Jeremiah 9:22

22 loquere haec dicit Dominus et cadet morticinum hominis quasi stercus super faciem regionis et quasi faenum post tergum metentis et non est qui colligat

Jeremiah 9:22 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 9:22

Speak, thus saith the Lord
These are the words of the Lord to Jeremiah, to go on with his prophecy in his name; so the Targum,

``prophesy, thus saith the Lord:''
even the carcasses of men shall fall as dung upon the open field;
or, "upon the face of the field" F6; this shows the reason why the women are called to mourning, because the men would fall by the sword in the open field, and there lie and rot, and become dung upon it. The Targum is,
``as dung spread upon the face of the field;''
which denotes the great number that should fall, which would cover the face of the field; the condition they should be in; and the contempt and neglect they should be had in: and as the handful after the harvestman, and none shall gather them;
as a handful of corn that is forgot, and left by the harvestman; or as ears of corn which are dropped by the reaper, or binder, and are usually gleaned or gathered up by the poor that follow; but in the case referred to, or supposed, are not gathered; so it would be with these people; they should be left upon the ground, like a handful forgot, or like ears of corn dropped, and not gathered up, and there they should lie, and none should bury them.
FOOTNOTES:

F6 (hdvh ynp le) "super faciebus agri", Montanus, Schmidt; "in facie agri", Cocceius; "in superficie agri", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.

Jeremiah 9:22 In-Context

20 audite ergo mulieres verbum Domini et adsumat auris vestra sermonem oris eius et docete filias vestras lamentum et unaquaeque proximam suam planctum
21 quia ascendit mors per fenestras nostras ingressa est domos nostras disperdere parvulos de foris iuvenes de plateis
22 loquere haec dicit Dominus et cadet morticinum hominis quasi stercus super faciem regionis et quasi faenum post tergum metentis et non est qui colligat
23 haec dicit Dominus non glorietur sapiens in sapientia sua et non glorietur fortis in fortitudine sua et non glorietur dives in divitiis suis
24 sed in hoc glorietur qui gloriatur scire et nosse me quia ego sum Dominus qui facio misericordiam et iudicium et iustitiam in terra haec enim placent mihi ait Dominus
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.