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

Jeremiah 9:22 is a grim pronouncement of God's universal judgment, illustrating the inescapable and widespread devastation that will befall Judah. It signifies that death, like a reaper, will sweep through the land, indiscriminately striking down people from all societal strata—wise, mighty, or rich. Their bodies will lie unburied in the open fields, abandoned and disgraced, serving as a stark metaphor for the thoroughness of God's wrath and the futility of worldly accomplishments in the face of divine judgment. Just as a reaper leaves behind mere handfuls of scattered stalks, the land will be filled with the uncollected corpses, signifying a complete and utterly dishonorable end for many.

Jeremiah 9 22 Context

Jeremiah 9 is a powerful chapter dominated by themes of profound sorrow, deep spiritual anguish, and stern prophetic judgment against Judah for its pervasive unfaithfulness and idolatry. Jeremiah expresses personal grief for the people's hardened hearts and foresees a devastating punishment for their rebellion against the Lord. The chapter contrasts human boasting (wisdom, might, riches in 9:23) with true knowledge of God (9:24), implicitly rebuking their reliance on these worldly things.

Verse 22 directly follows a graphic depiction of death invading homes (v. 21). The broader historical context is Judah on the brink of exile, facing the invasion of Babylon. The prophet announces God's righteous judgment against a nation that has consistently turned away from Him. This verse serves as a climactic declaration, affirming the absolute and unsparing nature of God's wrath, indicating that no one, regardless of social status or personal achievement, will be immune from the impending catastrophe and its horrific consequences, including the ultimate indignity of unburied bodies.

Jeremiah 9 22 Word analysis

• "Speak" (Hebrew: dabbēr, דַּבֵּר): An imperative, signifying a direct and authoritative command from the LORD to Jeremiah. It underscores that this message is not the prophet's own opinion but a divine oracle, requiring immediate delivery.
• "Thus says the LORD" (Hebrew: koh-āmar YHVH, כֹּה-אָמַר יְהוָה): This prophetic formula introduces a divine utterance, asserting the absolute authority and unchallengeable source of the message. It immediately commands attention and signifies the infallible truth of the following pronouncement.
• "The bodies" (Hebrew: nivlat hā’ādām, נִבְלַת הָאָדָם): Nivlat (plural of nevelah) refers specifically to a "corpse" or "carcass," often implying something unburied, unclean, or disgraced. It denotes not merely dead people, but their unregarded remains, stripped of honor and proper ritual burial. This term emphasizes the utter contempt and devastation of their fate.
• "Shall fall" (Hebrew: yinpōlû, יִפְּלוּ): From the root naphal, meaning "to fall" or "to drop." Here it carries the connotation of perishing, dying, or being slain, often in a violent or unexpected manner. It indicates a sudden and widespread death, not a natural passing.
• "In the open field" (Hebrew: ‘al pnei haśśādēh, עַל-פְּנֵי הַשָּׂדֶה): This phrase implies public exposure, outside the city walls, on common ground. It highlights a lack of proper burial, which was considered a deep shame and a curse in ancient Israelite culture. To be left unburied was to be utterly dishonored, denied a return to the dust of one's ancestors, and become food for carrion.
• "As sheaves after the reaper" (Hebrew: ka‘amēr ketsōr, כַּעֲמֵר קֹצֵר): This is a powerful simile. ‘Amēr can mean a handful or an armful of cut grain. Kotsēr is the reaper, who cuts down the grain. It vividly illustrates the vast number of dead bodies left scattered indiscriminately across the landscape, much like scattered stalks that remain after the main harvest, representing those not gathered into bundles or brought in for processing. It implies thoroughness, indicating few survivors and an abundant harvest of death.
• "And none shall gather them" (Hebrew: v’ēyn me’assēf, וְאֵין מְאַסֵּף): This emphasizes the complete lack of care, compassion, or manpower left to perform proper burial rites. It speaks of a depopulated land, utter defeat, and a societal collapse so severe that the foundational obligation of burying the dead cannot be met. This signifies the depth of national judgment and personal tragedy.

• "Thus says the LORD, the bodies...": This immediate shift from divine pronouncement to graphic imagery is stark. It establishes the unappealable nature of the coming doom, directly addressing the physical reality of judgment—dead bodies.
• "The bodies... shall fall in the open field": This combination highlights public shame and widespread death. No dignity, no privacy, only the ignominy of being abandoned to the elements. This was a severe curse in the ancient world, worse than death itself for many.
• "As sheaves after the reaper, and none shall gather them": This specific comparison paints a picture of complete and devastating loss. The "sheaves" that are left behind are the forgotten or insignificant remnants; the main harvest of grain would be gathered, but these "handfuls" are utterly discarded. The absence of a "gatherer" (implying one who collects for burial or proper disposal) reinforces the scope of destruction and the resulting lack of survivors or caretakers. The land will be left full of scattered dead, symbolizing a land laid waste and utterly abandoned.

Jeremiah 9 22 Bonus section

This verse carries a significant polemic against the contemporary cultural and spiritual mindset, particularly against those who boasted in their "wisdom," "might," and "riches" (Jer 9:23), and those who engaged in idolatry, believing in false gods to protect them. The outcome described—widespread unburied corpses—directly contradicts the perceived security that such worldly achievements or false deities might offer. It declares that human status, intellect, or material wealth are utterly useless in shielding individuals from God's wrath, reducing all to the same disgraceful end. Furthermore, the use of agricultural imagery, particularly "reaper" and "sheaves," implicitly turns a symbol of sustenance and life (harvest) into one of death and destruction. Instead of a harvest of grain for nourishment, there is a "harvest" of death, gathered not for sustenance but for abandonment. This subverts the expected blessings of an agricultural society and paints a chilling picture of a world turned upside down by divine decree.

Jeremiah 9 22 Commentary

Jeremiah 9:22 encapsulates God's comprehensive and inescapable judgment on a sinful Judah. The prophet announces a grim future where death will strike indiscriminately, affecting everyone irrespective of their earthly standing, previously highlighted as misplaced sources of pride in wisdom, might, or riches. The vivid imagery of bodies "falling in the open field" and being left unburied "as sheaves after the reaper" is potent. It underscores the profound dishonor and devastation accompanying this divine judgment. For ancient Israelites, a proper burial was paramount; its absence signified a curse, ultimate rejection, and complete societal breakdown. This verse leaves no room for evasion or exception, declaring a universal and thoroughly implemented divine retribution, marking the end of all human boasting in the face of God's sovereign wrath.