Jeremiah 16 2

Jeremiah 16:2 kjv

Thou shalt not take thee a wife, neither shalt thou have sons or daughters in this place.

Jeremiah 16:2 nkjv

"You shall not take a wife, nor shall you have sons or daughters in this place."

Jeremiah 16:2 niv

"You must not marry and have sons or daughters in this place."

Jeremiah 16:2 esv

"You shall not take a wife, nor shall you have sons or daughters in this place.

Jeremiah 16:2 nlt

"Do not get married or have children in this place.

Jeremiah 16 verses

Jeremiah 16 2 Meaning

Jeremiah 16:2 conveys a direct divine command to the prophet Jeremiah, prohibiting him from marrying or having children. This intensely personal mandate transformed Jeremiah's life into a living prophecy. By remaining unmarried and childless, Jeremiah symbolized the severe desolation, overwhelming grief, and profound disruption of normal societal life that was about to befall Judah. His life became a poignant, visible message foreshadowing that normal familial joy and continuity would tragically cease "in this place" due to the nation's persistent sin and God's impending judgment.

Jeremiah 16 2 Context

Jeremiah 16:2 is situated within a stark and powerful discourse of divine judgment and impending national disaster, spanning chapters 15-20 of Jeremiah. In ancient Israelite culture, marriage and numerous children were universally understood as fundamental blessings from God, symbolizing hope, divine favor, family continuity, and societal prosperity (Gen 1:28, Psa 127:3). To have a large family was to ensure one's legacy and secure the future. The command given to Jeremiah is a "sign-act," a common prophetic device where the prophet's personal actions or life circumstances symbolically portray God's message. By denying Jeremiah the possibility of marriage and family, God directly contradicted these cherished cultural values and profound personal desires. This act visually represented the coming societal breakdown, grief, and cessation of normal life, indicating that in Judah's dire future, family life would not be a blessing but a source of sorrow, suffering, and ultimately, extinction. The subsequent verses in chapter 16 (v.3-9) further elaborate on the grim future that renders normal family life untenable, solidifying Jeremiah's celibacy as a profound and tangible prophecy.

Jeremiah 16 2 Word analysis

• You (אִתָּה, atta): The singular second-person pronoun "you" directly addresses Jeremiah, underscoring the intensely personal nature and unique burden of this divine command specifically for him.
• shall not take (לֹא־תִקַּח, lo tikach): This is a strong negative imperative. The verb laqach ("to take") is the customary term for marrying in Hebrew, indicating a forceful and unequivocal prohibition against marriage for the prophet.
• a wife (אִשָּׁה, ishshah): This refers to a woman in the context of marriage. In ancient Israel, marrying was a foundational societal expectation and a principal avenue for personal fulfillment and lineage perpetuation; this command directly contravenes it.
• nor shall you have (וְלֹא־יִהְיֶה לְךָ, v'lo yihyeh l'kha): Literally meaning "and there shall not be to you," this phrase extends the prohibition from merely marrying to the absolute absence of children. It ensures Jeremiah would not even adopt or father children through other means.
• sons or daughters (בָּנִים וּבָנוֹת, banim u'vanot): Denoting children of both genders, this term covers all possible offspring, emphasizing a complete absence of future generations from Jeremiah's lineage. Children were considered the preeminent blessing (Psa 127:3); their denial powerfully symbolizes the cessation of national blessing.
• in this place (בַּמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה, bammâqôm hazzeh): This crucial phrase defines the specific geographical and temporal scope, referring to Judah/Jerusalem in the era leading up to the Babylonian exile. It signals that the command is contextual, tied to the imminent catastrophic judgment upon this specific land rather than a universal directive for all time or people.

Words-group analysis:

• "You shall not take a wife": This segment highlights Jeremiah's personal and unique divine mandate. By commanding him not to marry, God set Jeremiah apart from the cultural norm and the expectation of every man, preparing him to be a profoundly isolated prophet whose life would mirror the nation's spiritual desolation.
• "nor shall you have sons or daughters": This prohibition deepens the personal sacrifice. In an honor-shame society that valued progeny, being childless was seen as a curse or sorrow. For Jeremiah, it became a divine message that bringing children into such a period of impending wrath and national collapse would expose them to unspeakable suffering and inevitable death, removing the possibility of hope in the next generation.
• "in this place": This vital qualification grounds the entire command in its specific historical and geographical reality. It unequivocally links Jeremiah's celibacy to the unique, desperate circumstances of Judah facing imminent judgment, rather than presenting it as a universal spiritual principle. His celibacy served as a direct indictment of the dire situation in that land at that time, where future generations would face unprecedented hardship and even extinction.

Jeremiah 16 2 Bonus section

• The radical nature of this command meant Jeremiah was exempted from some societal responsibilities and even potential military service, further setting him apart to dedicate himself fully to his prophetic calling.
• This specific instruction to Jeremiah contrasts with other prophets like Isaiah, who had children whose names were symbolic (e.g., Shear-jashub, Maher-shalal-hash-baz in Isaiah 7:3, 8:3). For Jeremiah, the absence of children itself was the powerful sign.
• While an apparent curse from a societal perspective, Jeremiah's celibacy could also be seen as a merciful protection for the prophet. He was spared the agonizing pain of watching his own wife and children endure the unimaginable suffering, starvation, and death that befell Judah during the Babylonian siege, as described in Lamentations.
• This verse provides a crucial understanding that not all aspects of God's general design (e.g., be fruitful and multiply) apply universally when specific divine commands override them for unique redemptive or prophetic purposes. God's will is primary, even if it diverges from accepted norms.

Jeremiah 16 2 Commentary

Jeremiah 16:2 reveals God's profound, indeed harrowing, engagement with His prophet's personal life to convey a message of ultimate gravity to Judah. By commanding Jeremiah to forego marriage and children, God transformed His servant's very existence into a palpable, counter-cultural prophecy. In an ancient world where a family represented stability, prosperity, and God's blessing, Jeremiah's commanded solitary state would have deeply disturbed his contemporaries. His unmarried, childless life foreshadowed the utter desolation and sorrow awaiting Judah: that traditional life rituals, joyful celebrations, and the very continuation of family lines would cease in "this place" due to overwhelming divine judgment. This specific divine instruction emphasized that bringing children into such an era would be an act of profound futility, as they would face only death and suffering (Jer 16:3-4). Jeremiah's obedience to this painful decree showcased the uncompromising nature of God's word and the personal cost demanded of His prophets in faithfully representing His truth, even when it brought profound isolation and sorrow.