Jeremiah 8:18 kjv
When I would comfort myself against sorrow, my heart is faint in me.
Jeremiah 8:18 nkjv
I would comfort myself in sorrow; My heart is faint in me.
Jeremiah 8:18 niv
You who are my Comforter in sorrow, my heart is faint within me.
Jeremiah 8:18 esv
My joy is gone; grief is upon me; my heart is sick within me.
Jeremiah 8:18 nlt
My grief is beyond healing;
my heart is broken.
Jeremiah 8 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 8:18 | "When I would comfort myself against sorrow, my heart is faint in me." | Jeremiah 9:1 (Parallel lament) |
| Isaiah 22:4 | "Therefore I said, look away from me, and I will weep bitterly; do not try to comfort me because of the destruction of the daughter of my people." | Isaiah 1:5 (Undoing) |
| Psalm 42:11 | "Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God..." | Psalm 43:5 (Similar lament) |
| Lamentations 1:16 | "I weep and my eyes flow with tears; for a comforter is far from me..." | Lamentations 3:48-51 (Widespread weeping) |
| Lamentations 2:11 | "My eyes overflow, my insides churn..." | Jeremiah 4:19 (Internal anguish) |
| Jeremiah 4:19 | "My anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain! Oh, the anguish of my inner walls!" | Ezekiel 7:15 (Anguish) |
| Jeremiah 9:1 | "Oh, that my head were water, and my eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain..." | Jeremiah 13:17 (Weeping) |
| Romans 9:2 | "that I have great sorrow and unceasing pain in my heart." | 2 Corinthians 12:15 (Paul's sorrow) |
| Galatians 4:19 | "My little children, for whom I am again in anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you—" | 2 Corinthians 7:10 (Sorrow leading to repentance) |
| Luke 19:41 | "And when he drew near the city, he wept over it," | John 11:35 (Jesus wept) |
| Acts 20:19 | "serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials..." | Philippians 2:27 (Paul's concern) |
| Hebrews 5:7 | "in the days of his flesh, he offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears..." | Genesis 6:6 (God grieved) |
| Genesis 6:6 | "And the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart." | Exodus 32:12-14 (Moses interceding) |
| Exodus 32:14 | "And the LORD relented from the disaster that he had said he would do to his people." | 2 Samuel 24:16 (David's repentance, God relenting) |
| Jeremiah 14:17 | "You shall say this word to them: 'Let my eyes flow without ceasing, for the jaw of a virgin daughter has been crushed..." | Jeremiah 15:1 (No turning back) |
| Jeremiah 15:1 | "but if Moses and Samuel stood before me, my soul could not be toward this people..." | Ezekiel 14:14, 20 (Righteous men ineffective) |
| Jeremiah 18:10 | "if they do evil in my sight, not obeying my voice, then I will relent of the disaster that I have intended for them." | Jonah 3:10 (Nineveh repents, God relents) |
| 2 Kings 22:20 | "Yet, when I bring disaster upon you and my words have seemed fulfilled, then you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken." | Jeremiah 4:27 (Yet to bring full destruction) |
| Ezekiel 14:20 | "even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live, declares the Lord GOD, they would deliver neither son nor daughter. They would deliver only their own lives by their righteousness.” | Joel 2:13 (Return to God) |
| Matthew 24:35 | "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away." | Jeremiah 7:29 (Abhorrence of Israel) |
Jeremiah 8 verses
Jeremiah 8 18 Meaning
This verse expresses profound sorrow and deep personal grief over an impending, unchangeable disaster, presented as a consequence of past actions. The prophet's lament signifies a broken spirit due to the overwhelming despair for his people.
Jeremiah 8 18 Context
Jeremiah is speaking in a time of profound national crisis for Judah. The southern kingdom is on the brink of, or already experiencing, devastating defeat and exile at the hands of Babylon. This verse is part of a larger lament by Jeremiah, likely delivered in public or recorded for national reflection. The prophet's role is to convey God's message, which is one of judgment due to Israel's persistent idolatry and disobedience. However, Jeremiah, as a faithful servant and shepherd of his people, deeply feels the impending suffering. His sorrow is so overwhelming that his attempts to find comfort are met with only deeper despair. This highlights the severity of the divine judgment and the personal anguish of the prophet.
Jeremiah 8 18 Word analysis
- "When" (וְכִי - wĕkî): Conjunction introducing a condition or time. Here it marks the commencement of the prophet's emotional state in response to the inevitable disaster.
- "I would comfort" (אֲנַחֵם - ’ănăḥēm): First-person imperfect of נָחַם (nāḥam), meaning to comfort, console, or repent. Here it signifies his desire or attempt to find solace for himself regarding the national distress.
- "myself" (עַל - ‘al): A preposition typically meaning upon, over, or concerning. It indicates the object or basis of his comfort.
- "against" (מִפְּנֵי - mippĕnê): From the face of, because of. This phrase indicates the source of his desire for comfort is the overwhelming sorrow.
- "sorrow" (נֶחָמָה - neḥāmāh): Noun related to the verb "to comfort," but in this context, it carries the sense of "comfort," yet used ironically or to emphasize that his sought comfort is absent. Alternatively, some interpret it as "the comfort which is due to me" that is lacking, emphasizing the depth of his sorrow. The Hebrew root is the same for "comfort" and this usage, showing a play on words where his expectation of comfort leads to more sorrow.
- "my" (לִבִּי - libbî): My heart. In Hebrew thought, the heart is the seat of emotions, will, and intellect.
- "heart" (לֵב - lēḇ): The innermost being, including emotions, thoughts, and will.
- "is faint" (עָתַת - ‘āṯaṯ): This is a unique and difficult verb in the Niphal stem of עתה (‘āṯâ). Its precise meaning is debated. Some suggest it means "to be stunned," "to be overcome," or "to be weary unto death." It vividly portrays an extreme state of mental or emotional prostration. It could imply being trapped or fettered, leading to helplessness.
- "in me" (בִּי - bî): Within me.
- "When I would comfort myself against sorrow": This phrase encapsulates the futility of finding relief. His attempts at consolation are inherently flawed because the source of sorrow (the impending judgment) is so vast and absolute, leaving no room for genuine comfort.
- "my heart is faint in me": This depicts an internal collapse. The prophet’s emotional and spiritual reserves are completely depleted. He is overcome, unable to rally himself even with his own mental efforts.
Jeremiah 8 18 Bonus section
The verb עָתַת (‘āṯaṯ) in the Niphal conjugation is exceptionally rare, appearing only in this verse and Job 32:19. This rarity adds to the interpretative challenge but emphasizes its strong, unique meaning of being deeply prostrated or overcome. The context of Job where the same verb is used describes one struggling to speak, as their 'spirit is confined' within them, aligning with Jeremiah's inability to find comfort within himself. This indicates a shared experience of overwhelming internal distress among the biblical writers. The imagery contrasts sharply with the common concept of resilience and hope found elsewhere in Scripture, showcasing moments where even the faithful can be brought to the brink of despair due to the gravity of sin and its consequences.
Jeremiah 8 18 Commentary
Jeremiah’s lament is a visceral expression of the spiritual burden he carries. He attempts to muster inner strength and find solace, perhaps through prayer or reflection on God's promises. However, the sheer weight of impending disaster, caused by the nation's unfaithfulness, renders his efforts useless. His heart, the very core of his being, collapses under the pressure. This isn't a momentary sadness, but a deep, systemic breakdown. The verse highlights the empathic suffering of a true prophet and underscores God's grieved response to His people’s sin, a sorrow so profound it impacts even His messenger to the point of incapacitation. This internal struggle serves to demonstrate the inescapable nature of the judgment.