Jeremiah 16

King James Version

Full text for Jeremiah Chapter 16

1¶ The word of the LORD came also unto me, saying,

2Thou shalt not take thee a wife, neither shalt thou have sons or daughters in this place.

3For thus saith the LORD concerning the sons and concerning the daughters that are born in this place, and concerning their mothers that bare them, and concerning their fathers that begat them in this land;

4They shall die of grievous deaths; they shall not be lamented; neither shall they be buried; [but] they shall be as dung upon the face of the earth: and they shall be consumed by the sword, and by famine; and their carcases shall be meat for the fowls of heaven, and for the beasts of the earth.

5For thus saith the LORD, Enter not into the house of mourning, neither go to lament nor bemoan them: for I have taken away my peace from this people, saith the LORD, [even] lovingkindness and mercies.

6Both the great and the small shall die in this land: they shall not be buried, neither shall [men] lament for them, nor cut themselves, nor make themselves bald for them:

7Neither shall [men] tear [themselves] for them in mourning, to comfort them for the dead; neither shall [men] give them the cup of consolation to drink for their father or for their mother.

8Thou shalt not also go into the house of feasting, to sit with them to eat and to drink.

9For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will cause to cease out of this place in your eyes, and in your days, the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride.

10¶ And it shall come to pass, when thou shalt shew this people all these words, and they shall say unto thee, Wherefore hath the LORD pronounced all this great evil against us? or what [is] our iniquity? or what [is] our sin that we have committed against the LORD our God?

11Then shalt thou say unto them, Because your fathers have forsaken me, saith the LORD, and have walked after other gods, and have served them, and have worshipped them, and have forsaken me, and have not kept my law;

12And ye have done worse than your fathers; for, behold, ye walk every one after the imagination of his evil heart, that they may not hearken unto me:

13Therefore will I cast you out of this land into a land that ye know not, [neither] ye nor your fathers; and there shall ye serve other gods day and night; where I will not shew you favour.

14¶ Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that it shall no more be said, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;

15But, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers.

16Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the LORD, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks.

17For mine eyes [are] upon all their ways: they are not hid from my face, neither is their iniquity hid from mine eyes.

18And first I will recompense their iniquity and their sin double; because they have defiled my land, they have filled mine inheritance with the carcases of their detestable and abominable things.

19O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and [things] wherein [there is] no profit.

20Shall a man make gods unto himself, and they [are] no gods?

21Therefore, behold, I will this once cause them to know, I will cause them to know mine hand and my might; and they shall know that my name [is] The LORD.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

The LORD commands Jeremiah to abstain from marriage, mourning, and feasting, symbolizing the severe judgment awaiting Judah. The people will face grievous deaths, unlamented and unburied, because of their persistent idolatry and forsaking of God's law. Though a future restoration from exile is promised, a period of intense judgment will precede it, as the LORD will thoroughly recompense their sin. Ultimately, God will make His power known, even to the Gentiles.

Medium Summary

The LORD instructs Jeremiah to remain unmarried and childless, and to avoid participation in both mourning and celebratory feasts, as a prophetic sign of Judah's impending desolation. People will die of grievous deaths, unlamented and unburied, because God has withdrawn His peace and mercy from them. When questioned, the LORD explains this calamity is due to their fathers' and their own idolatry and disobedience, leading to their expulsion into an unknown land. However, a future deliverance is promised, surpassing the exodus from Egypt, when the LORD will gather His people from all lands. Before this restoration, He will send 'fishers' and 'hunters' to pursue and judge them for their hidden sins and for defiling His land, promising to recompense their iniquity double.

Long Summary

Jeremiah receives a direct command from the LORD to abstain from marriage and having children, serving as a prophetic sign of the dire future awaiting the inhabitants of Judah. The LORD declares that children born in that land will suffer grievous deaths, remaining unlamented and unburied, their bodies becoming like dung upon the earth, consumed by sword, famine, and wild beasts. Furthermore, Jeremiah is forbidden from entering houses of mourning or feasting, symbolizing the complete cessation of both sorrowful and joyful communal life, as the LORD has removed His peace, lovingkindness, and mercies from the people. All voices of mirth, gladness, bridegroom, and bride will cease in their days. When the people inevitably question the cause of such great evil, the LORD reveals that it stems from their fathers' forsaking Him, serving and worshipping other gods, and neglecting His law. He emphasizes that the current generation has surpassed their fathers in wickedness, each following the imagination of their own evil heart, refusing to hearken to Him. Therefore, the LORD will cast them out into an unknown land where they will serve other gods without His favour. Despite this severe judgment, a future hope is presented: the LORD promises a new, greater exodus, bringing His people back from the 'land of the north' and all lands where they were scattered, into their own land. However, this restoration will be preceded by a period of intense judgment, as the LORD will send 'fishers' and 'hunters' to thoroughly pursue and capture them from every hiding place, for His eyes are upon all their ways, and their iniquity is not hidden. He will first recompense their iniquity and sin double, because they have defiled His land with detestable and abominable things. Jeremiah, in a moment of prayer, acknowledges the LORD as his strength and refuge, foreseeing a time when Gentiles will recognize the vanity of their inherited lies, and the LORD will make His hand and might known, so all shall know His name is The LORD.

Core Concepts

  • Symbolic ActionsJeremiah's command to remain unmarried and avoid mourning or feasting serves as a prophetic sign of the impending desolation and cessation of normal life in Judah. This personal sacrifice underscores the severity of God's judgment upon the land.
  • Grievous Deaths and Unburied BodiesA central theme is the widespread death by sword and famine, with bodies left unburied and unlamented, becoming 'dung upon the face of the earth.' This signifies utter disgrace and the complete breakdown of societal norms and divine blessing.
  • Idolatry and DisobedienceThe primary reason for God's judgment is the people's persistent idolatry, forsaking the LORD for other gods, and their failure to keep His law. Both the fathers and the current generation are condemned for their evil hearts and disobedience.
  • Exile and ScatteringAs a consequence of their sin, the people will be cast out of their land into an unknown territory, where they will serve other gods. This foreshadows the Babylonian captivity and the dispersion of Israel.
  • Future Restoration and New ExodusDespite the severe judgment, the chapter offers a promise of future return, where the LORD will gather His people from all lands. This restoration is depicted as a new, greater act of deliverance than the exodus from Egypt.
  • Divine Recompense and JusticeThe LORD declares He will 'recompense their iniquity and their sin double' for defiling His land with abominable things. This emphasizes God's righteous judgment and His commitment to holding His people accountable for their actions.
  • God's Omniscience and PowerThe LORD asserts that His 'eyes are upon all their ways' and their iniquity is 'not hid from my face.' He promises to make His 'hand and my might' known, so they will recognize 'my name is The LORD,' affirming His supreme authority and knowledge.