, humility. Notable phrases: We acknowledge our wickedness; we have sinned against you. This verse is a prayer.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same grieving
“By the sweat of your face will you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For you are dust, and to dust you…”
— Genesis 3:19
“Jesus wept.”
— John 11:35
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?”
— Psalms 22:1
“They divide my garments among them. They cast lots for my clothing.”
— Psalms 22:18
“for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;”
— Romans 3:23
Your reflection
What does Jeremiah 14:20 mean to you, today?
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