Jeremiah16
English Standard Version
1The of the Lord to me:
2You shall not a , nor shall you have or in .
3For the Lord the and who are in this , and the who them and the who them in :
4They shall of . They shall not be , nor shall they be . They shall be as on the of the . They shall by the and by , and their shall be for the of the and for the of the .
5For the Lord: Do not the of , or to or for them, for I have my from , my and , the Lord.
6Both and shall in this . They shall not be , and no one shall for them or or make himself for them.
7No one shall bread for the , to him for the , nor shall him the of to for his or his .
8You shall not go the of to with them, to and .
9For the Lord of , the of : , I will in this , before your and in your , the of and the of , the of the and the of the .
10And when you these , and they to you, has the Lord this us? is our ? is the we have against the Lord our ?
11then you shall to them: your have me, the Lord, and have and have and them, and have me and have not my ,
12and because you have than your , for , every of you his , , refusing to to me.
13Therefore I will you out of this into a that neither you nor your have , and there you shall and , for I will you no .
14 , , the are , the Lord, when it shall no longer be , As the Lord who the of out of the of ,
15but As the Lord who the of of the and out of all the where he had them. For I will them back to their own that I to their .
16 , I am for , the Lord, and they shall them. And I will for , and they shall them from and , and out of the of the .
17For my are on their . They are not from , nor is their my .
18But I will their and their , they have my with the of their idols, and have my with their .
19O Lord, my and my , my in the of , to you shall the from the of the and : Our have nothing but , things in which there is no .
20Can for himself ? Such are not !
21 , , I will make them , this I will make them my and my , and they shall that my is the Lord.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Jeremiah 16.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Prohibitions given to the prophet. (1-9). The justice of God in these judgments. (10-13). Future restoration of the Jews, and the conversion of the Gentiles. (14-21).
vv1-9
The prophet must conduct himself as one who expected to see his country ruined very shortly. In the prospect of sad times, he is to abstain from marriage, mourning for the dead, and pleasure. Those who would convince others of the truths of God, must make it appear by their self-denial, that they believe it themselves. Peace, inward and outward, family and public, is wholly the work of God, and from his loving-kindness and mercy. When He takes his peace from any people, distress must follow. There may be times when it is proper to avoid things otherwise our duty; and we should always sit loose to the pleasures and concerns of this life.
vv10-13
Here seems to be the language of those who quarrel at the word of God, and instead of humbling and condemning themselves, justify themselves, as though God did them wrong. A plain and full answer is given. They were more obstinate in sin than their fathers, walking every one after the devices of his heart. Since they will not hearken, they shall be hurried away into a far country, a land they know not. If they had God's favour, that would make even the land of their captivity pleasant.
vv14-21
The restoration from the Babylonish captivity would be remembered in place of the deliverance from Egypt; it also typified spiritual redemption, and the future deliverance of the church from antichristian oppression. But none of the sins of sinners can be hidden from God, or shall be overlooked by him. He will find out and raise up instruments of his wrath, that shall destroy the Jews, by fraud like fishers, by force like hunters. The prophet, rejoicing at the hope of mercy to come, addressed the Lord as his strength and refuge. The deliverance out of captivity shall be a figure of the great salvation to be wrought by the Messiah. The nations have often known the power of Jehovah in his wrath; but they shall know him as the strength of his people, and their refuge in time of trouble.
Key Words
דָּבָר: a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
לָקַח: to take (in the widest variety of applications)
אִשָּׁה: a woman
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
בַּת: a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
אוֹנָם: Onam, the name of an Edomite and of an Israelite
מָקוֹם: properly, a standing, i.e. a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific); also (figuratively) of a condition (of body or mind)
כֹּה: properly, like this, i.e. by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now
עַל: above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
Cross References
Jeremiah 16Repeats verbatim the comparison of the Egypt deliverance with the greater future restoration.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
The NT parallel advising singleness during times of intense, present distress and calamity.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Explicitly details the forbidden custom of eating the "bread of men"/mourning feasts.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The Mosaic law prohibiting pagan practices of cutting oneself and baldness for the dead.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Identical prophetic warning of silencing the voices of mirth, gladness, and brides.
Supported by JFB
Fulfills Moses' warning that exile would result in serving other gods in unknown lands.
Supported by JFB
Parallel imagery of hooks and fishers used for God's sweeping judgment on Israel.
Supported by JFB
Scriptural root regarding food offered in mourning and associated with uncleanness.
Supported by JFB
Identical rhetorical question from the people demanding why God has pronounced this evil.
Supported by JFB
Chaldeans depicted as taking men like fish in a net.
Supported by JFB
Wisdom parallel that the ways of man are fully before God's eyes.
Supported by JFB
Direct verbal link with casting carcasses of idols onto the carcasses of their worshippers.
Supported by JFB
Defines the "grievous deaths" as those consigned to pestilence, sword, and famine.
Supported by JFB
Covenantal template for the nations asking why God laid waste to His land.
Supported by JFB
Explains the concept of God's "double" recompense for sin and destruction.
Supported by JFB