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 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 9:17 | "Call for the mourning women, and send for the skilled in wailing..." | Jeremiah 9:17 |
| 2 Samuel 3:33 | "The king uttered a lament over Abner, saying, 'Should Abner die as the worthless die?'" | Lament over a death |
| Psalm 30:5 | "For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning." | Grief to joy transition |
| Isaiah 22:12-13 | "And the Lord GOD of hosts called on them on that day to weep and mourn, to pull out the hair and dress in sackcloth, and behold, instead of joy and gladness, slaughter of animals and killing of people, the eating of bread, and the day of the Lord of hosts shall be for dust and ashes." | Call to mourning, judgment |
| Amos 5:1-2 | "Hear this word that I am breathing over you, a lamentation, O house of Israel: ‘Fallen, no more to rise, is the virgin Israel; she lies fallen on her land; there is none to raise her up.’” | Prophetic lament |
| Matthew 9:23 | "When Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." | Compassion for people |
| Luke 7:32 | "They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.’” | Contrasting response to mourning |
| John 11:35 | "Jesus wept." | Jesus' compassion and sorrow |
| Revelation 18:9-10 | "And the kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived deliciously with her, will weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning. They will stand far off, in fear of her torment, saying, ‘Alas! Alas, you great city, Babylon, you mighty city! For in a single hour your judgment has come.’” | Wailing over destruction |
| Psalm 78:64 | "And their priests and prophets fell by the sword, and he gave them to no inheritance." | Judgment on leaders |
| Jeremiah 5:28 | "They grow sleek and fat and thick with their wicked deeds; they transgress my word." | Corruption leading to judgment |
| Jeremiah 13:23 | "Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots? Then also can you do good who are accustomed to do evil." | Inherent sinfulness |
| Hosea 4:6 | "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge..." | Lack of discernment |
| Proverbs 28:13 | "Whoever conceals his sins does not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them obtains mercy." | Confession and mercy |
| Lamentations 1:1-2 | "How deserted lies the city, once so full of people! How like a widow has she become… She weeps bitterly in the night…" | Jerusalem's desolation |
| Jeremiah 14:17 | "Say to them, ‘Let my eyes flow with tears night and day, and let them not be silent, for the virgin daughter of my people has been struck down with a mighty blow, with a very grievous wound.’” | Constant tears in sorrow |
| Isaiah 3:19 | "The fine ornaments of the ankles, the headbands, the armlets, the pendants, the bracelets, the veils, the wraps, the cloaks, the handbags, the mirrors, the fine linen garments, the turbans, and the voluminous robes." | Adornments to be removed |
| Jeremiah 4:30 | "And when you are ruined, what will you do? Though you dress yourself in scarlet, though you adorn yourself with ornaments of gold, though you enlarge your eyes with paint, you enlarge yourself in vain." | Useless adornments in ruin |
| Isaiah 3:20 | "Instead of perfume there will be rottenness..." | Loss of beauty and fragrance |
| Jeremiah 7:29 | "‘Cut off your hair and cast it away; raise a lament on the bare heights, for the LORD has rejected and forsaken the generation of his wrath.’” | Ritual mourning and rejection |
Jeremiah 9 verses
Jeremiah 9 17 Meaning
This verse is a call for Israel's wise women to mourn and lament. They are instructed to learn a dirge, a song of mourning, and to teach it to others. The verse emphasizes the gravity of the coming judgment, signifying the desolation and destruction that will befall Jerusalem. It highlights the communal nature of grief and the importance of remembering God's judgment.
Jeremiah 9 17 Context
Jeremiah 9:17-22 is part of a larger prophetic oracle denouncing Jerusalem and Judah. In the preceding verses, Jeremiah had described the widespread sin and corruption within the nation. He then issued a severe warning of impending judgment and exile due to their unfaithfulness. This specific passage calls for public mourning to acknowledge the devastation that God's wrath will bring upon them. The imagery of "mourning women" reflects a recognized custom in ancient Israel for professional mourners to express communal grief. The chapter continues by detailing the reasons for God's anger – deceit, violence, and idolatry – and concludes with a further lament and warning of divine retribution.
Jeremiah 9 17 Word analysis
Now therefore (vethnoah): Conjunction indicating a result or consequence; connecting the current instruction to previous pronouncements.
call ye (qer'u): Imperative verb, second person masculine plural, from qara' (to call, to summon). Commands active engagement.
for the wise women (lanashim hahakamot): lash (to/for) + nashim (women, plural of ishshah) + hahakomot (the wise, feminine plural adjective from chakam, wise). Highlights wisdom specifically in expressing grief, not just general wisdom.
and send (umechu): Conjunction u (and) + imperative verb, second person masculine plural, from shalach (to send, to dispatch). Continues the command for action.
for the cunning in wailing (lanofoth): lash (to/for) + nophoth (skilled/experts in wailing, a rare feminine plural noun derived from navach, to wail/lament). Refers to those skilled in vocalizing grief and mourning songs, often hired for the purpose.
Let them make haste (tuhashna): Imperative verb, third person feminine plural, from ush (to make haste, to hurry). Urgency is emphasized.
and let the wailing (vethekena hahegiwnah): Conjunction we (and) + tekena (let it cover/pervade, imperative feminine plural verb from nakah - to cover/overlay, contextually suggesting encompassing sorrow) + hegiwnah (the wailing, feminine singular noun from hegiygh, to wail, lament, moan). The act of wailing should be pervasive.
their ears (una'feheyna): unnafei (ears, plural of ozen) + heyna (their, feminine plural possessive pronoun). Their hearing capacity, meant to be filled with sorrow.
that their tongues (vehai lasheheyhey): Conjunction we (and) + hai (may/let, expressing desire/permission) + lasheheyhey (their tongues, lashon, tongue, feminine singular, + heyhey, their, feminine plural possessive pronoun). Focuses on the ability to speak, vocalize grief.
may be full of bitter weeping (teshm'nah neqi): tesh'na (be filled, feminine plural imperfect verb from malah, to fill) + neqi (bitter, intensely sorrowful, adjective. In some translations nek relates to naqa, to be cleansed, but here refers to the intensity of the weeping, i.e. bitter lamentation. Could also imply a "clear" or "distinct" outpouring of sorrow). Emphasizes the quality and depth of the grief expressed.
Group Analysis: The phrase "wise women" and "cunning in wailing" juxtaposes different types of skills. The wise women are likely leaders or matriarchs. The "cunning in wailing" refers to those specifically trained in expressing sorrow communally. The structure "let them make haste and let the wailing cover their ears" highlights a desired outcome: complete immersion in sorrow. The focus on "ears" and "tongues" points to the sensory experience of hearing and vocalizing lament, making the sorrow palpable. The "bitter weeping" specifies the profound emotional state intended.
Jeremiah 9 17 Bonus section
The call for "wise women" suggests that there were women respected for their discernment and ability to navigate difficult situations, including expressing sorrow in a meaningful way for the community. The presence of "cunning in wailing" points to established cultural practices around grief in ancient Near Eastern societies, where organized mourning rituals helped the community process loss and communal sin. The ultimate goal, beyond the ritual itself, is a turning of hearts towards God in repentance, understanding the deep sorrow sin brings. The lament itself becomes a theological act, a public acknowledgement of God's justice and sovereignty.
Jeremiah 9 17 Commentary
Jerusalem is commanded to prepare for judgment by enlisting professional mourners. These are the "wise women" and those skilled in organized lament. This action is not merely a ritual but a recognition of the severity of impending judgment. Their grief must be all-encompassing, filling their senses and finding expression through their voices. This intense wailing reflects the deep pain caused by sin and the consequences of God's displeasure. It underscores that the destruction will be profound and the sorrow, overwhelming and bitter. The emphasis on vocal lament signifies communal acknowledgement of wrongdoing and divine punishment, aiming for a tangible expression of repentance and fear of God.