Old Testament
Jeremiah 4:14
Read the Bible in clear, modern English—easy to understand, faithful to the meaning, and written for everyday readers.
Jerusalem, scrub the wickedness from your heart so you can be saved! How long will you let these evil schemes fester inside you?
Compare translations
O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee?
What Jeremiah 4:14 means
Plain-English insight for readers
In this verse, God is calling Jerusalem to cleanse their hearts from wickedness to achieve salvation. The imagery of washing suggests a deep, internal purification rather than just external actions. The phrase 'how long' indicates a sense of urgency and frustration over the people's persistent evil thoughts and behaviors. God desires a genuine transformation, urging the people to confront and remove their sinful inclinations. This call to action emphasizes the importance of inner purity and the need to address the root causes of sin rather than merely the symptoms. The verse serves as a reminder that true salvation requires a heartfelt commitment to change and a rejection of harmful thoughts and actions that lead one away from God.
How to apply Jeremiah 4:14 to your life
This verse encourages us to examine our own hearts for any wickedness or harmful thoughts. We should actively seek to cleanse our minds and spirits, allowing God to transform us. Regular self-reflection and prayer can help us identify and remove negative influences, leading to a more faithful life.
Curated for this public verse page. Jeremiah Summary
Explore more of the Bible
Learn the Bible through its people and places
Get to know the people in Scripture through illustrated stories, and explore the places where they lived and traveled.
Illustrated scene from Moses's story: Israel Enslaved in Egypt (Exodus 1:8–22)
Meet the people of the Bible
Follow their lives in order, with illustrated scenes and Bible passages that tell their stories.
Moses
Photo: Diego Delso, via Wikimedia Commons. License: CC BY-SA 3.0. Source. Location: Tell es-Sultan, Jericho, West Bank. Resized for the web.
Explore the places of the Bible
See where biblical events happened, why each place matters, and what archaeology helps us understand.
Jericho
The city of palm trees, whose walls fell in Joshua's day.
Get full access with one subscription
Explore the people and places of the Bible. Read summaries of every book, with images and clear explanations covering every chapter. Access all these features and our Bible study tools with one subscription.
See PlansAsk AI about Jeremiah 4:14
Ask a question about this verse and get a clear answer, with Bible references you can read for yourself.
Every Bible book, explained chapter by chapter
Explore summaries of every book of the Bible, with images and easy-to-understand explanations covering every chapter.
Keep studying Jeremiah 4:14
Related Bible verses
Key themes
At a Glance — the Book of Jeremiah
- Author
- Jeremiah the prophet, with Baruch
- Written
- Around 600 BC
- Genre
- Prophecy
- Original Audience
- Judah before and during the Babylonian exile
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick, clear answers about this verse
What does Jeremiah 4:14 mean?
Jeremiah 4:14 calls for Jerusalem to cleanse their hearts from wickedness to be saved. It emphasizes the need for genuine inner transformation rather than just outward actions.
What is the significance of 'wash thine heart' in Jeremiah 4:14?
The phrase 'wash thine heart' signifies a deep, internal purification process. It suggests that true salvation requires addressing the root of sin and not just the external behaviors.
What does the phrase 'how long' indicate in Jeremiah 4:14?
The phrase 'how long' expresses urgency and frustration over the people's persistent evil thoughts. It highlights God's desire for immediate action towards repentance and change.
What themes are present in Jeremiah 4:14?
Key themes in Jeremiah 4:14 include heart purification, the urgency of repentance, inner transformation, and the rejection of wickedness. These themes emphasize the importance of a sincere commitment to change.
Daily Verse — straight to your inbox
A verse and a 2-sentence plain-English explanation, every morning. Free. Unsubscribe anytime.