Jeremiah 16 3

Jeremiah 16:3 kjv

For 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;

Jeremiah 16:3 nkjv

For thus says the LORD concerning the sons and daughters who are born in this place, and concerning their mothers who bore them and their fathers who begot them in this land:

Jeremiah 16:3 niv

For this is what the LORD says about the sons and daughters born in this land and about the women who are their mothers and the men who are their fathers:

Jeremiah 16:3 esv

For thus says the LORD concerning the sons and daughters who are born in this place, and concerning the mothers who bore them and the fathers who fathered them in this land:

Jeremiah 16:3 nlt

For this is what the LORD says about the children born here in this city and about their mothers and fathers:

Jeremiah 16 verses

Jeremiah 16 3 Meaning

Jeremiah 16:3 introduces a stark declaration from the LORD, targeting every member of the family unit in Judah: the children born in that time and place, along with their parents. This verse acts as a solemn prelude to the impending divine judgment, indicating that no segment of society, from the youngest to the eldest, will be exempt from the catastrophic consequences to follow. It underscores the pervasive nature of the coming calamity that will disrupt the most fundamental social structure – the family.

Jeremiah 16 3 Context

Jeremiah chapter 16 begins with a series of personal restrictions placed upon the prophet Jeremiah by the LORD. He is forbidden to marry, to mourn for the dead, or to participate in feasts (Jer 16:1-9). These unusual commands serve as prophetic object lessons, illustrating the dire future awaiting the people of Judah. The absence of marriage symbolizes the cessation of normal family life due to the coming destruction, preventing future generations from suffering the same fate. The prohibition against mourning foreshadows a time of such widespread death that traditional mourning rites will become impossible or irrelevant. Likewise, the ban on feasting signifies the end of joy and celebration. Jeremiah 16:3, then, directly follows these personal decrees, pinpointing the specific target of these prophetic warnings: the current generation of families—parents and their offspring—living in Judah, confirming that the entire social fabric will be torn apart by the impending Babylonian invasion and exile. The historical backdrop is Judah during the late 7th and early 6th centuries BCE, a period marked by persistent idolatry and a hardening of hearts against God's prophetic warnings, making the nation ripe for judgment.

Jeremiah 16 3 Word analysis

• For thus says the LORD (כִּי כֹה אָמַר יְהוָה, ki khoh amar YHWH): This is a powerful, authoritative prophetic formula. It immediately establishes that the words are not Jeremiah’s own opinion but a direct divine revelation. It highlights the divine source and immutable nature of the subsequent pronouncement, signifying absolute certainty.
• concerning the sons and daughters (עַל הַבָּנִים וְעַל הַבָּנוֹת, al ha-bānîm wə’al ha-bānôṯ): This phrase specifically identifies the offspring, the next generation. It uses common Hebrew terms for male children (בָּנִים) and female children (בָּנוֹת), emphasizing that the judgment will indiscriminately affect all youth.
• who are born in this place: This refers to Judah, specifically Jerusalem and its environs. It highlights the present generation residing there, whose very existence and location will bring them face-to-face with the impending catastrophe. The phrase points to the specific historical and geographical context of the judgment.
• and concerning their mothers who bore them: Emphasizes the female parents, highlighting the role of the mother in bringing life into the world, now ironically to face desolation. The natural, life-giving act is tragically contrasted with the future of death and suffering.
• and their fathers who fathered them: Completes the parental unit, referring to the male parents. This comprehensive reference to both mothers and fathers underlines that the entire generational continuum—those who generate life and the life generated—is under divine scrutiny and impending judgment. It underscores collective responsibility and shared fate within the family.

Words-group analysis

• "sons and daughters...mothers who bore them and their fathers who fathered them": This exhaustive description of the family unit is crucial. It underscores the comprehensive scope of the divine judgment, showing that it will devastate the foundational structure of society from the youngest members (children) to the primary caregivers (parents). The repetition of "concerning" (עַל, al) preceding each group further emphasizes the targeted and inclusive nature of this decree. It conveys that the catastrophe will impact the whole lineage and all family members across the generational divide, signifying the total undoing of Judah’s social fabric as a direct consequence of their collective sin. The wording is designed to paint a complete picture of societal ruin, where the family, normally a source of blessing and continuity, becomes a focal point of suffering.

Jeremiah 16 3 Bonus section

The severe tone of Jeremiah 16:3, and the pronouncements it introduces, stand in stark contrast to foundational biblical promises and blessings concerning family and offspring. For example, Gen 1:28 and 9:1 command fruitfulness and multiplication as blessings. Psa 127:3 states that children are a heritage from the LORD, and the fruit of the womb a reward. The breaking of this covenantal blessing, leading to children being targets of judgment rather than recipients of blessing, underscores the profound depth of Judah's transgression and the resulting divine sorrow and wrath. Furthermore, while Ezekiel 18 later clarifies that God holds individuals responsible for their own sin, verses like Jeremiah 16:3 illustrate that the consequences of widespread generational sin can manifest in collective societal devastation that tragically impacts entire families and future generations.

Jeremiah 16 3 Commentary

Jeremiah 16:3 sets the stage for a message of utter devastation upon the families of Judah. It is not merely an introduction but a specific indictment and warning, ensuring the audience understands the full breadth of the impending divine judgment. God declares that the lives of children, their mothers, and their fathers in "this place" – Judah – are marked for suffering. This specificity ensures there is no escaping the prophecy's impact, underscoring that the consequences of Israel's covenant unfaithfulness are pervasive, affecting all demographics and ages. The verse implies that the normal trajectory of family life—birth, growth, parental care, and generational succession—is about to be irrevocably broken. This shattering of the family unit is a direct result of the nation's spiritual apostasy, highlighting the tragic reality that societal sin often brings down judgment upon entire communities, including the innocent and the culpable alike, through its far-reaching implications. It is a grim prelude to the desolation and depopulation prophesied for Judah, indicating the severity of God's wrath and the gravity of their disobedience.