Jeremiah 9:18
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Jeremiah 9:18
18 And let them make haste, and take up a wailing for us, that our eyes may run down with tears, and our eyelids gush out with waters.
Chapter Context
Jeremiah 9 is a prophetic oracle chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of holiness, truth, faith. Written during the final years of Judah and early exile (c. 627-580 BCE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Prophesied during Judah's final years as Babylon became the dominant power.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-26: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it provides essential context for understanding God's covenant relationship with His people. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Jeremiah and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Jeremiah 9:18
18 And let them make haste, and take up a wailing for us, that our eyes may run down with tears, and our eyelids gush out with waters.
Analysis
This verse continues the summons: 'And let them make haste, and take up a wailing for us.' The Hebrew mahar (מָהַר, hasten, hurry) and nehi (נְהִי, lamentation) indicate urgency—mourning must begin immediately. 'That our eyes may run down with tears, and our eyelids gush out with waters.' The Hebrew imagery is extravagant: eyes 'running' (yarad, יָרַד, descend, flow) with tears, eyelids 'gushing' (nazal, נָזַל, flow, drip) water. The mourners' songs will provoke the tears the hardened people cannot otherwise produce. They need external stimulus to grieve appropriately for their coming destruction.
Historical Context
The mourning women's function included teaching survivors how to grieve, leading ritual expressions of loss, and ensuring the dead received proper honor. Verse 20 commands teaching daughters this skill, suggesting generational transmission of mourning expertise. The inability to mourn naturally—requiring professional help—may indicate the spiritual numbness described earlier (8:12).
Reflection
- What does the need for professional mourners to stimulate grief reveal about the people's spiritual condition?
- How does authentic grief over sin differ from the induced weeping described here?
Cross-References
- Parallel theme: Jeremiah 9:1, 14:17, Isaiah 22:4