Verses 1-9 are Jehovah’s restrictions placed on Jeremiah for His further commission. God’s restricting Jeremiah in the matters of marrying, mourning, and feasting indicates that if we would be a mouthpiece of God and speak for Him, we must be restricted. God’s words to Jeremiah also indicate that those who are used by God to speak for Him will suffer.

In answering the inquiry of the people concerning the reason for the great evil, the calamities, that had come upon them (v. 10), Jehovah promised to bring them back to the land, telling them that He would even send “fishermen” to catch them and “hunters” to hunt for them in order to gather them and restore them (vv. 15-16 see reference note Matt. 24:31^1a).