King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 9:1 Mean?

Jeremiah 9:1 in the King James Version says “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 dau...” — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 9 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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”

Jeremiah 9:1 · KJV

Context

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

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.

3

And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the LORD.

Read Jeremiah 9 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
This verse opens chapter 9 with Jeremiah's famous lament: '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!' The Hebrew imagery is extravagant—wishing his head were a reservoir (mayim, מַיִם, waters) and his eyes a spring (maqor, מָקוֹר, fountain) of perpetual tears. 'Day and night' (yomam valaylah) indicates continuous, exhausting grief. 'The slain of the daughter of my people' (chalalei bat-ammi, חַלְלֵי בַּת־עַמִּי) refers to those killed in coming judgment. Jeremiah wishes he could weep proportionally to the tragedy—but human tears cannot match divine judgment's magnitude. This verse gave Jeremiah his title 'the weeping prophet.'

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Historical & Cultural Context

This verse is sometimes numbered as Jeremiah 8:23 in Hebrew Bibles, showing ancient chapter divisions differed. The verse responds to the previous chapter's prophetic announcements and personal anguish. Jeremiah's weeping contrasts sharply with the hardened, shameless leaders described earlier. His grief authenticates his message and reveals that true prophecy, even of judgment, flows from broken-hearted love rather than vindictive anger.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does Jeremiah's overwhelming grief model appropriate response to sin's devastating consequences?
  2. What does this verse teach about the emotional cost of faithful ministry that proclaims difficult truth?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 14 words
מִֽי1 of 14
H4310

who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix

יִתֵּ֤ן2 of 14

“Oh that”

H5414

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

רֹאשִׁי֙3 of 14

“my head”

H7218

the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)

מַ֔יִם4 of 14

“were waters”

H4325

water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen

וְעֵינִ֖י5 of 14

“and mine eyes”

H5869

an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)

מְק֣וֹר6 of 14

“a fountain”

H4726

properly, something dug, i.e., a (general) source (of water, even when naturally flowing; also of tears, blood (by euphemism, of the female pudenda);

דִּמְעָ֑ה7 of 14

“of tears”

H1832

weeping

וְאֶבְכֶּה֙8 of 14

“that I might weep”

H1058

to weep; generally to bemoan

יוֹמָ֣ם9 of 14

“day”

H3119

daily

וָלַ֔יְלָה10 of 14

“and night”

H3915

properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e., night; figuratively, adversity

אֵ֖ת11 of 14
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

חַֽלְלֵ֥י12 of 14

“for the slain”

H2491

pierced (especially to death); figuratively, polluted

בַת13 of 14

“of the daughter”

H1323

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

עַמִּֽי׃14 of 14

“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

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 9:1 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 9:1 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jeremiah 13:17Isaiah 22:4Jeremiah 8:21-22Lamentations 2:11Jeremiah 6:26Ezekiel 21:6-7

Test Your Knowledge

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