Jeremiah 15:8

I will make their widows more numerous than the sand of the sea. I will bring a destroyer at noon against the mothers of young men. I will suddenly bring upon them anguish and dismay.

Berean Standard Bible

Follow its threads on the canvas →

Study note

Setting — The LORD speaks through Jeremiah to the prophet concerning the impending fate of Judah. This declaration follows an oracle about scattering the people at the city gates and precedes one describing a mother's sudden death and the remnant falling to the sword.

The words — The text highlights עָֽצְמוּ־ ('a.tze.mu) meaning "they are numerous" and אַלְמְנֹתָיו ('al.me.no.tav) meaning "its widows." These terms establish the sheer volume of bereavement that will follow the coming devastation.

The thread — The pattern of sudden, comprehensive destruction recurs in Isaiah 3:25 regarding men falling by the sword, Jeremiah 4:16 about a distant besieging army, and Jeremiah 5:6 where wild beasts strike down the people.

Why it lands — The passage demands recognition that divine judgment operates with precise timing and leaves no room for evasion. It requires the reader to confront the reality that persistent rebellion culminates in sudden, unmitigated loss rather than gradual decline.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

עָֽצְמוּ־'a.tze.mu-they are numerousלִ֤יl/ito <the>/ meאַלְמְנֹתָיו֙'al.me.no.Ta/vwidows/ its מֵח֣וֹלme./Cholmore than/ [the] sand of יַמִּ֔יםya.Mim[the] seas הֵבֵ֨אתִיhe.Ve.tiI have broughtלָהֶ֥םla./Hemto <the>/ themעַל־'al-on אֵ֛ם'ema mother of בָּח֖וּרba.Chura young man שֹׁדֵ֣דsho.Deda destroyer בַּֽצָּהֳרָ֑יִםba./tzo.ho.Ra.yimat <the>/ noon<s>הִפַּ֤לְתִּיhi.Pal.tiI have made fall עָלֶ֙יהָ֙'a.Lei./haon/ her פִּתְאֹ֔םpit.'Omsuddenly עִ֖יר'iranguish וּבֶהָלֽוֹת׃u./ve.ha.Lotand/ sudden terror

King James Version

Their widows are increased to me above the sand of the seas: I have brought upon them against the mother of the young men a spoiler at noonday: I have caused him to fall upon it suddenly, and terrors upon the city.

Cross-references

Isaiah 3:25 Your men will fall by the sword, and your warriors in battle.
Jeremiah 4:16 Warn the nations now! Proclaim to Jerusalem: “A besieging army comes from a distant land; they raise their voices against the cities of Judah.
Jeremiah 5:6 Therefore a lion from the forest will strike them down, a wolf from the desert will ravage them. A leopard will lie in wait near their cities, and everyone who ventures out will be torn to pieces. For their rebellious acts are many, and their unfaithful deeds are numerous.
Jeremiah 6:4 ‘Prepare for battle against her; rise up, let us attack at noon. Woe to us, for the daylight is fading; the evening shadows grow long.
Luke 21:35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of all the earth.