Jeremiah 9 17

Jeremiah 9:17 kjv

Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Consider ye, and call for the mourning women, that they may come; and send for cunning women, that they may come:

Jeremiah 9:17 nkjv

Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Consider and call for the mourning women, That they may come; And send for skillful wailing women, That they may come.

Jeremiah 9:17 niv

This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Consider now! Call for the wailing women to come; send for the most skillful of them.

Jeremiah 9:17 esv

Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Consider, and call for the mourning women to come; send for the skillful women to come;

Jeremiah 9:17 nlt

This is what the LORD of Heaven's Armies says:
"Consider all this, and call for the mourners.
Send for the women who mourn at funerals.

Jeremiah 9 verses

Jeremiah 9 17 Meaning

Jeremiah 9:17 presents a divine command from the LORD of hosts, instructing the people of Judah to immediately prepare for a national calamity of such magnitude that it necessitates calling for professional mourners. These "mourning women" and "cunning women" (experts in lamentation) are to be summoned, signifying that widespread death and desolation are not merely possible, but certain and imminent, requiring skilled expertise to lead the profound national grief that is to ensue. It serves as a stark, urgent prophecy that Judah's persistent sin will result in divine judgment, demanding a response of deep reflection and lamentation.

Jeremiah 9 17 Context

Jeremiah chapter 9 is steeped in lamentation, both from the prophet personally (Jer 9:1-6) and for the impending doom of Judah. Jeremiah expresses his deep anguish over the persistent unfaithfulness, deceit, and moral decay of his people, even wishing he had a "wilderness lodging place" to escape their wickedness. The preceding verses vividly describe the people's treachery and refusal to know the LORD, despite His patient teaching. Verse 9:17 specifically follows God's affirmation of His just judgment against their sins, immediately signaling that the devastation is not merely an abstract threat but an undeniable future reality that requires public, ritualized grief. Historically, this prophecy was given as Judah stood on the brink of exile to Babylon, a time when divine warnings were largely unheeded, and spiritual complacency pervaded. God's command to call professional mourners highlights the divine certainty and the horrific scale of the national disaster that would soon befall them.

Jeremiah 9 17 Word analysis

• כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת (Koh amar YHVH Tsva'ot): "Thus saith the LORD of hosts." This is a classic prophetic formula, signaling that the following message is not Jeremiah's opinion but a direct, authoritative decree from the Almighty God, emphasizing His sovereign power over all creation and armies. The "LORD of hosts" (Jehovah Sabaoth) title underscores God's immense power to execute judgment.
• הִתְבּוֹנְנוּ (hitbonenu): "Consider ye" or "Reflect deeply." This is an imperative in the reflexive-intensive stem (Hithpael) from the root בִּין (bin), meaning "to understand," "discern." It urges the people to observe keenly, to ponder with deep discernment, and to comprehend the profound gravity of what is about to happen, rather than dismiss it superficially.
• וְקִרְאוּ (v'qir'u): "and call" / "and summon." A direct imperative to summon, highlighting urgency.
• לַמְקֹונְנוֹת (lam'qon'nenot): "for the mourning women." These were professional female mourners (from the root קוּן - qun, "to chant a lament" or "wail"), an established institution in the ancient Near East. Their role was to lead, organize, and intensify public displays of grief, often through formalized chants and wails at funerals or during times of national calamity. Their presence signified undeniable death.
• וְתָבוֹאֶינָה (v'tavo'enah): "and they may come." A simple, yet forceful, statement of expected arrival, reinforcing the command's inevitability.
• וְשִׁלְחוּ (v'shil'chu): "and send." Similar to "call," another imperative, suggesting active recruitment and commissioning.
• לַחֲכָמוֹת (lachakhamot): "for cunning women" / "wise women" / "skillful women." From חָכָם (chakham), meaning "wise," "skillful," "expert." This term suggests a higher level of proficiency in lamentation. These women were not just wailers but likely composers of dirges and masters of the art of eliciting profound communal sorrow, indicating the judgment would require the highest level of mourning.
• וְתָבוֹאֶינָה (v'tavo'enah): "and they may come." The repetition emphasizes the urgency and certainty that these expert mourners are indeed required.

• "Consider ye, and call...and send...": This sequence of commands shows an intentional and organized preparation for tragedy. It is not an accidental event, but a divinely ordained consequence that requires forethought and action from the people themselves to acknowledge its coming.
• "the mourning women...the cunning women": This duo highlights the scale and depth of the anticipated disaster. It’s not just for a small private funeral, but a national catastrophe requiring both general mourners and specialists skilled in creating powerful, emotive laments, demonstrating the pervasive and inescapable sorrow that would fall upon Judah.

Jeremiah 9 17 Bonus section

The command to call professional mourners implies an inversion of societal norms for Judah. Instead of preparing for festivals, weddings, or times of prosperity, the nation is directed to prepare for a "national funeral." This stark contrast serves as a powerful message: the future they anticipate is not the one God has in store due to their rebellion. The reference to "the LORD of hosts" is significant; it is the commander of celestial armies, the all-powerful God, who issues this instruction. This emphasizes that the judgment is not from mere human adversaries, but from the Almighty Himself, ensuring its inevitability and comprehensive nature. The role of lamentation in the Bible is multifaceted: it expresses sorrow, acknowledges divine justice, and can sometimes be a prelude to repentance. However, here, the primary emphasis is on the acknowledgment of unavoidable consequence, a preparation for overwhelming grief that cannot be averted.

Jeremiah 9 17 Commentary

Jeremiah 9:17 serves as a grim and potent prophecy from the sovereign God to His wayward people. By commanding them to summon professional mourners, the LORD removes any doubt about the certainty and profound scale of the impending judgment. This isn't a mere suggestion but a divine decree, leveraging a well-known ancient custom to visually and audibly underscore the inevitable national mourning. The call to "consider" first implies that the people have been blind or complacent to their situation, and now they are urged to finally grasp the depth of their spiritual depravity and its horrifying consequences. The need for both regular "mourning women" and "cunning" or expert laments signifies an unparalleled catastrophe, so pervasive and painful that even the most skilled would be needed to lead the nation's cries of anguish. It's God's way of telling Judah: "Your time of peace is over; prepare for death, desolation, and lamentation." It highlights divine justice responding to unrepented sin, a sober reminder of God's character and the covenant consequences.