Lamentations 2:14 Meaning and Explanation
“Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee: and they have not discovered thine iniquity, to turn away thy captivity; but have seen for thee false burdens and causes of banishment.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The false prophets gave empty visions and never exposed the people's sin, so they failed to turn away the coming captivity.
What Does Lamentations 2:14 Mean?
The poem turns to a hard accounting of failed leadership. The prophets who claimed to speak for God 'have seen vain and foolish things,' comforting lies in place of the truth. Their gravest failure was what they did not do: 'they have not discovered thine iniquity.' They never exposed the sin that was destroying the people.
Had they done so, they might have 'turned away thy captivity,' calling the nation to repentance while there was still time. Instead they preached false comfort, 'false burdens,' soothing words that only sped the ruin. The verse is a sober warning about teachers who tell people what they wish to hear. True love sometimes names the sickness; flattering silence let this people walk unwarned into banishment.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lamentations 2:14
What does Lamentations 2:14 mean?
The false prophets gave empty visions and never exposed the people's sin, so they failed to turn away the coming captivity.