1
Jeremiah 16:1
英文原文
In this prophecy Jeremiah 16:1-18, the punishment of the people is set forth in even sterner terms than in the last. The whole land is likened to a desert covered with the bodies of the dead, who lie unbemoaned and uncared for; and the prophet himself is commanded to abstain from the common usages of mankind that his motto of life, as well as his words, may warn the people of the greatness of the approaching calamity. There is, however, to be finally a return from exile, but only after the idolatry of the nation has been severely punished. The prophecy was probably written about the close of Jehoiakim's reign.
2
Jeremiah 16:2
由於婚姻是猶太人當盡的本分，禁止耶利米娶妻便成了一個記號，表明將臨的災禍何等重大，以致凌駕於一切日常義務之上。耶利米並未娶妻，但這記號的力量正在於它乃是先知慣常行事中的例外。
「在這地方」——指整個猶太地。
英文原文
As marriage was obligatory upon the Jews, the prohibition of it to Jeremiah was a sign that the impending calamity was so great as to override all ordinary duties. Jeremiah was unmarried, but the force of the sign lay in its being an exception to the ordinary practice of the prophets.
In this place - The whole of Judaea.
3
Jeremiah 16:3
當時的時局如此，因著「現今的艱難」，眾人皆以不娶不嫁為明智（1 Corinthians 7:26；Matthew 24:19）。
英文原文
The times were such that for "the present distress" it was wise for all to abstain from marriage 1 Corinthians 7:26; Matthew 24:19.
6
Jeremiah 16:6
Cut themselves…make…bald（割劃身體……使頭光禿）——這兩種做法在律法中都被嚴厲禁止（見邊註所引經文），大概因為它們是異教的風俗；但它們似乎仍在民間普遍沿用。所謂「使頭光禿」，是指在頭的前部剃出一塊光禿的地方。
英文原文
Cut themselves ... make themselves bald - Both these practices were strictly forbidden in the Law (marginal references) probably as being pagan customs, but they seem to have remained in common use. By "making bald" is meant shaving a bare patch on the front of the head.
7
Jeremiah 16:7
「為他們悲哀」——照旁註的譯法較佳：「為他們擘餅」。親族死後依例要禁食，親友鄰舍在合宜的時段之後前來安慰居喪者，勸他進食（2 Samuel 12:17）；在喪事中也照例向弔喪的人和窮人分發食物。
「安慰的杯」——見旁註參考。
英文原文
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 mourners, and to the poor.
Cup of consolation - Marginal reference note.
11
Jeremiah 16:11
向他們所宣告的嚴厲判決，是世代相繼、堅持不改的偶像崇拜所結的後果；這罪終於深化為全國的背道。
英文原文
The severe sentence passed upon them is the consequence of idolatry persisted in through many generations until it has finally deepened into national apostasy.
12
Jeremiah 16:12
「意念」——應讀作「頑梗」。
英文原文
Imaginations - Read stubbornness.
13
Jeremiah 16:13
「在那裏你們要……」——這是反話，意即「在那裏你們可以晝夜事奉別神，因為我必不向你們施恩」。
英文原文
And there shall ye ... - Ironical, and "there ye may serve other gods day and night, since I will shew you no favor."
14
Jeremiah 16:14
這兩節藉著應許一場比出埃及更大的拯救，也暗示了一場比在埃及鐵爐中為奴更可怕的懲治。他們不再被安置在一地，而是被分散到北方和許多別國，最後才得復興。
英文原文
These two verses, by promising a deliverance greater than that from Egypt, implied also a chastisement more terrible than the bondage in the iron furnace there. Instead of their being placed in one land, there was to be a scattering into the north and many other countries, followed finally by a restoration.
16
Jeremiah 16:16
百姓四散的情形，將如被追獵的走獸一般，逃脫的寥寥無幾。古代的狩獵方法，是用驅獵者和網圍起大片地方，把其中的一切趕到某處宰殺。滅盡全部男丁，是古代戰爭的可怕習俗之一；希羅多德稱這過程為「用拖網掃蕩全國」。同一位權威告訴我們，這方法只有在島上纔能有效執行。按字面理解，打魚的是主力軍隊，他們在城邑和堡壘中如用網一般成群擄掠百姓；打獵的則是輕裝部隊，他們追擊逃亡者遍及全國，像獵人追蹤獵物一樣把他們從藏身之處趕出來。
英文原文
The scattering of the people is to be like that of hunted animals, of which but few escape, the ancient method of hunting being to enclose a large space with beaters and nets, and so drive everything within it to some place where it was destroyed. The destruction of the whole male population was one of the horrible customs of ancient warfare, and the process is called in Herodotus "sweeping the country with a drag-net." The same authority tells us that this method could only be effectually carried out on an island. Literally, understood, the fishers are the main armies who, in the towns and fortresses, capture the people in crowds as in a net, while the hunters are the light-armed troops, who pursue the fugitives over the whole country, and drive them out of their hiding places as hunters track out their game.
17
Jeremiah 16:17
這懲治並非出於反覆無常，而是在充分知道並察驗他們的行為之後所定的。
英文原文
This chastisement arises not from caprice, but is decreed upon full knowledge and examination of their doings.
18
Jeremiah 16:18
「先」——即在從被擄歸回之前。
「我必按他們的罪孽……加倍報應」——這是律法慣常的法則（Isaiah 40:2 註釋）。罪是雙重的：有未行神旨意的疏漏，也有實際行出的惡。刑罰也是雙重的：首先是失去本可因順從而臨到的福，其次是實際遭受的苦難。
「因為他們玷污了……」——宜作「因為他們用可憎之物的屍首玷污了我的地」（那些無生命、可憎的偶像，一經觸摸便如觸摸屍體一般使人不潔，Numbers 19:11）；「並用他們可憎的東西充滿了我的產業」。
英文原文
First - Before the return from exile.
I will recompense their iniquity ... double - The ordinary rule of the Law (Isaiah 40:2 note). Sin is twofold; there is the leaving of God's will undone, and the actual wrongdoing. And every punishment is twofold: first, there is the loss of the blessing which would have followed upon obedience, and secondly, the presence of actual misery.
Because they have defiled ... - Rather, "because they have profaned My land with the carcases of their detestable things" (their lifeless and hateful idols, the very touch of which pollutes like that of a corpse, Numbers 19:11); "and hare filled My inheritance with their abominations."
21
Jeremiah 16:21
「這一次」——無論從它所造成民族恥辱與苦難的深重，還是從它對猶太人心思的影響來看，尼布甲尼撒焚燒耶路撒冷、百姓隨後被擄到巴比倫一事，都是神對付他們的一切作為中，祂的「手」最大的顯現。
英文原文
This once - Whether we consider the greatness of the national disgrace and suffering caused by it, or its effect upon the mind of the Jews, the burning of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, followed by the captivity of the people at Babylon, stands out as the greatest manifestation of God's "hand" in all His dealings with them.
在這段預言（Jeremiah 16:1-18）中，百姓所受刑罰的陳述比上一段更為嚴厲。全地被比作一片佈滿屍體的荒場，死人躺臥其中，無人哀悼，無人看顧；先知本人則奉命戒絕世人通行的習俗，好叫他的人生格言連同他的言語，都警戒百姓那將臨災禍是何等重大。然而，最終仍必有從被擄之地歸回的事，但唯獨在這國民的拜偶像受到嚴懲之後。這預言大概寫於約雅敬王朝的末期。