Jeremias 16
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Jeremias 16:1-4
16:2 Jeremiah is restricted by YHWH from taking a wife (very unusual for a Jewish man) or having children (cf. Gen. 1:28; Lev. 26:22). The reason given is that families will soon die in YHWH's judgment (cf. Jer. 15:2-3; 16:3-4) for their idolatry (cf. Lev. 19:4; 26:1) deadly diseases (cf. Lev. 26:16,21; Deut. 28:21,22,27,59,60,61) sword (cf. Lev. 26:25; Jer. 50:28; 51:11) famine (Lev. 26:26; Deut. 28:17) Their bodies will be unburied (no one left to bury them, cf. Deut. 28:26; Ps. 79:2-3) and will be food for birds and animals (cf. Jer. 7:33; 16:4; 19:7; 34:20). This lact of a spouse symbolizes YHWH's lack of a covenant people (i.e. wife). YHWH surprisingly restricts Jeremiah from all societal comforts. He must be comforted by his service to YHWH, who would be his hope, comfort, and peace (cf. Jer. 16:19)! 16:3 Notice the three uses of the root for having children. born ‒ BDB 409, KB 411, ADJECTIVE bore ‒ BDB 408, KB 411, Qal PARTICIPLE begot ‒ BDB 408, KB 411, Hiphil PARTICIPLE The next generation, along with the current generation of Judeans, will be destroyed! 16:4 Notice the IMPERFECT VERBS. "die" ‒ BDB 559, KB 562, Qal IMPERFECT "lamented" ‒ BDB 704, KB 763, Niphal IMPERFECT (negated) "buried" ‒ BDB 868, IB 1064, Niphal IMPERFECT (negated) "will be as dung" ‒ BDB 224, KB 243, Qal IMPERFECT "come to an end" ‒ BDB 477, KB 476, Qal IMPERFECT Being unmourned, unburied, and devoured by animals was a great fear and curse for ANE people (cf. Jer. 7:33; 8:2; 9:22; 15:3-4; 19:7; 34:20; Deut. 28:26; 1 Kgs. 14:11). It affected one's afterlife in Sheol. SPECIAL TOPIC: WHERE ARE THE DEAD? ▣ NASB, NRSV, NJB, NIV "deadly diseases" NRSV, JPSOA "gruesome deaths" "a sickly death" "a horrible death" "famine" This is a CONSTRUCT of BDB 560 (i.e. "deadly," cf Ezek. 28:8) and BDB 316 (i.e. "diseases," cf. Jer. 14:18; 2 Chr. 21:19; Ps. 103:3). These were the result of covenant disobedience (cf. Lev. 26:16,21; Deut. 28:21,22,27,59-61; 29:14-21,22-28, esp. Jer. 16:22).
Jeremias 16:5-9
16:5-9 The first strophe (Jer. 16:1-4) denotes the death of families with no lamentation or burial (cf. Jer. 16:6). This second strophe picks up on "mourning" ‒ BDB 931 or "feasting" (cf. Amos 6:7) "lament" ‒ BDB 704 "console" ‒ BDB 626 "mourner" ‒ BDB 5 "consolation" ‒ BDB 637 The book of Jeremiah is structured/edited/compiled by theological themes word plays genre (i.e. laments, court scenes, promise/salvation oracles) 16:5 Notice the commands of Jer. 16:5. do not enter a house of mourning (or "feasting," i.e. special meal for the family of the dead) ‒ BDB 97, KB 112, Qal IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense do not lament ‒ BDB 229, KB 240, Qal IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense do not console them ‒ BDB 626, KB 678, Qal JUSSIVE Their plight was YHWH's judgment of their covenant disobedience. Mourning would send the wrong message (much like Lev. 10:1-3). It is possible there is no one left to mourn! ▣ "I have withdrawn" (BDB 62, KB 74, Qal PERFECT) My peace, BDB 1022, cf. Jer. 12:12; 30:5; see SPECIAL TOPIC: PEACE (shalom, OT) My lovingkindness, BDB 338 I, see an example of what happens when lovingkindness is removed at Jer. 13:14, see SPECIAL TOPIC: LOVINGKINDNESS (Hesed) My compassion, BDB 933, cf. Deut. 13:17; Neh. 9:19,27,31; Ps. 25:6; 40:11; 77:9; 79:8; 103:4; Isa. 63:7,15; hosea 2:19 (this term is found only here and in Jer. 42:12) The eternal covenant is negated, broken, cancelled! Shocking! A new covenant must come now (cf. Jer. 31:31-34; Ezek. 36:22-36). It is shocking that YHWH has annulled His "eternal" covenant with Abraham's descendants (cf. Lev. 26; Deut. 27-30)! This seems to violate 2 Sam. 7; 1 Chr. 17. However, Jeremiah realized the covenant of Moses was a "conditional covenant." Israel had been unfaithful from the Exodus onward, except for brief periods of godly kings and, even then, the population did not follow! I have come to believe that the promised restoration from Neo-Babylonian exile by Cyrus II's decree in 538 B.C. was only a temporary reprieve. By Jesus' day the people of Israel were again hopelessly lost in ritual, tradition, and poilitical alliances (i.e. Rome). The prophecy of Dan. 9:24-27 came into reality, as did the curses of Lev. 26; Deut. 28 in the Assyrian and Neo-Babylonian exiles. Israel was a stubborn, rebellious people. YHWH divorces HIs unfaithful wife (Israel) and takes a new faithful bride, the Church. This means that Jesus' Olivet Discourse (Matt. 24; Mark 13; Luke 17; 21) and the book of Revelation relate to the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in A.D. 70 (Partial Preterism). These texts are now fulfilled and past. They do not refer to al future historical event. I know for many of you, this is a new thought. Please look at my verse-by-verse commentary on these passages free online at www.freebiblecommentary.org SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT SPECIAL TOPIC: STUBBORNNESS SPECIAL TOPIC: THE SUPERIORITY OF THE NEW COVENANT OVER THE MOSAIC COVENANT SPECIAL TOPIC: PAUL'S VIEWS OF THE MOSAIC LAW 16:6 As all of the family dies in Jer. 16:1-4, in Jer. 16:6 all levels of society die (cf. Jer. 6:13; 8:10)! ▣ "nor will anyone gash himself or shave his head for them" These are pagan mourning rites (cf. Lev. 19:28; 21:5; Deut. 14:1; 1 Kgs. 18:28; Isa. 22:12; Jer. 41:5; 47:5; 48:37; see SPECIAL TOPIC: GRIEVING RITES). This shows how far the Judeans had progressed in idolatry (i.e. possibly ancestral worship and necromancy, cf. Deut. 26:14; Isa. 8:19-20)! 16:7 NASB, NKJV, NRSV, JPSOA "break bread" "no one will eat or drink" "a portion of bread" "no bread will be broken" JPSOA (footnote) "to them" NRSV (footnote) "break for them" "bread shall not be broken" "tear themselves for them" The MT has "no one shall break for them." The word "for them" is (BDB 241, plus PREPOSITION, להם). Notice the similarity to the word for "bread" is לחם (BDB 536). The UBS Text Project, p. 225, gives "bread" a "C" rating (considerable doubt). The LXX revocalized the Hebrew word "for them" to get the translation "bread." The KJV, following the Peshitta, translates the phrase as "neither shall men tear themselves," which would relate to Jer. 16:6 (i.e. "gash"). Because of the mention of a cup later in the verse, probably "bread" or "food" (NIV) makes more sense. However, the Jerome Bible Commentary (p. 316) reminds us of food being offered to the dead (cf. Deut. 26:14; Ezek. 24:17,22; Tobit 4:17), which would make this another idolatrous practice, so perhaps KJV is a valid way of understanding this verse. 16:8 This may relate to Jer. 15:17. Apparently these dinners were connected to burial rites (i.e. breaking the fast of the mourning period). The word "mourning" (BDB 931) can denote a banquet in Aramaic. Also, the phrase "the cup of consolation" is found only here and may refer to a meal after the funeral. Some commentators relate this verse to a marriage feast (cf. Jer. 16:9, UBS, Handbook for Translators on Jeremiah, p. 382). 16:9 Beginning in Jer. 16:9 several covenant titles for Israel's covenant Deity are used in this chapter (cf. Ps. 18:2). the Lord of hosts, Jer. 16:9 (SPECIAL TOPIC: LORD OF HOSTS) the God of Israel, Jer. 16:9 (Eloah; see SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, C.) the Lord our God, Jer. 16:10 (see SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, D.) as the Lord lives, Jer. 16:14,15 (cf. Jer. 4:2) my strength, Jer. 16:19 my stronghold, Jer. 16:19 my refuge, Jer. 16:19 (see SPECIAL TOPIC: REFUGE) My name is the Lord , Jer. 16:21 (see SPECIAL TOPIC: "THE NAME" OF YHWH) SPECIAL TOPIC: DESCRIPTIVE TITLES FOR GOD ▣ "I am going to eliminate" The first list is YHWH telling "where," "who," and "when." from this place (i.e. Judah) before your eyes in your time He will cause all normal social activities to cease. voice of rejoicing voice of gladness voice of the groom voice of the bride This phrase ( unique to Jeremiah) is repeated in Jer. 7:34; 25:10; 33:11. It is surprising that the text jumps from an occasion of grief to an occasion of joy (i.e. possibly the ambiguity of the term "house of mourning" or "house of feasting" at v. 5). Possibly this is meant to highlight that all social life and events will cease because all are dead!
Jeremias 16:10-13
16:10-13 The question "why us, why now" is addressed (cf. Deut. 29:24-26; Jer. 5:18-19; 9:12-16). the people's (cf. Jer. 16:12; see SPECIAL TOPIC: SIN IN THE OT) iniquity sin their forefathers had forsaken YHWH (see SPECIAL TOPIC: SEEK THE LORD) had not kept His law (see SPECIAL TOPIC: KEEP) followed after other gods (see SPECIAL TOPIC: IDOLATRY) served other gods (i.e. sacrifices) bowed down to other gods (see SPECIAL TOPIC: WORSHIP) Because of their multi-generational idolatry, YHWH will exile ("cast," BDB 376, KB 373, Hiphil PERFECT with waw, Jer. 16:13; 22:26) them from the Promised Land cause them to serve the pagan gods of that land (cf. Jer. 5:19) cause them not to have the favor (BDB 337, this form of the root found only here in the OT) of YHWH Notice the number of personal PRONOUNS used of YHWH. His special, covenant people have rejected Him. It is personal! SPECIAL TOPIC: CONSEQUENCES OF IDOLATRY ▣ 16:11 This verse clearly illustrates the generational covenant disobedience that led to the curses of Lev. 26 and Deut. 28 becoming a reality. The current generation followed the disobedience of their ancestors (i.e. v. 12). The Mosaic covenant is a "conditional covenant," as it relates to nations and individuals. YHWH's promise of forgiveness, restoration, and fellowship is "unconditional"! SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT SPECIAL TOPIC: KEEP 16:12 The people's lifestyle actions are characterized. walk according to the stubbornness of his own evil heart (cf. Jer. 7:24; 9:14; 11:8; 13:10; SPECIAL TOPIC: THE PATH, THE WAY) without listening (Shema, BDB 1033; see SPECIAL TOPIC: LISTEN/HEAR) to YHWH (cf. Jer. 11:8) SPECIAL TOPIC: STUBBORNNESS
Jeremias 16:14-15
16:14-15 This is the first of four brief strophes that deal with YHWH's promise of restoration! It is so common in the prophetic literature for "judgment" oracles to be matched with "promise" oracles. These verses reappear in Jer. 23:7-8. The book of Jeremiah is an anthology of his poems! They are not in chronological order and they do not always specify the historical setting. It is interesting that the terms for "land" (i.e. adamah and erets) are used in distinct ways. adamah (BDB 9) is used of the land of Canaan that YHWH gave to the descendants of the Patriarchs. SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT PROMISES TO THE PATRIARCHS erets (BDB 75, KB 90) is used of the land occupied by other people groups This is illustrated in Deut. 29:28; 2 Kgs. 25:21; Jer. 16:15 repeated in 23:7-8. SPECIAL TOPIC: LAND, COUNTRY, EARTH (erets) 16:14 "days are coming" Usually phrases like this refer to Judgment Day (cf. Jer. 7:32), but here it refers to restoration (i.e. a new exodus) day. The same "living" God (in contrast to the lifeless idols) who fulfilled His promise to Abraham (cf. Gen. 15:12-21) will do it again, but instead of an exodus from Egypt, it will be out of Mesopotamia. The reason for the restoration is not stated. YHWH chooses to act based on His character, will, and actions and not on His fallen, disabled, covenant people (cf. Jer. 16:17-18). A new covenant is present (cf. Jer. 31:31-34; Ezek. 36:22-38). SPECIAL TOPIC: THAT DAY SPECIAL TOPIC: THE LAST DAYS SPECIAL TOPIC: CHARACTERISTICS OF ISRAEL'S GOD (OT) 16:14 "As the Lord lives" This is a word play on the covenant name for Israel's God, YHWH. It is from the Hebrew VERB "to be" (cf. Exod. 3:13-15). He is the great "I am"! He is the Only One who possesses immortality. He is the ever-living, only-living One! This phrase was used as an oath formula in worship settings ‒ Deut. 6:13; 10:20; Jer. 4:2; 12:16; Hosea 4:15 an oath formula for speaking truth ‒ Jdgs. 8:19; Ruth 3:13; 1 Sam. 14:39,45; 20:3,21; 2 Sam. 4:9; 12:5; 1 Kgs. 1:29; 2:24; 22:14; Jer. 5:2; 38:16 SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, D. SPECIAL TOPIC: CHARACTERISTICS OF ISRAEL'S GOD (NT)
Jeremias 16:16-18
16:16-18 YHWH (emphatic in Jer. 16:16) uses food-gathering imagery to describe the return of all His exiled people. fishermen (opposite of Amos 4:2) hunters (opposite of Isa. 2:21) It is surely possible that Jer. 16:16-18 refers to judgment, while Jer. 16:14-15 and Jer. 16:19-20,21 refer to restoration. It seems to me that Jer. 16:17 is saying YHWH has not overlooked their sin. He has fairly and proportionally punished them, but now He is bringing them back (i.e. a new exodus)! SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN ▣ "abominations" See SPECIAL TOPIC: ABOMINATION (OT) 16:18 Before YHWH restores, He punishes them for their sin, especially idolatry. The phrase "doubly repay" is an idiom used in the sense of "fully" (cf. Isa. 40:2; Rev. 18:6) or complete judgment. ▣ "My inheritance" The NET Bible (p. 1337) has a good note on how this word is used in Jeremiah. the Promised Land (Palestine), Jer. 2:7 the covenant people themselves, Jer. 10:16; 12:8-9 the temple in Jerusalem, Jer. 12:7 SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT PROMISES TO THE PATRIARCHS
Jeremias 16:19-20
16:19a,b There is a beautiful series of descriptive titles for YHWH so reminiscent of Ps. 18:1, but with different words. my strength ‒ BDB 738, KB 806 II, cf. Exod. 15:2; Ps. 28:7; 62:7; 118:14; Isa. 12:2 my stronghold ‒ BDB 731, #2a, KB 806 II, cf. Ps. 28:8; 43:2; Isa. 25:4 my refuge ‒ BDB 631, KB 600, cf. Nah. 1:7 Notice the personal element (i.e. "my"). Biblical faith is a personal faith relationship of repentance, faith, faithfulness, obedience, worship, and service. All three of these NOUNS have a similoar connotation ‒ YHWH's protection. 16:19c,d This is a wonderful universal promise that all humans will come to YHWH (cf. Jer. 3:17; 4:2; 12:15,16). These universal, inclusive statements are more common in Isaiah (cf. Isa. 2:2-4; 12:4-5; 25:6-9; 42:6-12; 45:22-23; 49:5-6; 51:4-5; 56:6-8; 60:1-3; 66:23), but surely present in Jeremiah. The hope of Gen. 3:15 and 12:3; 22:18 will be fulfilled! SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN 16:19e,f The last two lines and Jer. 16:20 are clearly a turning from helpless, man-made idols to YHWH, from falsehood to truth! Superstition characterizes pagan humanity (cf. Isa. 44:9-20; Jer. 10:2-5)! Biblical faith is a "turning from" and a "turning to"! SPECIAL TOPIC: REPENTANCE (OT) SPECIAL TOPIC: SEEK YHWH
Jeremias 16:21
16:20 Notice YHWH will make the nations know His power know His might know His name SPECIAL TOPIC: KNOW