Jeremiah33
King James Version · Public Domain
1Moreover the word of the Lord came unto Jeremiah the second time, while he was yet shut up in the court of the prison, saying,
2Thus saith the Lord the maker thereof, the Lord that formed it, to establish it; the Lord is his name;
3Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
4For thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city, and concerning the houses of the kings of Judah, which are thrown down by the mounts, and by the sword;
5They come to fight with the Chaldeans, but it is to fill them with the dead bodies of men, whom I have slain in mine anger and in my fury, and for all whose wickedness I have hid my face from this city.
6Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth.
7And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first.
8And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me.
9And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and an honour before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it.
10Thus saith the Lord; Again there shall be heard in this place, which ye say shall be desolate without man and without beast, even in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, that are desolate, without man, and without inhabitant, and without beast,
11The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the Lord of hosts: for the Lord is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the Lord.
12Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Again in this place, which is desolate without man and without beast, and in all the cities thereof, shall be an habitation of shepherds causing their flocks to lie down.
13In the cities of the mountains, in the cities of the vale, and in the cities of the south, and in the land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, shall the flocks pass again under the hands of him that telleth them, saith the Lord.
14Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah.
15In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land.
16In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The Lord our righteousness.
17For thus saith the Lord; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel;
18Neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before me to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle meat offerings, and to do sacrifice continually.
19And the word of the Lord came unto Jeremiah, saying,
20Thus saith the Lord; If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season;
21Then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites the priests, my ministers.
22As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me.
23Moreover the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying,
24Considerest thou not what this people have spoken, saying, The two families which the Lord hath chosen, he hath even cast them off? thus they have despised my people, that they should be no more a nation before them.
25Thus saith the Lord; If my covenant be not with day and night, and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth;
26Then will I cast away the seed of Jacob, and David my servant, so that I will not take any of his seed to be rulers over the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: for I will cause their captivity to return, and have mercy on them.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Jeremiah 33.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The restoration of the Jews. (1-13). The Messiah promised; happiness of his times. (14-26).
vv1-13
Those who expect to receive comforts from God, must call upon him. Promises are given, not to do away, but to quicken and encourage prayer. These promises lead us to the gospel of Christ; and in that God has revealed truth to direct us, and peace to make us easy. All who by sanctifying grace are cleansed from the filth of sin, by pardoning mercy are freed from the guilt. When sinners are thus justified, washed, and sanctified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Holy Spirit, they are enabled to walk before God in peace and purity. Many are led to perceive the real difference between the people of God and the world around them, and to fear the Divine wrath. It is promised that the people who were long in sorrow, shall again be filled with joy. Where the Lord gives righteousness and peace, he will give all needful supplies for temporal wants; and all we have will be comforts, as sanctified by the word and by prayer.
vv14-26
To crown the blessings God has in store, here is a promise of the Messiah. He imparts righteousness to his church, for he is made of God to us righteousness; and believers are made the righteousness of God in him. Christ is our Lord God, our righteousness, our sanctification, and our redemption. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. But in this world prosperity and adversity succeed each other, as light and darkness, day and night. The covenant of priesthood shall be secured. And all true believers are a holy priesthood, a royal priesthood, they offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God; themselves, in the first place, as living sacrifices. The promises of that covenant shall have full accomplishment in the gospel Israel. In Gal. 6:16, all that walk according to the gospel rule, are made to be the Israel of God, on whom shall be peace and mercy. Let us not despise the families which were of old the chosen people of God, though for a time they seem to be cast off.
Key Words
דָּבָר: a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
יִרְמְיָה: Jirmejah, the name of eight or nine Israelites
שֵׁנִי: properly, double, i.e. second; also adverbially, again
עָצָר: to inclose; by analogy, to hold back; also to maintain, rule, assemble
חָצֵר: a yard (as inclosed by a fence); also a hamlet (as similarly surrounded with walls)
מַטָּרָא: a jail (as a guard-house); also an aim (as being closely watched)
כֹּה: properly, like this, i.e. by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now
עָשָׂה: to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
יָצַר: to mould into a form; especially as apotter; figuratively, to determine (i.e. form a resolution)
Cross References
Jeremiah 33Direct verbal parallel promising the righteous Branch of David to execute judgment.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Parallel designation of the Messiah/city as "The Lord our righteousness" (Jehovah Tsidkenu).
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Uses identical metaphorical language of bringing health and cure to wounded Zion.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Historical fulfillment where returning exiles sang these exact words of praise in Jerusalem.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Establishes the historical setting: Jeremiah shut up in the court of the prison.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Parallels God forming His purpose from ancient times to execute it.
Supported by JFB
Connects God's promise of restoration with the requirement to call and pray.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Thematic link of calling upon the Lord and receiving His answer.
Supported by JFB
Parallel mention of the siege mounts thrown up against Jerusalem's houses.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Parallels cleansing from iniquity using the imagery of ritual purification.
Supported by JFB
Echoes Israel being created to be a name, praise, and glory to God.
Supported by JFB
Explains the practice of sheep passing under the hand/rod of the shepherd.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallels the apostle's prison experience: though bound, God's word is not.
Supported by JFB
Exalts the pardoning grace of God who passes over transgressions.
Supported by JFB
New Testament application of the covenant promises to the "Israel of God."
Supported by Matthew Henry
Identifies the significance of "the LORD" (Jehovah) as His covenant name.
Supported by JFB