Jeremiah 16:7

Neither shall men tear themselves for them in mourning, to comfort them for the dead; neither shall men give them the cup of consolation to drink for their father or for their mother.

Jeremiah 16:7 (KJV)

Context

Jeremiah delivers the Lord’s message of impending judgment on Judah and Jerusalem because of their persistent disobedience and idolatry. The Lord had told Jeremiah not to marry or have children in that place, for calamity was coming (Jeremiah 16:1-4). In this setting, the Lord declares that even the customary comforts of mourning will be withheld.

Meaning

In ancient Israel, mourners received food and drink, including a “cup of consolation” (often wine), and others would “tear themselves“—possibly meaning to tear clothes or flesh, or to break bread—as acts of grief and comfort. The verse says these rituals will cease. The devastation will be so complete that no one will comfort those who lose a father or mother. This withdrawal of comfort reflects the severity of divine judgment and the removal of God’s peace and mercies from the people.

Biblical connections

The absence of mourning underscores the totality of the disaster described in Jeremiah 16:6, where both great and small die and are not buried or lamented. It also echoes the broader biblical principle that persistent sin brings severe consequences, while repentance opens the way to mercy.

Application

This verse warns of the seriousness of sin and the reality of judgment. It calls believers to heed God’s warnings and to value genuine repentance. It also reminds us that comfort in grief is a gift from God, and that turning back to Him restores the peace and lovingkindness that sin disrupts.

Reflection

God’s sovereignty extends over nations and individuals, and His judgment is just. Yet His desire is for His people to return to Him. The withholding of comfort in Jeremiah’s day stands as a sobering reminder of what is lost through disobedience, and a call to seek the comfort that only God can give.