Jeremiah 16:7. Neither shall men tear themselves for them, &c.— Neither shall men break bread in mourning to comfort them, &c. Houbigant, &c. See John 11:19. Proverbs 31:6. Tobit orders his son to give bread on the burial of the just. See Tob 4:17. God tells Jeremiah, that nothing of this sort shall be done for parents or friends, in the state of confusion and desolation which was to follow. read more
7. tear themselves—rather, "break bread," namely, that eaten at the funeral-feast (Deuteronomy 26:14; Job 42:11; Ezekiel 24:17; Hosea 9:4). "Bread" is to be supplied, as in Hosea 9:4- :; compare "take" (food) (Hosea 9:4- :). give . . . cup of consolation . . . for . . . father—It was the Oriental custom for friends to send viands and wine (the "cup of consolation") to console relatives in mourning-feasts, for example, to children upon the death of a "father" or "mother." read more
The special conditions of Jeremiah’s life 16:1-13Sometimes God used the events in the lives of His prophets to speak to the people, in addition to their messages."Hosea’s unhappy marriage (Hosea 1-3), Isaiah’s family (Isaiah 7-8), the death of Ezekiel’s wife (Ezekiel 24:15-27), and Jeremiah’s call to remain unmarried are all examples of the proclamation of the word through family events." [Note: Thompson, p. 403. See also Isaiah 20.] read more
In the coming invasion, all classes of people would die and no one would bury them or lament their passing in traditional ways. Even though cutting themselves and making themselves bald were contrary to the Mosaic Law (Leviticus 19:28; Leviticus 21:5; Deuteronomy 14:1), the Israelites practiced these customs (cf. Jeremiah 41:5; Jeremiah 47:5; Ezekiel 7:18; Amos 8:10; Micah 1:16). Another tradition was eating a meal that friends of the mourners provided after the funeral (cf. 2 Samuel 3:35;... read more
Jeremiah’s Ninth Prophecy (Reign of Jehoiakim?). Punishment of Judah by Pestilence and Exile.It is clear from Jeremiah 17:15, in which the people challenge the prophet to point to a fulfilment of his prophecies of woe, that it is at any rate earlier than the capture of Jerusalem at the end of Jehoiachin’s reign. read more
1-13. Selfdenial and an ascetic, life are to be the prophet’s lot.6. Nor cut themselves] in token of mourning: cp. Jeremiah 47:5. 7. Tear themselves for them] RV ’break bread for them.’ The reference here and in the rest of the v. is to the custom that the friends should urge the mourners to eat and drink: cp. 2 Samuel 3:35; 2 Samuel 12:16; Proverbs 31:6.12. Imagination] cp. Jeremiah 3:17. 13. There shall ye serve other gods] if you please. Spoken ironically.14-21. The deliverance will be in... read more
(7) Neither shall men tear themselves.—The marginal reading, “Neither shall men break bread for them,” as in Isaiah 58:7; Lamentations 4:4, gives the true meaning. We are entering upon another region of funeral customs, reminding us of some of the practices connected with the “wakes” of old English life. After the first burst of sorrow and of fasting, as the sign of sorrow (2 Samuel 1:12; 2 Samuel 3:35; 2 Samuel 12:16-17), friends came to the mourner to comfort him. A feast was prepared for... read more
The Coming Calamities: Restoration Promised, Ruin Imminent on Account of Judah’s Sin and Concerning the Sabbath (16-17) CHAPTER 16 1. The coming calamities (Jeremiah 16:1-13 ) 2. The coming days of restoration and blessing (Jeremiah 16:14-21 ) Jeremiah 16:1-13 . In view of the coming calamities Jeremiah is bidden to remain unmarried and not to raise a family. The verses which describe the coming calamities need no further annotations. Jeremiah 16:14-21 . The great dispersion was announced... read more
16:7 Neither shall [men] tear [themselves] for them in mourning, to comfort them for the dead; neither shall [men] give them the {d} cup of consolation to drink for their father or for their mother.(d) For in these great extremities all consolation and comfort will be in vain. read more
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E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Jeremiah 16:7
men tear themselves = break [bread]. Hebrew. paras, to break, used of breaking bread, as in Isaiah 58:7 . Ezekiel 24:17 . Hosea 9:4 , and Revised Version. The Ellipsis , is wrongly supplied in Authorized Version. See the margin there. read more