Jeremiah 16:9

For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will cause to cease out of this place in your eyes, and in your days, the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride.

For thus saith {H559} the LORD {H3068} of hosts {H6635}, the God {H430} of Israel {H3478}; Behold, I will cause to cease {H7673} out of this place {H4725} in your eyes {H5869}, and in your days {H3117}, the voice {H6963} of mirth {H8342}, and the voice {H6963} of gladness {H8057}, the voice {H6963} of the bridegroom {H2860}, and the voice {H6963} of the bride {H3618}.

For here is what ADONAI-Tzva'ot, the God of Isra'el, says: 'In this place, while you are still alive, before your very eyes, I will put an end to the sounds of joy and gladness and to the voices of bridegroom and bride.'

For this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: I am going to remove from this place, before your very eyes and in your days, the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of the bride and bridegroom.

For thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will cause to cease out of this place, before your eyes and in your days, the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride.

Jeremiah 16:9 delivers a powerful and somber prophecy from the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, declaring a severe judgment upon Judah. This verse foretells the complete cessation of joy, celebration, and normal communal life within their land, to be witnessed by the people themselves within their own lifetimes. The silencing of the "voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride" symbolizes utter desolation and the profound consequences of their national sin.

Historical and Cultural Context

The prophet Jeremiah ministered in Judah during a tumultuous period leading up to the Babylonian captivity. The people of Judah, despite repeated warnings from God's prophets, had stubbornly persisted in idolatry, moral corruption, and covenant unfaithfulness. Chapters 15 and 16 of Jeremiah emphasize the finality and severity of God's judgment, indicating that the time for repentance had passed for the nation as a whole. God even commanded Jeremiah not to marry or mourn, to serve as a living parable of the coming sorrow and the absence of traditional rites of passage and grief.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Consequences of Sin: This verse starkly illustrates God's righteous judgment against persistent disobedience. The promised desolation is a direct result of Judah's rebellion and rejection of His covenant, a theme central to Jeremiah's message (see Jeremiah 7:23-26). It underscores that while God is merciful, His justice is absolute.
  • Loss of Joy and Desolation: The cessation of joyous sounds, particularly those associated with weddings (the voice of the bridegroom and bride), signifies the complete breakdown of society, family life, and all forms of celebration. Weddings were central to Israelite communal life, symbolizing hope, continuity, and prosperity. Their absence points to a society utterly broken, devoid of hope, and experiencing national collapse, a grief powerfully expressed later in the book of Lamentations.
  • God's Sovereignty and Imminence: The phrase "in your eyes, and in your days" emphasizes that this judgment would occur within the lifetime of Jeremiah's contemporaries, making the prophecy immediate and inescapable. God, as the "LORD of hosts," is sovereign over all circumstances and fully capable of executing His decreed judgments.

Linguistic Insights

The title "LORD of hosts" (Hebrew: YHWH Sabaoth) highlights God's supreme authority and power as the commander of heavenly armies, emphasizing His ability to execute His decrees with unfailing might. The repetition of "voice of" (Hebrew: qol) preceding "mirth," "gladness," "bridegroom," and "bride" creates a poetic and emphatic rhythm, underscoring the comprehensive nature of the silence that would fall upon the land.

Related Scriptures

This prophecy aligns with broader warnings about the consequences of national disobedience found throughout the Law, particularly in the curses outlined in Deuteronomy 28:15-68. The imagery of silenced joy and music as a sign of judgment is a recurring motif in prophetic literature, also seen in Isaiah 24:8 and Ezekiel 26:13, reinforcing the severity of the impending doom.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 16:9 serves as a timeless warning that persistent rebellion against God's commands leads to severe consequences, including the loss of joy and prosperity. For believers today, it encourages a careful examination of our own lives and priorities, reminding us that true and lasting joy comes from walking in obedience to God's will and valuing His presence above all else. While this verse focuses on judgment, the broader book of Jeremiah also contains promises of future restoration and hope for those who genuinely seek God (e.g., Jeremiah 29:11), reminding us that God's ultimate desire is reconciliation.

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.

  • Hosea 2:11

    I will also cause all her mirth to cease, her feast days, her new moons, and her sabbaths, and all her solemn feasts.

  • Ezekiel 26:13

    And I will cause the noise of thy songs to cease; and the sound of thy harps shall be no more heard.

  • Jeremiah 7:34

    Then will I cause to cease from the cities of Judah, and from the streets of Jerusalem, the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride: for the land shall be desolate.

  • Jeremiah 25:10

    Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the candle.

  • Isaiah 24:7

    The new wine mourneth, the vine languisheth, all the merryhearted do sigh.

  • Isaiah 24:12

    In the city is left desolation, and the gate is smitten with destruction.

  • Revelation 18:22

    And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft [he be], shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee;

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