She that hath borne seven languisheth: she hath given up the ghost; her sun is gone down while it was yet day: she hath been ashamed and confounded: and the residue of them will I deliver to the sword before their enemies, saith the LORD.
JEREMIAH 15:9KJVWhat does Jeremiah 15:9 mean?
Jeremiah 15:9 describes a woman who has borne seven children but now is weak, dying, and disgraced; her life ends suddenly, her hopes are cut off in broad daylight, and the rest of her people will be handed over to death by the sword, as declared by the LORD. The verse uses the image of a once-blessed mother losing everything to show the total devastation coming upon the people.
In this verse, God speaks through the prophet Jeremiah to warn the people of Judah about the severe judgment coming because of their unfaithfulness. The picture of the mother who has "borne seven" (often a symbol of completeness or blessing) now languishing and dying shows how even the strongest and most blessed will not escape disaster. The language of shame, confusion, and sudden darkness in the middle of the day emphasizes how unexpected and overwhelming this judgment will be.
The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 15:9
- "borne" (יָלַד, yalad): This word means "to give birth." The focus on a woman who has given birth to seven children highlights what would have been seen as the height of blessing and security in ancient Israel.
- "seven" (שֶׁבַע, sheva): Seven is often a number representing completeness or fullness. The loss of a woman who has seven children underlines the total reversal of fortune.
- "languisheth" (אָמַל, amal): This word means to become weak or to waste away. It shows the depth of suffering and helplessness, not just physical but emotional and social.
- "her sun is gone down while it was yet day" (שֶׁמֶשׁ, shemesh; בּוֹא, bo; יוֹם, yom): The image of the sun setting at midday suggests a sudden and unnatural end, a life or hope cut off unexpectedly.
Why Jeremiah 15:9 matters
- Jeremiah 15:9 clears up the idea that blessing or strength (symbolized by a mother of seven) guarantees safety; even the most secure can face loss when judgment comes.
- The verse emphasizes the completeness of the coming disaster—no one, not even the most honored or fruitful, will be spared.
- This verse connects to Jeremiah’s wider message warning Judah that ignoring God’s ways leads to shame and destruction, even for those who seem most blessed.