Commentary— Tyndale Open Study Notes (plain English)
16:1-18 Jeremiah’s life was to be a sign or a parable (see “Prophetic Sign Acts” Theme Note), as the Lord instructed him not to marry (Jer 16:1-4) and not to go to funerals (16:5-7) or celebrations (16:8-9). 16:1-2 In Hebrew society, bachelors were rare and males were expected to get married in their early twenties. However, the severe crisis of the time apparently required Jeremiah to be a divine messenger without family obligations. He needed to depend entirely on the Lord (cp. 1 Cor 7:26-35).
Commentary— Tyndale Open Study Notes (plain English)
16:1-18 Jeremiah’s life was to be a sign or a parable (see “Prophetic Sign Acts” Theme Note), as the Lord instructed him not to marry (Jer 16:1-4) and not to go to funerals (16:5-7) or celebrations (16:8-9). 16:1-2 In Hebrew society, bachelors were rare and males were expected to get married in their early twenties. However, the severe crisis of the time apparently required Jeremiah to be a divine messenger without family obligations. He needed to depend entirely on the Lord (cp. 1 Cor 7:26-35).
Literal English (Darby)ⓘThe Darby Bible (1890) — a deliberately literal, word-for-word translation used here as the Old Testament comparison text.The Darby Bible (1890) — a deliberately literal, word-for-word translation used here as the Old Testament comparison text.
Thou shalt not take thee a wife, and thou shalt not have sons nor daughters in this place.
Hebrew (Masoretic Text)ⓘThe Masoretic Text — the authoritative Hebrew manuscript tradition behind most Old Testaments, standardized by Jewish scribes (the Masoretes) between roughly the 7th and 10th centuries AD.The Masoretic Text — the authoritative Hebrew manuscript tradition behind most Old Testaments, standardized by Jewish scribes (the Masoretes) between roughly the 7th and 10th centuries AD.
King James VersionⓘKing James Version (1611) — the classic formal, word-for-word English translation. Historic and widely memorized, but uses Early Modern English vocabulary.
King James Version (1611) — the classic formal, word-for-word English translation. Historic and widely memorized, but uses Early Modern English vocabulary.
Thou shalt not take thee a wife, neither shalt thou have sons or daughters in this place.
American Standard VersionⓘAmerican Standard Version (1901) — a more literal, precision-focused revision in the King James tradition.American Standard Version (1901) — a more literal, precision-focused revision in the King James tradition.
Thou shalt not take thee a wife, neither shalt thou have sons or daughters, in this place.
World English BibleⓘWorld English Bible — a modern, public-domain update to the KJV/ASV formal style, without archaic language.World English Bible — a modern, public-domain update to the KJV/ASV formal style, without archaic language.
“You shall not take a wife, neither shall you have sons or daughters, in this place.”
Bible in Basic EnglishⓘBible in Basic English (1949) — deliberately written using a limited vocabulary of about 1,000 words.Bible in Basic English (1949) — deliberately written using a limited vocabulary of about 1,000 words.
You are not to take a wife for yourself or have sons or daughters in this place.