Jeremiah 14:18 Meaning and Explanation
“If I go forth into the field, then behold the slain with the sword! and if I enter into the city, then behold them that are sick with famine! yea, both the prophet and the priest go about into a land that they know not.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Everywhere—field or city—death from war and starvation meets the eye; even religious leaders are driven into exile and chaos.
The Context of Jeremiah 14:18
Death from warfare and hunger fills the landscape; even leaders of religious life are displaced and lost.
What Does Jeremiah 14:18 Mean?
The horror is inescapable. Whether Jeremiah goes into the countryside or the city, he sees only death. The sword kills in open ground; famine kills in settled places. Death brackets all of life. The detail that 'both the prophet and the priest go about into a land that they know not' suggests exile and the breakdown of all order and authority.
The mention of prophets and priests wandering lost in unfamiliar territory indicates complete societal collapse. Those who should guide are themselves disoriented. Religious authority, which should provide meaning and direction, has itself been displaced and rendered homeless by the judgment.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jeremiah 14:18
What does Jeremiah 14:18 mean?
Everywhere—field or city—death from war and starvation meets the eye; even religious leaders are driven into exile and chaos.
What is the context of Jeremiah 14:18?
Death from warfare and hunger fills the landscape; even leaders of religious life are displaced and lost.