Jeremiah 9 22

Jeremiah 9:22 kjv

Speak, Thus saith the LORD, Even the carcases of men shall fall as dung upon the open field, and as the handful after the harvestman, and none shall gather them.

Jeremiah 9:22 nkjv

Speak, "Thus says the LORD: 'Even the carcasses of men shall fall as refuse on the open field, Like cuttings after the harvester, And no one shall gather them.' "

Jeremiah 9:22 niv

Say, "This is what the LORD declares: "?'Dead bodies will lie like dung on the open field, like cut grain behind the reaper, with no one to gather them.'?"

Jeremiah 9:22 esv

Speak: "Thus declares the LORD, 'The dead bodies of men shall fall like dung upon the open field, like sheaves after the reaper, and none shall gather them.'"

Jeremiah 9:22 nlt

This is what the LORD says:
"Bodies will be scattered across the fields like clumps of manure,
like bundles of grain after the harvest.
No one will be left to bury them."

Jeremiah 9 verses

Jeremiah 9 22 Meaning

Thus says the Lord: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts, boast of this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness on the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord."

Jeremiah 9 22 Context

Jeremiah 9:22-23 (often referred to as the end of verse 22 and the start of verse 23) contains a powerful divine oracle. The preceding verses (9:12-21) describe the devastating judgment that will come upon Jerusalem and Judah due to their sin and apostasy. God is sending powerful enemies to punish them. In this context, Jeremiah, or rather God speaking through Jeremiah, redirects the focus from earthly vainglories – wisdom, might, and wealth – to the true source of boasting: knowing God and His character. This chapter is part of Jeremiah's larger prophetic ministry where he calls the people to repentance and warns them of the consequences of their disobedience to the covenant. The surrounding verses emphasize the foolishness of relying on human capabilities and worldly possessions when God's judgment is at hand.

Jeremiah 9 22 Word Analysis

• Thus (כֹּה - koh): An adverb, meaning "so," "thus," or "in this way." It introduces a direct statement or declaration from God.
• says (אָמַר - amar): Verb, meaning "to say," "to speak," "to declare." It signifies God's authoritative utterance.
• the LORD (יְהוָה - Yahweh): The personal covenantal name of God in the Old Testament. It emphasizes God's relationship with His people and His eternal existence.
• Let not (אַל־ - al): A negative particle used with the jussive or imperative, expressing a prohibition or command not to do something.
• the wise man (חָכָם - chakham): Noun, meaning "wise man," "wise person," "skillful person." Refers to those who rely on human intellect, understanding, and knowledge.
• boast (יִתְהַלֵּל - yith'hallel): Verb, Niphal stem of הלל (halal), meaning "to boast," "to glory," "to praise oneself." It implies taking pride or exalting oneself.
• of his wisdom (מֵחָכְמָתוֹ - mechakhmato): Preposition 'me' (from) + "wisdom" (ḥokmah). Refers to the intellectual abilities, cleverness, and discerning judgment possessed by individuals.
• let not (אַל־ - al): Same as above, a prohibition.
• the mighty man (גִּבּוֹר - gibbor): Noun, meaning "mighty man," "warrior," "hero," "strong one." Refers to those possessing physical strength, power, or military prowess.
• boast (יִתְהַלֵּל - yith'hallel): Same as above, to boast or glory.
• of his might (מִגְּבוּרָתוֹ - mig'vurato): Preposition 'mi' (from) + "might" (gĕvurah). Refers to strength, power, valor, and ability.
• let not (אַל־ - al): Same as above, a prohibition.
• the rich man (עָשִׁיר - ashir): Noun, meaning "rich man," "wealthy person." Refers to those who possess material wealth and abundance.
• boast (יִתְהַלֵּל - yith'hallel): Same as above, to boast or glory.
• of his riches (מֵעָשְׁרוֹ - me'ashro): Preposition 'me' (from) + "riches" (osher). Refers to wealth, abundance, and possessions.
• but (כִּי־ - ki): Conjunction, meaning "but," "for," "that." Introduces a contrasting or explanatory clause.
• let him who boasts (מִתְהַלֵּל - mith'hallel): Noun, participial form of "halal," meaning "one who boasts" or "one who glories."
• boast (יִתְהַלֵּל - yith'hallel): Same as above, to boast or glory.
• of this (בְּזֹאת - b'zot): Preposition 'b' (in) + "this" (feminine demonstrative pronoun). Referring to the preceding statement or what follows.
• that he understands (הַשְׂכֵּל - hask'l): Verb, Hiphil stem of שׂכל (sakal), meaning "to have understanding," "to be wise," "to comprehend." It implies discernment and insight.
• and knows me (וְדָעַנִי - v'da'ani): Conjunction 'v' (and) + verb "know" (yada') + first-person singular suffix "me" (i). "Yada'" signifies a deep, intimate, and experiential knowledge, not merely intellectual acquaintance.
• that I am (כִּי־אֲנִי־ - ki-ani-): Conjunction "that" or "for" + first-person singular pronoun "I." Reaffirming God's identity.
• the LORD (יְהוָה - Yahweh): The covenantal name of God.
• who practices (עֹשֶׂה - oseh): Verb, Qal stem participle of עשה (asah), meaning "doing," "making," "practicing." Emphasizes God's active engagement.
• steadfast love (חֶסֶד - chesed): Noun, a key concept often translated as "steadfast love," "lovingkindness," "mercy," or "covenant loyalty." It signifies God's persistent, faithful, and loyal love and commitment to His covenant.
• justice (מִשְׁפָּט - mishpat): Noun, meaning "justice," "judgment," "right." It refers to God's righteous dealings, His upholding of what is right and true, and His administration of judgment.
• and righteousness (וּצְדָקָה - u'tzedakah): Conjunction 'u' (and) + noun "righteousness" (tzedakah). Refers to righteousness, equity, and moral uprightness. It denotes God's consistent uprightness and conformity to His own moral standards.
• on the earth (בָּאָרֶץ - ba'aretz): Preposition 'b' (in, on) + noun "earth" (erets). Indicating the sphere of God's active love and justice.
• For (כִּי־ - ki): Conjunction, meaning "for" or "because." It provides the reason for the preceding statement.
• in these things (בְּאֵלֶּה - b'elleh): Preposition 'b' (in) + demonstrative pronoun "these" (plural). Referring to steadfast love, justice, and righteousness.
• I delight (חָפַצְתִּי - chafatztî): Verb, Qal stem, first-person singular perfect of חפץ (chaphatz), meaning "to delight in," "to desire," "to take pleasure in." It signifies God's pleasure and desire.
• declares the LORD (נְאֻם־יְהוָה - ne'um-Yahweh): Formulaic closing phrase, "declaration of Yahweh" or "oracle of the LORD." This asserts the divine origin and authority of the message.

Group of Words Analysis:

• "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not the rich man boast of his riches": This tripartite structure sets up a clear contrast with what follows. It condemns reliance on inherent human capabilities (wisdom, might) and external circumstances (riches) as grounds for pride. These are superficial and ultimately inadequate compared to knowing God.
• "but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows me": This is the central thesis. The true object of boasting, or exultation, is an intimate, relational knowledge of God. This contrasts with superficial knowledge or pride in self-acquired attributes. "Sakal" (understand) and "yada'" (know) together emphasize a deep, experiential apprehension of God's nature and character.
• "that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness on the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.": This defines the essence of that divine knowledge. It's not just about knowing facts about God, but knowing Him as the God who actively displays chesed, mishpat, and tzedakah in the world. These attributes are inseparable from God's being and the purpose of His actions. God's delight in these attributes highlights them as the divine standard for all human behavior and aspiration.

Jeremiah 9 22 Bonus Section

The verse reflects a polemic against the popular thought patterns of ancient Near Eastern cultures that often attributed success and well-being to the worship of local deities or to one's own inherent capabilities. By emphasizing that only knowing Yahweh, the God who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness, is cause for true boasting, Jeremiah directly counters such anthropocentric and polytheistic views. The concept of chesed is particularly rich, encompassing covenant loyalty, mercy, and kindness, and it forms a cornerstone of God's character and His dealings with His people. The tripartite declaration of God's character—steadfast love, justice, and righteousness—is echoed throughout Scripture, describing the very essence of God's nature and His judgment, as seen in verses like Deuteronomy 32:4. This verse sets the stage for Jesus' teaching on the Greatest Commandment, which highlights knowing and loving God with all one's being (Matthew 22:36-40), which inherently includes understanding His righteous character. The call to boast in the Lord directly connects to New Testament exhortations, such as "Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 1:31).

Jeremiah 9 22 Commentary

This verse is a profound declaration by God through Jeremiah, recalibrating what true human worth and legitimate pride consist of. In a world that often exalts human intelligence, physical strength, and material wealth, God declares that these are ultimately empty grounds for boasting. The prophet contrasts worldly sources of pride with the singular, supreme reason for exultation: knowing the LORD. This is not a superficial or intellectual knowledge but a deep, relational understanding of God's character and His active engagement with the world. God's essence is characterized by His "steadfast love" (hesed), "justice" (mishpat), and "righteousness" (tzedakah). These are not abstract qualities but actively demonstrated actions in history. God takes pleasure in and centers His being and operations around these attributes. Therefore, the believer's greatest boast should be rooted in this relationship and in alignment with these divine characteristics. This verse challenges any self-sufficiency, reminding humanity that ultimate value and confidence are found solely in understanding and relating to the covenant-keeping God. It calls for a reordering of priorities, placing relationship with and understanding of God above all earthly achievements or possessions.

• Practical Application: Instead of boasting in academic achievements, we should boast in our growing understanding of God's Word and His ways. Instead of boasting in career successes or physical capabilities, we should boast in our spiritual strength and dependence on God. Instead of boasting in financial wealth or possessions, we should boast in God's provision and our ability to live righteously with what He gives.