Jeremiah 22:18-19
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The verse highlights that Jehoiakim, unlike his righteous father Josiah, will not receive proper mourning rites. This absence of lamentation, from the most intimate terms like "brother" and "sister" to the highest titles like "lord" and "his majesty," signifies that his life was so marked by injustice and cruelty that no one will genuinely grieve his passing. His death will be a stark departure from the respected burials of kings past, a profound public disgrace.
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!’ With the burial of a donkey he shall be buried, dragged and dumped beyond the gates of Jerusalem.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jeremiah is directly addressing King Jehoiakim, the son of the once-righteous King Josiah, revealing God's severe judgment against him. This follows previous prophecies condemning Jehoiakim's oppressive rule and unjust building practices. The prophet declares that unlike his godly father, Jehoiakim will receive no honor in death; no one will mourn for him with the customary expressions of grief and respect, signifying his complete disgrace and abandonment.
Why would the prophet explicitly state that no one would mourn for King Jehoiakim? It wasn't just about the absence of sorrow, but a profound statement about his reign and its end.
Jeremiah 22:18 isn't just a prediction of an unlamented death; it's a divine declaration of judgment on Jehoiakim's wicked life.
A Life of Oppression
Jehoiakim's reign was marked by injustice, cruelty, and shedding innocent blood. He built his grand palaces not through honest means but by exploiting and defrauding his workers (as noted by Henry).
The Contrast with Josiah
He is specifically called the "son of Josiah" not as an honor, but to highlight his stark contrast to his godly father. Josiah was deeply lamented, but Jehoiakim's actions ensured he would receive no such respect.
Public Mourning Formulae
The prophet quotes the typical phrases of lamentation ('Ah, my brother!', 'Ah, lord!') to emphasize their absence. This wasn't a dismissal of proper mourning rituals but a judgment that such expressions of sorrow would be utterly inappropriate for someone like Jehoiakim, who lived and died in disgrace.
The verse chillingly contrasts the expected honor of a king with a fate worse than death. What does being 'buried with the burial of an ass' truly signify?
The prophecy against Jehoiakim culminates in a shocking image: his burial will be like that of a donkey. This is not mere poetic license but a profound theological statement.
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The Dignity of Burial
In ancient Israel, burial was more than a custom; it was a sign of God's favor and a pledge of future resurrection. To be denied burial was to be cut off from God's covenant blessings and human dignity.
The Donkey as Contemptible
The donkey was considered a lowly, contemptible animal. To be compared to its burial meant Jehoiakim would be unceremoniously discarded, stripped of all royal status, and left exposed, like refuse beyond the city gates.
A Curse, Not Just a Punishment
This ignominious end signifies a curse from God. It declares that Jehoiakim's life was so contrary to God's will that even in death, he would be marked as an object of divine displeasure, devoid of the honor due to a king, or indeed, any human being.
Understand the original words
saphad · Hebrew Verb
To mourn or wail; the formal expression of grief, often performed at funerals. The denial of lament was a sign of extreme social dishonor.
This prophecy condemns Jehoiakim, contrasting his ignominious end with the respected mourning his father Josiah received. The lack of lamentation signifies God's severe judgment on his wicked and oppressive rule, revealing that his supposed royal glory would vanish completely.
609 BC
Josiah's Death
King Josiah, known for his religious reforms and devotion to God, is killed in battle against the Egyptians at Megiddo. This event marks a turning point, leading to instability in Judah.
609 BC
Jehoahaz Reigns Briefly
Josiah's son, Jehoahaz, is made king by the people but is quickly deposed by Pharaoh Necho of Egypt and taken into exile, where he later dies.
609 BC - 598 BC— this verse
Jehoiakim's Reign
Pharaoh Necho installs Jehoiakim, another son of Josiah, as king of Judah. Jehoiakim's reign is marked by corruption, injustice, and heavy taxation to pay tribute to Egypt.
605 BC
Nebuchadnezzar's First Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon defeats the Egyptians and takes control of Judah. He deports some of the Judean elite, including Daniel, to Babylon.
598 BC
Jehoiakim's Death and Rebellion
Jehoiakim rebels against Babylonian rule. He dies under mysterious circumstances, possibly killed during the initial stages of Nebuchadnezzar's siege of Jerusalem, or taken captive. His reign ends ignominiously.
597 BC
Jehoiachin's Brief Reign and Exile
Jehoiakim's son, Jehoiachin, reigns for a short time before surrendering to Nebuchadnezzar. He and many other Judeans are exiled to Babylon, marking the second major deportation.
This passage describes the fall of the king of Tyre, who, like Jehoiakim, was consumed by pride and a lust for glory, leading to his eventual downfall and shame.
Daniel 1:1-2This shows how Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, began to assert dominance by taking royal captives, including those from Judah, foreshadowing the fate of Jehoiakim and his people.
2 Chronicles 36:5-7This passage recounts Jehoiakim's wickedness and how Nebuchadnezzar bound him to take him to Babylon, directly describing the ignominious end prophesied in Jeremiah.
Matthew 9:23-24Jesus' interaction with the mourners at Jairus' daughter's house shows that public lamentations were a common cultural practice, highlighting how unusual and significant it was that Jehoiakim would receive none.
calvinJeremiah 22:18-19: "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!"
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!
Propterea sic dicit Jehova ad J…
pulpitJeremiah 22:18: "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!"
Verse 18. - Josiah had been bitterly missed and universally lamented (2 Chronicles 35:25); and so, only perhaps with less heartiness in most cases, Jehoiakim's other predecessors (Jeremiah 34:5). The Babylonian kings, too, received the honors of public mourning,…
The verse highlights that Jehoiakim, unlike his righteous father Josiah, will not receive proper mourning rites. This absence of lamentation, from the most intimate terms like "brother" and "sister" to the highest titles like "lord" and "his majesty," signifies that his life was so marked by injustice and cruelty that no one will genuinely grieve his passing. His death will be a stark departure from the respected burials of kings past, a profound public disgrace.
Jeremiah is directly addressing King Jehoiakim, the son of the once-righteous King Josiah, revealing God's severe judgment against him. This follows previous prophecies condemning Jehoiakim's oppressive rule and unjust building practices. The prophet declares that unlike his godly father, Jehoiakim will receive no honor in death; no one will mourn for him with the customary expressions of grief and respect, signifying his complete disgrace and abandonment.
Jeremiah is directly addressing King Jehoiakim, the son of the once-righteous King Josiah, revealing God's severe judgment against him. This follows previous prophecies condemning Jehoiakim's oppressive rule and unjust building practices. The prophet declares that unlike his godly father, Jehoiakim will receive no honor in death; no one will mourn for him with the customary expressions of grief and respect, signifying his complete disgrace and abandonment.
"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 ‘…" — The verse highlights that Jehoiakim, unlike his righteous father Josiah, will not receive proper mourning rites. This absence of lamentation, from the most intimate terms like "brother" and "sister"…
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Last reviewed October 2026