Jeremiah 16:4
They shall die of grievous deaths; they shall not be lamented; neither shall they be buried; but they shall be as dung upon the face of the earth: and they shall be consumed by the sword, and by famine; and their carcases shall be meat for the fowls of heaven, and for the beasts of the earth.
Original Language Analysis
יָמֻ֗תוּ
They shall die
H4191
יָמֻ֗תוּ
They shall die
Strong's:
H4191
Word #:
3 of 22
to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
לֹ֤א
H3808
לֹ֤א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
4 of 22
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יִסָּֽפְדוּ֙
they shall not be lamented
H5594
יִסָּֽפְדוּ֙
they shall not be lamented
Strong's:
H5594
Word #:
5 of 22
properly, to tear the hair and beat the breasts (as middle easterners do in grief); generally to lament; by implication, to wail
וְלֹ֣א
H3808
וְלֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
6 of 22
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
9 of 22
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
פְּנֵ֥י
upon the face
H6440
פְּנֵ֥י
upon the face
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
10 of 22
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
יִֽהְי֑וּ
H1961
יִֽהְי֑וּ
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
12 of 22
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
וּבַחֶ֤רֶב
by the sword
H2719
וּבַחֶ֤רֶב
by the sword
Strong's:
H2719
Word #:
13 of 22
drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement
יִכְל֔וּ
and they shall be consumed
H3615
יִכְל֔וּ
and they shall be consumed
Strong's:
H3615
Word #:
15 of 22
to end, whether intransitive (to cease, be finished, perish) or transitive (to complete, prepare, consume)
וְהָיְתָ֤ה
H1961
וְהָיְתָ֤ה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
16 of 22
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
נִבְלָתָם֙
and their carcases
H5038
נִבְלָתָם֙
and their carcases
Strong's:
H5038
Word #:
17 of 22
a flabby thing, i.e., a carcase or carrion (human or bestial, often collectively); figuratively, an idol
לְמַאֲכָ֔ל
shall be meat
H3978
לְמַאֲכָ֔ל
shall be meat
Strong's:
H3978
Word #:
18 of 22
an eatable (including provender, flesh and fruit)
לְע֥וֹף
for the fowls
H5775
לְע֥וֹף
for the fowls
Strong's:
H5775
Word #:
19 of 22
a bird (as covered with feathers, or rather as covering with wings), often collectively
הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם
of heaven
H8064
הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם
of heaven
Strong's:
H8064
Word #:
20 of 22
the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies r
Cross References
Jeremiah 25:33And the slain of the LORD shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground.Psalms 83:10Which perished at En-dor: they became as dung for the earth.Jeremiah 9:22Speak, 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 34:20I will even give them into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life: and their dead bodies shall be for meat unto the fowls of the heaven, and to the beasts of the earth.Zephaniah 1:17And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung.Isaiah 18:6They shall be left together unto the fowls of the mountains, and to the beasts of the earth: and the fowls shall summer upon them, and all the beasts of the earth shall winter upon them.Jeremiah 7:33And the carcases of this people shall be meat for the fowls of the heaven, and for the beasts of the earth; and none shall fray them away.
Historical Context
These specific horrors were fulfilled during and after the Babylonian siege when countless died, burial was impossible, and bodies were left for scavengers in Jerusalem's streets and surrounding areas.
Questions for Reflection
- How does detailed description of coming judgment serve prophetic purposes?
- What does denial of burial and mourning symbolize about the completeness of covenant curse?
- How should graphic depictions of judgment affect our understanding of sin's seriousness?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
The horrific fate described: 'They shall die of grievous deaths; they shall not be lamented; neither shall they be buried; but they shall be as dung upon the face of the earth.' Multiple horrors: grievous deaths, no mourning, no burial, bodies left as refuse ('dung'). Continued: 'and they shall be consumed by the sword, and by famine; and their carcases shall be meat for the fowls of heaven, and for the beasts of the earth.' The triad (sword, famine, pestilence) plus exposure to scavengers represents total curse (Deuteronomy 28:26). This explains why Jeremiah shouldn't have children—such fates await the coming generation. The comprehensive nature of judgment makes normal life impossible.