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:
Thus saith {H559} the LORD {H3068} of hosts {H6635}, Consider {H995} ye, and call {H7121} for the mourning women {H6969}, that they may come {H935}; and send {H7971} for cunning {H2450} women, that they may come {H935}:
Thus says ADONAI-Tzva'ot: "Mark this, then summon the mourning women, so that they will come; send for those who are best [at mourning], so that they will come:
This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Take note, and summon the wailing women; send for the most skillful among them.
Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, Consider ye, and call for the mourning women, that they may come; and send for the skilful women, that they may come:
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Amos 5:16
¶ Therefore the LORD, the God of hosts, the Lord, saith thus; Wailing [shall be] in all streets; and they shall say in all the highways, Alas! alas! and they shall call the husbandman to mourning, and such as are skilful of lamentation to wailing. -
Amos 5:17
And in all vineyards [shall be] wailing: for I will pass through thee, saith the LORD. -
Ecclesiastes 12:5
Also [when] they shall be afraid of [that which is] high, and fears [shall be] in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets: -
2 Chronicles 35:25
And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah: and all the singing men and the singing women spake of Josiah in their lamentations to this day, and made them an ordinance in Israel: and, behold, they [are] written in the lamentations. -
Job 3:8
Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mourning. -
Mark 5:38
And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly. -
Matthew 9:23
And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,
Context of Jeremiah 9:17
Jeremiah 9:17 is a stark prophetic utterance delivered by the prophet Jeremiah during a period of profound spiritual and moral decline in Judah. The nation was steeped in idolatry, deceit, and injustice, having turned away from the covenant God had established with them. Throughout this chapter, Jeremiah laments the desolation that is about to befall Judah due to their unfaithfulness. The preceding verses in Jeremiah 9:10-11 already speak of desolation and a call for weeping, setting the stage for this direct command from the LORD.
Understanding the "Mourning Women"
The command to "call for the mourning women" refers to a well-known cultural practice in the ancient Near East. These were professional lamenters, skilled women who were hired to wail, sing dirges, and evoke intense sorrow at funerals and times of great national calamity. Their presence amplified the public display of grief and helped to properly mourn the dead. The phrase "cunning [women]" emphasizes their expertise and proficiency in this art of lamentation.
The LORD's instruction to summon these women indicates the immense scale and certainty of the impending judgment. It wasn't just a few deaths, but a widespread catastrophe that would require professional mourners to adequately lament the countless lives lost. This was a divine decree, signaling that the time for repentance was drawing short, and the time for overwhelming sorrow was at hand.
Key Themes and Prophetic Significance
Linguistic Insight: "LORD of Hosts"
The title "Thus saith the LORD of hosts" (Hebrew: Yahweh Sabaoth) is highly significant. "Sabaoth" means "armies" or "hosts," referring to heavenly armies, angelic beings, or even the stars and earthly forces. When God is called "LORD of hosts," it emphasizes His supreme power, His sovereignty over all creation, and His ability to command all forces – including those of judgment. It is a powerful declaration that the decree to call for mourners comes from the Almighty God, whose word is absolute and whose judgments are righteous and irresistible.
Practical Application
Jeremiah 9:17 serves as a timeless reminder of the serious consequences of spiritual rebellion and disobedience. It highlights that God does not take sin lightly and that His warnings are to be heeded. For contemporary believers, this verse encourages:
The call for mourning women, while a historical and cultural specific, prophetically conveys the profound sorrow that accompanies a nation or individual estranged from God's will.