Jeremiah 9:18 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 9:18 mean?

Jeremiah 9:18 calls for people to quickly bring in professional mourners to lead a loud, public lament, so that everyone will be moved to tears and deep sorrow. The verse paints a picture of overwhelming grief, with tears flowing so freely that it seems as if their eyes and eyelids are pouring out water.

In this verse, the prophet Jeremiah is speaking to the people of Judah during a time of national disaster and coming judgment. He urges them to summon women skilled in mourning rituals, showing just how severe the situation is. The verse emphasizes the depth of the nation’s sorrow and the need for a communal response to the tragedy that has struck them.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 9:18

• "Wailing" (נְהִי, nehi): This word refers to a formal, often loud and public lament, not just quiet weeping. In ancient Israel, professional mourners would be called to express grief on behalf of the community.
• "Take up" (נָשָׂא, nasa’): This verb means to lift or raise up, here used for "taking up" a wailing, suggesting an intentional, active act of mourning rather than a passive feeling.
• "Tears" (דִּמְעָה, dim‘ah) and "waters" (מַיִם, mayim): The verse uses both words to create a vivid image of excessive weeping, highlighting the intensity of the sorrow.
• "Eyelids" (עַפְעַפַּיִם, aph‘appayim): This specific word for eyelids is rare, emphasizing the physical effects of grief, as if even the eyelids themselves are overwhelmed by tears.

Why Jeremiah 9:18 matters

• Jeremiah 9:18 shows that the grief over Judah’s situation is not just individual but communal, requiring a shared expression of sorrow.
• The call for professional mourners highlights the seriousness of the coming judgment and the cultural practices of mourning in ancient Israel.
• This verse connects to the wider passage, where Jeremiah laments the devastation of Jerusalem and calls the people to recognize and respond to their dire spiritual and physical condition.