Jeremiah 25:10
Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the candle.
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
The destruction of Jerusalem and Judean towns in 586 BC fulfilled this prophecy literally. Archaeological excavations show a dramatic population decline—from perhaps 75,000 to less than 10,000. Cities were burned, never to be rebuilt. The land lay desolate for seventy years, with minimal agriculture and no significant urban life. The joy of weddings, the routine of daily bread-making, the light of evening lamps—all ceased as the population was either killed, enslaved, or exiled.
Questions for Reflection
- How do these images of everyday life—weddings, bread-making, lamplight—emphasize the totality of God's judgment?
- What does the reversal of creation and covenant blessings teach about sin's ultimate trajectory?
- How should the certainty of God's fulfilled judgments on ancient Judah inform our understanding of future judgment warnings in Scripture?
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Analysis & Commentary
Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the candle. This poetic description depicts the complete cessation of normal life. The Hebrew qôl śāśôn wĕqôl śimḥâ (קוֹל שָׂשׂוֹן וְקוֹל שִׂמְחָה, voice of mirth and voice of gladness) represents joy and celebration, particularly weddings—the epitome of communal joy. The phrase qôl ḥātān wĕqôl kallâ (קוֹל חָתָן וְקוֹל כַּלָּה, voice of bridegroom and voice of bride) emphasizes the end of marriages and new families.
The qôl rēḥayim (קוֹל רֵחַיִם, sound of millstones) represents daily domestic activity—grinding grain for bread, the most basic sustenance. The ʾôr hannēr (אוֹר הַנֵּר, light of the candle/lamp) symbolizes home and life itself. Together, these images portray total desolation—no weddings, no children, no food production, no homes inhabited. This reverses creation and covenant blessings, returning the land to pre-Edenic chaos. Revelation 18:21-23 uses identical imagery to describe Babylon's judgment, demonstrating the principle that those who execute God's judgment must themselves eventually face it.