Jeremiah 16:1-13

Jeremiah 16:1-13

[1] The word  of the LORD  came also unto me, saying,  [2] Thou shalt not take  thee a wife,  neither shalt thou have sons  or daughters  in this place.  [3] For thus saith  the LORD  concerning the sons  and concerning the daughters  that are born  in this place,  and concerning their mothers  that bare  them, and concerning their fathers  them in this land;  [4] They shall die  of grievous  deaths;  they shall not be lamented;  neither shall they be buried;  but they shall be as dung  upon the face  of the earth:  and they shall be consumed  by the sword,  and by famine;  and their carcases  shall be meat  for the fowls  of heaven,  and for the beasts  of the earth.  [5] For thus saith  the LORD,  Enter  not into the house  of mourning,  to lament  nor bemoan  them: for I have taken away  my peace  from this people,  saith  the LORD,  even lovingkindness  and mercies.  [6] Both the great  and the small  shall die  in this land:  they shall not be buried,  neither shall men lament  for them, nor cut  themselves, nor make themselves bald  [7] Neither shall men tear  themselves for them in mourning,  to comfort  them for the dead;  neither shall men give them the cup  of consolation  to drink  for their father  or for their mother.  [8] Thou shalt not also go  into the house  of feasting,  to sit  with them to eat  and to drink.  [9] For thus saith  the LORD  of hosts,  the God  of Israel;  Behold, I will cause to cease  out of this place  in your eyes,  and in your days,  the voice  of mirth,  and the voice  of gladness,  the voice  of the bridegroom,  and the voice  of the bride.  [10] And it shall come to pass, when thou shalt shew  this people  all these words,  and they shall say  unto thee, Wherefore hath the LORD  pronounced  all this great  evil  against us? or what is our iniquity?  or what is our sin  that we have committed  against the LORD  our God?  [11] Then shalt thou say  unto them, Because your fathers  have forsaken  me, saith  the LORD,  after  other  gods,  and have served  them, and have worshipped  them, and have forsaken  me, and have not kept  my law;  [12] And ye have done  worse  than your fathers;  ye walk  every one  after  the imagination  of his evil  heart,  that they may not hearken  [13] Therefore will I cast  you out of this land  that ye know  not, neither ye nor your fathers;  and there shall ye serve  other  gods  day  and night;  where I will not shew  you favour. 

What does Jeremiah 16:1-13 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Sometimes 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." [1]