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Gather together! Let us flee to the fortified cities and perish there! For the LORD our God has doomed us to perish and given us poisoned water to drink, because we have sinned against him. <a href="/nlt/jeremiah/8.htm">New Living Translation</a> “Then the people will say, ‘Why should we wait here to die? Come, let’s go to the fortified towns and die there. For the LORD our God has decreed our destruction and has given us a cup of poison to drink because we sinned against the LORD. <a href="/esv/jeremiah/8.htm">English Standard Version</a> Why do we sit still? Gather together; let us go into the fortified cities and perish there, for the LORD our God has doomed us to perish and has given us poisoned water to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD. <a href="/bsb/jeremiah/8.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> Why are we just sitting here? Gather together, let us flee to the fortified cities and perish there, for the LORD our God has doomed us. He has given us poisoned water to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD. <a href="/kjv/jeremiah/8.htm">King James Bible</a> Why do we sit still? assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the defenced cities, and let us be silent there: for the LORD our God hath put us to silence, and given us water of gall to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD. <a href="/nkjv/jeremiah/8.htm">New King James Version</a> “Why do we sit still? Assemble yourselves, And let us enter the fortified cities, And let us be silent there. For the LORD our God has put us to silence And given us water of gall to drink, Because we have sinned against the LORD. <a href="/nasb_/jeremiah/8.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> Why are we sitting still? Assemble yourselves, and let’s go into the fortified cities And perish there, For the LORD our God has doomed us And given us poisoned water to drink, Because we have sinned against the LORD. <a href="/nasb/jeremiah/8.htm">NASB 1995</a> Why are we sitting still? Assemble yourselves, and let us go into the fortified cities And let us perish there, Because the LORD our God has doomed us And given us poisoned water to drink, For we have sinned against the LORD. <a href="/nasb77/jeremiah/8.htm">NASB 1977 </a> Why are we sitting still? Assemble yourselves, and let us go into the fortified cities, And let us perish there, Because the LORD our God has doomed us And given us poisoned water to drink, For we have sinned against the LORD. <a href="/lsb/jeremiah/8.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> Why are we sitting still? Gather yourselves, and let us go into the fortified cities And let us be silent there Because Yahweh our God has silenced us And given us poisoned water to drink, For we have sinned against Yahweh. <a href="/amp/jeremiah/8.htm">Amplified Bible</a> Why are we sitting still [the people wonder]? Assemble yourselves, and let us enter the fortified cities And let us die there, For the LORD our God has decreed our ruin And given us bitter and poisonous water to drink, Because we have sinned against the LORD. <a href="/csb/jeremiah/8.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> Why are we just sitting here? Gather together; let’s enter the fortified cities and perish there, for the LORD our God has destroyed us. He has given us poisoned water to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD. <a href="/hcsb/jeremiah/8.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> Why are we just sitting here? Gather together; let us enter the fortified cities and perish there, for the LORD our God has destroyed us. He has given us poisoned water to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD. <a href="/asv/jeremiah/8.htm">American Standard Version</a> Why do we sit still? assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the fortified cities, and let us be silent there; for Jehovah our God hath put us to silence, and given us water of gall to drink, because we have sinned against Jehovah. <a href="/cev/jeremiah/8.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> The people of Judah say to each other, "What are we waiting for? Let's run to a town with walls and die there. We rebelled against the LORD, and we were sentenced to die by drinking poison. <a href="/erv/jeremiah/8.htm">English Revised Version</a> Why do we sit still? assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the defenced cities, and let us be silent there: for the LORD our God hath put us to silence, and given us water of gall to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD. <a href="/gwt/jeremiah/8.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> Why are we just sitting here? Let's get up! Let's go into the fortified cities and die there. The LORD our God has condemned us to die. He has given us poison to drink because we have sinned against the LORD. <a href="/gnt/jeremiah/8.htm">Good News Translation</a> "Why are we sitting still?" God's people ask. "Come on, we will run to the fortified cities and die there. The LORD our God has condemned us to die; he has given us poison to drink, because we have sinned against him. <a href="/isv/jeremiah/8.htm">International Standard Version</a> Why are we sitting here? Join together! Let's go to the fortified cities and perish there! For the LORD our God has condemned us to perish and given us poisoned water to drink, because we have sinned against him. <a href="/msb/jeremiah/8.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> Why are we just sitting here? Gather together, let us flee to the fortified cities and perish there, for the LORD our God has doomed us. He has given us poisoned water to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD. <a href="/net/jeremiah/8.htm">NET Bible</a> The people say, "Why are we just sitting here? Let us gather together inside the fortified cities. Let us at least die there fighting, since the LORD our God has condemned us to die. He has condemned us to drink the poison waters of judgment because we have sinned against him. <a href="/nheb/jeremiah/8.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> "Why do we sit still? Assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the fortified cities, and let us be silent there; for the LORD our God has put us to silence, and given us water of gall to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD. <a href="/wbt/jeremiah/8.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> Why do we sit still? assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the fortified cities, and let us be silent there: for the LORD our God hath put us to silence, and given us water of gall to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD. <a href="/web/jeremiah/8.htm">World English Bible</a> “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. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/jeremiah/8.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> Why are we sitting still? Be gathered, and we go into the fortified cities, "" And we are silent there, "" For our God YHWH has made us silent, "" Indeed, He causes us to drink water of gall, "" For we have sinned against YHWH. <a href="/ylt/jeremiah/8.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> Wherefore are we sitting still? Be gathered, and we go in to the fenced cities, And we are silent there, For Jehovah our God hath made us silent, Yea, He causeth us to drink water of gall, For we have sinned against Jehovah. <a href="/slt/jeremiah/8.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> For what are we sitting? gather ye together and we will go into the fortified cities, and we shall be silent there: for Jehovah our God caused us to cease, and he will give us to drink the water of poison, for we sinned against Jehovah.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/jeremiah/8.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> Why do we sit still? assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the fenced city, and let us be silent there: for the Lord our God hath put us to silence, and hath given us water of gall to drink: for we have sinned against the Lord. <a href="/cpdv/jeremiah/8.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> “Why are we sitting still? Assemble, and let us enter the fortified city, and let us remain silent there. For the Lord our God has brought us to silence, and he has given us the water of gall as a drink. For we have sinned against the Lord. <a href="/nabre/jeremiah/8.htm">New American Bible</a> Why do we remain here? Let us assemble and flee to the fortified cities, where we will meet our doom; For the LORD our God has doomed us, he has given us poisoned water to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD. <a href="/nrsvce/jeremiah/8.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> Why do we sit still? Gather together, let us go into the fortified cities and perish there; for the LORD our God has doomed us to perish, and has given us poisoned water to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/jeremiah/8.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> And they shall say, Why do we dwell here? Let us gather together and let us enter into the fortified cities and let us be silent there; for the LORD our God has silenced us and has given us bitter water to drink because we have sinned against the LORD. <a href="/hpbt/jeremiah/8.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> And they shall say: “Why are we sitting? Be assembled and we shall enter the fortified cities, and we shall be silent there, because LORD JEHOVAH our God has silenced us, and he has made us drink bitter waters, for we have sinned against LORD JEHOVAH!<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/jeremiah/8.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> Why do we sit still? Assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the fortified cities, And let us be cut off there; For the LORD our God hath cut us off, And given us water of gall to drink, Because we have sinned against the LORD. <a href="/sep/jeremiah/8.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> Why do we sit still? assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the strong cities, and let us be cast out there: for God has cast us out, and made us drink water of gall, because we have sinned before him. <a href="/parallel/jeremiah/8-14.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5k55c51ZGhs?start=2635" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/jeremiah/8.htm">Judah's Sin and Punishment</a> …13I will take away their harvest, declares the LORD. There will be no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the tree, and even the leaf will wither. Whatever I have given them will be lost to them.” 14<a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: ‘al- (Prep) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications.">Why</a> <a href="/hebrew/4100.htm" title="4100: māh (Interrog) -- What? how? anything. "></a> <a href="/hebrew/587.htm" title="587: ’ă·naḥ·nū (Pro-1cp) -- We. Apparently from 'anokiy; we.">are we</a> <a href="/hebrew/3427.htm" title="3427: yō·šə·ḇîm (V-Qal-Prtcpl-mp) -- A primitive root; properly, to sit down; by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry.">just sitting here?</a> <a href="/hebrew/622.htm" title="622: hê·’ā·sə·p̄ū (V-Nifal-Imp-mp) -- To gather, remove. A primitive root; to gather for any purpose; hence, to receive, take away, i.e. Remove.">Gather together,</a> <a href="/hebrew/935.htm" title="935: wə·nā·ḇō·w (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjImperf.h-1cp) -- To come in, come, go in, go. A primitive root; to go or come.">let us flee</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. ">to</a> <a href="/hebrew/4013.htm" title="4013: ham·miḇ·ṣār (Art:: N-ms) -- Fortification. Also feminine mibtsarah; from batsar; a fortification, castle, or fortified city; figuratively, a defender.">the fortified</a> <a href="/hebrew/5892.htm" title="5892: ‘ā·rê (N-fpc) -- Excitement. Or par; or ayar; from uwr a city in the widest sense.">cities</a> <a href="/hebrew/1826.htm" title="1826: wə·nid·də·māh- (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjImperf.Cohort-1cp) -- A prim root; to be dumb; by implication, to be astonished, to stop; also to perish.">and perish</a> <a href="/hebrew/8033.htm" title="8033: šām (Adv) -- There, thither. A primitive particle; there then; often thither, or thence.">there,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">for</a> <a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">the LORD</a> <a href="/hebrew/430.htm" title="430: ’ĕ·lō·hê·nū (N-mpc:: 1cp) -- Plural of 'elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used of the supreme God">our God</a> <a href="/hebrew/1826.htm" title="1826: hă·ḏim·mā·nū (V-Hifil-Perf-3ms:: 1cp) -- A prim root; to be dumb; by implication, to be astonished, to stop; also to perish.">has doomed us.</a> <a href="/hebrew/7219.htm" title="7219: rōš (N-ms) -- (bitter and poisonous herb) venom. Or rowsh; apparently the same as ro'sh; a poisonous plant, probably the poppy; generally poison.">He has given us poisoned</a> <a href="/hebrew/4325.htm" title="4325: mê- (N-mpc) -- Waters, water. Dual of a primitive noun; water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen.">water</a> <a href="/hebrew/8248.htm" title="8248: way·yaš·qê·nū (Conj-w:: V-Hifil-ConsecImperf-3ms:: 1cp) -- Cause to drink water, give to drink. A primitive root; to quaff, i.e. to irrigate or furnish a potion to.">to drink,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">because</a> <a href="/hebrew/2398.htm" title="2398: ḥā·ṭā·nū (V-Qal-Perf-1cp) -- A primitive root; properly, to miss; hence to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, lead astray, condemn.">we have sinned</a> <a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (Prep-l:: N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">against the LORD.</a> 15We hoped for peace, but no good has come, for a time of healing, but there was only terror.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/jeremiah/14-19.htm">Jeremiah 14:19</a> Have You rejected Judah completely? Do You despise Zion? Why have You stricken us so that we are beyond healing? We hoped for peace, but no good has come, and for the time of healing, but there was only terror. <a href="/jeremiah/4-5.htm">Jeremiah 4:5-6</a> Announce in Judah, proclaim in Jerusalem, and say: “Blow the ram’s horn throughout the land. Cry aloud and say, ‘Assemble yourselves and let us flee to the fortified cities.’ / Raise a signal flag toward Zion. Seek refuge! Do not delay! For I am bringing disaster from the north, and terrible destruction. <a href="/jeremiah/6-1.htm">Jeremiah 6:1</a> “Run for cover, O sons of Benjamin; flee from Jerusalem! Sound the ram’s horn in Tekoa; send up a signal over Beth-haccherem, for disaster looms from the north, even great destruction. <a href="/jeremiah/9-19.htm">Jeremiah 9:19</a> For the sound of wailing is heard from Zion: ‘How devastated we are! How great is our shame! For we have abandoned the land because our dwellings have been torn down.’” <a href="/jeremiah/15-18.htm">Jeremiah 15:18</a> 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. <a href="/lamentations/4-17.htm">Lamentations 4:17</a> All the while our eyes were failing as we looked in vain for help. We watched from our towers for a nation that could not save us. <a href="/isaiah/30-15.htm">Isaiah 30:15-16</a> For the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said: “By repentance and rest you would be saved; your strength would lie in quiet confidence—but you were not willing.” / “No,” you say, “we will flee on horses.” Therefore you will flee! “We will ride swift horses,” but your pursuers will be faster. <a href="/isaiah/57-11.htm">Isaiah 57:11-13</a> Whom have you dreaded and feared, so that you lied and failed to remember Me or take this to heart? Is it not because I have long been silent that you do not fear Me? / I will expose your righteousness and your works, and they will not profit you. / When you cry out, let your companies of idols deliver you! Yet the wind will carry off all of them, a breath will take them away. But he who seeks refuge in Me will inherit the land and possess My holy mountain.” <a href="/hosea/5-13.htm">Hosea 5:13-15</a> When Ephraim saw his sickness and Judah his wound, then Ephraim turned to Assyria and sent to the great king. But he cannot cure you or heal your wound. / For I am like a lion to Ephraim and like a young lion to the house of Judah. I, even I, will tear them to pieces and then go away. I will carry them off where no one can rescue them. / Then I will return to My place until they admit their guilt and seek My face; in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.” <a href="/hosea/10-6.htm">Hosea 10:6</a> Yes, it will be carried to Assyria as tribute to the great king. Ephraim will be seized with shame; Israel will be ashamed of its wooden idols. <a href="/micah/1-9.htm">Micah 1:9</a> For her wound is incurable; it has reached even Judah; it has approached the gate of my people, as far as Jerusalem itself. <a href="/zephaniah/1-12.htm">Zephaniah 1:12-13</a> And at that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish the men settled in complacency, who say to themselves, ‘The LORD will do nothing, either good or bad.’ / Their wealth will be plundered and their houses laid waste. They will build houses but not inhabit them, and plant vineyards but never drink their wine. <a href="/matthew/24-15.htm">Matthew 24:15-16</a> So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand), / then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. <a href="/luke/21-20.htm">Luke 21:20-21</a> But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, you will know that her desolation is near. / Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country stay out of the city. <a href="/mark/13-14.htm">Mark 13:14</a> So when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>Why do we sit still? assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the defended cities, and let us be silent there: for the LORD our God has put us to silence, and given us water of gall to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD.do.<a href="/2_kings/7-3.htm">2 Kings 7:3,4</a> And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die? … enter.<a href="/jeremiah/4-5.htm">Jeremiah 4:5,6</a> Declare ye in Judah, and publish in Jerusalem; and say, Blow ye the trumpet in the land: cry, gather together, and say, Assemble yourselves, and let us go into the defenced cities… <a href="/jeremiah/35-11.htm">Jeremiah 35:11</a> But it came to pass, when Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon came up into the land, that we said, Come, and let us go to Jerusalem for fear of the army of the Chaldeans, and for fear of the army of the Syrians: so we dwell at Jerusalem.<a href="/2_samuel/20-6.htm">2 Samuel 20:6</a> And David said to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom: take thou thy lord's servants, and pursue after him, lest he get him fenced cities, and escape us.be silent.<a href="/leviticus/10-3.htm">Leviticus 10:3</a> Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.<a href="/psalms/39-2.htm">Psalm 39:2</a> I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred.<a href="/lamentations/3-27.htm">Lamentations 3:27,28</a> It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth… water.<a href="/jeremiah/9-13.htm">Jeremiah 9:13</a> And the LORD saith, Because they have forsaken my law which I set before them, and have not obeyed my voice, neither walked therein;<a href="/jeremiah/23-15.htm">Jeremiah 23:15</a> Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets; Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall: for from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land.<a href="/numbers/5-18.htm">Numbers 5:18-24</a> And the priest shall set the woman before the LORD, and uncover the woman's head, and put the offering of memorial in her hands, which is the jealousy offering: and the priest shall have in his hand the bitter water that causeth the curse: … gall.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/jeremiah/4-5.htm">Assemble</a> <a href="/jeremiah/7-34.htm">Cities</a> <a href="/jeremiah/7-29.htm">Cut</a> <a href="/jeremiah/4-5.htm">Defenced</a> <a href="/jeremiah/7-18.htm">Drink</a> <a href="/jeremiah/7-31.htm">Enter</a> <a href="/jeremiah/5-17.htm">Fortified</a> <a href="/proverbs/5-4.htm">Gall</a> <a href="/isaiah/65-6.htm">Silence</a> <a href="/jeremiah/4-19.htm">Silent</a> <a href="/jeremiah/3-25.htm">Sinned</a> <a href="/isaiah/65-4.htm">Sit</a> <a href="/jeremiah/6-7.htm">Water</a> <a href="/jeremiah/7-8.htm">Yourselves</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/jeremiah/12-9.htm">Assemble</a> <a href="/jeremiah/9-11.htm">Cities</a> <a href="/jeremiah/9-21.htm">Cut</a> <a href="/jeremiah/34-7.htm">Defenced</a> <a href="/jeremiah/9-15.htm">Drink</a> <a href="/jeremiah/13-1.htm">Enter</a> <a href="/jeremiah/15-20.htm">Fortified</a> <a href="/jeremiah/9-15.htm">Gall</a> <a href="/jeremiah/25-37.htm">Silence</a> <a href="/jeremiah/25-37.htm">Silent</a> <a href="/jeremiah/14-7.htm">Sinned</a> <a href="/jeremiah/13-13.htm">Sit</a> <a href="/jeremiah/9-1.htm">Water</a> <a href="/jeremiah/10-2.htm">Yourselves</a><div class="vheading2">Jeremiah 8</div>1. <a href="/jeremiah/8-1.htm">The calamity of the Jews, both dead and alive.</a> 4. <a href="/jeremiah/8-4.htm">He upbraids their foolish and shameless impenitency.</a> 13. <a href="/jeremiah/8-13.htm">He shows their grievous judgment;</a> 18. <a href="/jeremiah/8-18.htm">and bewails their desperate estate.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/jeremiah/8.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/jeremiah/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/jeremiah/8.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>Why are we just sitting here? This phrase reflects a sense of urgency and desperation among the people. It suggests a realization of impending danger and the need for immediate action. In the context of Jeremiah, the people of Judah are facing the threat of Babylonian invasion. This rhetorical question indicates a moment of self-awareness and acknowledgment of their dire situation.Gather together, The call to gather together implies a communal response to the crisis. In ancient Israel, communal actions were often necessary for survival, especially in times of war or disaster. This reflects the cultural importance of community and collective action in the face of external threats.let us flee to the fortified cities Fortified cities were places of refuge during times of military threat. Historically, cities like Jerusalem had strong walls and defenses. This phrase indicates a strategy to seek protection in places that were considered secure. It also highlights the lack of faith in divine protection, as the people rely on human fortifications instead.and perish there, The expectation of perishing even in fortified cities underscores the hopelessness of the situation. It suggests that the people recognize the futility of their efforts to escape divine judgment. This reflects the prophetic theme of inevitable judgment due to persistent sin.for the LORD our God has doomed us. This acknowledges the divine origin of their predicament. The use of "the LORD our God" indicates a recognition of their covenant relationship with God, which they have violated. The concept of being doomed by God is consistent with the prophetic warnings throughout Jeremiah, where divine judgment is portrayed as a consequence of covenant unfaithfulness.He has given us poisoned water to drink, Poisoned water symbolizes the bitterness and severity of God's judgment. In the ancient Near East, water was a vital resource, and its contamination would be a severe punishment. This imagery is reminiscent of other biblical passages where water is used as a metaphor for judgment, such as in <a href="/exodus/15-23.htm">Exodus 15:23-25</a> and <a href="/revelation/8-10.htm">Revelation 8:10-11</a>.because we have sinned against the LORD. This phrase identifies the root cause of their suffering: sin against God. It reflects the biblical principle that sin leads to judgment. The acknowledgment of sin is a recurring theme in the prophetic literature, emphasizing the need for repentance and the consequences of disobedience to God's commands.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/j/jeremiah.htm">Jeremiah</a> The prophet who conveyed God's messages to the people of Judah, warning them of impending judgment due to their persistent sin and rebellion. 2. <a href="/topical/j/judah.htm">Judah</a> The southern kingdom of Israel, which was facing God's judgment for its idolatry and disobedience. 3. <a href="/topical/f/fortified_cities.htm">Fortified Cities</a> Places of refuge that people sought for protection against invading armies, symbolizing a false sense of security in human defenses rather than in God. 4. <a href="/topical/t/the_lord.htm">The LORD (Yahweh)</a> The covenant God of Israel, who is just and righteous, executing judgment on His people for their sins. 5. <a href="/topical/p/poisoned_water.htm">Poisoned Water</a> A metaphor for the consequences of sin and the judgment that God was bringing upon His people, reflecting the bitterness and suffering due to their disobedience.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_sin.htm">The Consequences of Sin</a> Sin leads to judgment and suffering. Just as Judah faced God's wrath, we must recognize the seriousness of sin in our lives and its inevitable consequences. <a href="/topical/f/false_security.htm">False Security</a> Trusting in human strength or worldly solutions, like fleeing to fortified cities, is futile. Our true refuge and security must be in God alone. <a href="/topical/r/repentance_and_return.htm">Repentance and Return</a> The call to recognize our sin and turn back to God is urgent. We must not delay in seeking His forgiveness and restoration. <a href="/topical/g/god's_righteous_judgment.htm">God's Righteous Judgment</a> God's judgment is just and deserved. Understanding His holiness should lead us to a deeper reverence and commitment to live according to His ways. <a href="/topical/h/hope_in_god's_mercy.htm">Hope in God's Mercy</a> Even in judgment, there is hope. God's ultimate desire is for His people to return to Him, and He offers mercy and restoration to those who repent.<a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/jeremiah/8.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(14) Why do we sit still? . . .--The cry of the people in answer to the threatening of Jehovah is brought in by the prophet with a startling dramatic vividness. They are ready to flee into the defenced cities, as the prophet had told them in <a href="/jeremiah/4-5.htm" title="Declare you in Judah, and publish in Jerusalem; and say, Blow you the trumpet in the land: cry, gather together, and say, Assemble yourselves, and let us go into the defended cities.">Jeremiah 4:5</a>, but it is without hope. They are going into the silence as of death, for to that silence Jehovah himself has brought them.Water of gall.--The idea implied is that of poison as well as bitterness. It is uncertain what the "gall-plant" was; possibly, from its connection with "grapes" or "clusters," as in <a href="/deuteronomy/32-32.htm" title="For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah: their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter:">Deuteronomy 32:32</a>, belladonna or colocynth is meant. Others have suggested the poppy, and this is in part confirmed by the narcotic properties implied in <a href="/matthew/27-34.htm" title="They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.">Matthew 27:34</a>. In <a href="/deuteronomy/29-18.htm" title="Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turns away this day from the LORD our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that bears gall and wormwood;">Deuteronomy 29:18</a> it is joined with "wormwood."<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/jeremiah/8.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 14. - Why do we sit still? The prophet transports us by a stroke of his pen into the midst of the fulfillment of his prophecy. The people of the country districts are represented as urging each other to flight. True, it is the resource of despair. No defensed cities can defend them against the judgment of Jehovah. Let us be silent; rather, let us perish; literally, let us be put to silence. Hath put us to silence; rather, hath caused us to perish; i.e. hath decreed our destruction. Water of gall; a phrase characteristic of our prophet (see <a href="/jeremiah/9-14.htm">Jeremiah 9:14</a>; <a href="/jeremiah/23-15.htm">Jeremiah 23:15</a>). It is a little difficult to find a rendering which shall suit all the passages in which rosh (gall) is mentioned. In <a href="/deuteronomy/32-33.htm">Deuteronomy 32:33</a> (and so <a href="/job/20-16.htm">Job 20:16</a>) it is clearly used for "venom" in general; and yet in Ver. 32 of the same chapter it obviously means a plant. Another general application of the term seems to have been to bitterness in general, the ideas of bitterness and poisonousness being taken as interchangeable. The Authorized Version may therefore stand. <a href="/commentaries/jeremiah/8-14.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>“Why עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> Above, over, upon, against are we אֲנַ֣חְנוּ (’ă·naḥ·nū) Pronoun - first person common plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_587.htm">Strong's 587: </a> We just sitting here? יֹֽשְׁבִ֔ים (yō·šə·ḇîm) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3427.htm">Strong's 3427: </a> To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry Gather together, הֵֽאָסְפ֗וּ (hê·’ā·sə·p̄ū) Verb - Nifal - Imperative - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_622.htm">Strong's 622: </a> To gather for, any purpose, to receive, take away, remove let us flee וְנָב֛וֹא (wə·nā·ḇō·w) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_935.htm">Strong's 935: </a> To come in, come, go in, go to אֶל־ (’el-) Preposition <a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> Near, with, among, to the fortified הַמִּבְצָ֖ר (ham·miḇ·ṣār) Article | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4013.htm">Strong's 4013: </a> A fortification, castle, fortified city, a defender cities עָרֵ֥י (‘ā·rê) Noun - feminine plural construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5892.htm">Strong's 5892: </a> Excitement and perish וְנִדְּמָה־ (wə·nid·də·māh-) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1826.htm">Strong's 1826: </a> To be dumb, to be astonished, to stop, to perish there, שָּׁ֑ם (šām) Adverb <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8033.htm">Strong's 8033: </a> There, then, thither for כִּי֩ (kî) Conjunction <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> A relative conjunction the LORD יְהוָ֨ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel our God אֱלֹהֵ֤ינוּ (’ĕ·lō·hê·nū) Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_430.htm">Strong's 430: </a> gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative has doomed us. הֲדִמָּ֙נוּ֙ (hă·ḏim·mā·nū) Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular | first person common plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1826.htm">Strong's 1826: </a> To be dumb, to be astonished, to stop, to perish He has given us poisoned רֹ֔אשׁ (rōš) Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7219.htm">Strong's 7219: </a> A poisonous plant, the poppy, poison water מֵי־ (mê-) Noun - masculine plural construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4325.htm">Strong's 4325: </a> Water, juice, urine, semen to drink, וַיַּשְׁקֵ֣נוּ (way·yaš·qê·nū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | first person common plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8248.htm">Strong's 8248: </a> To quaff, to irrigate, furnish a, potion to because כִּ֥י (kî) Conjunction <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> A relative conjunction we have sinned חָטָ֖אנוּ (ḥā·ṭā·nū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2398.htm">Strong's 2398: </a> To miss, to sin, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, lead astray, condemn against the LORD. לַיהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh) Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/jeremiah/8-14.htm">Jeremiah 8:14 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/jeremiah/8-14.htm">Jeremiah 8:14 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/jeremiah/8-14.htm">Jeremiah 8:14 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/jeremiah/8-14.htm">Jeremiah 8:14 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/jeremiah/8-14.htm">Jeremiah 8:14 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/jeremiah/8-14.htm">Jeremiah 8:14 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/jeremiah/8-14.htm">Jeremiah 8:14 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/jeremiah/8-14.htm">Jeremiah 8:14 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/jeremiah/8-14.htm">Jeremiah 8:14 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/jeremiah/8-14.htm">Jeremiah 8:14 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/jeremiah/8-14.htm">OT Prophets: Jeremiah 8:14 Why do we sit still? Assemble yourselves (Jer.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/jeremiah/8-13.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Jeremiah 8:13"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Jeremiah 8:13" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/jeremiah/8-15.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Jeremiah 8:15"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Jeremiah 8:15" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>