Jeremiah 7 29

Jeremiah 7:29 kjv

Cut off thine hair, O Jerusalem, and cast it away, and take up a lamentation on high places; for the LORD hath rejected and forsaken the generation of his wrath.

Jeremiah 7:29 nkjv

Cut off your hair and cast it away, and take up a lamentation on the desolate heights; for the LORD has rejected and forsaken the generation of His wrath.'

Jeremiah 7:29 niv

"?'Cut off your hair and throw it away; take up a lament on the barren heights, for the LORD has rejected and abandoned this generation that is under his wrath.

Jeremiah 7:29 esv

"'Cut off your hair and cast it away; raise a lamentation on the bare heights, for the LORD has rejected and forsaken the generation of his wrath.'

Jeremiah 7:29 nlt

Shave your head in mourning, and weep alone on the mountains. For the LORD has rejected and forsaken this generation that has provoked his fury.'

Jeremiah 7 verses

Jeremiah 7 29 Meaning

Jeremiah 7:29 is a poignant and severe prophetic command to Jerusalem, urging its inhabitants to engage in extreme mourning and lamentation. The verse symbolizes deep humiliation and profound grief, instructing them to metaphorically "cut off their hair" – a sign of intense mourning and shame, contrasting the Nazirite vow of consecration – and lament publicly on desolate places, much like mourners for the dead. The urgent call for such despair stems from a devastating reality: the Lord God has utterly rejected and abandoned "this generation," specifically designated as "the generation of His wrath," due to their persistent idolatry, disobedience, and moral corruption. This divine rejection signifies a withdrawal of His covenant protection and favor, marking an irreversible point of judgment for their time.

Jeremiah 7 29 Context

Jeremiah 7:29 is part of Jeremiah's Temple Sermon (Jeremiah 7:1-15), a pivotal moment where the prophet stands at the gate of the Jerusalem Temple. In this powerful address, Jeremiah directly confronts the people's misguided and dangerous reliance on the physical presence of the Temple as a guarantee of divine protection, even while they engaged in blatant idolatry, social injustice, and abhorrent practices like child sacrifice (Jer 7:4-11, 31). Despite their religious rituals and proclamations of faithfulness to Yahweh, their actions fundamentally betrayed the covenant.

Jeremiah warns them that unless they truly amend their ways and cease their transgressions, God will abandon His house, the Temple, and deliver Judah into the hands of its enemies, just as He did with Shiloh (Jer 7:12-15). The verses leading up to verse 29 detail Judah's persistent and escalating disobedience, ignoring all prophetic warnings (Jer 7:23-28). The nation, characterized by "stiff necks" and unwillingness to listen, had refused God's counsel. Consequently, this specific verse serves as a climactic pronouncement of an irreversible judgment. Having exhausted divine patience, the Lord declares that for this particular generation, the period of warning is over, replaced by a command to mourn an inevitable rejection and destruction.

Historically, this occurred during the late 7th century BCE, a time of political instability and spiritual apostasy in Judah, primarily under the reign of King Jehoiakim. The reforming zeal of King Josiah had largely dissipated, and the people had reverted to syncretistic worship and social injustice, positioning them squarely under the judgment that was to be executed by the rising Babylonian Empire.

Jeremiah 7 29 Word analysis

• Cut off (גֹּזִּי, gozzī):
  • This is an imperative verb, a direct command.
  • It literally means "cut" or "shear."
  • In the context of hair, it refers to shaving or cutting off completely.
  • The term gozzi (or root gāzaẓ) can also imply being cut off or severed from something, adding to the theme of separation.
• your hair (נִזְרֵךְ, nizrēkh):
  • From the Hebrew root nēzer (נֵזֶר), which refers to a "crown," "diadem," or specifically the "consecrated hair" of a Nazirite (Num 6).
  • For Nazirites, long hair symbolized dedication, purity, and a sacred vow to God.
  • Here, the command to "cut off your nēzer" is a powerful inversion: instead of consecration, it signifies defilement, extreme mourning, disgrace, and the removal of glory or distinction. It's a symbolic stripping away of their "crown" or pride.
• O Jerusalem (יְרוּשָׁלַם, Y'rushalayim):
  • A direct address to the capital city, personifying it as a female figure.
  • This implies the collective people of Judah, particularly the religious and political leaders who bear corporate responsibility.
• and cast it away (וְהַשְׁלִיכִי, v'hashlīkhī):
  • Another strong imperative verb, meaning "throw down," "cast off," or "discard."
  • Emphasizes the decisive and definitive nature of the act, suggesting irreversible rejection of what was once held dear.
• mourn (עֲלִי קִינָה, ‘alî qînāh):
  • Literally "raise up a lament" or "take up a dirge."
  • ‘alî is an imperative verb meaning "go up" or "ascend," indicating a public, perhaps audible and demonstrative, expression of grief.
  • qînāh (lamentation/dirge) refers to a mournful song or poem, traditionally recited at funerals or times of national disaster.
  • This is not mere sadness, but a formal, intense public display of profound sorrow.
• on the bare heights (עַל־שְׁפָיִם, ‘al-shfayim):
  • Refers to open, desolate, or high places, often rocky or exposed terrain.
  • In Israelite religious tradition, "high places" were notoriously associated with idolatry and pagan worship, sites where foreign deities were venerated (cf. Jer 3:2, 19:5, 32:35).
  • Here, these formerly illicit sites become places of public lament, highlighting the ironic twist of their apostasy now leading to national devastation. The same places where they sought other gods are now where they mourn the wrath of the true God.
• for (כִּי, kī):
  • A strong causal conjunction, meaning "because," "for," or "indeed."
  • Introduces the irrefutable reason for the command to mourn.
• the LORD (יְהוָה, Yahweh):
  • The covenant name of God, emphasizing His personal relationship and expectations with Israel, and therefore the gravity of His judgment. It's not a generic god, but their God.
• has rejected (מָאַס, ma'as):
  • A very strong verb meaning "to despise," "to spurn," "to refuse," "to hold in contempt," "to cast off."
  • This is a severe, active decision by God to disassociate Himself and His favor from them.
  • It indicates a reversal of their chosen status; the "chosen people" are now rejected.
• and abandoned (וַיִּטֹּשׁ, va-yitosh):
  • Meaning "to forsake," "to desert," "to let go," "to abandon."
  • This signifies the withdrawal of God's presence, protection, and provision, leaving them vulnerable and without their primary source of security.
• this generation (אֶת־דּוֹר עֶבְרָתוֹ, et-dor ‘ebrato):
  • Dor (דּוֹר) means "generation."
  • This phrase refers specifically to the contemporary generation living in Jeremiah's time, emphasizing that the judgment is current and directly targeted.
• that is under his wrath (‘ebrato):
  • Literally "His fury" or "His indignation."
  • ‘ebrato comes from ‘eḇrâ (עֶבְרָה), denoting fierce, violent anger or indignation.
  • This phrase dor ‘ebrato ("generation of His wrath") is unique and particularly damning, signifying that this generation's very essence is defined by the severe, holy anger of God against their persistent and unrepentant sin. They have crossed a line, incurring His full judgment.

Jeremiah 7 29 Bonus section

• Irreversible Judgment: The phrase "this generation of His wrath" signifies a point of no return for that specific generation. While future generations could find repentance and restoration (as prophesied elsewhere by Jeremiah), the pronouncement for Jeremiah's contemporaries was one of a decided judgment, meaning they would face the full consequences of the Babylonian invasion and exile. This contrasts with earlier warnings which still offered a path to avert disaster (Jer 7:5-7).
• Corporate Sin and Suffering: The direct address to "Jerusalem" and "this generation" underscores the corporate nature of their sin. While individual responsibility exists, the entire nation was steeped in corruption, from leadership to common folk, necessitating a collective judgment. Their lament would be a corporate expression of shared suffering due to shared guilt.
• The Weight of Divine Abandonment: For an ancient Near Eastern people, the belief that their national God had "rejected" and "abandoned" them was the ultimate catastrophe. It meant a loss of identity, security, and hope. God's presence (Shekinah) departing from His temple and people was unimaginable, yet this verse foretells exactly that, pointing to the future destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple itself.
• Prophetic Hyperbole and Reality: The commands for extreme lament—cutting hair, mourning on heights—are potent prophetic imagery. While literal observance might occur, their primary function is to vividly communicate the intensity of the impending disaster and the spiritual reality of God's utter rejection, an emotional truth more severe than any physical act could fully convey.

Jeremiah 7 29 Commentary

Jeremiah 7:29 stands as a stark and irreversible declaration of divine judgment against Judah. Having exhausted all patience with their chronic disobedience, idolatry, and empty religiosity (epitomized in the Temple Sermon context), God, through Jeremiah, issues a chilling command for total lamentation. The symbolic act of cutting off one's consecrated hair (a reversal of Nazirite vows) and casting it away signifies not just mourning for the dead, but profound disgrace, the stripping of honor, and public acknowledgment of utter shame. To do this on the "bare heights," often pagan worship sites, highlights the direct consequence of their apostasy – the very places they polluted now become stages for their national humiliation. The profound reason given for such a desperate state is Yahweh's decisive rejection and abandonment of "this generation of His wrath." This phrase is not merely descriptive but prescriptive; it encapsulates the finality of their separation from God's favor. Their persistent sin has provoked God's righteous anger to a point of no return, for them. This verdict underscores the severe consequences of violating God's covenant, where privilege and protection give way to abandonment and desolation when His standards are continually flouted. It serves as a somber warning of God's holy intolerance for unrepentant sin and hypocrisy, revealing His unwavering commitment to justice even towards His chosen people.