Jeremiah 7:29 Meaning and Explanation
“Cut off thine hair, O Jerusalem, and cast it away, and take up a lamentation on high places; for the LORD hath rejected and forsaken the generation of his wrath.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jerusalem is commanded to perform ritual mourning, for God has rejected and forsaken the generation destined for his judgment.
The Context of Jeremiah 7:29
Jerusalem is called to perform ritual mourning in light of coming judgment.
What Does Jeremiah 7:29 Mean?
Cutting off hair is a visible sign of deepest grief and shame in biblical culture. Jerusalem is personified as a woman commanded to shear her head, cast it away in the street, and ascend to the high places wailing. This is not metaphorical sadness but public, somatic grief—the body itself becomes the medium of lament.
'The generation of his wrath'—the people whom God's wrath targets—are declared rejected and forsaken. To be forsaken by God is the ultimate desolation. God has withdrawn his protective presence. The mourning that follows is not arbitrary but proper: grief is the fitting response to being cast off by the God of the covenant. This foreshadows the destruction to come.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jeremiah 7:29
What does Jeremiah 7:29 mean?
Jerusalem is commanded to perform ritual mourning, for God has rejected and forsaken the generation destined for his judgment.
What is the context of Jeremiah 7:29?
Jerusalem is called to perform ritual mourning in light of coming judgment.