Jeremiah 10:19

KJV

Woe is me for my hurt! my wound is grievous: but I said, Truly this [is] a grief, and I must bear it.

KJV (with Strong's)

Woe {H188} is me for my hurt {H7667}! my wound {H4347} is grievous {H2470}: but I said {H559}, Truly {H389} this is a grief {H2483}, and I must bear {H5375} it.

Complete Jewish Bible

Woe to me because of my wound! My injury is incurable! I used to say, "It's only an illness, and I can bear it."

Berean Standard Bible

Woe to me because of my brokenness; my wound is grievous! But I said, “This is truly my sickness, and I must bear it.”

American Standard Version

Woe is me because of my hurt! my wound is grievous: but I said, Truly this is my grief, and I must bear it.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 10:19 captures the prophet Jeremiah's profound personal lament and sorrow over the impending, grievous judgment upon the kingdom of Judah. Despite the intense pain and the devastating nature of the coming "wound" and "grief," Jeremiah expresses a sorrowful resignation, acknowledging that this calamity is a just consequence of the nation's unfaithfulness and one that he, as both prophet and citizen, must bear. This verse encapsulates the prophet's deep empathy for his people's suffering, even as he faithfully declares God's righteous decree.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 10:19 is strategically placed within a chapter that starkly contrasts the incomparable power and sovereignty of the true God with the impotence and vanity of idols. The preceding verses (Jeremiah 10:1-16) serve as a powerful theological polemic, asserting Yahweh's unique role as Creator and Sustainer, in stark opposition to the crafted images of human hands. Following this grand theological declaration, the tone abruptly shifts in Jeremiah 10:17-18, where the prophet issues a dire warning for the inhabitants of Judah to prepare for exile, as God is about to "sling out" the inhabitants of the land. It is into this immediate context of national judgment and impending displacement that Jeremiah 10:19 introduces a deeply personal lament, making the abstract threat of judgment concrete through the prophet's own anguish. The verses immediately following (Jeremiah 10:20-22) continue this lament, portraying Jerusalem as a desolate tent and describing the terrifying approach of the enemy from the North, confirming the reality of the prophesied destruction.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Jeremiah prophesied during a tumultuous period in Judah's history, spanning the reigns of several kings (Josiah, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, Zedekiah) leading up to the Babylonian exile. The nation was steeped in idolatry and had repeatedly rejected God's covenant, despite numerous warnings from prophets like Jeremiah. The "hurt" and "wound" in this verse refer to the impending invasion and destruction by the Neo-Babylonian Empire, which would culminate in the siege of Jerusalem and the exile of its people. This was not merely a political defeat but a theological catastrophe, as it represented the breaking of the covenant and the loss of the promised land. Culturally, lament was a common and accepted form of expression in ancient Israel, often found in psalms and prophetic books, allowing individuals and communities to voice their pain, grief, and even protest to God, while often concluding with an act of trust or resignation. Jeremiah's lament here is deeply rooted in this tradition, expressing the collective anguish of his people through his own personal suffering.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in the book of Jeremiah. Firstly, it highlights **Prophetic Anguish and Burden**, showcasing Jeremiah's profound suffering as he embodies the message of judgment he is compelled to deliver. His pain is not selfish but an empathetic identification with his people's fate, reflecting the heavy cost of being God's messenger (cf. [Jeremiah 9:1](/jeremiah/9-1 "Jeremiah 9:1 - Jeremiah's Lament for His People")). Secondly, it underscores the theme of **Consequences of Disobedience**, as the "hurt" and "wound" are direct results of Judah's persistent idolatry and rebellion against God's covenant (e.g., [Jeremiah 7:24](/jeremiah/7-24 "Jeremiah 7:24 - The Stubborn Heart of Israel")). The "grief" is a deserved outcome, demonstrating God's righteous judgment against sin. Thirdly, it speaks to **Sovereignty and Submission**, as Jeremiah's painful resignation ("I must bear it") signifies an acceptance of God's unalterable decree, even when it brings immense personal sorrow. This submission to divine will, despite the anguish, is a recurring motif in the prophet's life (cf. [Jeremiah 20:9](/jeremiah/20-9 "Jeremiah 20:9 - Jeremiah's Uncontainable Word")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Woe (Hebrew, _ʼôwy'_):** This interjection expresses intense lamentation, distress, or sorrow. It is a cry of anguish, often used in prophetic pronouncements of judgment or in personal expressions of deep suffering. Here, it immediately sets the tone of profound grief and lament.
* **Hurt (Hebrew, _sheber'_):** Derived from a root meaning "to break" or "to shatter," this word denotes a fracture, ruin, or destruction. It implies a devastating blow, a crushing calamity, or a severe affliction. In this context, it refers to the national catastrophe that is about to befall Judah, experienced by Jeremiah as a personal, shattering injury.
* **Grievous (Hebrew, _châlâh'_):** This word, often translated as "sick" or "afflicted," describes a state of weakness, disease, or profound suffering. When applied to a wound, it emphasizes its severity, pain, and debilitating nature. The wound is not superficial but deeply painful and debilitating, reflecting the depth of the impending national disaster.
* **Grief (Hebrew, _chŏlîy'_):** Related to the word for "grievous," this noun signifies malady, disease, anxiety, or calamity. It reinforces the idea that the impending event is a source of profound suffering and distress, a sickness that afflicts the very core of the nation and, by extension, the prophet himself.
* **Bear (Hebrew, _nâsâʼ'_):** This verb means to lift, carry, or endure. In this context, it conveys a sense of necessity and resignation, indicating that the burden of this grief and calamity is inescapable and must be carried or endured. It speaks to a painful acceptance of a divinely ordained reality.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Woe is me for my hurt!":** This opening exclamation is a deeply personal and visceral cry of anguish from Jeremiah. The "woe" (Hebrew _'oy_) signifies intense sorrow and lament, while "my hurt" (Hebrew _sheber_) refers to a profound breaking or shattering, indicating a deep, personal wound caused by the impending national disaster. It is an empathetic identification with the suffering of his people.
* **"my wound is grievous":** This clause intensifies the prophet's lament. The "wound" (Hebrew _makkâh_) is a severe blow or strike, and "grievous" (Hebrew _châlâh_) emphasizes its debilitating and painful nature. It underscores the severity of the coming judgment, which Jeremiah feels as a physical and spiritual affliction.
* **"but I said, Truly this [is] a grief":** Despite the overwhelming pain, Jeremiah acknowledges the reality of the situation. The phrase "Truly this is a grief" (Hebrew _'ak zeh chŏlîy_) indicates a painful recognition that the calamity is not arbitrary but a deserved affliction (Hebrew _chŏlîy_). The "truly" (Hebrew _'ak_) suggests a solemn affirmation of this harsh truth.
* **"and I must bear it.":** This concluding phrase reveals Jeremiah's resignation and submission to God's will. The verb "bear" (Hebrew _nâsâ'_) implies carrying a heavy burden, signifying that this suffering is unavoidable and must be endured. It speaks to the prophet's acceptance of the divine decree, even when it brings him immense personal sorrow and pain.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 10:19 is rich in **Lament** and **Pathos**, immediately drawing the reader into the prophet's profound emotional state. The use of the interjection "Woe is me!" serves as an **Exclamation**, signaling intense distress and setting a mournful tone. The terms "hurt" and "wound" function as **Metaphors** for the national catastrophe, personalizing the impending destruction and making it tangible as a physical injury to the prophet. This **Personification** of the national suffering through Jeremiah's body emphasizes his deep empathy and identification with his people's fate. The phrase "Truly this is a grief, and I must bear it" employs **Resignation** and **Acceptance**, marking a shift from raw anguish to a somber acknowledgment of an inescapable reality. The **Repetition** of ideas related to pain and suffering ("hurt," "wound," "grievous," "grief") amplifies the sense of overwhelming sorrow and the severity of the impending judgment.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 10:19 stands as a poignant testament to the prophet's unique role as a bridge between God and His rebellious people. It highlights the theological truth that God's judgment, while painful, is always righteous and a consequence of persistent sin. Jeremiah's personal suffering mirrors the divine sorrow over human rebellion, revealing a God who does not delight in punishment but allows it as a necessary outcome of covenant breaking. The prophet's willingness to "bear" the grief, even when it is not his personal sin but the nation's, foreshadows a greater suffering servant who would bear the sins of many. This verse underscores the reality that faithfulness to God's word often involves sharing in the suffering of a fallen world, even when one is innocent of the specific transgressions.

* [Lamentations 1:12](/lamentations/1-12 "Lamentations 1:12 - Jerusalem's Despair")
* [Isaiah 53:3](/isaiah/53-3 "Isaiah 53:3 - The Suffering Servant")
* [Psalm 69:9](/psalms/69-9 "Psalm 69:9 - Zeal for God's House")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 10:19 offers a profound invitation to acknowledge and process deep sorrow, even when that sorrow stems from circumstances beyond our control or from the consequences of collective sin. Jeremiah's lament is not a sign of faithlessness but a raw, honest expression of a heart broken by the reality of sin and its devastating effects. It teaches us that true empathy means feeling the pain of others, even when their suffering is self-inflicted. Furthermore, the prophet's eventual resignation—"I must bear it"—speaks to the difficult but necessary acceptance of certain realities. There are burdens, whether personal or communal, that we are called to endure, not in passive despair, but in a posture of submission to God's ultimate sovereignty and justice. This verse challenges us to consider our own responses to suffering, both personal and societal, and to cultivate a heart that grieves over sin and its consequences, while also trusting in the righteous purposes of God.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Jeremiah's personal lament resonate with your own experiences of grief or sorrow, especially concerning the consequences of sin in the world or in your community?**
* **In what ways are you called to "bear" difficult realities or burdens, and how can you do so with a posture of trust and resignation to God's will?**
* **How can we cultivate a deeper empathy for those who suffer the consequences of their own choices or the brokenness of society, mirroring Jeremiah's anguish?**

### FAQ
**Why is Jeremiah often called the "weeping prophet," and how does this verse exemplify that title?**

Answer: Jeremiah is known as the "weeping prophet" due to the pervasive themes of lament, sorrow, and deep emotional anguish found throughout his book. His prophecies are filled with expressions of personal pain and despair over the impending judgment on Judah, which he faithfully proclaimed despite his own suffering. [Jeremiah 9:1](/jeremiah/9-1 "Jeremiah 9:1 - Jeremiah's Desire to Weep") is another prime example where he wishes his head were a spring of tears to weep for his slain people. Jeremiah 10:19 exemplifies this title perfectly, as it is a raw, personal cry of "Woe is me for my hurt! my wound is grievous," directly expressing his profound sorrow and empathetic identification with the national catastrophe. His tears were not just for himself, but for the spiritual and physical devastation awaiting his beloved people.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah's lament in [Jeremiah 10:19](/jeremiah/10-19 "Jeremiah 10:19 - Jeremiah's Lament") finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ. Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, bore the grief and anguish of his people's sin and the impending judgment, identifying deeply with their suffering. Yet, his burden was a shadow of the infinitely greater burden that Jesus would willingly take upon Himself. Jesus, the true suffering servant, bore not merely the consequences of one nation's sin, but the collective "hurt" and "wound" of all humanity's rebellion against God. His cry in the Garden of Gethsemane, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will" ([Matthew 26:39](/matthew/26-39 "Matthew 26:39 - Jesus Prays in Gethsemane")), echoes Jeremiah's painful resignation, "I must bear it," but on a cosmic scale. On the cross, Jesus truly became the one who "bore our griefs and carried our sorrows" ([Isaiah 53:4](/isaiah/53-4 "Isaiah 53:4 - The Suffering Servant Bears Our Sins")), taking upon Himself the "grievous wound" of sin and death, not as a consequence of His own wrongdoing, but as the perfect Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")). Thus, Jeremiah's personal lament, while deeply significant, points forward to the divine sorrow and redemptive suffering of Christ, who bore the ultimate grief so that we might find healing and eternal life.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Micah 7:9

I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, [and] I shall behold his righteousness.

Jeremiah 14:17

¶ Therefore thou shalt say this word unto them; Let mine eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease: for the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous blow.

Lamentations 3:39

Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?

Lamentations 3:40

Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.

Jeremiah 4:31

For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, [and] the anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion, [that] bewaileth herself, [that] spreadeth her hands, [saying], Woe [is] me now! for my soul is wearied because of murderers.

Psalms 39:9

I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst [it].

Jeremiah 8:21

For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment hath taken hold on me.