Cut off thine hair, O Jerusalem, and cast it away, and take up a lamentation on high places; for the LORD hath rejected and forsaken the generation of his wrath.

JEREMIAH 7:29KJV
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Jeremiah 7:29 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 7:29 mean?

Jeremiah 7:29 describes God telling Jerusalem to cut off her hair and mourn on the high places because the LORD has rejected and abandoned the people of this generation due to their wrongdoing. The verse uses a vivid image to show that God’s patience has run out, and judgment is coming.

The prophet Jeremiah is speaking to the people of Jerusalem, warning them that their unfaithfulness and disobedience have led God (the LORD) to turn away from them. Cutting off hair was a sign of deep mourning or disgrace in ancient Israel. The “high places” were often sites of idol worship, so the command to lament there highlights the seriousness of their sin and the public nature of their coming sorrow.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 7:29

  • "Cut off" (גָּזַז, gazaz): This word is often used for shearing or cutting, especially hair or wool. Here, it signals a dramatic act of mourning or humiliation.
  • "Hair" (נֵזֶר, nezer): This word can mean a consecrated or dedicated hair, sometimes linked to a Nazirite vow. Its use here suggests something once set apart for God is now to be cast away, emphasizing loss of special status.
  • "Lamentation" (קִינָה, qinah): This is a word for a formal, often public, mourning song or dirge, underlining the depth of grief called for.
  • "Rejected" (מָאַס, ma'as) and "forsaken" (נָטַשׁ, natash): These words stress that God has not just turned away in disappointment but has decisively rejected and abandoned this generation because of their actions.

Why Jeremiah 7:29 matters

  • The verse clears up that God’s rejection is not random or sudden; it is a response to persistent disobedience and idolatry, especially in places meant for worship.
  • The image of cutting off hair and public lamentation shows the depth of loss and shame involved, not just personal sorrow but a national disgrace.
  • This verse connects to the larger message of Jeremiah 7, where God warns that religious rituals cannot make up for injustice and unfaithfulness, and that real repentance is needed.