Bible/Jeremiah/9

Jeremiah 9:1

Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people! Oh: Heb. Who will give my head, etc

KJV

Save image

Oh that my head were waters, and my eyes a spring of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!

Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!

Oh that my head were waters, and my eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!

9:2 Oh that I had in the wilderness a lodging place of wayfaring men; that I might leave my people, and go from them! for they be all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men.

What does Jeremiah 9:1 mean?

Jeremiah 9:1 is a verse in the book of Jeremiah, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include נָתַן (nâthan), רֹאשׁ (rôʼsh), מַיִם (mayim). It connects to 19 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

Full chapter interlinear →
Oh
thatנָתַןnâthan/naw-than'/H5414to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
my
headרֹאשׁrôʼsh/roshe/H7218the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)
were
waters,מַיִםmayim/mah'-yim/H4325water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
and
mine
eyesעַיִןʻayin/ah'-yin/H5869an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
a
fountainמָקוֹרmâqôwr/maw-kore'/H4726properly, something dug, i.e. a (general) source (of water, even when naturally flowing; also of tears, blood (by euphemism, of the female pudenda); figuratively, of happiness, wisdom, progeny)
of
tears,דִּמְעָהdimʻâh/dim-aw'/H1832weeping
that
I
might
weepבָּכָהbâkâh/baw-kaw'/H1058to weep; generally to bemoan
dayיוֹמָםyôwmâm/yo-mawm'/H3119daily
and
nightלַיִלlayil/lah'-yil/H3915properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e. night; figuratively, adversity
for
the
slainחָלָלchâlâl/khaw-lawl'/H2491pierced (especially to death); figuratively, polluted
of
the
daughterבַּתbath/bath/H1323a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
of
my
people!עַםʻam/am/H5971a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
Oh:
Heb.
Who
will
give
my
head,
etc

Commentary on Jeremiah 9:1

HENRY_FULL · Jeremiah 9:1
ess of Desire. 11 Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better? 12 For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun? Here, 1. Solomon lays down his conclusion which he had undertaken to prove, as that which was fully confirmed by the foregoing discourse: There be many things that increase vanity; the life of man is vain, at the best, and there are abundance of accidents that concur to make it more so; even that which pretends to increase the vanity and make it more vexatious. 2. He draws some inferences from it, which serve further to evince the truth of it. (1.) That a man is never the nearer to true happiness for the abundance that he has in this world: What is man the better for his wealth and pleasure, his honour and preferment? What remains to man? What residuum has he, what overplus, what real advantage, when he comes to balance his accounts? Nothing that will do him any good or turn to account. (2.) That we do not know what to wish for, because that which we promise ourselves most satisfaction in often proves most vexatious to us: Who knows what is good for a man in this life, where every thing is vanity, and any thing, even that which we most covet, may prove a calamity to us? Thoughtful people are in care to do every thing for the best, if they knew it; but as it is an instance of the corruption of our hearts that we are apt to desire that as good for us which is really hurtful, as children that cry for knives to cut their fingers with, so is it an instance of the vanity of this world that what, according to all probable conjectures, seems to be for the best, often proves otherwise; such is our shortsightedness concerning the issues and events of things, and such broken reeds are all our creature-confidences. We know not how to advise others for the best, nor how to act ourselves, because that which we apprehend likely to be for our welfare may become a trap. (3.) That therefore our life upon earth is what we have no reason to take any great complacency in, or to be confident of the continuance of. It is to be reckoned by days; it is but a vain life, and we spend it as a shadow, so little is there in it substantial, so fleeting, so uncertain, so transitory is it, and so little in it to be fond of or to be depended on. If all the comforts of life be vanity, life itself can have no great reality in it to constitute a happiness for us. (4.) That our expectations from this world are as uncertain and deceitful as our enjoyments are. Since every thing is vanity, Who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun? He can no more please himself with the hopes of what shall be after him, to his children and family, than with the relish of what is with him, since he can neither foresee himself, nor can any one else foretel to him, what shall be after him. Nor shall he have any intelligence sent him of it when he is gone. His sons come to honour, and he knows it not. So that, look which way we will, Vanity of vanity, all is vanity.

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Job 3:17

There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest. weary: Heb. wearied in strength

Proverbs 15:30

The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat.

Proverbs 22:1

A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold. loving: or, favour is better than, etc

Proverbs 27:9

Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel. by: Heb. from the counsel of the soul

Song of Solomon 1:3

Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.

Song of Solomon 4:10

How fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse! how much better is thy love than wine! and the smell of thine ointments than all spices!

Isaiah 56:5

Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.

Isaiah 57:1

The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. merciful: Heb. men of kindness, or, godliness from: or, from that which is evil

Isaiah 57:2

He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness. enter into: or, go in in his: or, before him

Jeremiah 4:2

And thou shalt swear, The LORD liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.

Jeremiah 10:1

Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:

Luke 10:20

Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

John 13:2

And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;

2 Corinthians 5:1

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

2 Corinthians 5:8

We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

Philippians 1:21

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Hebrews 11:2

For by it the elders obtained a good report.

Hebrews 11:39

And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

Revelation 14:13

Topics

PatriotismProphetsWeepingZeal, Religious

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Jeremiah 9:1.

Genesis 16:5

And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee.

Genesis 16:7

And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.

Genesis 20:16

And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved.

Genesis 21:14

And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.

Genesis 21:19

And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.

Genesis 23:11

Nay, my lord, hear me: the field give I thee, and the cave that is therein, I give it thee; in the presence of the sons of my people give I it thee: bury thy dead.

Genesis 24:13

Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water:

Genesis 24:32

And the man came into the house: and he ungirded his camels, and gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the men's feet that were with him.

Frequently asked questions

What does Jeremiah 9:1 say?

Jeremiah 9:1 (King James Version) reads: "Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people! Oh: Heb. Who will give my head, etc"

Is Jeremiah 9:1 in the Old or New Testament?

Jeremiah 9:1 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Jeremiah.

Reflect

As you read Jeremiah 9:1, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

Plan a sermon or study on Jeremiah 9:1
Read all of Jeremiah 99:2