The big picture
Jeremiah 16 opens in verse 1 with “The word of the LORD came also unto me, saying,”, reaches its middle movement near verse 11 with “Then shalt thou say unto them, Because your fathers have forsaken me, saith the LORD …”, and closes in verse 21 with “Therefore, behold, I will this once cause them to know, I will cause them to know mine…” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, land, fathers, concerning, gods. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Jeremiah · King James Version · 21Jeremiah 16:1-7
1–7: The word of the LORD came also unto me, saying,
Jeremiah 16:1–7 opens with “The word of the LORD came also unto me, saying,” and reaches “Neither shall men tear themselves for them in mourning, to comfort them for the dead; neither…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jeremiah 16 develops its own movement around LORD, land, fathers, concerning, gods, with particular weight carried by concerning, LORD, buried.
Deep dive
The movement opens with “The word of the LORD came also unto me, saying,” By verse 4, the text has turned to “They shall die of grievous deaths; they shall not be lamented; neither shall they be buried…” It lands on “Neither shall men tear themselves for them in mourning, to comfort them for the dead…” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 1 stated contrast, 3 verses naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.
Accusation, warning, invitation to return, judgment, and hope each do different work. The prophet’s first audience anchors later questions about fulfillment. Words such as concerning, LORD, buried, daughters, earth, lament tie the complete block together. The central idea, “Jeremiah 16 develops its own movement around LORD, land, fathers, concerning, gods,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.
Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include Both, Enter, Neither, Thou. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 4: “They shall die of grievous deaths; they shall not be lamented; neither shall they be buried; but they shall be as dung upon the…” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.
Words to trace: concerning, LORD, buried, daughters, earth, lament
Verse-by-verse path
- Jeremiah 16:1
“The word of the LORD came also unto me, saying,” The line’s distinctive content terms include LORD, word. Its relationship to verses 2 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Jeremiah 16:2
“Thou shalt not take thee a wife, neither shalt thou have sons or daughters in this place.” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Jeremiah 16:3
“For thus saith the LORD concerning the sons and concerning the daughters that are born in this place, and concerning…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
- Jeremiah 16:4
“They shall die of grievous deaths; they shall not be lamented; neither shall they be buried; but they shall be as dung…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
- Jeremiah 16:5
“For thus saith the LORD , Enter not into the house of mourning, neither go to lament nor bemoan them: for I have taken…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
- Jeremiah 16:6
“Both the great and the small shall die in this land: they shall not be buried, neither shall men lament for them, nor…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
- Jeremiah 16:7
“Neither shall men tear themselves for them in mourning, to comfort them for the dead; neither shall men give them the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Jeremiah 16:1-7
King James Version1The 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.
Jeremiah 16:8-14
8–14: Thou shalt not also go into the house of feasting, to sit with them to…
Jeremiah 16:8–14 opens with “Thou shalt not also go into the house of feasting, to sit with them to eat and to drink.” and reaches “Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD , that it shall no more be said, The LORD…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jeremiah 16 develops its own movement around LORD, land, fathers, concerning, gods, with particular weight carried by LORD, voice, fathers.
Deep dive
The movement opens with “Thou shalt not also go into the house of feasting, to sit with them to eat and to drink.” By verse 11, the text has turned to “Then shalt thou say unto them, Because your fathers have forsaken me, saith the LORD , and…” It lands on “Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD , that it shall no more be said, The LORD…” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 1 verse with a speech marker, 1 question, 4 verses naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.
Accusation, warning, invitation to return, judgment, and hope each do different work. The prophet’s first audience anchors later questions about fulfillment. Words such as LORD, voice, fathers, land, days, evil tie the complete block together. The central idea, “Jeremiah 16 develops its own movement around LORD, land, fathers, concerning, gods,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.
Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include God, Israel, Because, Egypt, Thou, Wherefore. Its number language includes one. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 11: “Then shalt thou say unto them, Because your fathers have forsaken me, saith the LORD , and have walked after other gods, and have…” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.
Words to trace: LORD, voice, fathers, land, days, evil
Verse-by-verse path
- Jeremiah 16:8
“Thou shalt not also go into the house of feasting, to sit with them to eat and to drink.” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Jeremiah 16:9
“For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will cause to cease out of this place in your eyes, and…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
- Jeremiah 16:10
“And it shall come to pass, when thou shalt shew this people all these words, and they shall say unto thee, Wherefore…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
- Jeremiah 16:11
“Then shalt thou say unto them, Because your fathers have forsaken me, saith the LORD , and have walked after other…” Naming Because keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Jeremiah 16:12
“And ye have done worse than your fathers; for, behold, ye walk every one after the imagination of his evil heart, that…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
- Jeremiah 16:13
“Therefore will I cast you out of this land into a land that ye know not, neither ye nor your fathers; and there shall…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
- Jeremiah 16:14
“Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD , that it shall no more be said, The LORD liveth, that brought up the…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
Jeremiah 16:8-14
King James Version8Thou 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.
10And 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.
14Therefore, 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;
Jeremiah 16:15-21
15–21: But, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the…
Jeremiah 16:15–21 opens with “But, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and…” and reaches “Therefore, behold, I will this once cause them to know, I will cause them to know mine hand and…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jeremiah 16 develops its own movement around LORD, land, fathers, concerning, gods, with particular weight carried by LORD, know, land.
Deep dive
The movement opens with “But, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and…” By verse 18, the text has turned to “And first I will recompense their iniquity and their sin double; because they have defiled…” It lands on “Therefore, behold, I will this once cause them to know, I will cause them to know mine hand…” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 1 question, 1 stated contrast, 3 verses naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.
Accusation, warning, invitation to return, judgment, and hope each do different work. The prophet’s first audience anchors later questions about fulfillment. Words such as LORD, know, land, cause, eyes, fathers tie the complete block together. The central idea, “Jeremiah 16 develops its own movement around LORD, land, fathers, concerning, gods,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.
Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include Gentiles, Israel, Shall, Surely. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 20: “Shall a man make gods unto himself, and they are no gods?” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.
Words to trace: LORD, know, land, cause, eyes, fathers
Verse-by-verse path
- Jeremiah 16:15
“But, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands…” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Jeremiah 16:16
“Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the LORD , and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
- Jeremiah 16:17
“For mine eyes are upon all their ways: they are not hid from my face, neither is their iniquity hid from mine eyes.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
- Jeremiah 16:18
“And first I will recompense their iniquity and their sin double; because they have defiled my land, they have filled…” The line’s distinctive content terms include abominable, carcases, defiled. Its relationship to verses 17 and 19 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Jeremiah 16:19
“O LORD , my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
- Jeremiah 16:20
“Shall a man make gods unto himself, and they are no gods?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
- Jeremiah 16:21
“Therefore, behold, I will this once cause them to know, I will cause them to know mine hand and my might; and they…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
Jeremiah 16:15-21
King James Version15But, 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 .
Questions to keep in mind while reading
- Identify the historical crisis, covenant failure, warning, and promised hope.
- Distinguish the prophet’s immediate audience from later biblical connections.
- Do not turn present-day headlines into confident fulfillment claims without textual evidence.
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.
Questions beneath the surface
- What account of God, human freedom, responsibility, and the good life emerges from Jeremiah 16?
- Which tension does the chapter refuse to resolve quickly?
- What changes when the chapter is read as part of the whole canon rather than as an isolated moral story?
- Where might a sincere reader confuse a familiar tradition with something the text states directly?
Questions for serious personal contemplation
These open-ended questions make room for tension, honest response, prayer, and conclusions that remain accountable to the chapter.
Observe without rushing
What part of Jeremiah 16 makes you stop, feel unsettled, or feel surprised, and why?
Which detail in the passage would be easiest to overlook? How does that detail change your understanding?
Where do you see tension between what happens and this focus: Jeremiah 16 develops its own movement around LORD, land, fathers, concerning, gods?
What important question does the passage leave open instead of resolving quickly?
Examine your inner life honestly
Which person, response, fear, or desire in the passage feels most like your own life right now?
What assumption about God, other people, or yourself does this text challenge?
Which part would you rather soften, avoid, or explain away too quickly? What might that reaction reveal?
If this Scripture could ask you one direct question, what do you think it would ask?
Respond with wisdom and courage
What do you need to remember, confess, grieve, thank God for, or trust after reading this passage?
How might another faithful person read this situation differently without ignoring the text?
What obedient response would be costly, uncomfortable, or slow, yet still faithful to Scripture?
What question will you carry into prayer this week, and which verses will you keep in front of you?