And I will silence in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, for the land shall become a waste.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The most chilling aspect here isn't just the silence of parties, but the cessation of weddings. This speaks to a complete breakdown of life's continuity, as the very future of the community – the continuation of families and society – would be extinguished. The land becoming desolate isn't just empty, it's a place where life itself can no longer thrive or be renewed.
And I will silence in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, for the land shall become a waste.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jeremiah has just been commanded to tell Jerusalem to cut off its hair and cast it away, symbolizing its disgrace and rejection, as the Lord has forsaken them. He's been describing the coming judgment, painting a picture of destruction where dead bodies will fill the land and wailing will replace normal life. This verse intensifies that by describing a complete cessation of all joyful sounds, from general merriment to the specific sounds of wedding celebrations, because the land will be utterly desolate.
Imagine a city vibrant with celebration – wedding songs, laughter, music. Now imagine that silence falling like a shroud. Jeremiah's prophecy paints a stark picture of God's judgment.
Jeremiah 7:34 describes a future so devastating that the very sounds of life and joy will disappear. God declares He will 'cause to cease... the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride.'
This isn't just a prediction of sadness; it's a pronouncement of divine judgment. The removal of these sounds signifies the end of normal, communal life. Celebrations like weddings, which represent hope, continuity, and the continuation of society, will be impossible.
This silence is the consequence of Judah's deep-seated sin and rejection of God's warnings. It’s a powerful, auditory symbol of a land that has become utterly desolate because its people refused to listen to God's voice.
What does it mean for a land to become a 'waste'? It's more than just empty fields; it's the undoing of God's good creation and human community.
The core reason for the silencing of joy is stated plainly: 'for the land shall become a waste.' The Hebrew word translated 'waste' (or 'desolation') speaks of ruin, emptiness, and barrenness.
This isn't merely a natural disaster; it's a judgment that undoes the very fabric of society. When a land becomes a waste:
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This outcome is the direct result of Judah's persistent unfaithfulness, turning a once-promised land into a stark testament to God's justice.
Understand the original words
sason / simchah · Hebrew Noun
A state of joy, celebration, and festive noise; its removal signifies the end of God's blessing and the onset of covenantal judgment.
shemamah · Hebrew Noun
The result of divine judgment where a land is rendered uninhabitable, desolate, and devoid of the blessing and presence of God.
Jeremiah's prophecy of silenced joy and desolation wasn't just a metaphor; it was a terrifyingly literal prediction of the aftermath of Jerusalem's destruction by the Babylonians, a stark end to the vibrant life of the city and land.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon invades Judah, deporting many prominent citizens, including the prophet Daniel, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of Judah's subjugation.
c. 597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
After a revolt, Nebuchadnezzar deports King Jehoiachin and thousands more Judeans, including the prophet Ezekiel, to Babylon. This further weakens Jerusalem and the kingdom.
589-587 BC— this verse
Siege and Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar lays siege to Jerusalem, leading to widespread famine and suffering. The city is eventually breached, its walls destroyed, and the Temple desecrated and burned.
586 BC
Third Deportation to Babylon
The remaining population of Jerusalem, except for the poorest, are exiled to Babylon. This event marks the end of the Davidic monarchy and a period of devastation for the land.
This passage echoes the same judgment, explicitly stating that the sounds of joy, celebration, and marriage will be silenced because of the people's wickedness.
Jeremiah 25:10Here, God declares that He will bring an end to the sounds of joy and celebration, including the voice of the bridegroom and bride, indicating widespread devastation and ruin.
Jeremiah 33:11This verse offers a contrasting prophecy of restoration, promising that the sounds of joy, gladness, bridegroom, and bride will once again be heard in Judah's cities and Jerusalem, highlighting the severity of their current judgment.
Revelation 18:23The silencing of the sounds of the bridegroom and bride is mirrored in the judgment of Babylon, where the sounds of music and celebration cease, symbolizing the complete destruction of a wicked city.
calvinJeremiah 7:34: "Then will I cause to cease from the cities of Judah, and from the streets of Jerusalem, the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride: for the land shall be desolate."
Then will I cause to cease from the cities of Judah, and from the streets of Jerusalem, the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride: for the land shall be desolate.
Et cessare faciam ex urbi…
cambridgeJeremiah 7:34: "Then will I cause to cease from the cities of Judah, and from the streets of Jerusalem, the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride: for the land shall be desolate."
34 . the voice of the bridegroom, etc .] Cp. Jeremiah 16:9 , Jeremiah 25:10 .
The most chilling aspect here isn't just the silence of parties, but the cessation of weddings. This speaks to a complete breakdown of life's continuity, as the very future of the community – the continuation of families and society – would be extinguished. The land becoming desolate isn't just empty, it's a place where life itself can no longer thrive or be renewed.
Jeremiah has just been commanded to tell Jerusalem to cut off its hair and cast it away, symbolizing its disgrace and rejection, as the Lord has forsaken them. He's been describing the coming judgment, painting a picture of destruction where dead bodies will fill the land and wailing will replace normal life. This verse intensifies that by describing a complete cessation of all joyful sounds, from general merriment to the specific sounds of wedding celebrations, because the land will be utterly desolate.
Jeremiah has just been commanded to tell Jerusalem to cut off its hair and cast it away, symbolizing its disgrace and rejection, as the Lord has forsaken them. He's been describing the coming judgment, painting a picture of destruction where dead bodies will fill the land and wailing will replace normal life. This verse intensifies that by describing a complete cessation of all joyful sounds, from general merriment to the specific sounds of wedding celebrations, because the land will be utterly desolate.
"And I will silence in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, for the land shall become a waste." — The most chilling aspect here isn't just the silence of parties, but the cessation of weddings. This speaks to a complete breakdown of life's continuity, as the very future of the community – the con…
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Last reviewed October 2026