Jeremiah 22:18 kjv
Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah; They shall not lament for him, saying, Ah my brother! or, Ah sister! they shall not lament for him, saying, Ah lord! or, Ah his glory!
Jeremiah 22:18 nkjv
Therefore thus says the LORD concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah: "They shall not lament for him, Saying, 'Alas, my brother!' or 'Alas, my sister!' They shall not lament for him, Saying, 'Alas, master!' or 'Alas, his glory!'
Jeremiah 22:18 niv
Therefore this is what the LORD says about Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah: "They will not mourn for him: 'Alas, my brother! Alas, my sister!' They will not mourn for him: 'Alas, my master! Alas, his splendor!'
Jeremiah 22:18 esv
Therefore thus says the LORD concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah: "They shall not lament for him, saying, 'Ah, my brother!' or 'Ah, sister!' They shall not lament for him, saying, 'Ah, lord!' or 'Ah, his majesty!'
Jeremiah 22:18 nlt
Therefore, this is what the LORD says about Jehoiakim, son of King Josiah: "The people will not mourn for him, crying to one another,
'Alas, my brother! Alas, my sister!'
His subjects will not mourn for him, crying,
'Alas, our master is dead! Alas, his splendor is gone!'
Jeremiah 22 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jer 22:19 | He shall be buried with the burial of a donkey, drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem. | Direct continuation of judgment |
| 2 Chr 36:1 | ... Jehoiakim was twenty and five years old when he began to reign... | Sets historical context for Jehoiakim |
| 2 Kings 23:34 | Pharaoh Necho... made Eliakim... king in the place of his father Josiah... and changed his name to Jehoiakim. | Introduces Jehoiakim as king, imposed ruler |
| 2 Kings 24:6 | So Jehoiakim slept with his fathers. And Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead. | Records Jehoiakim's death |
| Eze 19:3-4 | ... and he was taken in his pit, and they brought him with hooks into the land of Egypt. | Echoes imagery of capture and disgrace |
| Eze 19:8 | ... the nations set traps for him... they put him in a cage with hooks. | Parallel judgment imagery against royalty |
| Ps 10:6 | He says in his heart, “I shall not be moved; no disaster can overtake me.” | Highlights Jehoiakim's arrogant pride |
| Jer 7:8-11 | "But behold, you trust in deceptive words that avail nothing. Will you steal and murder..." | Condemns their unjust actions, like Jehoiakim's |
| Jer 17:11 | As the partridge gathers what it has not hatched, so he who gets riches by unjust means... | Relates to Jehoiakim's unjust rule and plunder |
| Jer 17:18 | Let my persecutors be put to shame... | Prophetic plea for vindication, contrast to Jehoiakim's fate |
| Jer 23:33 | "And when this people, or a prophet, or a priest asks you, 'What is the utterance of the LORD?'..." | God's rejection of false prophecies |
| Jer 34:17 | "Therefore, thus says the LORD: You have not obeyed me by proclaiming a release for your brother..." | Judah's disobedience, relating to Jehoiakim's rule |
| Jer 36:30 | Therefore thus says the LORD concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah: He shall have no son to sit on the throne of David, and his dead body shall be cast out day and night. | Direct parallel prophecy of Jehoiakim's end |
| Acts 1:25 | ... to take the place of this Judas... | New Testament example of traitorous fate |
| Matt 27:4-5 | Then he cast down the pieces of silver into the temple and departed, and he went and hanged himself. | Similar extreme rejection and death |
| John 12:6 | He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief... | Denotes inner corruption of characters |
| Rom 2:23 | ... you who honor the law transgress the law by your failure to honor God. | Consequences of disobedience |
| 2 Tim 3:13 | while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. | Reflects the progressive corruption |
| Heb 10:29 | How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has profiled the Son of God... | Magnitude of sin and judgment |
| Rev 20:15 | And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. | Ultimate divine judgment and rejection |
| Zech 11:16 | For behold, I will raise up a shepherd in the land who does not seek the lost, who hunts the straying... | Judgment on foolish shepherds |
Jeremiah 22 verses
Jeremiah 22 18 Meaning
This verse describes the prophet Jeremiah's lament over King Jehoiakim's death. It states he will not be mourned with a "special mourning" (Hebrew: mispēd mar), will be buried like a donkey with no honors, and will be dragged out of Jerusalem. The "special mourning" refers to the deep grief and lamentations typically afforded to royalty. The burial like a donkey signifies ultimate disrespect and condemnation. The dragging out emphasizes rejection and ostracization, even in death.
Jeremiah 22 18 Context
Jeremiah chapter 22 describes God's judgment against the kings of Judah. This particular verse focuses on Jehoiakim, who reigned after his father Josiah. Josiah was a good king, but Jehoiakim reversed his father's reforms, reinstated idolatry, and ruled unjustly. He was known for his heavy-handedness, building opulent palaces through forced labor (Jer 22:13-17), and shedding innocent blood (Jer 22:17). The prophecy in this chapter is a condemnation of his wicked reign and an announcement of his ignominious end, mirroring the sins he committed during his life. This was part of God's judgment upon Judah for its pervasive sin and disobedience.
Jeremiah 22 18 Word Analysis
- So (Hebrew: kĕn): Indicates a consequence or result. Connects the preceding description of his sins with the prophetic declaration of his fate.
- shall he (Hebrew: yĭhyēh - third person masculine singular perfect): Future tense, denoting a certain outcome.
- be buried (Hebrew: qĕbûrâ): To inter, to place in a grave.
- with the burial of (Hebrew: qĕbûrâth): The manner or quality of burial.
- a donkey (Hebrew: ḥămar): Strong noun for a donkey, known for its stubbornness and lowly status. Here, it signifies extreme disgrace and lack of honor in death, starkly contrasting with the royal burial expected. Donkeys were also associated with burdens and unthinking labor.
- drawn (Hebrew: mĕshûqâ) or mĕshōqâ from root shāqâ): Drawn, dragged. Suggests a violent removal, without proper care or ceremony.
- and cast forth (Hebrew: wĕnôh’al or wĕnōpāl): Cast out, flung away, fallen. Implies rejection and abandonment, even in death.
- beyond (Hebrew: mî-): From, out of.
- the gates (Hebrew: shĕ‘ārey): City gates were significant locations, representing entrances and exits, but also places of judgment and public assembly.
- of Jerusalem (Hebrew: Yerûshâlayim): The capital city, the center of Israel's religious and political life. Being cast out of Jerusalem even in death highlights total exclusion from the covenant community.
Words Group Analysis
- "burial of a donkey": This phrase evokes imagery of impurity and being discarded. Donkeys, while used for transport, were not offered in sacrifice and were considered less noble than oxen. Burial in this manner signifies being cast away as refuse, stripped of dignity and reverence.
- "drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem": This powerful imagery emphasizes rejection by both the living and the dead. The gates of Jerusalem were symbolically the entry points to the covenant community. Being dragged and thrown out signified exclusion from the promised land, the holy city, and ultimately from God's presence and favor. It suggests his death was viewed as ignominious by his own people, mirroring his treatment of them.
Jeremiah 22 18 Bonus Section
This verse provides a sharp contrast to the anticipated reign of the Messiah, who would bring justice and righteousness. Jehoiakim's fate foreshadows the judgment that will fall upon any who presume to rule or live outside of God's will. The mention of the gates of Jerusalem is significant, as the city and its gates represented the people of God and the covenant. Being cast out beyond them in death symbolized exclusion from the covenant community and from God's presence. Jeremiah 36:30 directly corroborates this prophecy, stating that Jehoiakim "shall have no son to sit on the throne of David, and his dead body shall be cast out day and night." This reinforces the specificity and divine certainty of the prophecy concerning Jehoiakim. His burial was indeed ignominious, though the exact manner of his death is debated, with some accounts suggesting he was indeed dragged before the Babylonian king. Regardless, the prophetic declaration emphasizes the severe divine judgment upon his wicked reign.
Jeremiah 22 18 Commentary
Jeremiah 22:18 pronounces a stark and ignominious fate for King Jehoiakim. His reign was marked by injustice, oppression, and a disregard for God's law, despite the reforms initiated by his father, Josiah. This verse foretells that Jehoiakim will not receive the honorable burial befitting a king of Judah. Instead, he will be buried like a common animal, a donkey – a symbol of indignity. The description "drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem" paints a vivid picture of his ultimate rejection, both by the city and its people, and implies he will not be afforded rest among his royal predecessors. This judgment reflects the severe consequences of his faithlessness and wickedness, signifying that his reign and life ended in utter disgrace and exclusion from God's people, even in death. This contrasts sharply with the lineage of David and the future hope of a righteous King.
Optional examples for practical usage
- One may face personal repercussions for consistent, unrepented sin.
- Leaders who betray the trust placed in them will ultimately face divine accountability.
- True honor comes from faithfulness to God, not earthly possessions or power.