Jeremiah 31:15

“Thus says YHWH: “A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation, bitter weeping: Rachel weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more.””
Jeremiah 31:15 · direct translation from the Hebrew

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With the Hebrew beneath

ThusכֹּהsaysאָמַרYHWH:יְהוָה“A voiceקוֹלis heardנִשְׁמָעin Ramah,בְּרָמָהlamentation,נְהִיbitterתַמְרוּרִיםweeping:בְּכִיRachelרָחֵלweepingמְבַכָּהfor her children;עַל בָּנֶיהָshe refusesמֵאֲנָהto be comfortedלְהִנָּחֵםfor her children,עַל בָּנֶיהָbecauseכִּיthey are no more.”אֵינֶנּוּ

Quotation · Matthew 2:18

Go to Matthew 2:18

Matthew quotes Jeremiah with a fulfillment formula. In Jeremiah, Rachel weeps in Ramah for her children, and the following verse announces that they will return from the land of the enemy.

Formula: τότε ἐπληρώθη τὸ ῥηθὲν διὰ Ἰερεμίου τοῦ προφήτου λέγοντος “then what was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, when he says” (Matthew 2:17)

See the original texts

Greek of the New Testament: Φωνὴ ἐν Ῥαμὰ ἠκούσθη κλαυθμὸς καὶ ὀδυρμὸς πολύς Ῥαχὴλ κλαίουσα τὰ τέκνα αὐτῆς καὶ οὐκ ἤθελεν παρακληθῆναι ὅτι οὐκ εἰσίν

Hebrew (Masoretic text): כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה קוֹל בְּרָמָה נִשְׁמָע נְהִי בְּכִי תַמְרוּרִים רָחֵל מְבַכָּה עַל בָּנֶיהָ מֵאֲנָה לְהִנָּחֵם עַל בָּנֶיהָ כִּי אֵינֶנּוּ

This passage could not be located with certainty in the transcription of the Septuagint we use, so it is not compared.

Jeremiah 31:15, word by word

saysאָמַרamar

say

To say with the mouth to someone what one thinks or wants, or to answer him.

Where else “amar” appears

YHWHיְהוָהyehva

YHWH

The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.

Where else “yehva” appears

“A voiceקוֹלkol

voice

What is heard when someone speaks or sings; also the voice of God.

Where else “kol” appears

is heardנִשְׁמָעnishma

hear

To hear a sound, or learn of something.

Where else “nishma” appears

in Ramahרָמָהrama

Ramah

See it on the map Where else “rama” appears

lamentationנְהִיnehi

lament

Lament: a song of mourning for someone who has died or for a disaster.

Where else “nehi” appears

bitterתַמְרוּרִיםtamrurim

bitterness

Bitterness; in the plural, very great bitterness.

Where else “tamrurim” appears

weepingבְּכִיbechi

weeping

Weeping.

Where else “bechi” appears

Rachelרָחֵלrachel

Rachel

Rachel, younger daughter of Laban, Jacob's beloved wife; mother of Joseph and Benjamin. Her name means "ewe".

Where else “rachel” appears

weepingמְבַכָּהmevaka

weep

Weep, cry; mourn for someone.

Where else “mevaka” appears

for her childrenבָּנֶיbane

son

The male born of a father and mother; in the plural, also sons and daughters.

Where else “bane” appears

she refusesמֵאֲנָהmeana

refuse

Refuse, be unwilling.

Where else “meana” appears

to be comfortedהִנָּחֵםhinachem

comfort

To ease someone in his pain with words and company.

Where else “hinachem” appears

Translation note

Matthew 2:18 quotes this verse. Rachel was buried on the way to Ephrath (Genesis 35:19).

Parallel passages

Other books that tell the same thing or quote these words.

Quotation · Matthew 2:18

Matthew quotes Jeremiah with a fulfillment formula. In Jeremiah, Rachel weeps in Ramah for her children, and the following verse announces that they will return from the land of the enemy.

See them side by side

Jeremiah 31:15

¹⁵Thus says YHWH: “A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation, bitter weeping: Rachel weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more.”

Matthew 2:18

¹⁸“A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning: Rachel weeping for her children; and she would not be comforted, because they are no more.”

Places in this verse

Approximate location. A “?” means it is not known for sure where it was.

Ramah ?
Today: possibly er-Ram, West Bank
The name of several towns; the best known was in Benjamin, about 5 miles (8 km) north of Jerusalem, and its site is not certain.
Samuel lived in Ramah (1 Sam 7:17). Jeremiah spoke of Rachel's weeping for her children heard there (Jer 31:15).
1 Samuel 1:19 1 Samuel 7:17 Jeremiah 31:15 1 Kings 15:17

The context

14And I will drench the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people will be satisfied with my goodness, declares YHWH.”

15 · This verse (above)

16Thus says YHWH: “Keep back your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears; for there is a wage for your work, declares YHWH, and they will return from the land of the enemy.

Read all of Jeremiah 31

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