Jeremiah 9:20 kjv
Yet hear the word of the LORD, O ye women, and let your ear receive the word of his mouth, and teach your daughters wailing, and every one her neighbour lamentation.
Jeremiah 9:20 nkjv
Yet hear the word of the LORD, O women, And let your ear receive the word of His mouth; Teach your daughters wailing, And everyone her neighbor a lamentation.
Jeremiah 9:20 niv
Now, you women, hear the word of the LORD; open your ears to the words of his mouth. Teach your daughters how to wail; teach one another a lament.
Jeremiah 9:20 esv
Hear, O women, the word of the LORD, and let your ear receive the word of his mouth; teach to your daughters a lament, and each to her neighbor a dirge.
Jeremiah 9:20 nlt
Listen, you women, to the words of the LORD;
open your ears to what he has to say.
Teach your daughters to wail;
teach one another how to lament.
Jeremiah 9 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 9:20 | Hear, then, the word of the LORD, you who are saying, "Do not prophesy!" | Direct Command |
| 1 Kings 18:40 | Then Elijah commanded them, "Seize the prophets of Baal! Don't let anyone escape." | Prophet's authority upheld |
| Amos 7:12 | Then Amaziah said to Amos, "O seer, go, flee to the land of Judah, and there eat bread..." | Opposition to prophecy |
| Amos 7:13 | But Amaziah did not say, "Never again shall I prophesy against Israel." | Rejection of prophetic role |
| Acts 4:20 | For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. | Apostle's compulsion to speak |
| Acts 5:29 | But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men." | Obedience to God over man |
| 2 Timothy 4:3 | For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires. | Refusal of truth |
| Jeremiah 1:17 | "But you, gird up your loins; arise, and speak to them all that I command you. Be not dismayed..." | God's command to Jeremiah |
| Jeremiah 7:2 | "Stand in the gate of the LORD's house, and proclaim there this word, and say, 'Hear the word of the LORD, all you men of Judah who enter by these gates to worship the LORD." | Prophetic declaration |
| Isaiah 30:10 | Who say to the seers, "See not prophecies"; and to the prophets, "Give us no true prophecies..." | Similar demand for silence |
| Micah 2:6 | "Stop prophesying!" they cry. "One should not prophesy about things like these..." | Rejection of divine message |
| Ezekiel 3:26 | I will make your tongue cleave to the roof of your mouth, so that you shall be dumb... | Consequence for not speaking |
| Hebrews 4:12 | For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword... | Power of God's word |
| John 1:1 | In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. | Identity of God's Word |
| Psalm 119:105 | Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. | Guidance of God's word |
| Jeremiah 20:11 | But the LORD is with me as a mighty one; so my pursuers will stumble and will not overcome. | God's presence with Jeremiah |
| 1 Corinthians 1:18 | For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. | Word's impact depends on reception |
| Romans 10:17 | So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. | How faith is generated |
| Jeremiah 1:7 | But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a youth'; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go..." | God's assurance to Jeremiah |
| Jeremiah 11:21 | Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the people of Anathoth, who seek your life... | Threat to Jeremiah's life |
| John 16:33 | I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." | Jesus' encouragement to disciples |
Jeremiah 9 verses
Jeremiah 9 20 Meaning
Hear, then, the word of the LORD, you who are saying, "Do not prophesy!"
This verse is a direct address to those who are preventing or discouraging the prophet Jeremiah from speaking God's message. It signifies God's intent to continue His communication, regardless of human opposition. The core meaning is that God's word is not to be silenced, and those who attempt to do so will face the consequences of disregarding divine authority.
Jeremiah 9 20 Context
Jeremiah 9 is part of a larger lamentation and prophecy of judgment against Judah. The chapter details the widespread corruption, deceit, and social injustice prevalent in Jerusalem and its surrounding areas. God, through Jeremiah, pronounces doom upon the people for their unfaithfulness and rejection of His law.
Specifically, chapter 9 begins with Jeremiah weeping over the destruction and exile that will befall his people (Jer 9:1). He describes their sinfulness, comparing them to a scattered flock and a den of jackals (Jer 9:11). The passage highlights God's frustration with their stubborn hearts and their persistent idolatry.
The verses leading up to verse 20 often depict Jeremiah's personal anguish and God's commission to him as a prophet. There are instances where the people actively resist Jeremiah's message, wanting him to cease his pronouncements of doom. Verse 20, therefore, arises in this atmosphere of spiritual rebellion and prophetic persecution. It is God intervening to declare that His message will continue to be proclaimed.
Jeremiah 9 20 Word Analysis
- Hear (Shəma' - שְׁמָע): This Hebrew word is foundational in the Old Testament, meaning "to hear," "to listen," "to obey," and "to pay attention." It's not just auditory perception but a call for deep understanding and responsive action. The Shema prayer ("Hear O Israel...") exemplifies its significance.
- then (wə-) (וְ-): This conjunctive waw typically indicates sequence or continuation. Here, it connects the declaration of God's word to the preceding context of opposition.
- the (hâ-) (הַ): Definite article, pointing to something specific and known.
- word (dĕbār - דְּבַר): Refers to speech, communication, matter, event, or thing. In this context, it signifies the divine message or oracle from the LORD.
- of the LORD (Yĕhôwâh - יְהוָה): The personal covenantal name of God, emphasizing His relationship and commitment to His people.
- you (ªtêm - אַתֶּם): Plural masculine pronoun, directly addressing the group who opposes the prophet.
- who (hîn - הֵן): A relative pronoun, introducing the clause that describes these people.
- are saying (lĕqōrᵉʾîm - לְקֹרְאִים): Present participle from the verb qārāʾ (קָרָא), meaning "to call," "to cry out," "to read," or "to prophesy." The active participle here emphasizes the ongoing action of their discouragement.
- Do not (al- (אַל)): A strong prohibitive particle, indicating a firm command not to do something. This is a negative imperative.
- prophesy (tinnābĕʾû - תִּנָּבְא֥וּ): Second person plural, future tense, verb nābāʾ (נָבָא), meaning "to prophesy" or "to speak forth" as a spokesperson for God. This refers to delivering God's message, whether it be of judgment or encouragement.
Words Group Analysis
- Hear, then, the word of the LORD: This is a formal prophetic opening, commanding attentive reception of God's message. It frames the entire declaration as divinely authoritative.
- you who are saying, "Do not prophesy!": This phrase identifies the adversaries of the prophet. They are the ones actively trying to stifle God's communication through Jeremiah. The core of their opposition is a rejection of the divine word itself, or at least its proclamation.
- Al tinnabeu (אַל תִּנָּבְא֗וּ): This is a sharp, direct imperative to cease prophesying. It encapsulates their attempt to sever the connection between God and His people through His prophet.
Jeremiah 9 20 Bonus Section
The resistance faced by Jeremiah, as indicated in this verse, mirrors the challenges faced by many prophets throughout biblical history, and even by New Testament apostles. The temptation to silence uncomfortable truths or messages that disrupt the status quo is a recurring theme. God's assurance through Jeremiah that His word will not be silenced reflects His promise that His word is powerful and will accomplish its purpose (Isaiah 55:11). It also foreshadows Jesus' own encounter with those who opposed His teachings and ultimately sought His crucifixion, while Jesus maintained that His message was from the Father.
Jeremiah 9 20 Commentary
This verse powerfully asserts God's ultimate authority over His messengers and His message. The people addressed in Jeremiah 9:20 were likely those who found Jeremiah's prophecies of doom to be inconvenient, demoralizing, or a threat to their stability. They wanted him to speak words of comfort or silence altogether.
God's response is clear: He not only declares His intention to continue speaking through Jeremiah but directly confronts those who would suppress His word. This highlights a timeless conflict between God's revealed will and human resistance.
The verse emphasizes that the prophetic role is divinely ordained, not subject to the approval or dictates of men. When individuals attempt to silence God's mouthpiece, they are ultimately defying God Himself. Jeremiah was called and commissioned by God, and God would not allow men to obstruct His divine plan of communication, which included both warning and ultimately hope. This passage underscores the persistence of God's redemptive and judicial plan, regardless of human opposition.