Jeremiah 7:29

KJV

¶ Cut off thine hair, [O Jerusalem], and cast [it] away, and take up a lamentation on high places; for the LORD hath rejected and forsaken the generation of his wrath.

KJV (with Strong's)

Cut off {H1494} thine hair {H5145}, O Jerusalem, and cast it away {H7993}, and take up {H5375} a lamentation {H7015} on high places {H8205}; for the LORD {H3068} hath rejected {H3988} and forsaken {H5203} the generation {H1755} of his wrath {H5678}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Cut off your hair, and throw it away, take up a lament on the bare hills, for ADONAI has rejected and abandoned the generation that rouses his anger.'

Berean Standard Bible

Cut off your hair and throw it away. Raise up a lamentation on the barren heights, for the LORD has rejected and forsaken the generation of His wrath.’

American Standard Version

Cut off thy hair, O Jerusalem, and cast it away, and take up a lamentation on the bare heights; for Jehovah hath rejected and forsaken the generation of his wrath.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 7:29 serves as a climactic and devastating pronouncement within the prophet's "Temple Sermon," commanding Jerusalem to undertake a symbolic act of extreme mourning and humiliation. This divine decree signifies the exhaustion of God's patience, marking an irreversible judgment upon Judah due to their entrenched idolatry, moral corruption, and persistent rebellion against His covenant. The verse underscores that the Lord has definitively rejected and abandoned "the generation of his wrath," highlighting the dire and inevitable consequences of their unrepentant sin and the impending national catastrophe.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 7:29 stands as a pivotal and climactic declaration within Jeremiah's profound "Temple Sermon," spanning [Jeremiah 7:1-15](/jeremiah/7-1-15 "Jeremiah 7:1-15 - The Temple Sermon"). In this crucial address, the prophet confronts Judah's dangerous complacency and false security, rooted in their erroneous belief that the mere presence of the Jerusalem Temple guaranteed divine protection, regardless of their conduct (see [Jeremiah 7:4](/jeremiah/7-4 "Jeremiah 7:4 - False Trust in the Temple")). Prior to this verse, Jeremiah meticulously enumerates the people's egregious sins—including theft, murder, adultery, perjury, and rampant idolatry—all committed while hypocritically claiming sanctuary in God's sacred house ([Jeremiah 7:9-10](/jeremiah/7-9-10 "Jeremiah 7:9-10 - Judah's Abominations")). The Lord's repeated and earnest calls for genuine repentance and amendment of their ways ([Jeremiah 7:3](/jeremiah/7-3 "Jeremiah 7:3 - Call to Amend Ways"), [Jeremiah 7:5-7](/jeremiah/7-5-7 "Jeremiah 7:5-7 - Conditions for Dwelling in the Land")) have been met with obstinate refusal. Consequently, verse 29 functions as a stark and final pronouncement of judgment, immediately preceding further graphic descriptions of their abominable practices, such as child sacrifice in the Valley of Ben Hinnom ([Jeremiah 7:30-31](/jeremiah/7-30-31 "Jeremiah 7:30-31 - Abominations in the Temple and Topheth")), which ultimately leads to the desolation of the land and the scattering of bones ([Jeremiah 7:32-34](/jeremiah/7-32-34 "Jeremiah 7:32-34 - Desolation of Topheth and Judah")). This verse thus marks a grim and irreversible turning point, signaling the end of God's forbearance and the commencement of the promised covenant curses.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The prophecy articulated in [Jeremiah 7:29](/jeremiah/7-29 "Jeremiah 7:29 - Command to Mourn") is delivered during a deeply turbulent and morally compromised period in Judah's history, most likely in the early years of King Jehoiakim's reign (609-598 BC). This era was characterized by a severe resurgence of idolatry, moral decay, and political instability, effectively undoing the brief but significant spiritual reforms initiated under the pious King Josiah. Jerusalem, as the capital and site of the sacred Temple, was erroneously perceived by many as inviolable, fostering a dangerous and pervasive spiritual complacency. Culturally, the act of cutting off one's hair was a profoundly potent and universally recognized symbol of extreme grief, shame, and national humiliation in the ancient Near East. It was often associated with deep mourning for the dead (e.g., [Job 1:20](/job/1-20 "Job 1:20 - Job's Response to Loss")), a public display of disgrace, or the stripping away of honor, beauty, and even identity. The "high places" (Hebrew: _bamot_) were typically elevated sites, often illicitly used for pagan worship and idolatrous rituals throughout Judah. Their designation in this verse as places for lamentation is deeply ironic, underscoring that the very locations of their sin would become the stages for their widespread and inescapable sorrow. The people's persistent reliance on ritualistic observance over genuine covenant faithfulness, despite repeated divine warnings, had pushed God to this point of profound rejection and impending judgment.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully encapsulates several overarching and critical themes prevalent throughout the book of Jeremiah and the broader prophetic literature. Firstly, it highlights the inexorable reality of **Divine Judgment and Retribution**, unequivocally demonstrating that God's patience has limits and that persistent, unrepentant sin inevitably leads to severe and just consequences. The phrase "generation of his wrath" starkly underscores that Judah's current catastrophic state is a direct result of their accumulated rebellion, a theme powerfully echoed in God's declaration that He will cast them out of His sight, just as He did Ephraim ([Jeremiah 7:15](/jeremiah/7-15 "Jeremiah 7:15 - God's Rejection of Judah")). Secondly, it emphasizes the **Futility of False Security**, particularly the perilous danger of relying on outward religious symbols or institutions (like the Temple) without genuine inward transformation and obedience, a warning that resonates throughout the entire book ([Jeremiah 7:4](/jeremiah/7-4 "Jeremiah 7:4 - False Trust in the Temple")). Thirdly, the command to cut off hair and lament points to **Profound National Mourning and Humiliation**, signifying the complete stripping away of Judah's glory, honor, and identity, and foreshadowing the depth of their impending suffering, which would be tragically realized in the Babylonian exile ([Lamentations 1:1-3](/lamentations/1-1-3 "Lamentations 1:1-3 - Jerusalem's Desolation")). Finally, it implicitly underscores the fundamental **Covenant Violation** that precipitated this judgment; Judah's persistent idolatry and unrighteousness had broken their sacred covenant with Yahweh, leading to the imposition of the covenant curses rather than the blessings ([Deuteronomy 28:15-68](/deuteronomy/28-15-68 "Deuteronomy 28:15-68 - Curses for Disobedience")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Cut off (Hebrew, _gazâz'_):** This primitive root (H1494) signifies "to cut off," specifically "to shear a flock or shave the hair." Figuratively, it can mean "to destroy an enemy." In this imperative command, it refers to a drastic, self-inflicted act of shearing, symbolizing profound grief, shame, and the stripping away of beauty, honor, and national glory, much like a nation being shorn of its dignity and strength. It implies a complete and irreversible loss.
* **hair (Hebrew, _nezer'_):** This term (H5145) properly refers to "something set apart," such as the dedication of a priest or Nazirite, and concretely, "unshorn locks." By implication, it can also refer to a crown or chaplet, especially of royalty, signifying consecration or distinction. Here, the command to cut off the _nezer_ signifies the removal of what was once a mark of consecration, beauty, or national glory, transforming it into a symbol of desecration, disgrace, and public humiliation.
* **rejected (Hebrew, _mâʼaç'_):** This primitive root (H3988) means "to spurn," "abhor," "cast away (off)," "despise," "disdain," or "refuse." It conveys a strong sense of utter contempt, definitive dismissal, and a complete withdrawal of favor. When applied to God's action, it indicates a decisive and irreversible abandonment of His covenant people due to their profound vileness and persistent rebellion, signifying that their actions have made them abhorrent in His sight.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Cut off thine hair, [O Jerusalem], and cast [it] away,"**: This is a direct, imperative command addressed to Jerusalem, personified as a grieving woman. The act of cutting off hair, particularly the long, flowing hair that was a mark of beauty, status, and sometimes even consecrated identity (as with Nazirites), and then casting it away, symbolizes extreme mourning, public humiliation, and the complete stripping away of all national glory and honor. It is a visual and visceral prophecy of the impending desolation and disgrace that will befall the city and its inhabitants.
* **"and take up a lamentation on high places;"**: Following the symbolic act of self-mutilation for grief, Jerusalem is commanded to engage in public and widespread lamentation. "Lamentation" (Hebrew: _qîynâh_, H7015) refers specifically to a dirge or funeral song, typically sung in mourning. The "high places" (Hebrew: _shᵉphîy_, H8205) were often elevated sites, notoriously used for illicit pagan worship and idolatrous rituals throughout Judah. Now, with profound irony, they are designated as the very stages where the people's despair, sorrow, and public wailing will be openly expressed, suggesting the pervasive and inescapable nature of the coming judgment that will affect even those places where God was most grievously dishonored.
* **"for the LORD hath rejected and forsaken the generation of his wrath."**: This concluding clause provides the divine rationale and ultimate justification for the preceding commands. The "LORD" (Yahweh, H3068) is the covenant God of Israel, whose actions are always righteous and just. His decisive acts of "rejected" (H3988 _mâʼaç_) and "forsaken" (H5203 _nâṭash_) signify a complete and irreversible withdrawal of His covenantal favor, protection, and presence. The phrase "the generation (H1755 _dôwr_) of his wrath (H5678 _ʻebrâh_)" identifies the current generation of Judah as the specific recipients and embodiment of God's righteous, accumulated anger. This highlights that their persistent idolatry, moral depravity, and unrepentant rebellion have brought about this severe and deserved divine judgment, leaving them without hope of reprieve from His just indignation.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 7:29 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its stark and somber message of impending judgment. **Personification** is prominently featured as Jerusalem is directly addressed and commanded to perform acts of mourning, as if the city itself were a grieving woman. The command to "Cut off thine hair" is a potent **Symbolism**, representing the complete stripping away of Judah's beauty, honor, and national glory, akin to a widow or a disgraced individual. This symbolic action also functions as a **Prophetic Sign-Act**, a performative utterance that embodies the very message being delivered—the nation's impending humiliation and sorrow. The mention of "high places" is used with profound **Irony**, as these sites, historically associated with Judah's idolatrous worship and rebellion against Yahweh, are now designated as the very stages for their national lamentation, underscoring that the places of their sin will witness their deepest sorrow. The phrase "generation of his wrath" serves as a powerful **Metaphor** or **Metonymy**, identifying the people as the direct object and embodiment of God's accumulated righteous anger, emphasizing the severe and deserved nature of the impending divine judgment. The entire verse functions as a **Dirge** or funeral lament, even before the actual destruction, setting a tone of inevitable doom and profound despair.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 7:29 profoundly illustrates the theological principle of divine justice and the covenantal consequences of persistent human unfaithfulness. While God is inherently patient, longsuffering, and abundant in mercy, His holiness and righteousness demand accountability for unrepentant sin. The rejection of Judah is not an arbitrary act but a direct, just, and sorrowful consequence of their repeated and defiant covenant violations, particularly their pervasive idolatry, moral corruption, and spiritual apostasy, despite numerous prophetic warnings and opportunities for repentance. This verse underscores the severe nature of divine judgment when a people, entrusted with God's law, presence, and blessings, defiantly turn away. It reveals that outward religious observance, ritualistic performance, or reliance on sacred institutions without genuine inward transformation and heartfelt obedience is an abomination to God, ultimately leading to the withdrawal of His protective hand and the imposition of the covenant curses outlined in His law.

* [Hosea 4:6](/hosea/4-6 "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge")
* [Isaiah 1:4-7](/isaiah/1-4-7 "A sinful nation, laden with iniquity")
* [Deuteronomy 28:15-20](/deuteronomy/28-15-20 "Curses for Disobedience")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 7:29 serves as a timeless and profoundly sobering reminder that God desires genuine heart-obedience and faithful devotion over mere ritualistic performance or superficial religious affiliation. For us today, it challenges any complacency that might arise from our spiritual heritage, church attendance, or denominational identity without a true, living, and active relationship with God. We are compelled to examine our own lives: are we relying on past spiritual experiences, outward acts of piety, or the perceived sanctity of our religious traditions as a shield against the ongoing need for daily repentance, sincere devotion, and radical obedience? This verse issues a stark warning against the spiritual danger of presuming upon God's grace while continuing in patterns of disobedience or spiritual apathy. It compels us to consider the cumulative and devastating effect of unaddressed sin in our individual lives and within our communities, reminding us that persistent rebellion eventually leads to severe consequences, both personally and corporately. The lamentation commanded for Jerusalem should prompt us to mourn over our own sins and the sins prevalent in our society, fostering a spirit of humility, godly sorrow, and a renewed commitment to walk in truth, righteousness, and genuine faithfulness before the Lord.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be relying on outward religious practices or a perceived spiritual status rather than genuine heart transformation and radical obedience to God?**
* **What "high places" or idols—whether material possessions, personal ambitions, or cultural values—in my life or the broader society might be provoking God's displeasure, and how can I lament over them and seek true repentance?**
* **How does the concept of God "rejecting and forsaking" a generation challenge and deepen my understanding of God's patience, justice, and the seriousness of sin?**
* **What specific, tangible actions can I take to ensure my faith is rooted in authentic obedience and a vibrant, living relationship with God, rather than spiritual complacency or hypocrisy?**

### FAQ
**Question?**

Answer: Cutting off hair, particularly the unshorn locks (Hebrew: _nezer_, H5145) which could symbolize beauty, strength, honor, or even a consecrated status (as seen in the Nazirite vow in [Numbers 6:5](/numbers/6-5 "The Nazirite Vow")), was a profound and culturally significant act of public mourning and humiliation in ancient Israel. It signified the stripping away of honor, glory, and sometimes even life itself, much like one would shave their head or tear their clothes in deep grief for the dead (e.g., [Job 1:20](/job/1-20 "Job's Response to Loss")). In [Jeremiah 7:29](/jeremiah/7-29 "Command to Mourn"), it symbolizes Jerusalem's complete disgrace, the loss of its national identity, and the definitive withdrawal of divine favor, powerfully foreshadowing the utter devastation of the Babylonian exile where their glory would be utterly shorn and their pride brought low.

**Question?**

Answer: This phrase signifies a definitive, severe, and sorrowful divine judgment. "Rejected" (Hebrew: _mâʼaç_, H3988) implies a spurning, abhorrence, or a complete withdrawal of favor, indicating that something has become utterly contemptible in God's sight. "Forsaken" (Hebrew: _nâṭash_, H5203) means to abandon, let go, or cast off. Together, these terms indicate that God has decisively withdrawn His covenant protection, presence, and blessings from this particular generation of Judah. "The generation (H1755 _dôwr_) of his wrath (H5678 _ʻebrâh_)" refers to the people of that specific historical period who, through their persistent idolatry, moral corruption, and unrepentant rebellion against His covenant, had accumulated God's righteous anger and were now facing the full, just weight of His judgment. It means their actions had pushed God to a point where His justice demanded a complete severing of their relationship and the imposition of the covenant curses, as detailed in [Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Blessings and Curses").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 7:29, with its stark pronouncement of God's rejection and the command for lamentation, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment not in the permanent abandonment of humanity, but in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. The "generation of his wrath" in Jeremiah points to the universal human condition under the just wrath of God due to sin, a wrath revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men ([Romans 1:18](/romans/1-18 "God's Wrath Against Sin")). However, God's ultimate plan for humanity was not merely to reject, but to provide a means of profound reconciliation. Jesus, the true Temple (as prophesied in [John 2:19-21](/john/2-19-21 "Jesus Predicts His Resurrection")), became the ultimate sacrifice, taking upon Himself the divine wrath that humanity deserved. On the cross, in the darkest hour, He cried out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" ([Matthew 27:46](/matthew/27-46 "Jesus' Cry of Dereliction")), experiencing the very abandonment described in Jeremiah 7:29, so that those who believe in Him would never be forsaken by God ([Hebrews 13:5](/hebrews/13-5 "God's Promise of Presence")). The lamentation commanded for Jerusalem foreshadows the profound sorrow over sin that leads to repentance, a godly sorrow that is ultimately transformed into joy through the forgiveness and new life offered by Christ ([2 Corinthians 7:10](/2_corinthians/7-10 "Godly Sorrow Leads to Repentance")). Through His perfect obedience and atoning death, Jesus fulfills the covenant demands that Israel failed to meet, offering a new covenant where God's people are no longer a "generation of wrath," but children of grace, reconciled to God through faith in the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "Jesus, the Lamb of God"); [Romans 5:9](/romans/5-9 "Justified by His Blood")). Thus, the judgment pronounced in [Jeremiah 7:29](/jeremiah/7-29 "Command to Mourn") powerfully highlights the desperate need for the salvation that only Christ provides, turning God's righteous wrath away from all who take refuge in Him.

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

Job 1:20

¶ Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,

Micah 1:16

Make thee bald, and poll thee for thy delicate children; enlarge thy baldness as the eagle; for they are gone into captivity from thee.

Jeremiah 6:30

Reprobate silver shall [men] call them, because the LORD hath rejected them.

Jeremiah 16:6

Both the great and the small shall die in this land: they shall not be buried, neither shall [men] lament for them, nor cut themselves, nor make themselves bald for them:

Jeremiah 48:37

For every head [shall be] bald, and every beard clipped: upon all the hands [shall be] cuttings, and upon the loins sackcloth.

Jeremiah 9:17

Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Consider ye, and call for the mourning women, that they may come; and send for cunning [women], that they may come:

Jeremiah 9:21

For death is come up into our windows, [and] is entered into our palaces, to cut off the children from without, [and] the young men from the streets.