Jeremiah 16:6

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 16:1-21

Symbolic actions (16:1-21)Again God instructs his prophet concerning certain courses of action designed to attract the people’s attention. Jeremiah is to be a living reminder to the Judeans of what will happen to them if they do not repent. Firstly, he is not to marry or have children, as a grim warning to people that those with families will have greater distress when the final slaughter comes (16:1-4). Secondly, he is not to attend any funeral, as a warning that when Judah falls there will be... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Jeremiah 16:6

cut themselves . . . make . . . bald. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 19:28 ; Leviticus 21:5 .Deuteronomy 14:1; Deuteronomy 14:1 ). Compare Jeremiah 41:5 ; Jeremiah 47:5 . read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Jeremiah 16:6

Jeremiah 16:6. Nor cut themselves— The cutting of their own flesh, as a mark of grief for their deceased friends and relations, though expressly forbidden to the Jews by the law, Leviticus 19:28. Deu 14:1 appears from hence to have been still in use among them as well as among their neighbours, on this and other occasions of great mourning and affliction. See ch. Jer 41:5 and compare chap. Jer 47:5 Jeremiah 48:37. The like practice attendant on funeral obsequies has been found among people... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Jeremiah 16:6

6. cut themselves—indicating extravagant grief (Jeremiah 41:5; Jeremiah 47:5), prohibited by the law (Leviticus 19:28). bald— (Jeremiah 7:29; Isaiah 22:12). read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Jeremiah 16:1-13

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

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Jeremiah 16:6-7

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

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 16:1-18

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

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 16:1-21

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

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Jeremiah 16:6

(6) Nor cut themselves, nor make themselves bald.—Both practices were forbidden by the Law (Leviticus 19:28; Leviticus 21:5; Deuteronomy 14:1), probably in order to draw a line of demarcation between Israel and the nations round, among whom such practices prevailed (1 Kings 18:28). Both, however, seem to have been common, and probably had gained in frequency under Ahaz and Manasseh (Jeremiah 7:29; Jeremiah 41:5; Ezekiel 7:18; Amos 8:10; Micah 1:16). The “baldness” (i.e., shaving the crown of... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Jeremiah 16:1-21

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

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