Jeremiah 13:22
And if thou say in thine heart, Wherefore come these things upon me? For the greatness of thine iniquity are thy skirts discovered, and thy heels made bare.
Original Language Analysis
וְכִ֤י
H3588
וְכִ֤י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
1 of 12
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
מַדּ֖וּעַ
H4069
מַדּ֖וּעַ
Strong's:
H4069
Word #:
4 of 12
what (is) known?; i.e., (by implication) (adverbially) why?
קְרָאֻ֣נִי
Wherefore come
H7122
קְרָאֻ֣נִי
Wherefore come
Strong's:
H7122
Word #:
5 of 12
to encounter, whether accidentally or in a hostile manner
בְּרֹ֧ב
these things upon me For the greatness
H7230
בְּרֹ֧ב
these things upon me For the greatness
Strong's:
H7230
Word #:
7 of 12
abundance (in any respect)
נִגְל֥וּ
discovered
H1540
נִגְל֥וּ
discovered
Strong's:
H1540
Word #:
9 of 12
to denude (especially in a disgraceful sense); by implication, to exile (captives being usually stripped); figuratively, to reveal
Cross References
Nahum 3:5Behold, I am against thee, saith the LORD of hosts; and I will discover thy skirts upon thy face, and I will shew the nations thy nakedness, and the kingdoms thy shame.Jeremiah 5:19And it shall come to pass, when ye shall say, Wherefore doeth the LORD our God all these things unto us? then shalt thou answer them, Like as ye have forsaken me, and served strange gods in your land, so shall ye serve strangers in a land that is not your's.Jeremiah 13:26Therefore will I discover thy skirts upon thy face, that thy shame may appear.Deuteronomy 7:17If thou shalt say in thine heart, These nations are more than I; how can I dispossess them?Hosea 2:10And now will I discover her lewdness in the sight of her lovers, and none shall deliver her out of mine hand.Lamentations 1:8Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore she is removed: all that honoured her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness: yea, she sigheth, and turneth backward.Isaiah 3:17Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will discover their secret parts.
Historical Context
Conquered peoples were often stripped, women raped, prisoners led naked—ultimate public humiliation. This fate awaited Jerusalem's inhabitants. The theological explanation is straightforward: covenant violation produces covenant curse. The question 'why' has a clear answer: sin. This interpretive framework would help exiles understand their suffering as deserved judgment rather than divine abandonment.
Questions for Reflection
- Why do people ask 'why' about suffering while ignoring the 'why' of their sin?
- How does understanding suffering as consequence of sin provide meaning during judgment?
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Analysis & Commentary
This verse addresses internal response: 'And if thou say in thine heart, Wherefore come these things upon me?' The internal question represents confused self-justification—why is this happening to me? 'For the greatness of thine iniquity are thy skirts discovered, and thy heels made bare.' The Hebrew imagery is of shameful exposure—skirts lifted, heels exposed. This represents the shame of captivity (prisoners stripped, women violated) resulting from 'greatness of iniquity' (rob awonek). The answer to 'why' is sin—not mysterious fate but moral cause. Shame corresponds to sin; suffering matches iniquity.