No one shall break bread for the mourner, to comfort him for the dead, nor shall anyone give him the cup of consolation to drink for his father or his mother.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights the deep, communal customs of ancient mourning, showing that "breaking bread" and offering a "cup of consolation" were acts of tangible support friends provided to the bereaved. It reveals that these weren't just symbolic gestures, but practical ways people shared comfort and sustenance during times of immense grief.
No one shall break bread for the mourner, to comfort him for the dead, nor shall anyone give him the cup of consolation to drink for his father or his mother.
English Standard Version (ESV)
God is describing a devastating future for Judah, where death will be so widespread and sudden that all normal customs of mourning and comfort will cease. People won't be able to perform customary funeral rites like breaking bread or offering a "cup of consolation" to grieving families because everyone will be too consumed by death and disaster. This foretells a time of unparalleled judgment, leaving no one unaffected or able to provide solace.
Imagine a world where the familiar acts of comfort for the grieving simply… stop. Jeremiah paints a stark picture of this.
In ancient Israel, death wasn't met with silence. Friends and family had established ways to support the bereaved:
These customs provided comfort and maintained community bonds during times of deep loss.
Why would these comforting rituals disappear? Jeremiah's prophecy points to a catastrophe so immense, it would leave no room for normal human kindness.
Jeremiah 16:7 isn't just about the absence of comfort; it's a sign of profound national disaster. The prophecy speaks of a time when:
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This absence of expected comfort underscores the severity of the judgment coming upon Judah.
Jeremiah's message in this verse isn't just about the cessation of normal comforting rituals. It highlights the utter devastation and chaos of the Babylonian conquest, where the scale of death and displacement would overwhelm any traditional means of showing grief or offering solace.
c. 605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
King Jehoiakim of Judah is taken captive to Babylon, along with members of the royal family and nobility. This marks the beginning of Judah's subjugation to Babylon.
597 BC
Second Babylonian Deportation
Following a rebellion, King Jehoiachin and many more Judahites, including the prophet Ezekiel, are deported to Babylon. Jerusalem's treasures are plundered.
c. 589-587 BC
Siege and Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian army lays siege to Jerusalem. The city eventually falls, its walls are broken down, and its Temple is destroyed.
c. 587 BC— this verse
Third Babylonian Deportation
The remaining population of Jerusalem, except for the poorest, is exiled to Babylon. This event devastates Judean society and religious life.
c. 587-539 BC
Exile in Babylon
The Judahites live in exile, facing profound cultural and spiritual challenges. Jeremiah's prophecies during this time speak of judgment and future hope.
This passage echoes Jeremiah's imagery, describing the devastation so severe that even the nursing mothers leave their young to die, emphasizing the complete breakdown of normal life and care.
Ezekiel 24:17This verse describes Ezekiel's personal, prophetic mourning where he is forbidden to perform traditional mourning rites, mirroring the idea in Jeremiah that these customs would cease due to the overwhelming disaster.
Hosea 9:4This verse also touches on the absence of mourners and their consolations, stating that no one will bring them bread for mourning, highlighting a similar societal collapse where customary grieving rituals become impossible.
Proverbs 31:6This verse speaks of giving strong drink to those who are perishing and wine to those in bitterness, providing a conceptual link to the 'cup of consolation' mentioned in Jeremiah, showing the cultural context of attempting to soothe grief.
barnesJeremiah 16:7: "Neither shall men tear themselves for them in mourning, to comfort them for the dead; neither shall men give them the cup of consolation to drink for their father or for their mother."
Tear themselves - Better as in the margin; "break broad for them." It was customary upon the death of a relative to fast, and for the friends and neighbors after a decent delay to come and comfort the mourner, and urge food upon him 2 Samuel 12:17 ; food was also distributed at funerals to the mou…
cambridgeJeremiah 16:7: "Neither shall men tear themselves for them in mourning, to comfort them for the dead; neither shall men give them the cup of consolation to drink for their father or for their mother."
7 . break bread for them ] The same verb as in Isaiah 58:7 (“deal”). There the word for bread ( leḥem ) stands in MT., and a very slight change here would convert “for them” (Heb. lahem ) into the same word. If on the other hand we keep lahem , leḥem must have dropped out after it. The reference i…
The verse highlights the deep, communal customs of ancient mourning, showing that "breaking bread" and offering a "cup of consolation" were acts of tangible support friends provided to the bereaved. It reveals that these weren't just symbolic gestures, but practical ways people shared comfort and sustenance during times of immense grief.
God is describing a devastating future for Judah, where death will be so widespread and sudden that all normal customs of mourning and comfort will cease. People won't be able to perform customary funeral rites like breaking bread or offering a "cup of consolation" to grieving families because everyone will be too consumed by death and disaster. This foretells a time of unparalleled judgment, leaving no one unaffected or able to provide solace.
God is describing a devastating future for Judah, where death will be so widespread and sudden that all normal customs of mourning and comfort will cease. People won't be able to perform customary funeral rites like breaking bread or offering a "cup of consolation" to grieving families because everyone will be too consumed by death and disaster. This foretells a time of unparalleled judgment, leaving no one unaffected or able to provide solace.
"No one shall break bread for the mourner, to comfort him for the dead, nor shall anyone give him the cup of consolation to drink for his father or his mother." — The verse highlights the deep, communal customs of ancient mourning, showing that "breaking bread" and offering a "cup of consolation" were acts of tangible support friends provided to the bereaved.…
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Last reviewed October 2026