Jeremiah 14:12 Meaning and Explanation
“When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and an oblation, I will not accept them: but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Even the people's religious acts—fasting and sacrifices—will not move God; instead, three forms of destruction await them.
The Context of Jeremiah 14:12
Religious acts cannot avert the judgment; destruction by war, hunger, and plague will come instead.
What Does Jeremiah 14:12 Mean?
The people may resort to religious devotion to appease God's anger. Fasting and sacrifices were understood as ways to seek divine forgiveness. But God declares these will be ineffective. His refusal to hear or accept shows that the relationship has been broken too fundamentally by their persistent rebellion for ritual to repair it.
Instead of mercy, God will execute judgment through three means: sword (warfare), famine (starvation), and pestilence (disease). These represent the complete breakdown of security, survival, and health. The judgment is comprehensive and unavoidable, not because God is cruel but because the people have severed themselves from blessing.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jeremiah 14:12
What does Jeremiah 14:12 mean?
Even the people's religious acts—fasting and sacrifices—will not move God; instead, three forms of destruction await them.
What is the context of Jeremiah 14:12?
Religious acts cannot avert the judgment; destruction by war, hunger, and plague will come instead.