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Sunday, July 27th, 2025
the Week of Proper 12 / Ordinary 17
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THE MESSAGE

Jeremiah 22:18

This is God's epitaph on Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah: "Doom to this man! Nobody will shed tears over him, ‘Poor, poor brother!' Nobody will shed tears over him, ‘Poor, poor master!' They'll give him a donkey's funeral, drag him out of the city and dump him.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Jehoiakim;   Mourning;   Rich, the;   Young Men;   Thompson Chain Reference - Eliakim;   Jehoiakim, King of Judah;   Righteous-Wicked;   Unlamented, the Wicked;   Wicked, the;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Covetousness;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Burial;   Jehoiakim;   Nebuchadnezzar;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Funeral;   Jehoiakim;   Jeremiah;   Josiah;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Destroy, Destruction;   Glory;   Habakkuk, Theology of;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Ah!;   Jehoiakim;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Burial;   Captivity;   Jehoiakim;   Jehoram;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Architecture in the Biblical Period;   Beth-Haccerem;   Jeremiah;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Jehoiakim;   Jeremiah;   Mourning Customs;   Tammuz;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Burial;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Ah, Aha;   Jehoiakim ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Burial;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Jehoiakim;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Jeho-I'akim;   Mourning;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Jehoiakim;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Ah;   Captivity;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Funeral Oration;   Jehoiakim;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Therefore, this is what the Lord says concerning Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah:
Hebrew Names Version
Therefore thus says the LORD concerning Yehoiakim the son of Yoshiyahu, king of Yehudah: they shall not lament for him, [saying], Ah my brother! or, Ah sister! They shall not lament for him, [saying] Ah lord! or, Ah his glory!
King James Version
Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah; They shall not lament for him, saying, Ah my brother! or, Ah sister! they shall not lament for him, saying, Ah lord! or, Ah his glory!
English Standard Version
Therefore thus says the Lord concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah: "They shall not lament for him, saying, ‘Ah, my brother!' or ‘Ah, sister!' They shall not lament for him, saying, ‘Ah, lord!' or ‘Ah, his majesty!'
New American Standard Bible
Therefore this is what the LORD says regarding Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah: "They will not mourn for him: 'Oh, my brother!' or, 'Oh, sister!' They will not mourn for him: 'Oh, for the master!' or, 'Oh, for his splendor!'
New Century Version
So this is what the Lord says to Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah: "The people of Judah will not cry when Jehoiakim dies, saying: ‘Oh, my brother,' or ‘Oh, my sister.' They will not cry for him, saying: ‘Oh, master,' or ‘Oh, my king.'
Amplified Bible
Therefore thus says the LORD in regard to Jehoiakim the [second] son of Josiah, king of Judah, "The relatives will not lament (mourn over with expressions of grief) for him: 'Alas, my brother!' or, 'Alas, sister,' [how great our loss]! The subjects will not lament for him: 'Alas, master!' or 'Alas, majesty [how great was his glory]!'
World English Bible
Therefore thus says Yahweh concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah: they shall not lament for him, [saying], Ah my brother! or, Ah sister! They shall not lament for him, [saying] Ah lord! or, Ah his glory!
Geneva Bible (1587)
Therefore thus saith the Lorde against Iehoiakim, the sonne of Iosiah king of Iudah, They shall not lament him, saying, Ah, my brother, or ah, sister: neither shall they mourne for him, saying, Ah, lord, or ah, his glorie.
Legacy Standard Bible
Therefore thus says Yahweh in regard to Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah,"They will not lament for him:‘Alas, my brother!' or, ‘Alas, sister!'They will not lament for him:‘Alas for the master!' or, ‘Alas for his splendor!'
Berean Standard Bible
Therefore, this is what the LORD says concerning Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah: "They will not mourn for him: 'Alas, my brother! Alas, my sister!' They will not mourn for him: 'Alas, for the master! Alas, for his splendor!'
Contemporary English Version
Jehoiakim, no one will cry at your funeral. They won't turn to each other and ask, "Why did our great king have to die?"
Complete Jewish Bible
Therefore here is what Adonai says concerning Y'hoyakim the son of Yoshiyahu, king of Y'hudah: "There will be no one to mourn for him, ‘Oh! My brother!' or ‘Oh! My sister!' There will be no one to mourn for him, ‘Oh! My master!' or ‘Oh! His glory!'
Darby Translation
Therefore thus saith Jehovah concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, the king of Judah: They shall not lament for him, Ah, my brother! or, Ah, sister! They shall not lament for him, Ah, lord! or Ah, his glory!
Easy-to-Read Version
So this is what the Lord says to King Jehoiakim son of Josiah: "The people of Judah will not cry for Jehoiakim. They will not say to each other, ‘Brother, I am so sad! Sister, I am so sad!' They will not cry for Jehoiakim. They will not say about him, ‘Master, I am so sad! King, I am so sad!'
George Lamsa Translation
Therefore thus says the LORD concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah: They shall not mourn for him, nor shall they say, Ah my brother! Ah my brother! They shall not lament for him, saying, Ah lord! Ah lord!
Good News Translation
So then, the Lord says about Josiah's son Jehoiakim, king of Judah, "No one will mourn his death or say, ‘How terrible, my friend, how terrible!' No one will weep for him or cry, ‘My lord! My king!'
Lexham English Bible
Therefore thus says Yahweh concerning Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah, the king of Judah: "They will not lament for him, ‘Alas, my brother,' or ‘Alas, sister.' They will not lament for him, ‘Alas, lord,' or ‘alas, his majesty.'
Literal Translation
So Jehovah says this concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, They shall not mourn for him, saying , Ah, my brother! Or, Ah, sister! They shall not mourn for him, saying , Ah, lord! Or, Ah, his glory!
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And therfore, thus saieth the LORDE agaynst Ioachim, ye sonne of Iosias kynge of Iuda: They shall not mourne for him (as they vse to do) alas brother, alas syster: Nether shall they saye vnto him: Alas syr, alas for that noble prynce.
American Standard Version
Therefore thus saith Jehovah concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah: they shall not lament for him, saying, Ah my brother! or, Ah sister! They shall not lament for him, saying Ah lord! or, Ah his glory!
Bible in Basic English
So this is what the Lord has said about Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah, king of Judah: They will make no weeping for him, saying, Ah my brother! or, Ah sister! they will make no weeping for him, saying, Ah lord! or, Ah his glory!
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah: They shall not lament for him: 'Ah my brother!' or: 'Ah sister!' They shall not lament for him: 'Ah lord!' or: 'Ah his glory!'
King James Version (1611)
Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning Iehoiakim the sonne of Iosiah king of Iudah, They shall not lament for him, saying, Ah my brother, or ah sister: they shall not lament for him, saying, Ah Lord, or ah his glory.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And therefore thus saith the Lorde against Iehoakim the sonne of Iosias kyng of Iuda: They shall not mourne for hym [as they vse to do] Alas brother, alas sister: neither shall they say vnto him, Alas sir, alas for that noble prince.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning Joakim son of Josias, king of Juda, even concerning this man; they shall not bewail him, saying, Ah brother! neither shall they at all weep for him, saying, Alas Lord.
English Revised Version
Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah: They shall not lament for him, saying, Ah my brother! or, Ah sister! they shall not lament for him, saying, Ah lord! or, Ah his glory!
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor the Lord seith these thingis to Joachym, the sone of Josie, the kyng of Juda, Thei schulen not biweile hym, Wo brother! and wo sistir! thei schulen not sowne togidere to hym, Wo lord! and wo noble man!
Update Bible Version
Therefore thus says Yahweh concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah: they shall not lament for him, [saying], Ah my brother! or, Ah sister! They shall not lament for him, [saying] Ah lord! or, Ah his glory!
Webster's Bible Translation
Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah; They shall not lament for him, [saying], Ah my brother! or, Ah sister! they shall not lament for him, [saying], Ah lord! or, Ah his glory!
New English Translation
So the Lord has this to say about Josiah's son, King Jehoiakim of Judah: People will not mourn for him, saying, "This makes me sad, my brother! This makes me sad, my sister!" They will not mourn for him, saying, "Poor, poor lord! Poor, poor majesty!"
New King James Version
Therefore thus says the LORD concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah: "They shall not lament for him, Saying, "Alas, my brother!' or "Alas, my sister!' They shall not lament for him, Saying, "Alas, master!' or "Alas, his glory!'
New Living Translation
Therefore, this is what the Lord says about Jehoiakim, son of King Josiah: "The people will not mourn for him, crying to one another, ‘Alas, my brother! Alas, my sister!' His subjects will not mourn for him, crying, ‘Alas, our master is dead! Alas, his splendor is gone!'
New Life Bible
So the Lord says about Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, "They will not cry in sorrow for him, saying, ‘It is bad, my brother!' or, ‘It is bad, my sister!' They will not cry in sorrow for him, saying, ‘O lord!' or, ‘O, how great he was!'
New Revised Standard
Therefore thus says the Lord concerning King Jehoiakim son of Josiah of Judah: They shall not lament for him, saying, "Alas, my brother!" or "Alas, sister!" They shall not lament for him, saying, "Alas, lord!" or "Alas, his majesty!"
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Therefore - Thus, saith Yahweh, Touching Jehoiakim son of Josiah King of Judah, They shall not cry in lament for him Alas my brother! or Alas sister! They shall not cry in lament for him Alas lord! or Alas! his renown!
Douay-Rheims Bible
Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning Joakim the son of Josias king of Juda: They shall not mourn for him, Alas, my brother, and, Alas, sister: they shall not lament for him, Alas, my lord, or, Alas, the noble one.
Revised Standard Version
Therefore thus says the LORD concerning Jehoi'akim the son of Josi'ah, king of Judah: "They shall not lament for him, saying, 'Ah my brother!' or 'Ah sister!' They shall not lament for him, saying, 'Ah lord!' or 'Ah his majesty!'
Young's Literal Translation
Therefore, thus said Jehovah concerning Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah: They do not lament for him, Ah, my brother, and Ah, sister, They do not lament for him, Ah, lord, and Ah, his honour.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Therefore thus says the LORD in regard to Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, "They will not lament for him: 'Alas, my brother!' or, 'Alas, sister!' They will not lament for him: 'Alas for the master!' or, 'Alas for his splendor!'

Contextual Overview

10 Don't weep over dead King Josiah. Don't waste your tears. Weep for his exiled son: He's gone for good. He'll never see home again. 11For this is God 's Word on Shallum son of Josiah, who succeeded his father as king of Judah: "He's gone from here, gone for good. He'll die in the place they've taken him to. He'll never see home again." 13"Doom to him who builds palaces but bullies people, who makes a fine house but destroys lives, Who cheats his workers and won't pay them for their work, Who says, ‘I'll build me an elaborate mansion with spacious rooms and fancy windows. I'll bring in rare and expensive woods and the latest in interior decor.' So, that makes you a king— living in a fancy palace? Your father got along just fine, didn't he? He did what was right and treated people fairly, And things went well with him. He stuck up for the down-and-out, And things went well for Judah. Isn't this what it means to know me?" God 's Decree! "But you're blind and brainless. All you think about is yourself, Taking advantage of the weak, bulldozing your way, bullying victims." 18This is God's epitaph on Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah: "Doom to this man! Nobody will shed tears over him, ‘Poor, poor brother!' Nobody will shed tears over him, ‘Poor, poor master!' They'll give him a donkey's funeral, drag him out of the city and dump him.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

They: Jeremiah 22:10, Jeremiah 16:4, Jeremiah 16:6, 2 Chronicles 21:19, 2 Chronicles 21:20, 2 Chronicles 35:25

Ah my brother: 2 Samuel 1:26, 2 Samuel 3:33-38, 1 Kings 13:30

Reciprocal: Genesis 23:2 - mourn 2 Samuel 18:17 - laid 1 Kings 13:22 - carcase 1 Kings 14:13 - shall mourn 2 Kings 24:6 - slept 1 Chronicles 3:14 - Josiah Nehemiah 9:32 - on our kings Job 27:15 - his widows Jeremiah 22:12 - General Jeremiah 22:13 - unto Jeremiah 22:15 - thy Jeremiah 34:5 - and they Jeremiah 36:30 - and his Ezekiel 7:11 - neither Ezekiel 19:1 - the princes Ezekiel 19:4 - he was Ezekiel 19:9 - and brought Ezekiel 19:12 - strong Ezekiel 24:16 - yet Amos 8:3 - they shall Luke 12:15 - Take Acts 8:2 - made

Cross-References

Genesis 22:1
After all this, God tested Abraham. God said, "Abraham!" "Yes?" answered Abraham. "I'm listening."
Genesis 22:3
Abraham got up early in the morning and saddled his donkey. He took two of his young servants and his son Isaac. He had split wood for the burnt offering. He set out for the place God had directed him. On the third day he looked up and saw the place in the distance. Abraham told his two young servants, "Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I are going over there to worship; then we'll come back to you."
Genesis 22:8
Abraham said, "Son, God will see to it that there's a sheep for the burnt offering." And they kept on walking together.
Genesis 22:9
They arrived at the place to which God had directed him. Abraham built an altar. He laid out the wood. Then he tied up Isaac and laid him on the wood. Abraham reached out and took the knife to kill his son.
Ephesians 1:3
How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning Jehoiakim,.... This shows who is before spoken of and described; Jehoiakim, the then reigning king in Judah, whose name was Eliakim, but was changed by Pharaoh king of Egypt, when he deposed his brother Jehoahaz or Shallum, and set him on the throne, 2 Kings 23:34;

the son of Josiah king of Judah; and who seems to have been his eldest son, though his brother Jehoahaz reigned before him; for he was but twenty three years of age when he began his reign, and he reigned but three months; and Jehoiakim was twenty five years old when he succeeded him, 2 Kings 23:31; his relation to Josiah is mentioned, not so much for his honour, but rather to his disgrace, and as an aggravation of his wickedness, that having so religious a parent, and such a religious education, and the advantage of such an example, and yet did so sadly degenerate: and it also suggests that this would be no security to him from the divine vengeance; but rather provoke it, to deal more severely with him;

they shall not lament for him; that is, his people, his subjects, shall not lament for him when dead, as they did for his father Josiah; so far from having any real grief or inward sorrow on account of his death, that they should not so much as outwardly express any, or use the common form at meeting together:

[saying], ah my brother! or, ah sister! a woman meeting her brother would not say to him, O my brother, what bad news is this! we have lost our king! nor he reply to her, O sister, it is so, the loss is great indeed! for this is not to be understood of the funeral "lessus" at the interment of a king or queen; lamenting them under these appellations of brother or sister, which is denied of this prince. Kimchi thinks it has reference to his relations, as that they should not mourn for him, and say, "ah my brother!" nor for his wife, who died at the same time, though not mentioned, ah sister! both should die unlamented, as by their subjects, so by their nearest friends and relations;

they shall not lament for him, [saying], ah lord! or, ah his glory! O our liege lord and sovereign, he is gone! where are his glory and majesty now? where are his crown, his sceptre, his robes, and other ensigns of royalty? So the Targum,

"woe, or alas, for the king; alas, for his kingdom;''

a heavy stroke, a sorrowful melancholy providence this! but nothing of this kind should be said; as he lived not beloved, because of his oppression and violence, so he died without any lamentation for him.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Boldly by name is the judgment at length pronounced upon Jehoiakim. Dreaded by all around him, he shall soon lie an unheeded corpse, with no one to lament. No loving relative shall make such wailing as when a brother or sister is carried to the grave; nor shall he have the respect of his subjects, Ah Lord! or, Ah his glory!

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Jeremiah 22:18. They shall not lament for him, saying, Ah my brother! — These words were no doubt the burden of some funeral dirge. Alas! a brother, who was our lord or governor, is gone. Alas, our sister! his QUEEN, who has lost her glory in losing her husband. הדה hodah is feminine, and must refer to the glory of the queen.

The mournings in the east, and lamentations for the dead, are loud, vehement, and distressing. For a child or a parent grief is expressed in a variety of impassioned sentences, each ending with a burden like that in the text, "Ah my child!" "Ah my mother!" as the prophet in this place: הוי אחי hoi achi, "Ah my brother!" הוי אחות hoi achoth, "Ah sister!" הוי אדון hoi adon, "Ah lord!" הוי הדה hoi hodah, "Ah the glory."

Mr. Ward, in his Manners and Customs of the Hindoos, gives two examples of lamentation; one of a mother for the death of her son, one of a daughter for her departed mother. "When a woman," says he, "is overwhelmed with grief for the death of her child, she utters her grief in some such language as the following: -

Ah, my Hureedas, where is he gone? -

'Ah my child, my child!'

My golden image, Hureedas, who has taken? -

'Ah my child, my child!'

I nourished and reared him, where is he gone? -

'Ah my child, my child!'

Take me with thee. -

'Ah my child, my child!'

He played round me like a golden top. -

'Ah my child, my child!'

Like his face I never saw one. -

'Ah my child, my child!'

The infant continually cried, Ma Ma! -

'Ah my child, my child!'

Ah my child, crying, Ma! come into my lap. -

'Ah my child, my child!'

Who shall now drink milk? -

'Ah my child, my child!'

Who shall now stay in my lap? -

'Ah my child, my child!'

Our support is gone! -

'Ah my child, my child!'


"The lamentations for a mother are in some such strains as these: -

Mother! where is she gone? -

'Ah my mother, my mother!'

You are gone, but what have you left for me? -

'Ah my mother, my mother!'

Whom shall I now call mother, mother? -

'Ah my mother, my mother!'

Where shall I find such a mother? -

'Ah my mother, my mother!'"


From the above we may conclude that the funeral lamentations, to which the prophet refers, generally ended in this way, in each of the verses or interrogatories.

There is another intimation of this ancient and universal custom in 1 Kings 13:30, where the old prophet, who had deceived the man of God, and who was afterwards slain by a lion, is represented as mourning over him, and saying, הוי אחי hoi achi, "Alas, my brother!" this being the burden of the lamentation which he had used on this occasion. Similar instances may be seen in other places, Jeremiah 30:7; Ezekiel 6:11; Joel 1:15; and particularly Amos 5:16-17, and Revelation 18:10-19.


 
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