Introduction to Jeremiah 9:1: The Prophet’s Lament in Optative Form
Jeremiah 9:1 (Masoretic Text numbering) opens with one of the most intense laments in prophetic literature. The prophet cries out in deep grief over the slain of his people, expressing an uncontainable desire to weep continuously. The verse begins with the phrase מִי־יִתֵּן—a classical optative construction in Biblical Hebrew that introduces a longing or wish, usually impossible or hypothetical. This article will examine the grammar, syntax, and literary significance of this powerful phrase in Jeremiah’s lamentation.
מִֽי־יִתֵּ֤ן רֹאשִׁי֙ מַ֔יִם וְעֵינִ֖י מְקֹ֣ור דִּמְעָ֑ה וְאֶבְכֶּה֙ יֹומָ֣ם וָלַ֔יְלָה אֵ֖ת חַֽלְלֵ֥י בַת־עַמִּֽי׃
Grammatical Analysis of מִי־יִתֵּן
The phrase מִי־יִתֵּן is a fixed idiomatic expression in Biblical Hebrew that expresses a strong wish or longing. It can be translated as “Oh that…!” or “Would that…!”
- מִי – interrogative pronoun, “who,” used here idiomatically in optative expressions
- יִתֵּן – Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular of נָתַן, “to give”
While literally this could be rendered “Who will give…?”, the idiomatic sense is not a question but a wishful exclamation. This usage creates an emotive optative clause, often seen in poetry and lamentations (cf. Job 6:8; Deut 5:26).
Phrase-by-Phrase Commentary
מִי־יִתֵּן רֹאשִׁי מַיִם
- רֹאשִׁי – “my head” – construct with 1cs suffix
- מַיִם – “water” – direct object of the optative clause
The prophet wishes that his head were full of water—an unnatural image meant to express his desperate desire for continuous weeping.
וְעֵינִי מְקֹור דִּמְעָה
- וְעֵינִי – “and my eye” – construct + suffix, coordinated with the previous phrase
- מְקֹור – “a spring, a source” – noun denoting continual flowing
- דִּמְעָה – “tears” – feminine noun, poetic parallel to מַיִם
This intensifies the image: not only water in the head, but eyes as perpetual fountains of tears. The metaphor conveys unceasing grief.
וְאֶבְכֶּה יֹומָם וָלַיְלָה
- וְאֶבְכֶּה – “and I would weep” – Qal imperfect 1cs from בָּכָה, expresses desire or volition in this optative context
- יֹומָם וָלַיְלָה – “day and night” – merism indicating constant weeping
The shift to the imperfect first-person verb אֶבְכֶּה continues the optative tone: the prophet wishes for the capacity to weep endlessly.
אֵת חַלְלֵי בַת־עַמִּי
- חַלְלֵי – “the slain” – plural of חָלָל, used for dead bodies from war or massacre
- בַת־עַמִּי – “daughter of my people” – poetic phrase referring to the nation of Yisra’el
The object of the prophet’s weeping is clear: he mourns the devastation of his people—likely referring to those slain in war, exile, or divine judgment.
Literary and Theological Significance of מִי־יִתֵּן
1. Optative Mood as Emotional Heightening
The construction מִי־יִתֵּן is not just grammar—it functions to elevate the prophet’s emotional tone. It signals pain too deep for rational speech, veering into poetic lament where only hypothetical longing can suffice.
2. Symbolic Imagery of Unnatural Mourning
Wishing for a head made of water and eyes as a spring underscores the unbearable burden of grief. The prophet envisions becoming a literal embodiment of mourning, surpassing human limitation.
3. Mourning for a Nation under Judgment
By linking his grief to חַלְלֵי בַת־עַמִּי, Jeremiah positions himself as a national mourner—a prophet who not only speaks judgment but feels it. His lament is not distant; it is visceral.
The Role of מִי־יִתֵּן in Jeremiah 9:1
The phrase מִי־יִתֵּן serves as a powerful entry point into the prophet’s emotional world:
- Grammatically: Introduces an optative clause expressing intense desire or longing
- Literarily: Sets the tone of lament using metaphor and hyperbole
- Theologically: Demonstrates the prophet’s deep identification with divine grief over Yisra’el
In Jeremiah 9:1, מִי־יִתֵּן encapsulates the prophet’s wish to become an instrument of mourning, embodying the sorrow of both YHWH and the people. It is a prayer not for answers, but for the ability to feel—and to weep without end.
