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Why did Jeremiah not marry?

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Painting by Rembrandt van Rijn showing Jeremiah sitting in a dimly lit cave, head resting on his hand in sorrow, with Jerusalem burning in the background. — Jeremiah *Jeremiah Lamenting the Destruction of Jerusalem*, oil on panel by Rembrandt, 1630: in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

According to the Book of Jeremiah, the prophet Jeremiah did not marry due to the uncertainty of the times in which he lived.1

As a Hebrew prophet who was sensitive and introspective by nature, Jeremiah was often denied participation in the ordinary joys and sorrows experienced by his fellowmen. His life was marked by deep spiritual struggles, periods of despondency, and the heavy burden of his prophetic vocation, which required him to deliver unpopular messages regarding the impending destruction of Judah. Consequently, he lived a solitary life, often reflecting that he "sat alone" with God's hand upon him.21