Jeremiah 16:7 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Both physical mourning and ritual comfort will be absent for the dead.
The Context of Jeremiah 16:7
Ritual comfort practices will cease during judgment.
What Does Jeremiah 16:7 Mean?
The verse specifies that even the acts of tearing clothes (a mourning gesture) and offering the 'cup of consolation' will not occur. The cup of consolation was a ritual drink shared after a funeral to help the living process grief and find comfort. Its absence indicates that normal community structures for processing loss will collapse under judgment.
By naming these specific customs—tearing clothes, offering comfort drinks—the text emphasizes the breakdown of social and ritual order. When judgment is total, the community itself becomes too fractured to perform even basic acts of mutual support and remembrance.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jeremiah 16:7
What does Jeremiah 16:7 mean?
Both physical mourning and ritual comfort will be absent for the dead.
What is the context of Jeremiah 16:7?
Ritual comfort practices will cease during judgment.