King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 8:19 Mean?

Jeremiah 8:19 in the King James Version says “Behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people because of them that dwell in a far country: Is not the LORD in...” — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 8 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people because of them that dwell in a far country: Is not the LORD in Zion? is not her king in her? Why have they provoked me to anger with their graven images, and with strange vanities? them: Heb. the country of them that are far off”

Jeremiah 8:19 · King James Version

Context

17

For, behold, I will send serpents, cockatrices, among you, which will not be charmed, and they shall bite you, saith the LORD.

18

When I would comfort myself against sorrow, my heart is faint in me. in: Heb. upon

19

Behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people because of them that dwell in a far country: Is not the LORD in Zion? is not her king in her? Why have they provoked me to anger with their graven images, and with strange vanities? them: Heb. the country of them that are far off

20

The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.

21

For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment hath taken hold on me.

Read Jeremiah 8 full chapter

Commentaries3 scholars

KJV Study CommentaryPublic Domain
This verse voices the people's desperate cry: 'Behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people because of them that dwell in a far country.' Jeremiah hears his people crying to God from distant lands of exile. 'Daughter of my people' (bat-ammi, בַּת־עַמִּי) is a tender phrase expressing Jeremiah's love for his nation despite their sin. 'Is not the LORD in Zion? is not her king in her?' The questions reveal theological crisis—how can God's city fall if He dwells there? How can David's throne perish if God promised perpetuity? These questions echo the confident but misguided theology of those who trusted in Jerusalem's inviolability rather than covenant faithfulness.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Popular theology in Judah, influenced by Jerusalem's miraculous deliverance from Assyria in 701 BC (2 Kings 18-19), assumed God would never allow His city or temple to be destroyed. False prophets reinforced this 'Zion theology' while ignoring the conditional nature of covenant promises. The exiles' questions reveal their shattered assumptions—if God was in Zion, how did Babylon destroy it? The answer would come through theological reflection during exile, producing the prophetic literature that explained judgment in terms of covenant unfaithfulness.

Reflection Questions

  1. How did misunderstanding God's promises lead to false confidence that ignored covenant conditions?
  2. What theological assumptions do we hold that might be shattered by difficult providences?

Compare 3 commentaries from different scholars and time periods for a richer understanding.

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 19 words
הִנֵּה1 of 19
H2009

lo!

ק֞וֹל2 of 19

“Behold the voice”

H6963

a voice or sound

שַֽׁוְעַ֣ת3 of 19

“of the cry”

H7775

a hallooing

בַּת4 of 19

“of the daughter”

H1323

a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)

עַמִּ֗י5 of 19

“of my people”

H5971

a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock

מֵאֶ֙רֶץ֙6 of 19

“country”

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

מַרְחַקִּ֔ים7 of 19

“because of them that dwell in a far”

H4801

remoteness, i.e., (concretely) a distant place; often (adverbially) from afar

הַֽיהוָה֙8 of 19

“Is not the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

אֵ֣ין9 of 19
H369

a nonentity; generally used as a negative particle

בְּצִיּ֔וֹן10 of 19

“in Zion”

H6726

tsijon (as a permanent capital), a mountain of jerusalem

אִם11 of 19
H518

used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not

מַלְכָּ֖הּ12 of 19

“is not her king”

H4428

a king

אֵ֣ין13 of 19
H369

a nonentity; generally used as a negative particle

בָּ֑הּ14 of 19
H0
מַדּ֗וּעַ15 of 19
H4069

what (is) known?; i.e., (by implication) (adverbially) why?

הִכְעִס֛וּנִי16 of 19

“in her Why have they provoked me to anger”

H3707

to trouble; by implication, to grieve, rage, be indignant

בִּפְסִלֵיהֶ֖ם17 of 19

“with their graven images”

H6456

an idol

בְּהַבְלֵ֥י18 of 19

“vanities”

H1892

emptiness or vanity; figuratively, something transitory and unsatisfactory; often used as an adverb

נֵכָֽר׃19 of 19

“and with strange”

H5236

foreign, or (concretely) a foreigner, or (abstractly) heathendom

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Jeremiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Jeremiah 8:19 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Jeremiah 8:19 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Isaiah 39:3Isaiah 13:5Isaiah 33:22Jeremiah 31:6Psalms 146:10Deuteronomy 32:16-21

Places in This Verse

ZionSettlement · Modern: Jerusalem · 31.78°N, 35.23°E148 verses across 19 books
View all places in Jeremiah 8 →

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