Jeremiah 9:10
For the mountains will I take up a weeping and wailing, and for the habitations of the wilderness a lamentation, because they are burned up, so that none can pass through them; neither can men hear the voice of the cattle; both the fowl of the heavens and the beast are fled; they are gone.
Original Language Analysis
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
1 of 24
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
הֶ֨הָרִ֜ים
For the mountains
H2022
הֶ֨הָרִ֜ים
For the mountains
Strong's:
H2022
Word #:
2 of 24
a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
אֶשָּׂ֧א
will I take up
H5375
אֶשָּׂ֧א
will I take up
Strong's:
H5375
Word #:
3 of 24
to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
וְעַל
H5921
וְעַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
6 of 24
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
מִדְבָּר֙
of the wilderness
H4057
מִדְבָּר֙
of the wilderness
Strong's:
H4057
Word #:
8 of 24
a pasture (i.e., open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert
קִינָ֔ה
a lamentation
H7015
קִינָ֔ה
a lamentation
Strong's:
H7015
Word #:
9 of 24
a dirge (as accompanied by beating the breasts or on instruments)
כִּ֤י
H3588
כִּ֤י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
10 of 24
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
נִצְּתוּ֙
because they are burned up
H3341
נִצְּתוּ֙
because they are burned up
Strong's:
H3341
Word #:
11 of 24
to burn or set on fire; figuratively, to desolate
מִבְּלִי
H1097
מִבְּלִי
Strong's:
H1097
Word #:
12 of 24
properly, failure, i.e., nothing or destruction; usually (with preposition) without, not yet, because not, as long as, etc
אִ֣ישׁ
so that none
H376
אִ֣ישׁ
so that none
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
13 of 24
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
עֹבֵ֔ר
can pass
H5674
עֹבֵ֔ר
can pass
Strong's:
H5674
Word #:
14 of 24
to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in
וְלֹ֥א
H3808
וְלֹ֥א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
15 of 24
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
שָׁמְע֖וּ
through them neither can men hear
H8085
שָׁמְע֖וּ
through them neither can men hear
Strong's:
H8085
Word #:
16 of 24
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
מִקְנֶ֑ה
of the cattle
H4735
מִקְנֶ֑ה
of the cattle
Strong's:
H4735
Word #:
18 of 24
something bought, i.e., property, but only live stock; abstractly, acquisition
מֵע֤וֹף
both the fowl
H5775
מֵע֤וֹף
both the fowl
Strong's:
H5775
Word #:
19 of 24
a bird (as covered with feathers, or rather as covering with wings), often collectively
הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙
of the heavens
H8064
הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙
of the heavens
Strong's:
H8064
Word #:
20 of 24
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
וְעַד
H5704
וְעַד
Strong's:
H5704
Word #:
21 of 24
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
בְּהֵמָ֔ה
and the beast
H929
בְּהֵמָ֔ה
and the beast
Strong's:
H929
Word #:
22 of 24
properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often collective)
Cross References
Jeremiah 12:4How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of every field wither, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein? the beasts are consumed, and the birds; because they said, He shall not see our last end.Hosea 4:3Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.Jeremiah 12:10Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.Jeremiah 7:29Cut off thine hair, O Jerusalem, and cast it away, and take up a lamentation on high places; for the LORD hath rejected and forsaken the generation of his wrath.Ezekiel 33:28For I will lay the land most desolate, and the pomp of her strength shall cease; and the mountains of Israel shall be desolate, that none shall pass through.Ezekiel 29:11No foot of man shall pass through it, nor foot of beast shall pass through it, neither shall it be inhabited forty years.Ezekiel 14:15If I cause noisome beasts to pass through the land, and they spoil it, so that it be desolate, that no man may pass through because of the beasts:
Historical Context
Babylonian warfare included systematic destruction of agricultural infrastructure to prevent rebellion and ensure conquered territories couldn't support armies. Archaeological evidence from Judah shows extensive burning of towns and disruption of settlement patterns during this period. The ecological devastation described—absence of livestock, birds, and wildlife—indicates complete environmental collapse accompanying military destruction.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the ecological devastation described here reflect the cosmic scope of covenant judgment?
- What does the departure of animals from the land suggest about sin's impact on creation itself?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
This verse shifts to lament: 'For the mountains will I take up a weeping and wailing.' The Hebrew nehi (נְהִי, lamentation) and qinah (קִינָה, funeral dirge) indicate formal mourning. 'For the habitations of the wilderness a lamentation' (ne'oth midbar, נְאוֹת מִדְבָּר, pastures of the wilderness). The devastation extends from mountainous terrain to desert pastures. 'Because they are burned up, so that none can pass through them' describes scorched-earth warfare. 'Neither can men hear the voice of the cattle' indicates complete depopulation—no livestock remain. 'Both the fowl of the heavens and the beast are fled' completes the picture: birds and wild animals have abandoned devastated land. This is creation-reversing judgment, returning cultivated land to primordial chaos.