What is the meaning of Jeremiah 14:20?

We acknowledge our wickedness

• Jeremiah leads the nation in owning personal wrongdoing; there is no blame-shifting or minimization.

• Genuine confession always begins with “we,” not “they” (see Ezra 9:6; Daniel 9:5).

• 1 John 1:9 promises cleansing when sin is admitted, not excused.

• Psalm 32:5 shows David’s joy only after he said, “I acknowledged my sin to You.”

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O LORD

• Addressing Yahweh by His covenant name highlights both reverence and relationship (Exodus 34:6-7).

• By turning to the Lord, Jeremiah models the only effective direction for repentance—toward the One offended (Psalm 51:4).

• The use of God’s personal name underlines confidence in His merciful character even while under judgment (Lamentations 3:22-23).

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the guilt of our fathers

• Sin has a corporate dimension; past generations’ patterns have present consequences (Exodus 20:5; Nehemiah 9:2).

• Acknowledging ancestral guilt is not an attempt to dodge responsibility but to face the full scope of national rebellion (Leviticus 26:40).

• Confession here unites the people across time, recognizing that broken covenant history requires holistic repentance (Jeremiah 3:25).

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indeed, we have sinned against You

• The word “indeed” intensifies the admission—no ifs, buts, or maybes (Psalm 106:6).

• Sin is defined vertically: “against You.” Every transgression, even those that harm others, is foremost an offense against God (Genesis 39:9).

• Such clarity prepares the heart to seek divine restoration, not merely relief from drought or invasion (Jeremiah 14:1-9).

• Proverbs 28:13 reminds that concealing sin blocks mercy, but confessing and forsaking opens the way to compassion.

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summary

Jeremiah 14:20 is a model confession: frank about personal and inherited sin, addressed directly to the covenant-keeping Lord, and unequivocal in owning guilt. By aligning with God’s assessment of wickedness, the prophet sets the stage for forgiveness and renewed fellowship, demonstrating that honest, God-focused repentance is the essential first step toward restoration.