Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the candle.
JEREMIAH 25:10KJVWhat does Jeremiah 25:10 mean?
Jeremiah 25:10 describes God’s warning that He will remove all signs of joy, celebration, and daily life from the people as a consequence of their actions. The verse lists the silencing of laughter, weddings, the grinding of grain, and even the light of lamps, showing a complete end to normal, happy living.
In this verse, the prophet Jeremiah is speaking God’s message to the people of Judah, warning them about the coming judgment because they have ignored God’s commands. The verse paints a vivid picture of a community where happiness and daily routines vanish, signaling devastation and exile. This loss of ordinary sounds and lights would have been deeply unsettling for people used to a lively, bustling society.
The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 25:10
- The word for "voice" (קוֹל, qol, H6963) appears several times, emphasizing the complete silencing of all joyful and familiar sounds in the community.
- "Mirth" (שָׂשׂוֹן, sason, H8342) and "gladness" (שִׂמְחָה, simchah, H8057) both refer to happiness, but sason often points to outward, public celebration, while simchah can be more general joy. Their pairing highlights the total loss of both public and private happiness.
- "Millstones" (רֵחַיִם, rekhayim, H7347) refers to the stones used for grinding grain, a daily activity. The absence of their sound means not just hunger, but the end of normal life and work.
- "Light" (אוֹר, or, H216) and "candle" (נֵר, ner, H5216) together stress that even the most basic comfort and safety—light in the darkness—will be taken away.
Why Jeremiah 25:10 matters
- Jeremiah 25:10 shows that the coming judgment is not only about military defeat but also about the loss of everyday joys and routines, making the warning more personal and relatable.
- The verse connects to the larger message in Jeremiah 25, where God warns of seventy years of exile; this detail about silenced celebrations helps the reader feel the weight of that exile.
- By listing specific sounds and sights, Jeremiah 25:10 helps modern readers understand how deeply disruptive and sorrowful exile would be—not just politically, but in every part of daily life.