Jeremiah 18 16

Jeremiah 18:16 kjv

To make their land desolate, and a perpetual hissing; every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished, and wag his head.

Jeremiah 18:16 nkjv

To make their land desolate and a perpetual hissing; Everyone who passes by it will be astonished And shake his head.

Jeremiah 18:16 niv

Their land will be an object of horror and of lasting scorn; all who pass by will be appalled and will shake their heads.

Jeremiah 18:16 esv

making their land a horror, a thing to be hissed at forever. Everyone who passes by it is horrified and shakes his head.

Jeremiah 18:16 nlt

Therefore, their land will become desolate,
a monument to their stupidity.
All who pass by will be astonished
and will shake their heads in amazement.

Jeremiah 18 verses

Jeremiah 18 16 Meaning

Jeremiah 18:16 prophesies the severe consequences awaiting the people of Judah due to their unfaithfulness to God. It declares that their cherished land will be utterly devastated and become a lasting object of scorn and derision. Anyone witnessing this desolation will be overcome with shock, horror, and lamentation, physically demonstrating their astonishment and disbelief. This verse encapsulates God's impending judgment for their abandonment of Him.

Jeremiah 18 16 Context

Jeremiah 18:16 is nestled within a prophetic warning against Judah's deep-seated apostasy and stubborn refusal to repent. The chapter opens with the vivid "Potter's House" analogy, where God demonstrates His sovereign power over nations, shaping them for either blessing or judgment based on their response to His word (Jer 18:1-12). Despite God's clear offer of mercy upon repentance, Judah defiantly proclaims, "It is hopeless! For we are going to follow our own plans, and each of us will act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart" (Jer 18:12). This verse directly follows God's subsequent lament over Judah's unnatural and unprecedented act of spiritual infidelity—forsaking the Lord, their fountain of living waters, for foreign gods and false practices (Jer 18:13-15). Unlike the reliable paths of nature, Judah has chosen a treacherous way, leading them to stumble. Verse 16, therefore, details the horrifying consequences of this deliberate and persistent disobedience, preceding God's ultimate declaration that He will scatter them and turn His back on them in their time of calamity (Jer 18:17). Historically, Jeremiah preached during the final decades of Judah before the Babylonian exile, a period characterized by political turmoil and profound spiritual decline, where warnings like these foreshadowed the imminent destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple.

Jeremiah 18 16 Word analysis

• לָשׂוּם (lasum): "to make," "to set," "to place." This verb emphasizes divine agency, indicating God is the one actively bringing about this condition or permitting it to unfold as a consequence of Judah's actions. It implies purpose and determination behind the judgment.

• אַרְצָם (artzam): "their land." This refers specifically to the land of Judah, the covenant land promised by God to Abraham's descendants (Gen 12:7) and integral to their national and religious identity. Its desolation represents the undoing of foundational covenant blessings.

• לְשַׁמָּה (l'shammah): "a desolation," "a waste," "a ruin." The root שָׁמֵם (shamem) describes utter emptiness, devastation, and the horrific state of something left barren. It conveys a sense of appalling ruin, signifying not just physical destruction but the psychological impact of it.

• מַשְׁרֵקַת (mashreqat): "a hissing," "a whistling." From the root שָׁרַק (sharaq), meaning to hiss or whistle. This is an onomatopoeic term describing an audible expression of scorn, derision, astonishment, or dismay from observers. It speaks of public shame and contempt.

• עוֹלָם (olam): "perpetual," "eternal," "forever." This word stresses the enduring nature of the judgment. The "hissing" will not be a fleeting reaction but a lasting, repeated acknowledgment of Judah's downfall. It signifies a profound, long-term consequence.

• כֹּל (kol): "everyone," "all." This emphasizes the universal scope of observation and reaction. It highlights that the desolation and its attendant shame will be widely known and observed by any passerby.

• עֹבֵר (over): "passing by," "one who passes through." From the root עָבַר (avar), to pass over or through. Refers to any traveler or person who happens to witness the devastated land, underscoring the public nature of Judah's disgrace.

• עָלֶיהָ (aleha): "over it," "upon it." The preposition al refers to the land (eretz).

• יִשֹּׁם (yishom): "will be astonished," "will be appalled," "will be devastated." Another form derived from the root שָׁמֵם (shamem), tying the reaction of observers directly to the state of desolation. They will be struck with horror and overwhelming shock at the extent of the ruin.

• יְנִיד רֹאשׁ (yenid ro'sh): "will shake his head." From נוּד (nud, to shake, wave) and רֹאשׁ (rosh, head). This is a physical gesture of sorrow, dismay, pity, or even derision, widely understood in the ancient Near East as a non-verbal expression of intense emotional reaction to disaster or shame.

• Word-groups analysis:

  • לָשׂוּם אַרְצָם לְשַׁמָּה: "to make their land a desolation." This phrase points to the divine decree for judgment, transforming a land once blessed and cultivated into barren ruin, directly attributable to God's hand as a response to Judah's sin.
  • מַשְׁרֵקַת עוֹלָם: "a perpetual hissing." This emphasizes the enduring public scandal and contempt associated with Judah's downfall. The land's ruin will be a constant source of public mockery and astonishment, rather than a temporary spectacle.
  • כֹּל עֹבֵר עָלֶיהָ יִשֹּׁם יְנִיד רֹאשׁ: "everyone who passes by it will be astonished and will shake his head." This vivid imagery describes the universal, horrified reaction to Judah's judgment. The combination of "astonishment" (linking to shamem, desolation) and "shaking head" conveys profound shock, lament, and possibly scorn, highlighting the tragic spectacle of a fallen nation.

Jeremiah 18 16 Bonus section

This verse contains a subtle yet powerful polemic against the false security many in Judah felt, believing their special covenant status and the presence of the Temple in Jerusalem guaranteed inviolability. God demonstrates that His justice is absolute, even for His chosen people, especially when they deviate from covenant. The "hissing" also suggests the scorn coming from surrounding nations, ironically including those whose gods Judah had illicitly pursued, showcasing the ultimate futility and shame of such idolatry. The land itself becomes a monument to unfaithfulness. The concept of desolation, "shammah," extends beyond physical destruction to encompass a profound spiritual void, indicating the withdrawal of God's presence and favor. This severe outcome highlights the gravity of covenant betrayal and the necessity of true repentance to avoid such ultimate disgrace.

Jeremiah 18 16 Commentary

Jeremiah 18:16 forcefully declares the divinely orchestrated fate awaiting Judah: a once-blessed land reduced to a horrifying desolation and a perpetual spectacle of scorn. Having abandoned the Lord, Judah's security and prosperity would be reversed by divine judgment. The double use of the root shamem ('desolation' and 'astonishment') highlights both the utter ruin of the land and the overwhelming shock it would evoke in observers. The "hissing" signifies public contempt and derision, transforming Judah's pride into an object of international shame. This warning underscores that God, the sovereign Potter, holds nations accountable and, though slow to anger, will inevitably bring justice against persistent rebellion and spiritual infidelity, turning even sacred places into lasting examples of His righteous judgment. It serves as a reminder that covenant blessings are conditional on faithfulness, and rebellion leads to profound and publicly recognized consequences.