Jeremiah 9:10

For the mountains will I take up a weeping and wailing, and for the habitations of the wilderness a lamentation, because they are burned up, so that none can pass through [them]; neither can [men] hear the voice of the cattle; both the fowl of the heavens and the beast are fled; they are gone.

For the mountains {H2022} will I take up {H5375} a weeping {H1065} and wailing {H5092}, and for the habitations {H4999} of the wilderness {H4057} a lamentation {H7015}, because they are burned up {H3341}, so that none {H376} can pass {H5674} through them; neither can men hear {H8085} the voice {H6963} of the cattle {H4735}; both the fowl {H5775} of the heavens {H8064} and the beast {H929} are fled {H5074}; they are gone {H1980}.

I weep and wail for the mountains and lament over the desert pastures, because they have been burned up; no one passes through; they no longer hear the sound of cattle; the birds and wild animals have fled, are gone.

I will take up a weeping and wailing for the mountains, a dirge over the wilderness pasture, for they have been scorched so no one passes through, and the lowing of cattle is not heard. Both the birds of the air and the beasts have fled; they have gone away.

For the mountains will I take up a weeping and wailing, and for the pastures of the wilderness a lamentation, because they are burned up, so that none passeth through; neither can men hear the voice of the cattle; both the birds of the heavens and the beasts are fled, they are gone.

Jeremiah 9:10 paints a vivid and somber picture of profound devastation and lamentation over the land of Judah, a consequence of the nation's persistent sin and rebellion against God. The prophet Jeremiah, often known as the "weeping prophet," here conveys a lament so deep it encompasses the very landscape.

Context

This verse is situated within a passage (Jeremiah 9:1-11) where God expresses His deep sorrow and righteous anger over the moral corruption, deceit, and idolatry prevalent among His people. The preceding verses detail the extent of their treachery, leading to God's declaration of judgment. The "weeping and wailing" described in verse 10 is a divine lament, indicating that even God grieves over the destruction He must bring upon His beloved land and people due to their unfaithfulness. The "burned up" refers to the desolation brought by invading armies, primarily the Babylonians, who would lay waste to the cities and countryside, fulfilling the prophecies of judgment. This passage emphasizes the severe consequences of disobedience to God's covenant.

Key Themes

  • Divine Grief and Lament: The verse powerfully conveys that God Himself experiences sorrow and lamentation over the consequences of sin, even when He is the one executing judgment. It's not merely anger but a profound grief over His creation and covenant people.
  • Utter Desolation: The imagery of mountains and wilderness "burned up," impassable, and silent, with no voice of cattle, fowl, or beast, underscores the completeness of the impending destruction. It signifies a complete ecological collapse and abandonment of the land, making it a desolate wasteland. This echoes the prophet's personal desire to weep continually for the slain of his people, as seen in Jeremiah 9:1.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: The devastation is a direct result of Judah's rejection of God's law and covenant. This serves as a stark reminder of the serious spiritual and physical ramifications of persistent sin and rebellion, a theme consistently highlighted in the prophetic books, such as the warnings given in Deuteronomy 28.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew terms used for "weeping and wailing" (b'khiy u'misped) and "lamentation" (nehî) are strong expressions indicating deep mourning, often associated with funeral rites or national catastrophes. Misped specifically refers to a professional lament or dirge. This highlights the severity of the impending calamity – the land itself is metaphorically undergoing a funeral, a theme also seen in Hosea 4:3, where the land mourns due to the people's transgressions.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 9:10 serves as a powerful reminder of several timeless truths:

  • The Gravity of Sin: It underscores that sin has profound, far-reaching consequences, affecting not only individuals but also communities, nations, and even the natural environment.
  • God's Justice and Grief: While God is just in bringing judgment, He is also deeply grieved by the necessity of it. His actions are not arbitrary but are a response to sustained rebellion.
  • Call to Repentance: The lament over desolation serves as a timeless call for humanity to turn from destructive paths and seek reconciliation with God. Understanding the depth of God's sorrow over sin should motivate a genuine desire for righteousness and obedience.
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 12:4

    How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of every field wither, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein? the beasts are consumed, and the birds; because they said, He shall not see our last end.

  • Hosea 4:3

    Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.

  • Jeremiah 7:29

    ¶ 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.

  • Ezekiel 29:11

    No foot of man shall pass through it, nor foot of beast shall pass through it, neither shall it be inhabited forty years.

  • Ezekiel 33:28

    For I will lay the land most desolate, and the pomp of her strength shall cease; and the mountains of Israel shall be desolate, that none shall pass through.

  • Ezekiel 14:15

    If I cause noisome beasts to pass through the land, and they spoil it, so that it be desolate, that no man may pass through because of the beasts:

  • Jeremiah 12:10

    Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.

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