Jeremiah 9:1

¶ Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!

Oh that {H5414} my head {H7218} were waters {H4325}, and mine eyes {H5869} a fountain {H4726} of tears {H1832}, that I might weep {H1058} day {H3119} and night {H3915} for the slain {H2491} of the daughter {H1323} of my people {H5971}!

wish my head were made of water and my eyes were a fountain of tears, so that I could cry day and night over the slain of the daughter of my people!

Oh, that my head were a spring of water, and my eyes a fountain of tears! I would weep day and night over the slain daughter of my people.

Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!

Jeremiah 9:1 opens with a profound and deeply emotional cry from the prophet Jeremiah, often known as the "weeping prophet." This verse encapsulates his overwhelming sorrow and compassion for the impending destruction and suffering of his own people, the nation of Judah.

Context of Jeremiah 9:1

This verse is situated within a series of prophetic declarations where Jeremiah vividly describes the spiritual decay and moral corruption of Judah, and God's righteous judgment that is soon to fall upon them. Despite Jeremiah's tireless warnings and pleas for repentance, the people remained hardened in their sin, leading to the inevitable Babylonian exile and the destruction of Jerusalem. Jeremiah’s lament here is not merely a personal expression of grief but a prophetic burden, reflecting the immense sorrow God Himself felt for His unfaithful covenant people. The "slain of the daughter of my people" refers to the devastating casualties and widespread death that would result from the coming invasions and divine punishment.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Profound Grief and Compassion: The central theme is Jeremiah's intense, almost unbearable sorrow for his people. His wish for his eyes to be "a fountain of tears" signifies a desire for an inexhaustible capacity to mourn, highlighting his deep empathy and love for the very people who rejected his warnings.
  • Impending Judgment and Devastation: The phrase "the slain of the daughter of my people" directly points to the catastrophic consequences of Judah's persistent rebellion against God. It foretells the widespread death and destruction that God's righteous judgment would bring upon them, a theme expanded upon in Jeremiah 25:8-11.
  • The Burden of the Prophet: This verse reveals the immense emotional toll and personal anguish that came with Jeremiah's calling. To deliver messages of impending doom to a beloved nation, knowing their fate and feeling their pain, was an overwhelming burden that shaped his ministry.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "fountain of tears" translates the Hebrew ma'qor dim'ah (מָקוֹר דִּמְעָה), where ma'qor literally means "source" or "spring." This emphasizes a continuous, unending flow, illustrating the prophet's desire for an endless supply of tears to match the unending sorrow he felt for his people. The term "daughter of my people" (bat 'ammi - בַּת עַמִּי) is a common, tender, and affectionate poetic reference to the nation of Judah or Israel, underscoring Jeremiah's deep, personal connection and love for his kinsmen, even in their rebellion.

Reflection and Application

Jeremiah 9:1 serves as a powerful reminder of the profound sorrow that accompanies spiritual blindness and disobedience. It challenges us to cultivate a heart of compassion, not only for the physical suffering in the world but also for those who are spiritually lost and estranged from God. Just as Jeremiah wept for his people's inevitable demise, we are called to mourn over sin and its devastating consequences, both in our own lives and in the world around us. This verse encourages believers to engage in intercession, to weep and pray for those who are far from God, that they might turn to Him before it is too late, echoing the urgency for repentance found throughout Jeremiah's prophecies. It also offers insight into the emotional cost of faithful ministry, particularly when delivering unwelcome truths.

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.

  • Jeremiah 8:21

    For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment hath taken hold on me.

  • Jeremiah 8:22

    [Is there] no balm in Gilead; [is there] no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?

  • Jeremiah 13:17

    But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for [your] pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD'S flock is carried away captive.

  • 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.

  • Lamentations 2:11

    Mine eyes do fail with tears, my bowels are troubled, my liver is poured upon the earth, for the destruction of the daughter of my people; because the children and the sucklings swoon in the streets of the city.

  • Jeremiah 6:26

    O daughter of my people, gird [thee] with sackcloth, and wallow thyself in ashes: make thee mourning, [as for] an only son, most bitter lamentation: for the spoiler shall suddenly come upon us.

  • Ezekiel 21:6

    Sigh therefore, thou son of man, with the breaking of [thy] loins; and with bitterness sigh before their eyes.

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