Jeremiah 16:6
4 “They will die from deadly diseases. They will not be mourned or buried, but will lie like dung on the ground. They will be finished off by sword and famine, and their corpses will become food for the birds of the air and beasts of the earth.”
5 Indeed, this is what the LORD says: “Do not enter a house where there is a funeral meal. Do not go to mourn or show sympathy, for I have removed from this people My peace, My loving devotion, and My compassion,” declares the LORD.
“Both great and small will die in this land. They will not be buried or mourned, nor will anyone cut himself or shave his head for them.
7 No food will be offered to comfort those who mourn the dead; not even a cup of consolation will be given for the loss of a father or mother.
8 You must not enter a house where there is feasting and sit down with them to eat and drink.
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- “Both great and small will die in this land. They will not be buried or mourned, nor will anyone cut himself or shave his head for them.
- KJV
- 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 for them:
- WEB
- Both great and small will die in this land. They will not be buried. Men won’t lament for them, cut themselves, or make themselves bald for them.
- ASV
- Both great and small shall die in this land; they shall not be buried, neither shall men lament for them, nor cut themselves, nor make themselves bald for them;
- DARBY
- Both great and small shall die in this land: they shall not be buried; and none shall lament for them, or cut themselves, nor make themselves bald for them.
- BLB
- “And the great and the small will die in this land; they will not be buried, and no one will mourn for them nor cut themselves nor make themselves bald for them.
- ÅB
- Og de skal dø, både store og små, i dette land; de skal ikke begraves, og ingen skal holde klage over dem eller skjære i sitt kjøtt eller rake håret av for deres skyld.
- OTB
- "Både de store og de små skal dø i dette landet; de skal ikke bli begravet, og ingen skal sørge over dem, eller lage kutt på seg selv eller barbere hodene sine for dem.
- B1930
- Og de skal dø, både store og små, i dette land; de skal ikke begraves, og ingen skal holde klage over dem eller skjære i sitt kjøtt eller rake håret av for deres skyld.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Deuteronomy 14:1
You are sons of the LORD your God; do not cut yourselves or shave your foreheads on behalf of the dead,
Read in contextJeremiah 47:5
The people of Gaza will shave their heads in mourning; Ashkelon will be silenced. O remnant of their valley, how long will you gash yourself?
Read in contextJeremiah 41:5
eighty men who had shaved off their beards, torn their garments, and cut themselves came from Shechem, Shiloh, and Samaria, carrying grain offerings and frankincense for the house of the LORD.
Read in contextLeviticus 19:28
You must not make any cuts in your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD.
Read in contextJeremiah 48:37
For every head is shaved and every beard is clipped; on every hand is a gash, and around every waist is sackcloth.
Read in contextIsaiah 22:12
On that day the Lord GOD of Hosts called for weeping and wailing, for shaven heads and the wearing of sackcloth.
Read in contextRevelation 6:15
Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, the commanders, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and free man hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains.
Read in contextJeremiah 22:18–19
Therefore this is what the LORD says concerning Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah: “They will not mourn for him: ‘Alas, my brother! Alas, my sister!’ They will not mourn for him: ‘Alas, my master! Alas, his splendor!’
Read in context