Jeremiah 16 1

Jeremiah 16:1 kjv

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

Jeremiah 16:1 nkjv

The word of the LORD also came to me, saying,

Jeremiah 16:1 niv

Then the word of the LORD came to me:

Jeremiah 16:1 esv

The word of the LORD came to me:

Jeremiah 16:1 nlt

The LORD gave me another message. He said,

Jeremiah 16 verses

Jeremiah 16 1 Meaning

Jeremiah 16:1 functions as a crucial declarative statement, marking the direct inception of God's message to the prophet Jeremiah. It asserts divine origin for the subsequent prophetic pronouncements found in the chapter, clarifying that the words Jeremiah is about to deliver are not his own thoughts or opinions, but an authentic and authoritative communication from the LORD. This phrase establishes Jeremiah's role as a direct messenger and conduit of God's will to the people of Judah, specifically regarding the severe judgments to be unveiled.

Jeremiah 16 1 Context

Jeremiah 16:1 serves as a stark and weighty introduction to a chapter primarily dominated by severe judgment against Judah. Chapters 14-15 focused on a devastating drought and God's unwavering decision for judgment despite Jeremiah's intercession. Chapter 16 expands on this theme, instructing Jeremiah through deeply symbolic acts and pronouncements about the coming national catastrophe. This verse directly prefaces God's commands to Jeremiah to abstain from marriage and having children (Jer 16:2-4), from participating in mourning rituals (Jer 16:5-7), and from joining in feasts (Jer 16:8-9). These actions are divine object lessons symbolizing the impending lack of joy, family, and peace that will engulf Judah due to their profound and persistent idolatry. The historical setting is the tumultuous late 7th to early 6th century BCE, a period of spiritual apostasy in Judah amidst the geopolitical rise of Babylon. God's "word" coming to Jeremiah here emphatically establishes that these harsh, unconventional commands and grim prophecies are not human thoughts but divine imperatives from Yahweh Himself, setting them against the popular false prophecies of peace prevalent at the time.

Jeremiah 16 1 Word analysis

• The word (Hebrew: dāḇār - דְּבַר): This term refers not merely to an utterance, but to a significant and effective message, a divine command, or an active event initiated by God. It implies authoritative communication with power, reminiscent of God's creative word in Genesis. In the context of prophecy, dāḇār denotes divine revelation given with intention and carrying full weight.
• of the Lord (Hebrew: YHWH - יְהוָה): Refers to the covenant name of God, Yahweh, the personal and redemptive God of Israel who revealed Himself to Moses (Exo 3:14-15). It identifies the specific source of the message as the sovereign, living God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, differentiating it from any human opinion or the pronouncements of false gods or prophets. This establishes the absolute truth and authority of the message.
• came (Hebrew: wa·yə·hî - וַיְהִי): This is the waw-consecutive perfect form of hayah ("to be" or "to come to pass"). In this prophetic formula, it indicates a specific event in time – the word actively and directly arriving to the prophet. It underscores that God initiated the communication, making it an undeniable divine act. The waw before yə·hî connects it sequentially, suggesting it's another distinct instance of divine revelation within Jeremiah's ongoing ministry.
• also to me (Hebrew: ê·lay - אֵלַי): The pronoun "me" specifically designates Jeremiah as the intended recipient and direct addressee of this particular divine message. The English translation "also" emphasizes this as a subsequent, yet equally direct, communication from God within the ongoing dialogue of Jeremiah's prophetic calling. It highlights the intensely personal and specific nature of Jeremiah's divine commission.
• saying (Hebrew: lê·mōr - לֵאמֹר): An infinitive construct often translated "to say" or "saying." It formally introduces the exact content of God's direct speech, indicating that what follows are the verbatim words or precise instructions that Jeremiah is to record and deliver. It functions as a quotation marker, authorizing the subsequent message as divine.

Words-group Analysis

• "The word of the Lord came also to me, saying": This is a classic, established prophetic formula (or superscription) used throughout the Old Testament prophetic books (e.g., Jer 1:4; Eze 1:3; Hos 1:1; Jonah 1:1). Its function is multifold:
  1. Divine Authority: It unequivocally establishes that the message does not originate from Jeremiah's personal thoughts or interpretations, but directly from the sovereign LORD Himself.
  2. Prophetic Legitimacy: It validates Jeremiah's role as a true prophet, distinguishing him from false prophets who spoke "a vision of their own imagination, not from the mouth of the LORD" (Jer 23:16, 21). This formula served as a critical safeguard against spiritual deception in ancient Israel.
  3. Active Revelation: It describes an active event where God communicates, rather than a passive receiving or discovery of truth. God "comes" to Jeremiah, emphasizing His initiative and involvement.
  4. Literary Marker: Structurally, it marks the beginning of a new oracle, a new unit of divine revelation, thereby organizing the prophetic book into distinct messages.

Jeremiah 16 1 Bonus section

• Direct Counter-Polemics: This formula implicitly challenges the common idolatrous practices and false prophecies of Jeremiah's time. The "word of the Lord" explicitly from YHWH stands in direct contrast to "words" attributed to Baal, Ashtoreth, or self-proclaimed prophets, asserting the unique claim of YHWH as the sole source of genuine revelation for Israel.
• The "Word" as a Theological Concept: The phrase "the word of the Lord" encapsulates the biblical concept of God's active engagement with creation and humanity. His word is creative, sustaining, covenant-establishing, and revelatory. It is a potent force, not mere information, which effects what it declares (Isa 55:11). In Jeremiah, it primarily carries authority and power in delivering judgment and warning.
• Precedent for all Scripture: This consistent formula highlights the divine inspiration behind the prophetic books, establishing a pattern for all canonical Scripture. Every message, command, or prophetic vision recorded stems ultimately from God's initiative to communicate with humanity.
• Jeremiah's Obedience: This initial statement is particularly important for the commands given to Jeremiah in the following verses (16:2-9), which involve significant personal sacrifice and symbolic acts. It signals that these difficult requirements are not personal choices but absolute divine directives, highlighting the prophet's necessary and often costly obedience to God's specific word.

Jeremiah 16 1 Commentary

Jeremiah 16:1, while brief, is foundational to understanding the weighty pronouncements that follow. It establishes the theological bedrock of Jeremiah's entire ministry: all that he speaks and commands, particularly the unpalatable truths of national judgment, are derived directly from the Almighty God, Yahweh. This opening phrase serves as a powerful validation of Jeremiah's authenticity and a strong counterpoint to the myriad false prophets thriving in Judah who offered reassuring words not sourced from God. The consistent use of "the word of the Lord came to me" throughout Jeremiah emphasizes that God is actively engaged with His people, even in their rebellion. This verse grounds the prophet's unique personal directives in this chapter – to not marry or participate in social rituals – in divine command, not personal whim. It underpins the profound significance and tragic nature of Judah's impending doom, confirming that this judgment is not an accident of history but a decreed act of a just and communicating God. It demands careful attention to God's ensuing message.