Jeremiah 16:2

Verse

Berean Standard Bible

“You must not marry or have sons or daughters in this place.”

American Standard Version (1901)

Thou shalt not take thee a wife, neither shalt thou have sons or daughters, in this place.

Bible in Basic English

You are not to take a wife for yourself or have sons or daughters in this place.

Douay-Rheims 1899

Thou shalt not take thee a wife, neither shalt thou have thee sons and daughters in this place.

Free Bible Version

Don't marry or have children here.

Geneva Bible 1599

Thou shalt not take thee a wife, nor haue sonnes nor daughters in this place.

King James (Authorized) Version

Thou shalt not take thee a wife, neither shalt thou have sons or daughters in this place.

Translation for Translators

“Do not get married and have children in this land,

Unlocked Literal Bible

“Do not take a wife for yourself, and do not have sons or daughters for yourself in this place.

Noah Webster Bible

Thou shalt not take thee a wife, neither shalt thou have sons nor daughters in this place.

World English Bible

“You shall not take a wife, neither shall you have sons or daughters, in this place.”

Young's Literal Translation

Thou dost not take to thee a wife, Nor hast thou sons and daughters in this place.

Context

Disaster Predicted

¹Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,²“You must not marry or have sons or daughters in this place.”

Summary

In this verse, God instructs Jeremiah not to marry or have children in the land of Judah. This command symbolizes the impending judgment and devastation that will come upon the people of Judah due to their persistent disobedience and idolatry. By prohibiting Jeremiah from partaking in the normal joys of family life, God emphasizes the severity of the coming judgment and the need for undivided focus on proclaiming His message of warning and repentance to the people. This verse serves as a poignant reminder of the consequences of sin and the importance of heeding God's word to avoid destruction.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

For thus saith the Lord concerning the sons and concerning the daughters that are born in this place,..... This is a reason given why the prophet should not have, and why he should not be desirous to have, sons and daughters in such a place and country, devoted to destruction: and concerning their mothers that bare them, and concerning their fathers that begat them in this land: the land of Judea; which shows what is meant by the place before mentioned; both the one and the other, parents and children, should die there; this is what was determined by the Lord concerning them; and therefore it could not be a desirable thing for a man to have wife and children, whom he must part with in such an uncomfortable manner, as is after described; and to show the certainty of which the prophet is forbid to do as above.