Jeremiah 15:18
New International Version
Why is my pain unending and my wound grievous and incurable? You are to me like a deceptive brook, like a spring that fails.

New Living Translation
Why then does my suffering continue? Why is my wound so incurable? Your help seems as uncertain as a seasonal brook, like a spring that has gone dry.”

English Standard Version
Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Will you be to me like a deceitful brook, like waters that fail?

Berean Standard Bible
Why is my pain unending, and my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? You have indeed become like a mirage to me—water that is not there.

King James Bible
Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuseth to be healed? wilt thou be altogether unto me as a liar, and as waters that fail?

New King James Version
Why is my pain perpetual And my wound incurable, Which refuses to be healed? Will You surely be to me like an unreliable stream, As waters that fail?

New American Standard Bible
Why has my pain been endless And my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Will You indeed be to me like a deceptive stream With water that is unreliable?

NASB 1995
Why has my pain been perpetual And my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Will You indeed be to me like a deceptive stream With water that is unreliable?

NASB 1977
Why has my pain been perpetual And my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Wilt Thou indeed be to me like a deceptive stream With water that is unreliable?

Legacy Standard Bible
Why has my pain been perpetual And my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Will You indeed be to me like a deceptive stream With water that is unreliable?

Amplified Bible
Why has my pain been perpetual And my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Will you indeed be to me like a deceptive brook With water that is unreliable?

Christian Standard Bible
Why has my pain become unending, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? You truly have become like a mirage to me — water that is not reliable.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Why has my pain become unending, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? You truly have become like a mirage to me— water that is not reliable.

American Standard Version
Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuseth to be healed? wilt thou indeed be unto me as a deceitful brook, as waters that fail?

Contemporary English Version
I am badly injured and in constant pain. Are you going to disappoint me, like a stream that goes dry in the heat of summer?

English Revised Version
Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuseth to be healed? wilt thou indeed be unto me as a deceitful brook, as waters that fail?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Why is my pain unending and my wound incurable, refusing to heal? Will you disappoint me like a stream that dries up in summertime?

Good News Translation
Why do I keep on suffering? Why are my wounds incurable? Why won't they heal? Do you intend to disappoint me like a stream that goes dry in the summer?"

International Standard Version
Why is my pain unending and my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? You are like a deceptive brook, whose waters cannot be depended on.

Majority Standard Bible
Why is my pain unending, and my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? You have indeed become like a mirage to me?water that is not there.

NET Bible
Why must I continually suffer such painful anguish? Why must I endure the sting of their insults like an incurable wound? Will you let me down when I need you like a brook one goes to for water, but that cannot be relied on?"

New Heart English Bible
Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuses to be healed? Will you indeed be to me as a deceitful brook, as waters that fail?"

Webster's Bible Translation
Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuseth to be healed? wilt thou be altogether to me as a liar, and as waters that fail?

World English Bible
Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuses to be healed? Will you indeed be to me as a deceitful brook, like waters that fail?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Why has my pain been continuous? And my wound incurable? It has refused to be healed, "" You are surely as a failing stream to me, "" Waters [that are] not steadfast.

Young's Literal Translation
Why hath my pain been perpetual? And my wound incurable? It hath refused to be healed, Thou art surely to me as a failing stream, Waters not stedfast.

Smith's Literal Translation
Wherefore was my pain everlasting and my blow incurable, refusing to be healed? Being, wilt thou be to me as falsehood, the waters were not faithful?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Why is my sorrow become perpetual, and my wound desperate so as to refuse to be healed? it is become to me as the falsehood of deceitful waters that cannot be trusted.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Why has my sorrow become never-ending, and why has my wound become so dire that it refuses to be cured? It has become for me like the deception of untrustworthy waters.”

New American Bible
Why is my pain continuous, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? To me you are like a deceptive brook, waters that cannot be relied on!

New Revised Standard Version
Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Truly, you are to me like a deceitful brook, like waters that fail.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Why is my pain so grievous and my wound so severe that it refuses to be healed? Wilt thou be to me as a mirage that cannot be believed?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Why has my sorrow been strong and my wound serious and is unwilling to be healed, and you have been to me as false waters that are untrustworthy?
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Why is my pain perpetual, And my wound incurable, so that it refuseth to be healed? Wilt Thou indeed be unto me as a deceitful brook, As waters that fail?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Why do they that grieve me prevail against me? my wound is severe; whence shall I be healed? it is indeed become to me as deceitful water, that has no faithfulness.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jeremiah's Woe
17I never sat with the band of revelers, nor did I celebrate with them. Because Your hand was on me, I sat alone, for You have filled me with indignation. 18Why is my pain unending, and my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? You have indeed become like a mirage to me— water that is not there.

Cross References
Job 30:26-31
But when I hoped for good, evil came; when I looked for light, darkness fell. / I am churning within and cannot rest; days of affliction confront me. / I go about blackened, but not by the sun. I stand up in the assembly and cry for help. ...

Psalm 13:1-2
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? / How long must I wrestle in my soul, with sorrow in my heart each day? How long will my enemy dominate me?

Psalm 42:9-11
I say to God my Rock, “Why have You forgotten me? Why must I walk in sorrow because of the enemy’s oppression?” / Like the crushing of my bones, my enemies taunt me, while they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” / Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why the unease within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.

Psalm 77:7-9
“Will the Lord spurn us forever and never show His favor again? / Is His loving devotion gone forever? Has His promise failed for all time? / Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has His anger shut off His compassion?” Selah

Psalm 88:13-18
But to You, O LORD, I cry for help; in the morning my prayer comes before You. / Why, O LORD, do You reject me? Why do You hide Your face from me? / From my youth I was afflicted and near death. I have borne Your terrors; I am in despair. ...

Lamentations 3:17-20
My soul has been deprived of peace; I have forgotten what prosperity is. / So I say, “My strength has perished, along with my hope from the LORD.” / Remember my affliction and wandering, the wormwood and the gall. ...

Isaiah 58:11
The LORD will always guide you; He will satisfy you in a sun-scorched land and strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

Habakkuk 1:2-4
How long, O LORD, must I call for help but You do not hear, or cry out to You, “Violence!” but You do not save? / Why do You make me see iniquity? Why do You tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me. Strife is ongoing, and conflict abounds. / Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.

Job 6:4
For the arrows of the Almighty have pierced me; my spirit drinks in their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me.

Job 7:11-21
Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. / Am I the sea, or the monster of the deep, that You must keep me under guard? / When I think my bed will comfort me and my couch will ease my complaint, ...

Job 10:1-3
“I loathe my own life; I will express my complaint and speak in the bitterness of my soul. / I will say to God: Do not condemn me! Let me know why You prosecute me. / Does it please You to oppress me, to reject the work of Your hands and favor the schemes of the wicked?

Job 19:7-8
Though I cry out, ‘Violence!’ I get no response; though I call for help, there is no justice. / He has blocked my way so I cannot pass; He has veiled my paths with darkness.

Matthew 27:46
About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

2 Corinthians 12:7-9
or because of these surpassingly great revelations. So to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. / Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. / But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.

Romans 8:18-25
I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us. / The creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God. / For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope ...


Treasury of Scripture

Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuses to be healed? will you be altogether to me as a liar, and as waters that fail?

my pain.

Jeremiah 14:19
Hast thou utterly rejected Judah? hath thy soul lothed Zion? why hast thou smitten us, and there is no healing for us? we looked for peace, and there is no good; and for the time of healing, and behold trouble!

Psalm 6:3
My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long?

Psalm 13:1-3
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? …

my wound.

Jeremiah 30:12,15
For thus saith the LORD, Thy bruise is incurable, and thy wound is grievous…

Job 34:6
Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression.

Micah 1:9
For her wound is incurable; for it is come unto Judah; he is come unto the gate of my people, even to Jerusalem.

as a.

Jeremiah 1:18,19
For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land…

Jeremiah 20:7
O LORD, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me.

and as.

Jeremiah 14:3
And their nobles have sent their little ones to the waters: they came to the pits, and found no water; they returned with their vessels empty; they were ashamed and confounded, and covered their heads.

Job 6:15-20
My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream of brooks they pass away; …

fail.

Jump to Previous
Altogether Brook Deceitful Deceptive Fail Fails Grievous Healed Hope Incurable Indeed Liar Offering Pain Perpetual Refuses Refuseth Refusing Sorrow Spring Stream Unceasing Unending Unreliable Water Waters Wilt Wound
Jump to Next
Altogether Brook Deceitful Deceptive Fail Fails Grievous Healed Hope Incurable Indeed Liar Offering Pain Perpetual Refuses Refuseth Refusing Sorrow Spring Stream Unceasing Unending Unreliable Water Waters Wilt Wound
Jeremiah 15
1. The utter rejection and manifold judgments of the people.
10. Jeremiah, complaining of their spite, receives a promise for himself;
12. and a threatening for them.
15. He prays;
19. and receives a gracious promise.














Why is my pain unending
Jeremiah's lament reflects the deep anguish and persistent suffering he experiences as a prophet. This phrase captures the emotional and spiritual turmoil that Jeremiah feels due to the rejection and persecution he faces from his own people. The unending nature of his pain can be seen as a metaphor for the ongoing rebellion of Israel against God, which results in continuous judgment and hardship. This echoes the broader biblical theme of the consequences of sin and the enduring nature of suffering in a fallen world, as seen in the lamentations of other prophets and figures like Job.

and my wound incurable, refusing to be healed?
The imagery of an incurable wound suggests a situation beyond human remedy, emphasizing the depth of Jeremiah's despair. In the ancient Near Eastern context, wounds and illnesses were often seen as manifestations of divine displeasure or judgment. Jeremiah's use of this metaphor highlights the severity of Israel's spiritual condition and the nation's refusal to repent, which makes healing impossible. This connects to the broader biblical narrative where true healing and restoration are only possible through divine intervention, as seen in the promises of a new covenant in Jeremiah 31:31-34.

You have indeed become like a mirage to me—
Jeremiah's comparison of God to a mirage indicates a crisis of faith, where the prophet feels that God's promises of deliverance and support seem illusory. This reflects the tension between divine promises and present reality, a common theme in the lives of biblical figures who struggle with doubt and disappointment. The imagery of a mirage, something that appears real but is ultimately deceptive, underscores the prophet's sense of abandonment and confusion. This can be related to the experiences of other biblical characters, such as David in the Psalms, who also grapple with feelings of divine absence.

water that is not there.
Water is a powerful symbol in the Bible, often representing life, sustenance, and divine blessing. In a desert culture, water is essential for survival, making its absence a profound metaphor for spiritual desolation. Jeremiah's lament that God is like water that is not there highlights the depth of his spiritual thirst and the perceived absence of God's life-giving presence. This imagery connects to the New Testament, where Jesus offers "living water" (John 4:10-14), fulfilling the deep spiritual needs that Jeremiah and others longed for. The promise of living water signifies the ultimate fulfillment of God's presence and provision through Christ.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jeremiah
The prophet who is expressing his deep anguish and questioning God about his ongoing suffering and the apparent lack of relief.

2. God
The one whom Jeremiah is addressing, expressing his feelings of abandonment and questioning God's reliability.

3. Judah
The nation to which Jeremiah is prophesying, facing impending judgment due to their disobedience and idolatry.

4. Deceptive Brook
A metaphor used by Jeremiah to describe his perception of God's promises as unreliable, akin to a stream that dries up when most needed.

5. Babylonian Threat
The looming danger and eventual exile that Judah faces, which is part of the context of Jeremiah's lament.
Teaching Points
Understanding Suffering
Recognize that even faithful servants of God, like Jeremiah, experience deep pain and questioning. Suffering is a part of the human experience and can lead to a deeper relationship with God.

Expressing Honest Emotions
Jeremiah's candidness with God teaches us that it is okay to bring our raw emotions and doubts before Him. God desires an honest relationship with His people.

Perseverance in Faith
Despite feelings of abandonment, believers are called to persevere in faith, trusting that God is ultimately reliable and His promises are true.

Metaphors of Faith
Reflect on the imagery of a "deceptive brook" and consider how our perceptions of God's faithfulness can be clouded by our circumstances.

Hope in God's Character
While circumstances may seem dire, believers are encouraged to hold onto the truth of God's unchanging character and His ultimate plan for redemption.(18) Wilt thou be altogether unto me as a liar . . .?--The words express a bitter sense of failure and disappointment. God had not prospered the mission of His servant as He had promised. The Hebrew, however, is not so startlingly bold as the English, and is satisfied by the rendering, wilt thou be unto me as a winter torrent, i.e., as in Job 6:15, like one which flows only in that season, and is dried up and parched in summer. See the play upon the word achzib (= a lie) in Micah 1:14.

Verse 18. - Why is my pain perpetual? One who could honestly speak of himself in terms such as those of Vers. 16, 17, seemed to have a special claim on the Divine protection. But Jeremiah's hopes have been disappointed. His vexation is perpetual, and his wounded spirit finds no comfort. As a liar; rather, as a deceitful stream. The word "stream" has to be understood as in Micah 1:14. Many of the water courses of Palestine are filled with a rushing torrent in the winter, but dry in summer. Hence the pathetic complaint of Job (Job 6:15). The opposite phrase to that used by Jeremiah is "a perennial stream" (Amos 5:24). The force of the passage is increased if we read it in the light of Dr. Gratz's hypothesis.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Why
לָ֣מָּה (lām·māh)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

is
הָיָ֤ה (hā·yāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

my pain
כְאֵבִי֙ (ḵə·’ê·ḇî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 3511: Suffering, adversity

unending,
נֶ֔צַח (ne·ṣaḥ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5331: Eminence, enduring, everlastingness, perpetuity

and my wound
וּמַכָּתִ֖י (ū·mak·kā·ṯî)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 4347: A wound, carnage, pestilence

incurable,
אֲנוּשָׁ֑ה֙ (’ă·nū·šāh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 605: To be frail, feeble, melancholy

refusing
מֵֽאֲנָה֙ (mê·’ă·nāh)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 3985: To refuse

to be healed?
הֵֽרָפֵ֔א (hê·rā·p̄ê)
Verb - Nifal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7495: To mend, to cure

You have indeed become
הָי֨וֹ (hā·yōw)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

like
כְּמ֣וֹ (kə·mōw)
Preposition
Strong's 3644: Like, as, when

a mirage to me—
אַכְזָ֔ב (’aḵ·zāḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 391: Deceptive, disappointing

water
מַ֖יִם (ma·yim)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen

that is not
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

there.
נֶאֱמָֽנוּ׃ (ne·’ĕ·mā·nū)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 539: To confirm, support


Links
Jeremiah 15:18 NIV
Jeremiah 15:18 NLT
Jeremiah 15:18 ESV
Jeremiah 15:18 NASB
Jeremiah 15:18 KJV

Jeremiah 15:18 BibleApps.com
Jeremiah 15:18 Biblia Paralela
Jeremiah 15:18 Chinese Bible
Jeremiah 15:18 French Bible
Jeremiah 15:18 Catholic Bible

OT Prophets: Jeremiah 15:18 Why is my pain perpetual and my (Jer.)
Jeremiah 15:17
Top of Page
Top of Page