Jeremiah 8 1

Jeremiah 8:1 kjv

At that time, saith the LORD, they shall bring out the bones of the kings of Judah, and the bones of his princes, and the bones of the priests, and the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, out of their graves:

Jeremiah 8:1 nkjv

"At that time," says the LORD, "they shall bring out the bones of the kings of Judah, and the bones of its princes, and the bones of the priests, and the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, out of their graves.

Jeremiah 8:1 niv

"?'At that time, declares the LORD, the bones of the kings and officials of Judah, the bones of the priests and prophets, and the bones of the people of Jerusalem will be removed from their graves.

Jeremiah 8:1 esv

"At that time, declares the LORD, the bones of the kings of Judah, the bones of its officials, the bones of the priests, the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be brought out of their tombs.

Jeremiah 8:1 nlt

"In that day," says the LORD, "the enemy will break open the graves of the kings and officials of Judah, and the graves of the priests, prophets, and common people of Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 8 verses

Jeremiah 8 1 Meaning

Jeremiah 8:1 prophesies a profound and ultimate desecration of the dead in Judah and Jerusalem as an act of divine judgment. This verse signifies the total abasement and public shame brought upon all levels of society—from kings to common people, including their religious and civic leaders—by the Babylonians. Their bodies, once interred with reverence, will be removed from their tombs and exposed to the elements, preventing the cultural ideal of restful sleep and demonstrating God's complete abandonment due to their persistent idolatry and unfaithfulness.

Jeremiah 8 1 Context

Jeremiah 8:1 follows Jeremiah's fervent Temple Sermon in chapter 7, where he warned the people against their false security in the Temple while continuing in rampant idolatry, injustice, and disobedience. God declared His intention to make the Temple like Shiloh (Jer 7:12-15) and that the valley of Ben-Hinnom would become a "Valley of Slaughter" (Jer 7:32) where unburied corpses would lie, devoured by birds and beasts. Chapter 8 continues this theme of impending and comprehensive judgment, emphasizing the depth of Judah's spiritual apostasy and the severity of God's response. The immediate context of chapter 8 speaks of their continued idolatry, worshipping the "sun and moon and all the host of heaven" (Jer 8:2), and the shame and disgrace that will follow, particularly for their leaders who failed to guide them.

Jeremiah 8 1 Word Analysis

• At that time (בָּעֵת הַהִיא - ba'et hahi): This phrase typically points to a specific future moment of divine intervention, often judgment, closely linked to the preceding prophecies of devastation and the Babylonian invasion. It underscores the certainty and inevitability of the impending events.
• declares the LORD (נְאֻם יְהוָה - ne'um Yahweh): A solemn, authoritative prophetic formula indicating that the message directly originates from God Himself, imbuing it with unquestionable divine weight and truth. It emphasizes God's sovereign will in this judgment.
• the bones (עַצְמוֹת - atzmot): Represents the very essence of the deceased, the lasting physical remains. In ancient Israelite culture, proper burial and the sanctity of the grave were paramount. Desecrating bones was the ultimate indignity, symbolizing complete disgrace and obliteration of one's memory and rest. It negates the idea of "sleeping with one's fathers."
• of the kings of Judah, the bones of its officials, the bones of the priests, the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem: This extensive list covers every social, political, and religious stratum of Judahite society, from the highest authority (kings) to the common people (inhabitants), and the supposed spiritual guides (priests and prophets). The explicit mention of "false" prophets is implied elsewhere, but here, the judgment falls on all as representative of the nation's corporate sin and leadership failure. This universality signifies a comprehensive, inescapable judgment affecting everyone.
• will be brought out (וְהוֹצִיאוּ - v'hotziu): The passive construction implies a human agency (likely the invading Babylonians), acting as instruments of God's judgment. It signifies a forceful, intentional act of removal, stripping the deceased of their sanctity and peace. This public act ensures maximal dishonor.
• of their tombs (מִקִּבְרוֹתֵיהֶם - mikivroteihem): "Tombs" were revered places for rest, identity, and family continuity in ancient Israel. The removal of bones from graves signifies a violent rupture of these sacred bonds and a public display of utter defeat and shame, even in death. It denies the deceased any final rest or peace, a concept deeply abhorrent in the ancient Near East.

Words-group Analysis:

• "At that time, declares the LORD": This powerful opening emphasizes divine agency and specific timing, assuring the audience that this catastrophic event is a direct, pre-ordained decree from God, not merely a natural disaster or human conflict.
• "the bones of the kings of Judah... and the inhabitants of Jerusalem": This detailed enumeration highlights the democratic nature of God's judgment when a nation collectively sins. No one, regardless of their social standing or perceived importance, is exempt from the severe consequences of corporate idolatry and covenant breach. This group collectively represents the entire corrupted leadership and populace.
• "will be brought out of their tombs": This phrase paints a horrifying picture of total indignity. It means their bodies, instead of lying peacefully, would be unearthed, exposed to the elements, and left unburied. This action prevented proper funerary rites, shamed their memory, and culturally indicated an extreme divine curse or an enemy's ultimate contempt.

Jeremiah 8 1 Bonus section

In ancient Near Eastern cultures, the respect for the dead and their graves was almost universally sacred. The desecration of tombs was considered an extreme act of vengeance or an act of judgment by the gods, intended to permanently dishonor the deceased and their family, perhaps even affecting their afterlife beliefs or spiritual 'rest.' This prophecy goes beyond a mere military defeat; it points to a profound spiritual curse that impacts even the 'blessed sleep' of the forefathers, which was a symbol of peace and heritage. The very act of unearthing and exposing bones to the elements (as described in the subsequent verse where they would "lie on the face of the earth" to the "sun and moon and all the host of heaven") also has a symbolic reversal. The objects they worshipped (celestial bodies) would become witnesses to their shame, glaring down at their unhallowed remains, highlighting the futility and tragic irony of their idolatry. This judgment emphasizes that God alone grants rest and honor, and persistent rebellion against Him leads to utter disgrace both in life and beyond.

Jeremiah 8 1 Commentary

Jeremiah 8:1 graphically portrays one of the most severe curses imaginable in the ancient Near East: the desecration of the dead. For a society that placed high value on respectful burial and the integrity of ancestral tombs, this prophecy represents the ultimate humiliation, greater even than death itself for some. The "bones" being "brought out" and exposed signifies a total obliteration of dignity and memory, a perpetual shame that even death could not escape. It is a direct consequence of Judah's relentless apostasy and idolatry, where they elevated foreign gods and human pride above their covenant with the LORD. The universality of this judgment, encompassing every segment of society—from the most powerful to the least—underscores the pervasive nature of their sin and God's impartiality in judgment. This is God's final, shocking pronouncement: because they honored false gods, their own dead would be stripped of honor, left as refuse upon the earth, fulfilling the dire warnings of the Mosaic covenant. The act directly prefigures the horrific treatment of the vanquished in subsequent invasions and exiles, turning their places of eternal rest into sites of eternal disgrace.