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 has my pain become unending
The Hebrew word for "pain" here is "כְּאֵב" (ke'ev), which can also mean sorrow or grief. Jeremiah is expressing a deep, personal anguish that seems to have no resolution. This reflects the prophet's emotional and spiritual turmoil as he grapples with the rejection of his message by the people and the impending judgment on Judah. Historically, Jeremiah's ministry was marked by constant opposition and suffering, which is why his pain feels "unending." This phrase invites believers to consider the perseverance required in faith, especially when facing prolonged trials.

my wound incurable, refusing to be healed
The term "incurable" in Hebrew is "אֲנוּשׁ" (anush), suggesting a condition beyond remedy. Jeremiah's "wound" symbolizes the deep spiritual and emotional hurt caused by the people's sin and God's impending judgment. The imagery of a wound "refusing to be healed" emphasizes the severity of the situation. In a broader scriptural context, this reflects the consequences of persistent sin and the need for genuine repentance. For Christians, it serves as a reminder of the healing that only God can provide through Christ, who bore our wounds on the cross.

You have become to me like a deceptive brook
The word "deceptive" in Hebrew is "אָכְזָב" (achzav), meaning deceitful or disappointing. Jeremiah uses the metaphor of a "brook" to describe his perception of God at this moment. In the arid regions of the Near East, brooks or streams could dry up unexpectedly, leaving travelers without water. This imagery conveys Jeremiah's feeling of abandonment, as if God, whom he relied upon, has become unreliable. This phrase challenges believers to trust in God's faithfulness, even when circumstances seem to suggest otherwise.

whose waters cannot be relied upon
The Hebrew word for "relied upon" is "נֶאֱמָן" (ne'eman), which means faithful or trustworthy. Jeremiah feels that God's promises are not being fulfilled in his life, akin to a stream that promises refreshment but fails to deliver. This reflects a moment of crisis in Jeremiah's faith, a theme that resonates throughout the Bible as God's people often struggle with doubt. For Christians, this phrase underscores the importance of holding onto God's promises, trusting that His ways and timing are perfect, even when they are beyond our understanding.

(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


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