Jeremiah 16:16

Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the LORD, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks.

Behold, I will send {H7971} for many {H7227} fishers {H1771}{H1728}, saith {H5002} the LORD {H3068}, and they shall fish {H1770} them; and after {H310} will I send {H7971} for many {H7227} hunters {H6719}, and they shall hunt {H6679} them from every mountain {H2022}, and from every hill {H1389}, and out of the holes {H5357} of the rocks {H5553}.

"'Look,' says ADONAI, 'I will send for many fishermen, and they will fish for them. Afterwards, I will send for many hunters; and they will hunt them from every mountain and hill and out of caves in the rocks.

But for now I will send for many fishermen, declares the LORD, and they will catch them. After that I will send for many hunters, and they will hunt them down on every mountain and hill, even from the clefts of the rocks.

Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith Jehovah, and they shall fish them up; and afterward I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the clefts of the rocks.

Jeremiah 16:16 is a powerful prophetic declaration of God's impending judgment upon the kingdom of Judah for their persistent idolatry and disobedience. This verse vividly illustrates the comprehensive and inescapable nature of the divine punishment that was soon to befall them.

Context

This verse is situated within a chapter where the prophet Jeremiah delivers stern warnings about the severe consequences of Judah's sins, particularly their worship of other gods (Jeremiah 16:11). The Lord had already declared that there would be no mourning or comfort for the people due to the extent of their wickedness. Verse 16 describes the agents God would use to execute this judgment, primarily referring to foreign invaders, most notably the Babylonians, who would relentlessly pursue and capture the inhabitants of Judah, leaving no place for escape.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Sovereignty: The verse emphasizes that God is actively orchestrating these events ("I will send for many fishers... I will send for many hunters"). This highlights His ultimate authority and justice in dealing with sin.
  • Inevitability and Thoroughness of Punishment: The metaphors of "fishers" and "hunters" underscore that the judgment will be inescapable. Just as fish are caught in a net and prey is tracked down, so too will the people be found, even from the most remote hiding places like "every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks." This reflects a similar theme found in Amos 9:2-3.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: This judgment is a direct result of Judah's rebellion and abandonment of the Lord, serving as a stark warning about the gravity of sin against a holy God.

Linguistic Insights

The imagery of "fishers" (Hebrew: dayyāgîm) and "hunters" (Hebrew: ṣayyāḏîm) is highly metaphorical. While "fishers" might imply ensnaring or gathering people from their normal lives, "hunters" suggests a more aggressive, relentless pursuit into hidden places. Both terms convey the idea of capturing and apprehending those who try to evade punishment. This contrasts sharply with the positive imagery of "fishers of men" in the New Testament, where the intent is to gather people into salvation, as seen in Jesus' call to His disciples in Matthew 4:19.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 16:16 serves as a timeless reminder that there is no hiding from God's all-seeing eye and His ultimate justice. While it speaks specifically to ancient Judah, its principle resonates today: sin has consequences, and God holds individuals and nations accountable for their actions. It encourages introspection and a call to repentance, emphasizing that true security comes not from hidden places, but from walking in obedience and seeking the Lord.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Habakkuk 1:14

    And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, [that have] no ruler over them?

  • Habakkuk 1:15

    They take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag: therefore they rejoice and are glad.

  • Amos 4:2

    The Lord GOD hath sworn by his holiness, that, lo, the days shall come upon you, that he will take you away with hooks, and your posterity with fishhooks.

  • Micah 7:2

    The good [man] is perished out of the earth: and [there is] none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net.

  • Revelation 6:15

    And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;

  • Revelation 6:17

    For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

  • 1 Samuel 26:20

    Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of the LORD: for the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains.

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