The big picture
Jeremiah 8 opens in verse 1 with “At that time, saith the LORD , they shall bring out the bones of the kings of Judah, and…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 11 with “For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace…”, and closes in verse 22 with “Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of…” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, people, bones, daughter, peace. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Jeremiah · King James Version · 22Jeremiah 8:1-8
1–8: At that time, saith the LORD , they shall bring out the bones of the…
Jeremiah 8:1–8 opens with “At that time, saith the LORD , they shall bring out the bones of the kings of Judah, and the…” and reaches “How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jeremiah 8 develops its own movement around LORD, people, bones, daughter, peace, with particular weight carried by bones, LORD, heaven.
Deep dive
The movement opens with “At that time, saith the LORD , they shall bring out the bones of the kings of Judah, and the…” By verse 4, the text has turned to “Moreover thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD ; Shall they fall, and not arise…” It lands on “How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made…” 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, 4 questions, 2 stated contrasts, 5 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 bones, LORD, heaven, Jerusalem, people, remain tie the complete block together. The central idea, “Jeremiah 8 develops its own movement around LORD, people, bones, daughter, peace,” 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 Jerusalem, Judah, Moreover, Shall, Yea. Its number language includes one. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 4: “Moreover thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD ; Shall they fall, and not arise? shall he turn away, and not return?” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.
Words to trace: bones, LORD, heaven, Jerusalem, people, remain
Verse-by-verse path
- Jeremiah 8:1
“At that time, saith the LORD , they shall bring out the bones of the kings of Judah, and the bones of his princes, and…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
- Jeremiah 8:2
“And they shall spread them before the sun, and the moon, and all the host of heaven, whom they have loved, and whom…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
- Jeremiah 8:3
“And death shall be chosen rather than life by all the residue of them that remain of this evil family, which remain in…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
- Jeremiah 8:4
“Moreover thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD ; Shall they fall, and not arise? shall he turn away, and not…” 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 8:5
“Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? they hold fast deceit, they refuse to…” 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 8:6
“I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright: no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done…” 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 8:7
“Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the…” Naming Yea keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Jeremiah 8:8
“How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the…” 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 8:1-8
King James Version1At that time, saith the LORD , they shall bring out the bones of the kings of Judah, and the bones of his princes, and the bones of the priests, and the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, out of their graves:
2And they shall spread them before the sun, and the moon, and all the host of heaven, whom they have loved, and whom they have served, and after whom they have walked, and whom they have sought, and whom they have worshipped: they shall not be gathered, nor be buried; they shall be for dung upon the face of the earth.
3And death shall be chosen rather than life by all the residue of them that remain of this evil family, which remain in all the places whither I have driven them, saith the LORD of hosts.
4Moreover thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD ; Shall they fall, and not arise? shall he turn away, and not return?
5Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return.
6I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright: no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle.
7Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the LORD .
8How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribes is in vain.
Jeremiah 8:9-16
9–16: The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have…
Jeremiah 8:9–16 opens with “The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the…” and reaches “The snorting of his horses was heard from Dan: the whole land trembled at the sound of the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jeremiah 8 develops its own movement around LORD, people, bones, daughter, peace, with particular weight carried by LORD, peace, ashamed.
Deep dive
The movement opens with “The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of…” By verse 12, the text has turned to “Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed…” It lands on “The snorting of his horses was heard from Dan: the whole land trembled at the sound of the…” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 3 questions, 1 stated contrast, 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, peace, ashamed, fall, land, time tie the complete block together. The central idea, “Jeremiah 8 develops its own movement around LORD, people, bones, daughter, peace,” 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 Dan, God, Peace, Were. Its number language includes one. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 12: “Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore…” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.
Words to trace: LORD, peace, ashamed, fall, land, time
Verse-by-verse path
- Jeremiah 8:9
“The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the LORD ; and what wisdom…” 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 8:10
“Therefore will I give their wives unto others, and their fields to them that shall inherit them: for every one from…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
- Jeremiah 8:11
“For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
- Jeremiah 8:12
“Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush…” 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 8:13
“I will surely consume them, saith the LORD : there shall be no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree, and 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 8:14
“Why do we sit still? assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the defenced cities, and let us be silent there: for…” 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 8:15
“We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of health, and behold trouble!” The line’s distinctive content terms include good, health, looked. Its relationship to verses 14 and 16 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Jeremiah 8:16
“The snorting of his horses was heard from Dan: the whole land trembled at the sound of the neighing of his strong…” Naming Dan keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Jeremiah 8:9-16
King James Version9The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the LORD ; and what wisdom is in them?
10Therefore will I give their wives unto others, and their fields to them that shall inherit them: for every one from the least even unto the greatest is given to covetousness, from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.
11For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.
12Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the LORD .
13I will surely consume them, saith the LORD : there shall be no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree, and the leaf shall fade; and the things that I have given them shall pass away from them.
14Why do we sit still? assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the defenced cities, and let us be silent there: for the LORD our God hath put us to silence, and given us water of gall to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD .
15We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of health, and behold trouble!
16The snorting of his horses was heard from Dan: the whole land trembled at the sound of the neighing of his strong ones; for they are come, and have devoured the land, and all that is in it; the city, and those that dwell therein.
Jeremiah 8:17-22
17–22: For, behold, I will send serpents, cockatrices, among you, which will…
Jeremiah 8:17–22 opens with “For, behold, I will send serpents, cockatrices, among you, which will not be charmed, and they…” and reaches “Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jeremiah 8 develops its own movement around LORD, people, bones, daughter, peace, with particular weight carried by daughter, people, hurt.
Deep dive
The movement opens with “For, behold, I will send serpents, cockatrices, among you, which will not be charmed, and…” By verse 19, the text has turned to “Behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people because of them that dwell in a far…” It lands on “Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the…” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 2 questions, 2 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 daughter, people, hurt, LORD, anger, astonishment tie the complete block together. The central idea, “Jeremiah 8 develops its own movement around LORD, people, bones, daughter, peace,” 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 Gilead, Zion. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 19: “Behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people because of them that dwell in a far country: Is not the LORD in Zion? is…” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.
Words to trace: daughter, people, hurt, LORD, anger, astonishment
Verse-by-verse path
- Jeremiah 8:17
“For, behold, I will send serpents, cockatrices, among you, which will not be charmed, and they shall bite you, saith…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
- Jeremiah 8:18
“When I would comfort myself against sorrow, my heart is faint in me.” The line’s distinctive content terms include comfort, faint, heart. Its relationship to verses 17 and 19 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Jeremiah 8:19
“Behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people because of them that dwell in a far country: Is not the LORD…” 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 8:20
“The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” The line’s distinctive content terms include ended, harvest, past. Its relationship to verses 19 and 21 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Jeremiah 8:21
“For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment hath taken hold on me.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
- Jeremiah 8:22
“Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people…” 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 8:17-22
King James Version17For, behold, I will send serpents, cockatrices, among you, which will not be charmed, and they shall bite you, saith the LORD .
18When I would comfort myself against sorrow, my heart is faint in me.
19Behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people because of them that dwell in a far country: Is not the LORD in Zion? is not her king in her? Why have they provoked me to anger with their graven images, and with strange vanities?
20The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.
21For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment hath taken hold on me.
22Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?
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 8?
- 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 8 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 8 develops its own movement around LORD, people, bones, daughter, peace?
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?
