Jeremiah 13:26
Therefore will I discover thy skirts upon thy face, that thy shame may appear.
Original Language Analysis
וְגַם
H1571
וְגַם
Strong's:
H1571
Word #:
1 of 8
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
חָשַׂ֥פְתִּי
Therefore will I discover
H2834
חָשַׂ֥פְתִּי
Therefore will I discover
Strong's:
H2834
Word #:
3 of 8
to strip off, i.e., generally to make naked (for exertion or in disgrace), to drain away or bail up (a liquid)
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
5 of 8
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
פָּנָ֑יִךְ
upon thy face
H6440
פָּנָ֑יִךְ
upon thy face
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
6 of 8
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
Cross References
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.Ezekiel 23:29And they shall deal with thee hatefully, and shall take away all thy labour, and shall leave thee naked and bare: and the nakedness of thy whoredoms shall be discovered, both thy lewdness and thy whoredoms.Ezekiel 16:37Behold, therefore I will gather all thy lovers, with whom thou hast taken pleasure, and all them that thou hast loved, with all them that thou hast hated; I will even gather them round about against thee, and will discover thy nakedness unto them, that they may see all thy nakedness.
Historical Context
Prophetic literature frequently uses sexual exposure imagery for judgment (Isaiah 47:2-3, Ezekiel 16:37-39, 23:10, 26-29, Nahum 3:5). The metaphor connects spiritual 'adultery' (idolatry) with literal sexual shame (conquest's degradation). Women's sexual violation during conquest was tragically common; the prophecy warns that spiritual unfaithfulness produces such physical consequences.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the exposure imagery connect spiritual adultery (idolatry) with physical consequences (captivity's shame)?
- What does public humiliation reveal about sin's ultimate exposure?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
This verse announces shameful exposure: 'Therefore will I discover thy skirts upon thy face, that thy shame may appear.' 'Discover thy skirts' (chasaphti shulayikh) means to expose what should be covered—lifting garments over the face to expose genitals. 'That thy shame may appear' (nir'ah qeloneikh) makes humiliation public. This was how captors treated conquered women—stripping and humiliating. The language of sexual exposure applied to personified Jerusalem/Judah represents ultimate public disgrace. Their spiritual adultery (idolatry) produces physical humiliation (captivity's shame).