Jeremiah 22:10

Do not weep for him who is dead; do not mourn his loss. Weep bitterly for him who is exiled, for he will never return to see his native land.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The prophet Jeremiah delivers this message from the LORD to the people of Judah immediately following King Josiah's death and the forced departure of his successor Shallum. The announcement occurs during a period of national judgment for abandoning the covenant and serving other gods.

The words — The Hebrew verb תָּנֻדוּ (ta.Nu.du) literally means "you show sympathy" or "you mourn," which the text explicitly forbids for the dead. The phrase בָכוּ בָכוֹ (be.Khu va.Kho) employs verb repetition to command intense, continual weeping for the exiled king.

The thread — This directive to mourn exile over death directly introduces Jeremiah 22:11, which identifies the departing ruler as Shallum son of Josiah. It intersects with Isaiah 57:1 regarding the sudden removal of the righteous and Ecclesiastes 4:2's observation that the dead are preferable to the living.

Why it lands — The text requires readers to recognize that covenant judgment produces a finality more severe than physical death. It demands a shift in priority from natural mourning to sober acknowledgment of irreversible spiritual exile.

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

אַל־'al-may not תִּבְכּ֣וּtiv.Kuyou weep לְמֵ֔תle./Metfor/ [the] dead וְאַל־ve./'al-and/ may not תָּנֻ֖דוּta.Nu.duyou show sympathyל֑וֹl/oto <the>/ himבְּכ֤וּbe.Khuweep בָכוֹ֙va.Khocontinually <to weep>לַֽהֹלֵ֔ךְla./ho.Lekhfor/ one [who] is about to go away כִּ֣יkifor לֹ֤אlo'not יָשׁוּב֙ya.Shuvhe will return ע֔וֹדodagain וְרָאָ֖הve./ra.'Ahand/ he will see אֶת־'et-<obj.>אֶ֥רֶץ'E.retz[the] land of מוֹלַדְתּֽוֹ׃ סmo.lad.T/okindred/ his

King James Version

Weep ye not for the dead, neither bemoan him: but weep sore for him that goeth away: for he shall return no more, nor see his native country.

Cross-references

Ecclesiastes 4:2 So I admired the dead, who had already died, above the living, who are still alive.
Jeremiah 22:11 For this is what the LORD says concerning Shallum son of Josiah, king of Judah, who succeeded his father Josiah but has gone forth from this place: “He will never return,
Isaiah 57:1 The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; devout men are taken away, while no one considers that the righteous are taken away from the presence of evil.
Lamentations 4:9 Those slain by the sword are better off than those who die of hunger, who waste away, pierced with pain because the fields lack produce.
2 Kings 22:20 ‘Therefore I will indeed gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace. Your eyes will not see all the calamity that I will bring on this place.’” So they brought her answer back to the king.
2 Kings 23:30 From Megiddo his servants carried his body in a chariot, brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own tomb. Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah, anointed him, and made him king in place of his father.
2 Chronicles 35:23 There the archers shot King Josiah, who said to his servants, “Take me away, for I am badly wounded!”
Jeremiah 22:18 Therefore this is what the LORD says concerning Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah: “They will not mourn for him: ‘Alas, my brother! Alas, my sister!’ They will not mourn for him: ‘Alas, my master! Alas, his splendor!’
Luke 23:28 But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.
Ezekiel 19:3 She brought up one of her cubs, and he became a young lion. After learning to tear his prey, he devoured men.