Jeremiah 9:20

KJV

Yet hear the word of the LORD, O ye women, and let your ear receive the word of his mouth, and teach your daughters wailing, and every one her neighbour lamentation.

KJV (with Strong's)

Yet hear {H8085} the word {H1697} of the LORD {H3068}, O ye women {H802}, and let your ear {H241} receive {H3947} the word {H1697} of his mouth {H6310}, and teach {H3925} your daughters {H1323} wailing {H5092}, and every one {H802} her neighbour {H7468} lamentation {H7015}.

Complete Jewish Bible

You women, hear the word of ADONAI! Let your ears receive the words from his mouth. Teach your daughters how to wail, have each teach her friend how to lament:

Berean Standard Bible

Now, O women, hear the word of the LORD. Open your ears to the word of His mouth. Teach your daughters to wail, and one another to lament.

American Standard Version

Yet hear the word of Jehovah, O ye women, and let your ear receive the word of his mouth; and teach your daughters wailing, and every one her neighbor lamentation.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 9:20 delivers a profoundly urgent and stark divine command, directly addressing the women of Judah and instructing them to prepare for and actively teach their daughters and neighbors the art of wailing and lamentation. This chilling prophetic directive underscores the absolute certainty and overwhelming scale of the impending divine judgment and national catastrophe that Judah would face due to its persistent sin and rebellion against the Lord. It serves as a grim announcement that widespread death and desolation are so assured that communal mourning will become an essential, learned practice, requiring deliberate intergenerational instruction and pervasive participation across all households.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 9:20 is embedded within a particularly somber section of Jeremiah's prophecy (chapters 7-10) that meticulously details the Lord's pronouncements of severe judgment against Judah for its pervasive idolatry, moral corruption, and spiritual apostasy. The immediate preceding verses ([Jeremiah 9:17-19](/jeremiah/9-17-19 "Jeremiah 9:17-19 - Call for Mourners")) depict the Lord's call for professional mourners to lament over the desolation of Zion, setting a mournful stage. Verse 20 intensifies this prophetic warning by shifting from a general call for lament to a specific, almost instructional mandate for the women to actively prepare for and perpetuate this grief. This progression highlights the escalating inevitability of the catastrophe, moving from a general lament to a necessary, taught skill for survival, tragically foreshadowing the events vividly recounted in the [Book of Lamentations](/lamentations/1 "Lamentations 1 - The Fall of Jerusalem").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Jeremiah ministered during the tumultuous final decades of the Kingdom of Judah, a period marked by profound political instability, spiritual decline, and the looming threat of Babylonian invasion. Despite earlier reforms under King Josiah, the nation had largely reverted to syncretistic worship, social injustice, and covenant unfaithfulness, provoking God's righteous wrath. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, women often held a prominent and ritualized role in public mourning. They were frequently the primary lamenters, leading dirges, performing ritualized expressions of grief for the deceased, or mourning national calamities. The command for women to "teach wailing" is deeply rooted in this cultural practice, emphasizing that the coming judgment would be so pervasive and devastating that the traditional role of mourning would expand from a specialized function to a universal necessity, impacting every household and requiring intergenerational instruction to cope with the scale of loss.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes prevalent in Jeremiah and the broader prophetic literature. Primarily, it underscores the **certainty and severity of divine judgment** as an inevitable consequence of Judah's unrepentant sin and covenant unfaithfulness. The chilling command to "teach wailing" vividly portrays the **imminent national calamity and widespread desolation**, depicting a future where grief is not merely an emotion but a necessary, communal skill for survival. It also highlights the **urgency and authority of God's word**, emphasizing the critical need for His people to "hear" and "receive" His warnings, even when those warnings are dire and painful. Furthermore, the verse subtly reveals God's **sorrow over the necessity of judgment**, as He calls for a lamentation that mirrors His own grief over His people's choices, rather than delighting in their destruction, a sentiment powerfully articulated in [Ezekiel 33:11](/ezekiel/33-11 "Ezekiel 33:11 - God Desires Repentance").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Word (Hebrew, _dâbâr'_):** From דָבַר; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing. In this context, "dâbâr" refers specifically to the authoritative, divine utterance of the Lord. It is not merely human speech but a decree from God Himself (H3068, Yᵉhôvâh), carrying the full weight of His sovereign will and ensuring its certain fulfillment. The repetition of "word" (once as "word of the LORD" and again as "word of his mouth") emphasizes the absolute certainty and divine origin of this message of impending judgment.
* **Teach (Hebrew, _lâmad'_):** A primitive root; properly, to goad, i.e. (by implication) to teach (the rod being an Oriental incentive); (un-) accustomed, diligently, expert, instruct, learn, skilful. The verb "lâmad" implies a deliberate, systematic instruction, suggesting that the act of wailing will be so fundamental and widespread that it must be formally passed down through generations, becoming a learned skill rather than a spontaneous outburst. This highlights the profound, enduring, and pervasive nature of the coming sorrow, requiring a communal mastery of grief.
* **Wailing (Hebrew, _nᵉhîy'_):** From נָהָה; an elegy; lamentation, wailing. This term refers to a mournful sound or dirge, often specifically associated with expressing deep sorrow for the dead or for a great calamity. Its pairing with "lamentation" (H7015, qîynâh), which denotes a funeral song or dirge, intensifies the sense of profound grief and sorrow related to widespread death and national catastrophe. The command to teach "nᵉhîy" indicates that the scale of death and destruction will be so vast that organized, ritualized mourning will become a pervasive and essential practice for every woman (H802, ʼishshâh) and her neighbor (H7468, rᵉʻûwth).

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Yet hear the word of the LORD, O ye women":** This opening clause functions as an urgent, direct summons from God (H3068, Yᵉhôvâh). The phrase "Yet hear" (H8085, shâmaʻ) implies a final, desperate plea for attention, indicating that previous warnings may have been ignored or dismissed. Addressing "ye women" (H802, ʼishshâh) specifically highlights their culturally significant and ritualized role in leading communal expressions of grief in ancient Israel, making the command particularly poignant and effective.
* **"and let your ear receive the word of his mouth":** This phrase reiterates and intensifies the command to listen. "Receive" (H3947, lâqach) implies an active, internalizing acceptance, not just passive hearing through the ear (H241, ʼôzen). The "word" (H1697, dâbâr) emanating from "his mouth" (H6310, peh) emphasizes the direct, personal, and authoritative origin of the message from God Himself, underscoring its gravity and certainty as an unalterable decree.
* **"and teach your daughters wailing":** This is the shocking and poignant core of the command. It is a prophetic imperative, indicating that the impending judgment will result in such widespread death and suffering that the next generation (daughters, H1323, bath) will need to be formally instructed (H3925, lâmad) in the ritualized expression of grief. "Wailing" (H5092, nᵉhîy) refers to a mournful dirge, signifying deep sorrow for the dead and the desolated.
* **"and every one her neighbour lamentation":** This extends the scope of the instruction from familial (daughters) to communal (neighbors, H7468, rᵉʻûwth). "Lamentation" (H7015, qîynâh) refers to a funeral song or elegy, often accompanied by ritualistic actions. This broad command signifies that the calamity will be a national experience, affecting every household and requiring a collective, pervasive expression of sorrow and mourning that transcends individual families.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 9:20 employs several powerful **literary devices** to convey its urgent and somber message. The pervasive use of the **imperative mood** ("hear," "receive," "teach") creates a sense of immediate command and divine authority, emphasizing the non-negotiable and inescapable nature of God's word. **Repetition** and **parallelism** are evident in the phrases "the word of the LORD" and "the word of his mouth," which serve to underscore the divine origin and unalterable truth of the message, reinforcing its gravity. Similarly, the pairing of "wailing" (_nᵉhîy_) and "lamentation" (_qîynâh_) acts as a form of **synonymous parallelism**, intensifying the depiction of profound grief and communal sorrow, leaving no doubt as to the depth of the coming catastrophe. The command to "teach your daughters wailing" functions as a stark **symbolism** and a form of **hyperbole**, vividly portraying the extreme and pervasive nature of the impending judgment; it is not merely a literal instruction but a shocking prophetic image designed to convey the unimaginable scale of the coming desolation. Furthermore, the phrase "word of his mouth" is an **anthropomorphism**, attributing human physical characteristics (a mouth) to God, making His communication feel more direct, personal, and impactful to the audience.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 9:20 is a profound theological statement on the severe consequences of covenant unfaithfulness and the just nature of divine judgment. It unequivocally underscores that God's warnings are not idle threats but certain pronouncements that will be precisely fulfilled. The chilling command to "teach wailing" reveals God's deep sorrow over the necessity of such judgment, highlighting His justice intertwined with His lament over His people's persistent choices. It speaks to the immutable biblical truth that sin, left unrepented, inevitably leads to devastating consequences, impacting both individuals and the entire nation. The verse also implicitly calls for a profound recognition of the gravity of sin and a preparation of heart for the inevitable outcomes of rebellion against a holy God. It is a sobering reminder that while God is infinitely patient, His patience has limits, and His word, once spoken, will not return to Him void, but will accomplish its purpose.

* [Lamentations 1:1](/lamentations/1-1 "Lamentations 1:1 - Jerusalem's Desolation") - This verse finds its tragic and undeniable fulfillment in the Book of Lamentations, which poetically describes the very wailing and lamentation commanded here, following the devastating destruction and desolation of Jerusalem.
* [Ezekiel 33:11](/ezekiel/33-11 "Ezekiel 33:11 - God Takes No Pleasure in the Death of the Wicked") - God's command for lamentation, rather than a delight in destruction, profoundly aligns with His declared desire for repentance over judgment, showcasing His sorrow over the choices that necessitate such severe outcomes for His beloved people.
* [Hosea 4:1-3](/hosea/4-1-3 "Hosea 4:1-3 - God's Indictment Against Israel") - This passage similarly details the widespread desolation, mourning, and societal breakdown that result from a nation's pervasive lack of faithfulness, knowledge of God, and moral integrity, powerfully echoing the dire consequences of Judah's unrepentant sin in Jeremiah.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 9:20, though rooted in an ancient context, carries a timeless and urgent message for us today. It serves as a stark and sobering reminder of the gravity of God's word and the inevitable consequences of persistent disobedience, both in our personal lives and within our communities and nations. The chilling command to "teach wailing" compels us to deeply consider how seriously we truly take divine warnings and whether we are genuinely listening with an ear prepared to "receive the word of his mouth." In a world often characterized by self-deception, a dismissal of moral accountability, and a pursuit of fleeting pleasures, this verse calls us to a profound realism about the devastating effects of sin. It also invites us to cultivate a heart of lament—not merely for our own personal sorrows, but for the brokenness of the world, for societal injustices, for the spiritual decline around us, and for the choices that necessitate divine intervention. True spiritual maturity involves not only rejoicing in God's blessings but also grieving over sin and its devastating, far-reaching impact.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do I respond to God's warnings in Scripture about sin and its consequences? Do I "hear" and "receive" them with the urgency and seriousness they demand?**
* **In what ways might my own life, or the culture around me, be inadvertently "teaching" or preparing for lamentation through choices that disregard God's truth and commands?**
* **How can I cultivate a deeper sense of godly sorrow, lament, and intercession for the spiritual condition of my community, nation, or the broader world?**
* **What practical steps can I take to ensure that I am not just a passive hearer, but an active doer, of God's word, thereby seeking to avoid the need for such profound lamentation in my own life and sphere of influence?**

### FAQ
**Why does God specifically command women to teach wailing and lamentation?**

Answer: In ancient Near Eastern cultures, women often held a prominent and ritualized role as professional mourners or lamenters. They were skilled in leading public expressions of grief, composing dirges, and performing rites of sorrow for the deceased or for national calamities. God's specific command to "ye women" in Jeremiah 9:20 leverages this established cultural practice to emphasize the absolute certainty and overwhelming scale of the impending judgment. It signifies that the coming catastrophe will be so widespread and devastating that the traditional role of mourning will expand from a specialized function to a universal and necessary skill, requiring deliberate instruction and widespread participation among all women, from mothers to neighbors. This highlights the profound, personal, and communal nature of the grief that would engulf Judah.

**Is this verse a literal command for all time, or is it symbolic?**

Answer: Jeremiah 9:20 is both deeply literal within its original historical and cultural context and profoundly symbolic for all time. Literally, it was a prophetic command to the women of Judah to prepare for and engage in the customary practices of mourning due to the imminent destruction of Jerusalem and the subsequent exile. Culturally, it was a direct instruction rooted in the societal role of female mourners. Symbolically, however, it serves as a powerful and chilling prophecy of the overwhelming grief and desolation that would inevitably befall Judah due to their unrepentant sin. For a modern audience, it symbolizes the severe and unavoidable consequences of rejecting God's word and the profound sorrow that accompanies divine judgment. It underscores the timeless importance of heeding God's warnings and the sobering reality that sin ultimately leads to lamentation.

**What is the "word of the LORD" that they are to hear and receive?**

Answer: The "word of the LORD" in Jeremiah 9:20 refers to the comprehensive prophetic message of impending judgment and destruction that God was delivering through Jeremiah. Throughout the book of Jeremiah, the prophet consistently warns Judah of the dire consequences of their idolatry, injustice, and covenant unfaithfulness. This particular "word" is the grim pronouncement that their persistent rebellion has reached a point where widespread death, desolation, and exile are inevitable. It is a divine decree that will surely come to pass, necessitating a national outpouring of grief and sorrow. The command to "hear" and "receive" it emphasizes the urgency, authority, and truth of this dire warning, urging the people to internalize the reality of their impending fate and perhaps, even at this late hour, to turn to God.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Jeremiah 9:20 paints a bleak picture of impending judgment and the necessity of lamentation for Judah's sins, it powerfully foreshadows the ultimate fulfillment of God's righteous judgment and His profound sorrow over sin, both of which converge in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The "wailing" and "lamentation" prophesied for Judah find their deepest echo in the suffering of the [Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"). On the cross, Jesus, the sinless Son of God, bore the full weight of humanity's sin, experiencing the ultimate separation from God and the profound sorrow that our rebellion justly deserved, thereby fulfilling the judgment that would otherwise fall upon us. His cry of dereliction, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" ([Matthew 27:46](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - Jesus' Cry of Dereliction")), is the ultimate lament, a substitutionary wailing for a world steeped in sin. Furthermore, the call to "hear the word of the LORD" finds its ultimate and most glorious expression in hearing and responding to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who is the [eternal Word made flesh](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh"). For those who believe in Him, the wailing over sin is transformed into a godly sorrow that leads to true repentance and life ([2 Corinthians 7:10](/2_corinthians/7-10 "2 Corinthians 7:10 - Godly Sorrow Leads to Repentance")), ultimately replaced by the glorious promise of a future where God Himself will [wipe away every tear from their eyes](/revelation/21-4 "Revelation 21:4 - No More Tears"), reversing all lamentation through the completed redemptive work of Christ.

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

Luke 23:27

And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.

Luke 23:30

Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.

Job 22:22

Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart.

Isaiah 32:9

¶ Rise up, ye women that are at ease; hear my voice, ye careless daughters; give ear unto my speech.

Isaiah 32:13

Upon the land of my people shall come up thorns [and] briers; yea, upon all the houses of joy [in] the joyous city:

Isaiah 3:16

¶ Moreover the LORD saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing [as] they go, and making a tinkling with their feet:

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: