Jeremiah 31:15

Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, [and] bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they [were] not.

Thus saith {H559} the LORD {H3068}; A voice {H6963} was heard {H8085} in Ramah {H7414}, lamentation {H5092}, and bitter {H8563} weeping {H1065}; Rahel {H7354} weeping {H1058} for her children {H1121} refused {H3985} to be comforted {H5162} for her children {H1121}, because they were not.

This is what ADONAI says: "A voice is heard in Ramah, lamenting and bitter weeping. It is Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted for her children, because they are no longer alive."

This is what the LORD says: “A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”

Thus saith Jehovah: A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children; she refuseth to be comforted for her children, because they are not.

Jeremiah 31:15 records a poignant prophecy of deep sorrow and lamentation, a voice crying out in Ramah. This verse captures the profound grief associated with the exile and loss of the people of Israel, personified through the matriarch Rachel.

Context of Jeremiah 31:15

This verse is situated within Jeremiah's "Book of Consolation" (chapters 30-33), a section of the prophetic book that, despite depicting immense suffering, ultimately speaks of God's future restoration and new covenant with Israel. While the surrounding verses promise a return from captivity and renewed prosperity, verse 15 serves as a stark reminder of the immense pain and loss that preceded this hope. Ramah, a town in the territory of Benjamin, was a key assembly point for exiles being deported to Babylon, making it a symbolic place of departure and despair. Rachel, the mother of Joseph and Benjamin, is personified as weeping for her descendants, representing the collective grief of both the northern and southern kingdoms in exile.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Profound Grief and Loss: The central theme is inconsolable sorrow. Rachel, a revered matriarch whose tomb was traditionally near Ramah, embodies the collective grief of a nation mourning its lost children—those killed, those exiled, and those who "were not" in their homeland. Her refusal to be comforted underscores the depth of this national tragedy and the immense human cost of sin and judgment.
  • Divine Empathy: The phrase "Thus saith the LORD" introduces this lament, indicating that God Himself acknowledges and articulates this profound human suffering. It highlights God's deep empathy for His people's pain, even amidst the consequences of their disobedience, showing that He is not distant from their sorrows.
  • Prophetic Foreshadowing: This verse is notably quoted in the New Testament in Matthew 2:18, where it is applied to Herod's slaughter of the innocent male children in Bethlehem. This reapplication demonstrates the enduring nature of this prophecy of lamentation, showing how ancient prophecies can find new fulfillments in times of great suffering and injustice.

Linguistic Insights

The name "Rahel" (Rachel) in Hebrew means "ewe," often symbolizing purity and tenderness, making her an apt figure to embody the vulnerable and grieving nation. The phrase "refused to be comforted" (Hebrew: mā’ănāh ləhinnāḥēm) powerfully conveys the depth of her inconsolable grief, suggesting a sorrow so profound that no human comfort could alleviate it. This emphasizes the utter devastation felt by the people.

Practical Application and Reflection

Jeremiah 31:15 reminds us that faith does not negate suffering; rather, it often acknowledges its profound reality. This verse offers comfort to those experiencing deep loss, knowing that God sees and even voices their pain. It teaches that even in the midst of overwhelming sorrow, as seen in the broader context of Jeremiah 31, God's ultimate plan is one of restoration and hope. Just as Rachel's tears were eventually followed by the promise of return for her children (Jeremiah 31:16-17), so too does God offer a future beyond present despair, inviting us to trust in His enduring faithfulness and the ultimate triumph of His comfort and new creation.

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.

  • Matthew 2:16

    ¶ Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.

  • Matthew 2:18

    In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping [for] her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

  • Psalms 77:2

    In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.

  • Jeremiah 40:1

    ¶ The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, after that Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he had taken him being bound in chains among all that were carried away captive of Jerusalem and Judah, which were carried away captive unto Babylon.

  • Genesis 35:19

    And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which [is] Bethlehem.

  • Isaiah 22:4

    Therefore said I, Look away from me; I will weep bitterly, labour not to comfort me, because of the spoiling of the daughter of my people.

  • Genesis 42:13

    And they said, Thy servants [are] twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest [is] this day with our father, and one [is] not.

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