Read & explore together
The People Respond
Jeremiah 8:14–17 speaks in urgent words about sin, fear, and coming judgement. The passage moves from the people’s response, to disappointed hopes, to the sound of an enemy, and finally to Yahweh’s own warning.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
In these verses, the speaker describes people gathering in fortified cities and becoming silent because they recognise that they have sinned against Yahweh. They hoped for peace and healing, but instead hear of an invading force and a further warning of biting serpents from Yahweh.
Jeremiah 8:14–17Main takeaway
This passage teaches that false hopes cannot remove the consequences of sin when Yahweh announces judgement.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A frightened gatheringThe passage begins with urgent questions and commands: “Why do we sit still?” and “Assemble yourselves!”
Explanation
The passage begins with urgent questions and commands: “Why do we sit still?” and “Assemble yourselves!” The people want to enter fortified cities and be silent there. Their silence is linked to Yahweh’s judgement, and they admit the reason plainly: “we have sinned against Yahweh.” The “poisoned water” expresses bitter consequences, not relief.
02Hope without goodNext comes a short, painful contrast. The people looked for “peace” and “a time of healing”, but what arrived was “no good” and “dismay”.
Explanation
Next comes a short, painful contrast. The people looked for “peace” and “a time of healing”, but what arrived was “no good” and “dismay”. The verse does not describe recovery. It shows disappointed expectation. What they wanted could not be found in the situation described here.
03The enemy is heardJeremiah 8:16 turns to the sound of approaching horses from Dan. Their snorting and neighing make “the whole land tremble”.
Explanation
Jeremiah 8:16 turns to the sound of approaching horses from Dan. Their snorting and neighing make “the whole land tremble”. The verse says they “have come” and “have devoured the land and all that is in it, the city and those who dwell therein”. The emphasis is widespread threat and devastation.
04An unavoidable warningThe final verse gives Yahweh’s own declaration: “I will send serpents, adders among you, which will not be charmed”.
Explanation
The final verse gives Yahweh’s own declaration: “I will send serpents, adders among you, which will not be charmed”. This image adds to the sense of unavoidable danger. The passage ends not with escape but with Yahweh’s stated judgement, and the bite of these creatures underlines that the danger cannot simply be controlled away.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01Why do the people say they must be silent in the fortified cities?
Look for the reason they themselves give, and notice that it is connected with Yahweh and their sin, not only with fear of enemies.
02What contrast appears between what the people expected and what they actually experienced?
Compare the words “peace” and “healing” with the words that describe the real outcome.
03How do verses 16 and 17 build the sense that judgement cannot be avoided?
Notice both the invading horses that shake the land and the serpents that “will not be charmed”.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Jeremiah 8:14–17
14“Why do we sit still? Assemble yourselves! Let’s enter into the fortified cities, and let’s be silent there; for Yahweh our God has put us to silence, and given us poisoned water to drink, because we have sinned against Yahweh.
15We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of healing, and behold, dismay!
16The snorting of his horses is heard from Dan. The whole land trembles at the sound of the neighing of his strong ones; for they have come, and have devoured the land and all that is in it, the city and those who dwell therein.”
17“For, behold, I will send serpents, adders among you, which will not be charmed; and they will bite you,” says Yahweh.