Jeremiah 9:22
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.
Original Language Analysis
דַּבֵּ֗ר
Speak
H1696
דַּבֵּ֗ר
Speak
Strong's:
H1696
Word #:
1 of 16
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
כֹּ֚ה
H3541
כֹּ֚ה
Strong's:
H3541
Word #:
2 of 16
properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now
יְהוָ֔ה
the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֔ה
the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
4 of 16
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
וְנָֽפְלָה֙
shall fall
H5307
וְנָֽפְלָה֙
shall fall
Strong's:
H5307
Word #:
5 of 16
to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)
נִבְלַ֣ת
Even the carcases
H5038
נִבְלַ֣ת
Even the carcases
Strong's:
H5038
Word #:
6 of 16
a flabby thing, i.e., a carcase or carrion (human or bestial, often collectively); figuratively, an idol
הָֽאָדָ֔ם
of men
H120
הָֽאָדָ֔ם
of men
Strong's:
H120
Word #:
7 of 16
ruddy i.e., a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
9 of 16
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
פְּנֵ֣י
upon the open
H6440
פְּנֵ֣י
upon the open
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
10 of 16
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
מֵאַחֲרֵ֥י
after
H310
מֵאַחֲרֵ֥י
after
Strong's:
H310
Word #:
13 of 16
properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
הַקֹּצֵ֖ר
the harvestman
H7114
הַקֹּצֵ֖ר
the harvestman
Strong's:
H7114
Word #:
14 of 16
to dock off, i.e., curtail (transitive or intransitive, literal or figurative); especially to harvest (grass or grain)
וְאֵ֥ין
H369
Cross References
Jeremiah 8:2And they shall spread them before the sun, and the moon, and all the host of heaven, whom they have loved, and whom they have served, and after whom they have walked, and whom they have sought, and whom they have worshipped: they shall not be gathered, nor be buried; they shall be for dung upon the face of the earth.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.Isaiah 5:25Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcases were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.Psalms 83:10Which perished at En-dor: they became as dung for the earth.Jeremiah 16:4They 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.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.
Historical Context
Proper burial was paramount in ancient Israel (Genesis 23, 2 Samuel 21:10-14). To lie unburied was curse and disgrace (Deuteronomy 28:26). Archaeological evidence of mass graves and unburied remains from destroyed Judean cities confirms this prophecy's fulfillment. The harvest metaphor (as in 8:20) depicts death reaping abundant harvest with no one remaining to process or bury the dead.
Questions for Reflection
- What does the image of unburied bodies reveal about the complete breakdown of social order in judgment?
- How does the harvest metaphor transform Death into a farmer reaping abundant crop?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
This verse continues Death's work: 'Even the carcases of men shall fall as dung upon the open field.' The Hebrew nivlath (נִבְלַת, carcass, corpse) describes bodies lying unburied like dung (domen) spread on fields. 'And as the handful after the harvestman, and none shall gather them.' The imagery shifts to harvest: scattered grain sheaves left behind, with no one to gather them. Unburied bodies represented ultimate dishonor in ancient culture; 'no one to gather' indicates complete social breakdown—no surviving family to provide burial. This verse recalls 8:1-2's prediction of exhumed bones and connects death's abundance to agricultural imagery.