Jeremiah 18:16
To make their land desolate, and a perpetual hissing; every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished, and wag his head.
Original Language Analysis
לָשׂ֥וּם
To make
H7760
לָשׂ֥וּם
To make
Strong's:
H7760
Word #:
1 of 11
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
עוֹלָ֑ם
and a perpetual
H5769
עוֹלָ֑ם
and a perpetual
Strong's:
H5769
Word #:
5 of 11
properly, concealed, i.e., the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e., (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial
כֹּ֚ל
H3605
כֹּ֚ל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
6 of 11
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
עוֹבֵ֣ר
every one that passeth
H5674
עוֹבֵ֣ר
every one that passeth
Strong's:
H5674
Word #:
7 of 11
to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in
עָלֶ֔יהָ
H5921
עָלֶ֔יהָ
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
8 of 11
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
יִשֹּׁ֖ם
thereby shall be astonished
H8074
יִשֹּׁ֖ם
thereby shall be astonished
Strong's:
H8074
Word #:
9 of 11
to stun (or intransitively, grow numb), i.e., devastate or (figuratively) stupefy (both usually in a passive sense)
Cross References
Psalms 22:7All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,Jeremiah 25:9Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations.Jeremiah 19:8And I will make this city desolate, and an hissing; every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished and hiss because of all the plagues thereof.Jeremiah 49:13For I have sworn by myself, saith the LORD, that Bozrah shall become a desolation, a reproach, a waste, and a curse; and all the cities thereof shall be perpetual wastes.Jeremiah 50:13Because of the wrath of the LORD it shall not be inhabited, but it shall be wholly desolate: every one that goeth by Babylon shall be astonished, and hiss at all her plagues.Matthew 27:39And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,1 Kings 9:8And at this house, which is high, every one that passeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss; and they shall say, Why hath the LORD done thus unto this land, and to this house?Micah 6:16For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab, and ye walk in their counsels; that I should make thee a desolation, and the inhabitants thereof an hissing: therefore ye shall bear the reproach of my people.Isaiah 37:22This is the word which the LORD hath spoken concerning him; The virgin, the daughter of Zion, hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee.Mark 15:29And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days,
Historical Context
Babylon's destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC fulfilled this prophecy precisely. The magnificent temple Solomon built became rubble, the fortified city walls crumbled, and the people were led into exile. For centuries afterward, travelers passing through saw the desolate ruins, remembering how covenant violation brought catastrophic judgment. Archaeological excavations reveal extensive destruction layers from this period, confirming the prophetic word.
Questions for Reflection
- How does awareness that your unfaithfulness affects not just you but your witness to others motivate obedience?
- What desolation and mockery result from abandoning God's paths in your personal life or church?
- How can you avoid bringing reproach on Christ's name through inconsistency between profession and practice?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The result of leaving God's path: "To make their land desolate, and a perpetual hissing." Desolation describes both physical devastation from invasion and spiritual emptiness from covenant violation. "Perpetual hissing" (shreqah, שְׁרֵקָה, astonishment/derision) indicates lasting infamy—future generations will point to Judah's ruins as an object lesson. "Every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished, and wag his head"—wagging the head expresses contempt, mockery, or horror.
The theological principle: sin brings shame and ruin, not just to individuals but to entire communities. Judah's rebellion will result in national disgrace visible to surrounding nations. This fulfills covenant curses (Deut 28:37, 1 Kgs 9:7-8)—Israel would become a byword and mockery among peoples. What was meant to be a showcase of God's blessing becomes an exhibit of judgment.
This warning applies to Christian witness. When believers or churches abandon biblical truth and practice, they bring reproach on Christ's name. The watching world mocks Christian hypocrisy and failure. Conversely, faithful covenant-keeping adorns the gospel and commends it to others (Tit 2:10). The Reformed emphasis on cultural transformation recognizes that Christian faithfulness or unfaithfulness affects entire societies.