Jeremiah 16 16

Jeremiah 16:16 kjv

Behold, 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.

Jeremiah 16:16 nkjv

"Behold, I will send for many fishermen," says the LORD, "and they shall fish them; and afterward I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain and every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks.

Jeremiah 16:16 niv

"But now I will send for many fishermen," declares the LORD, "and they will catch them. After that I will send for many hunters, and they will hunt them down on every mountain and hill and from the crevices of the rocks.

Jeremiah 16:16 esv

"Behold, I am sending for many fishers, declares the LORD, and they shall catch them. And afterward I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain and every hill, and out of the clefts of the rocks.

Jeremiah 16:16 nlt

"But now I am sending for many fishermen who will catch them," says the LORD. "I am sending for hunters who will hunt them down in the mountains, hills, and caves.

Jeremiah 16 verses

Jeremiah 16 16 Meaning

Jeremiah 16:16 is a powerful prophetic declaration of the LORD's unwavering judgment against the people of Judah due to their profound sin, primarily idolatry and apostasy. The verse employs two vivid metaphors – "fishers" and "hunters" – to convey the comprehensiveness and inevitability of this divine retribution. It describes God actively orchestrating the capture and pursuit of His disobedient people by foreign agents, implying that no individual or group will escape, no hiding place will remain untouched. This judgment is thorough, reaching every part of the land, symbolizing a complete enforcement of the covenant curses.

Jeremiah 16 16 Context

Jeremiah chapter 16 unfolds during a period of deep spiritual decline in Judah, shortly before the Babylonian exile. The LORD has forbidden Jeremiah from marrying or having children, and from participating in mourning or feasting (vv. 1-9), as a living prophetic sign of the desolation and sorrow soon to overwhelm Judah. The people's inquiry about the reason for God's "great evil" against them (v. 10) elicits a sharp rebuke: their persistent idolatry, inherited from their ancestors, and their stubborn refusal to obey God's law (vv. 11-12). Consequently, the LORD declares He will banish them to a foreign land (v. 13). Verse 16, therefore, sits firmly within this context of divine judgment as the unavoidable consequence of generations of spiritual rebellion. It vividly portrays how this judgment will be executed – through overwhelming and inescapable foreign adversaries. Intriguingly, immediately following this grim prophecy of judgment (vv. 16-17), there's a powerful declaration of future restoration (vv. 14-15), emphasizing that even severe punishment serves a greater redemptive purpose within God's covenant plan, anticipating a new Exodus.

Jeremiah 16 16 Word analysis

• Behold (הִנְנִ֗י, hinnênî): This is an emphatic interjection, meaning "Indeed I" or "Here I am," which functions to draw immediate attention to a critically important and divinely initiated statement. It signals a divine pronouncement that is certain and potent, demanding notice from the audience.
• I will send for many fishers, declares the LORD (שֹׁלֵ֨חַ לְדַיָּגִ֜ים רַבִּ֗ים נְאֻם־יְהוָה֙, shōlēach lĕḏayyâgîm rabbîm nĕʾum-YHWH):
  • I will send (שֹׁלֵ֨חַ, shōlēach): A present participle used prophetically, emphasizing that the action is not just future, but imminent and certain, as if already underway from God's perspective. It highlights God's active role and sovereign control in raising up and dispatching these agents of judgment. This is not passive permission, but direct orchestration.
  • fishers (דַּיָּגִ֜ים, dayyāgîm): The Hebrew term literally means "fishermen." This metaphor refers to agents who will ensnare or capture people as one catches fish in a net or with hooks. Historically and culturally, fishing involves luring, ensnaring, and pulling out the catch from its natural habitat, indicating the ease and comprehensive nature of their capture. These are commonly interpreted as invading armies, most notably the Babylonians, who will round up the populace for exile.
  • many (רַבִּ֗ים, rabbîm): Emphasizes the overwhelming force and number of these agents, suggesting a collective and powerful operation, leaving no one uncaught due to insufficient numbers.
  • declares the LORD (נְאֻם־יְהוָה֙, nĕʾum-YHWH): This standard prophetic formula asserts the divine authority and origin of the message, authenticating it as an undeniable word directly from God Himself.
• and they shall catch them (וְדָגוּם֙, wĕḏāḡum): From the root meaning "to fish." This vividly portrays the thoroughness and efficiency of the "fishers." Just as fish have little defense against a well-laid net, so too will the people be gathered with little ability to resist. The implication is a complete sweep, collecting everyone destined for judgment.
• And afterward I will send for many hunters (וְאַֽחֲרֵי־כֵ֡ן אֶשְׁלַח֩ לְצַיָּדִ֨ים רַבִּ֜ים, wĕʾaharê-ḵên eshlaḥ lĕṣayyāḏîm rabbîm):
  • And afterward (וְאַֽחֲרֵי־כֵ֡ן, wĕʾaharê-ḵên): This transition indicates a sequential, complementary phase of the judgment. It might suggest the fishers target easily accessible populations, while hunters pursue those who attempt to flee or hide. It implies increased intensity and relentlessness.
  • hunters (צַיָּדִ֔ים, ṣayyāḏîm): The Hebrew literally means "hunters." This metaphor shifts from the relatively passive act of fishing to the active, aggressive pursuit typical of hunting. Hunters stalk, track, and capture prey, often in difficult terrain. This imagery denotes a relentless and active pursuit, leaving no stone unturned in finding the targets.
• and they shall hunt them from every mountain and every hill, and out of the clefts of the rocks (וְצָדּ֗וּם מִכָּל־הַ֤ר וּמִכָּל־גִּבְעָה֙ וּמִנְּקִקֵ֣י הַסְּלָעִֽים, wĕṣādûm mikkol-har umikkol-giḇʿâ uminnĕqiqê hassĕlāʿîm):
  • and they shall hunt them (וְצָדּ֗וּם, wĕṣādûm): From the root "to hunt," indicating a precise and determined search and capture.
  • from every mountain and every hill (mikkol-har umikkol-giḇʿâ): Emphasizes the thoroughness of the pursuit. Mountains and hills were natural places of refuge and hiding for those fleeing invaders. The phrase "every" (מִכָּל, mikkol) underscores that no high or prominent place will provide safety.
  • and out of the clefts of the rocks (uminqiqê hassĕlāʿîm): Refers to the hidden, secret crevices and caves often used for refuge in ancient Israel during times of war or trouble (e.g., during David's flight from Saul). This phrase signifies that even the deepest, most secure hiding places will be uncovered and yield those attempting to evade God's judgment. The imagery highlights the inescapability of the divine wrath.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "I will send for many fishers... and they shall catch them": This initial phase speaks to the wide-scale gathering, like an efficient and expansive dragnet over a water body, indicating a general capture of the population that is readily exposed.
• "And afterward I will send for many hunters... and they shall hunt them from every mountain and every hill, and out of the clefts of the rocks": This second phase details a more aggressive, targeted, and comprehensive pursuit. It portrays a relentless search and capture of those who managed to elude the first sweep, demonstrating that God's judgment is exhaustive, penetrating even the most concealed sanctuaries. The two images together convey absolute inescapable judgment across the entire landscape and population.

Jeremiah 16 16 Bonus section

The contrast between the "fishers of men" in the Old Testament context of judgment and the New Testament use by Jesus ("I will make you fishers of men" for discipleship in Mt 4:19) is notable. While both involve a "gathering," the former signifies a collection for judgment and exile, while the latter represents a gathering into the Kingdom of God for salvation. This highlights the adaptability of biblical metaphors and their context-dependent meaning. Jeremiah's imagery here also powerfully refutes any notion of divine impotency or indifference to the sins of His people, or the idea that their land provided ultimate sanctuary apart from covenant faithfulness. The precision of "every mountain and every hill, and out of the clefts of the rocks" emphasizes that this is not a random attack, but a divinely ordained, purposeful, and inescapable judgment on the nation of Judah. It serves as a stark reminder that physical refuge is useless against spiritual condemnation.

Jeremiah 16 16 Commentary

Jeremiah 16:16 underscores the LORD's sovereign control over historical events, even those seemingly orchestrated by human adversaries. It serves as a stern warning that no human effort to evade divine judgment can succeed when God has determined a course of action for His people's unfaithfulness. The progression from "fishers" (representing a broad sweep, like an initial invasion or mass deportation) to "hunters" (signifying a meticulous, persistent search into every conceivable hiding place) illustrates the all-encompassing nature of the coming calamity. This vivid imagery was not merely rhetorical; it mirrored the brutal efficiency of empires like Babylon in their military campaigns, ensuring a total subjugation and collection of the vanquished. Yet, embedded within Jeremiah's prophecies of judgment are seeds of hope. This judgment, though severe, often functioned as a disciplinary act designed to lead to repentance and, ultimately, restoration.