Jeremiah 5:16

KJV

Their quiver [is] as an open sepulchre, they [are] all mighty men.

KJV (with Strong's)

Their quiver {H827} is as an open {H6605} sepulchre {H6913}, they are all mighty men {H1368}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Their quiver is like an open grave, they are all mighty warriors.

Berean Standard Bible

Their quivers are like open graves; they are all mighty men.

American Standard Version

Their quiver is an open sepulchre, they are all mighty men.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 5:16 delivers a chilling prophetic warning to the unrepentant kingdom of Judah, vividly depicting the formidable invading army God would raise up as an instrument of His judgment. The verse employs powerful imagery, comparing the invaders' quiver to an insatiable, "open sepulchre," signifying the widespread and indiscriminate death their weapons would unleash. This is compounded by the declaration that "they are all mighty men," emphasizing the overwhelming strength and ruthless efficiency of this divinely appointed force, underscoring the inevitability and severity of the impending divine wrath against Judah's persistent sin.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 5:16 is embedded within a broader prophetic oracle (Jeremiah 5:1-31) where God systematically indicts Judah for its pervasive sin—idolatry, injustice, moral corruption, and rejection of prophetic warnings. Specifically, verses 15-17 describe the characteristics of the "nation from afar" (`/jeremiah/5-15` "Jeremiah 5:15 - Nation From Afar") that God will bring against Judah. This verse, therefore, serves as a terrifying elaboration on the destructive capacity of this invading force, which is divinely commissioned to execute judgment. It follows a series of rhetorical questions and lamentations over Judah's spiritual blindness and hardness of heart, setting the stage for the concrete manifestation of God's righteous indignation. The imagery here intensifies the sense of doom already established in the preceding verses, leaving no doubt about the severity of the coming punishment.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The prophet Jeremiah ministered during a tumultuous period in Judah's history, spanning the reigns of several kings leading up to the Babylonian exile (late 7th to early 6th century BCE). Judah, particularly Jerusalem, was steeped in syncretistic worship and social injustice, despite generations of prophetic warnings. The "nation from afar" is widely understood to be the Neo-Babylonian Empire (Chaldeans), which was rapidly rising to prominence as a dominant world power. Babylon was known for its highly disciplined and ruthless military, employing advanced siege warfare and formidable archers. Culturally, the "sepulchre" (grave) held significant meaning in ancient Israel, representing the finality of death and the sanctity of burial rites. An "open sepulchre" would evoke profound horror, suggesting an unnatural, unending state of death and decay, or a grave that is constantly receiving new bodies, a powerful image for the scale of impending slaughter.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Jeremiah and the broader prophetic literature. Foremost is the theme of **Divine Judgment**, where God, as the sovereign ruler of nations, uses even pagan empires as instruments of His righteous wrath against His disobedient covenant people. This highlights the **Consequences of Persistent Disobedience** and covenant breaking, demonstrating that God's patience has limits and His warnings are not idle threats. The description of the invading army as an **Irresistible Force** underscores the futility of Judah's resistance and the certainty of the judgment. Furthermore, it reinforces the theme of **God's Sovereignty Over History**, showing that even the rise and fall of empires are orchestrated by Him to achieve His purposes, including the discipline of His people, as seen in the broader narrative of [God raising up nations](/isaiah/10-5 "Isaiah 10:5 - Assyria as God's Rod"). The verse also serves as a stark **Prophetic Warning**, though in Jeremiah's later ministry, these warnings often shift to declarations of inevitable judgment due to Judah's hardened heart, emphasizing the severe outcome of rejecting God's repeated calls to [repentance and return to Him](/jeremiah/4-1 "Jeremiah 4:1 - Return to the Lord").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **quiver (Hebrew, _ʼashpâh'_):** This word refers to a case or container for holding arrows. In ancient warfare, archers were crucial, and their quivers were essential for carrying their deadly projectiles. The comparison of this container to a sepulchre immediately imbues it with a sense of death-dealing capacity, transforming a mere weapon accessory into a symbol of overwhelming mortality.
* **sepulchre (Hebrew, _qeber'_):** This term denotes a grave, tomb, or burial place. It signifies the ultimate end of life, a place of decay and finality. The imagery of an "open" sepulchre suggests an insatiable maw, constantly ready to receive new victims, emphasizing the vast scale of death the invading army would bring. It implies not just individual deaths, but a land filled with the dead, a place of widespread devastation.
* **mighty men (Hebrew, _gibbôwr'_):** This powerful term describes individuals who are strong, valiant, powerful, and often refers to warriors or champions. The use of "all" (Hebrew, _kullām'_) emphasizes the collective strength and formidable nature of the entire invading army. They are not merely numerous, but each is a highly effective, ruthless, and skilled combatant, ensuring that their destructive potential, symbolized by the "open sepulchre" quiver, would be fully realized.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Their quiver [is] as an open sepulchre":** This is a profound and terrifying simile. A quiver, the source of arrows, is directly compared to an open grave. This means that every arrow drawn from their quiver is not just a projectile, but an instrument of death, as if the quiver itself is a gaping maw of the grave, ready to consume lives. It signifies that the invaders' weaponry is designed not merely to wound or incapacitate, but for wholesale slaughter, ensuring a high death toll and a land filled with the dead. The "open" aspect further suggests an insatiable appetite for death, an unending supply of fatal blows.
* **"they [are] all mighty men":** This clause describes the nature of the invading army itself. They are not just a large force, but a highly effective, powerful, and ruthless fighting machine. Their collective might ensures that the destructive capacity implied by their "open sepulchre" quivers will be fully unleashed and realized. This emphasizes the hopelessness of Judah's resistance and the overwhelming, irresistible power of the instrument God uses for judgment. Their strength is a testament to the severity and certainty of the coming divine wrath.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 5:16 is rich in powerful **Imagery** designed to evoke fear and underscore the severity of God's judgment. The most prominent device is the **Simile**, explicitly stated in "Their quiver [is] as an open sepulchre." This comparison is highly effective, linking the source of weapons (quiver) directly to the ultimate symbol of death and decay (sepulchre). The "open" aspect of the sepulchre adds a layer of **Hyperbole** and **Personification**, suggesting an insatiable, gaping maw that is constantly ready to receive new bodies, emphasizing the vast and indiscriminate nature of the impending slaughter. This vivid imagery creates a sense of overwhelming doom and the futility of resistance, making the abstract concept of divine judgment terrifyingly concrete for the audience.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 5:16 profoundly illustrates the theological principle of divine justice and the dire consequences of covenant unfaithfulness. It reveals God's absolute sovereignty, demonstrating His capacity to orchestrate historical events and raise up powerful nations, even those seemingly pagan or hostile, as instruments of His righteous judgment against His own disobedient people. This verse serves as a stark reminder that God takes sin seriously, and persistent rebellion against His will inevitably leads to severe repercussions. It underscores the truth that while God is patient and merciful, His holiness demands a response to sin, and when His calls to repentance are continually ignored, judgment will follow. The overwhelming nature of the invading force highlights the inescapable nature of this divine reckoning.

* [Deuteronomy 28:15-68](/deuteronomy/28-15 "Deuteronomy 28:15-68 - Curses for Disobedience")
* [Isaiah 10:5](/isaiah/10-5 "Isaiah 10:5 - Assyria as God's Rod of Anger")
* [Romans 6:23](/romans/6-23 "Romans 6:23 - The Wages of Sin")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 5:16, though rooted in a specific historical context of judgment against ancient Judah, carries timeless principles for reflection and application in our lives today. It serves as a potent reminder of the seriousness of sin and the unwavering justice of God. We are called to examine our own lives and communities, considering where we might be complacent or rebellious against God's revealed will. The "open sepulchre" imagery should provoke a healthy fear of the consequences of unrepentance, urging us to take God's warnings seriously and to respond with humility and obedience. Ultimately, this verse compels us to recognize God's absolute sovereignty, even over the most terrifying circumstances, and to trust in His perfect plan, which always aims for righteousness and ultimately, redemption. It challenges us to live in a way that honors God, seeking His mercy and grace, rather than presuming upon it.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be resisting God's call to repentance or neglecting His warnings?**
* **How does the imagery of "an open sepulchre" impact my understanding of the severity of sin and its consequences?**
* **How can I better acknowledge and trust in God's sovereignty, even when His methods of justice seem harsh or difficult to comprehend?**
* **What practical steps can I take to cultivate a heart that is more sensitive to God's voice and more eager to obey His commands?**

### FAQ
**Who is "they" referring to in Jeremiah 5:16?**

Answer: "They" refers to the formidable invading nation that God would raise up to execute judgment upon Judah. While not explicitly named in this verse, the broader context of Jeremiah's prophecies, particularly in subsequent chapters, clearly identifies them as the Chaldeans, or Babylonians. This powerful empire, under kings like Nebuchadnezzar, was God's chosen instrument to bring about the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of Judah, as foretold throughout the book of [Jeremiah](/jeremiah/25-9 "Jeremiah 25:9 - Nebuchadnezzar as God's Servant").

**Why is the quiver compared to "an open sepulchre"?**

Answer: This powerful simile emphasizes the absolute deadliness and widespread destruction that the invaders' arrows would bring. A quiver is a container for arrows, the primary projectiles of ancient warfare. An "open sepulchre" or tomb is a place of death, decay, and the ultimate end of life. By comparing the quiver to an open sepulchre, Jeremiah conveys that each arrow drawn from their quiver would be like a mouth of the grave, bringing certain death and filling the land with the dead. It signifies that their weaponry is not merely for wounding, but for wholesale slaughter, ensuring a high death toll and a land filled with graves, underscoring the relentless and indiscriminate nature of the impending judgment. It suggests an insatiable appetite for death, as if the grave is constantly ready to receive more bodies.

**Is this prophecy only about physical judgment, or does it have spiritual implications?**

Answer: While Jeremiah 5:16 describes a very real, physical judgment in the form of military invasion and death, it carries profound spiritual implications. The physical judgment is a direct consequence of Judah's spiritual rebellion, idolatry, and covenant unfaithfulness. It serves as a tangible manifestation of God's righteous anger against sin. Spiritually, it highlights the ultimate consequence of rejecting God's truth and persistent disobedience—separation from God, which is a form of spiritual death. The "open sepulchre" can also metaphorically represent the spiritual desolation and hopelessness that result from turning away from the source of life. The prophet consistently calls Judah to [spiritual repentance](/jeremiah/3-22 "Jeremiah 3:22 - Return, O Faithless Sons"), indicating that the root problem was spiritual.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Jeremiah 5:16 describes a terrifying judgment enacted through human instruments, it ultimately points to the greater reality of God's justice and His ultimate solution for sin in Jesus Christ. The "open sepulchre" of the invaders' quiver foreshadows the ultimate wages of sin, which is death, a reality that every human being faces (as seen in [Romans 6:23](/romans/6-23 "Romans 6:23 - The Wages of Sin")). However, the most significant "open sepulchre" in history is not one that dispenses death, but one that was emptied by life: the tomb of Jesus Christ. Through His sacrificial death on the cross, Jesus became the ultimate target of divine judgment for humanity's sin, taking upon Himself the "quiver" of God's wrath. Yet, He conquered death, emerging from the grave victorious, thereby transforming the sepulchre from a symbol of finality into a sign of hope and new life ([1 Corinthians 15:54-57](/1_corinthians/15-54 "1 Corinthians 15:54-57 - Victory Over Death")). The "mighty men" of judgment in Jeremiah prefigure God's absolute power and authority, which are perfectly displayed in Christ's triumph over sin, death, and the spiritual enemies that hold humanity captive ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Triumph Over Principalities and Powers")). Thus, Jeremiah's warning of inescapable judgment for those who reject God's covenant finds its ultimate fulfillment in the call to turn to Christ, the one who delivers from the ultimate "sepulchre" of spiritual death and offers eternal life ([John 3:16](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God So Loved the World")).

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

Isaiah 5:28

Whose arrows [are] sharp, and all their bows bent, their horses' hoofs shall be counted like flint, and their wheels like a whirlwind:

Psalms 5:9

For [there is] no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part [is] very wickedness; their throat [is] an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.

Romans 3:13

Their throat [is] an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps [is] under their lips: