Summary of Meaning

This verse from Jeremiah underscores a profound moment of mourning and lamentation in the face of impending judgment. Here, God directs women to gather and teach one another how to mourn, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation facing the people of Judah and Jerusalem due to their unfaithfulness.

Thematic Insights

• Mourning as a Community: The emphasis on women teaching daughters to mourn suggests that collective grief is necessary during times of national calamity.
• Divine Judgment: This call to lament points to the larger context of God's judgment on the unfaithfulness of His people, and the need for repentance.
• Roles in Teaching: Women are recognized here as crucial figures in passing down traditions and responses to societal crises, showcasing their importance in Israel's life.

Commentary Insights

Matthew Henry

Henry notes that this verse reflects a grave situation where the women were called to express their grief, indicating a time when the moral condition of the people was dire. By teaching their daughters to mourn, it illustrates the transmission of emotional and communal responses to crisis.

Albert Barnes

Barnes emphasizes the role of women in this mourning process, highlighting that their capacity for expressing sorrow is perhaps more profound in such contexts. He states that their laments would serve as a witness to the gravity of forthcoming destruction.

Adam Clarke

Clarke elaborates on the cultural context, explaining how lamentation was a customary practice among the Israelites during times of distress. He highlights that the women’s lamentations would reflect the collective sorrow shared by the community.

Cross-References

This verse has several cross-references that provide additional context and thematic connections:

• Lamentations 1:12: "Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by?" This verse reflects the state of mourning and despair akin to what is depicted in Jeremiah 9:20.
• Isaiah 15:2: "He is gone up to Bajith, and Dibon, the high places, to weep..." This passage similarly speaks of mourning in response to catastrophe.
• Ezekiel 9:4: "and the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men..." which further emphasizes God's impending judgment and the response it elicits.
• Matthew 5:4: "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted." This ties mourning to a spiritual condition, indicating a promise attached to lamentation.
• 2 Corinthians 7:10: "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death." Here, the theme of sorrow leading to transformation is parallel to the mourning called for in Jeremiah.
• Revelation 18:7-8: Speaks of the fall of Babylon and the extensive mourning that follows, capturing a sense of loss and warning throughout the Scriptures.
• Joel 1:8: "Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth for the husband of her youth." This verse conveys similar themes of lamentation, reflecting the anguish over loss.

Tools for Understanding Cross-Referencing

Engaging with cross-references enhances the depth of understanding related to specific verses:

• Bible Concordance: A valuable tool for exploring related scriptures.
• Bible Cross-Reference Guide: This assists in connecting themes and messages across different parts of Scripture.
• Comprehensive Bible Cross-Reference Materials: Available resources can illuminate connections that might not be immediately evident.