Jeremiah30
New American Standard
1The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying,
2“This is what the Lord, the God of Israel says: ‘Write all the words which I have spoken to you in a book.
3For behold, days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will restore the fortunes of My people Israel and Judah.’ The Lord says, ‘I will also bring them back to the land that I gave to their forefathers, and they shall take possession of it.’”
4Now these are the words which the Lord spoke concerning Israel and Judah:
5“For this is what the Lord says: ‘I have heard a sound of terror, Of fear, and there is no peace.
6Ask now, and see If a male can give birth. Why do I see every man With his hands on his waist, as a woman in childbirth? And why have all faces turned pale?
7Woe, for that day is great, There is none like it; And it is the time of Jacob’s distress, Yet he will be saved from it.
8‘It shall come about on that day,’ declares the Lord of armies, ‘that I will break his yoke from their necks and will tear to pieces their restraints; and strangers will no longer make them their slaves.
9But they shall serve the Lord their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them.
10And do not fear, Jacob My servant,’ declares the Lord, ‘And do not be dismayed, Israel; For behold, I am going to save you from far away, And your descendants from the land of their captivity. And Jacob will return and be at peace, without anxiety, And no one will make him afraid.
11For I am with you,’ declares the Lord, ‘to save you; For I will completely destroy all the nations where I have scattered you, Only I will not destroy you completely. But I will discipline you fairly And will by no means leave you unpunished.’
12“For this is what the Lord says: ‘Your broken limb is irreparable, And your wound is incurable.
13There is no one to plead your cause; No healing for your sore, No recovery for you.
14All your lovers have forgotten you, They do not seek you; For I have wounded you with the wound of an enemy, With the punishment of a cruel one, Because your wrongdoing is great, And your sins are numerous.
15Why do you cry out over your injury? Your pain is incurable. Because your wrongdoing is great And your sins are numerous, I have done these things to you.
16Therefore all who devour you will be devoured; And all your adversaries, every one of them, will go into captivity; And those who plunder you will become plunder, And all who plunder you I will turn into plunder.
17For I will restore you to health And I will heal you of your wounds,’ declares the Lord, ‘Because they have called you an outcast, saying: “It is Zion; no one cares for her.”’
18“This is what the Lord says: ‘Behold, I will restore the fortunes of the tents of Jacob And have compassion on his dwellings; And the city will be rebuilt on its ruins, And the palace will stand on its rightful place.
19From them will come a song of thanksgiving And the voices of those who celebrate; And I will multiply them and they will not decrease; I will honor them and they will not be insignificant.
20Their children also will be as before, And their congregation will be established before Me; And I will punish all their oppressors.
21Their leader shall be one of them, And their ruler will come out from their midst; And I will bring him near and he shall approach Me; For who would dare to risk his life to approach Me?’ declares the Lord.
22‘You shall be My people, And I will be your God.’”
23Behold, the tempest of the Lord! Wrath has gone forth, A sweeping tempest; It will whirl upon the head of the wicked.
24The fierce anger of the Lord will not turn back Until He has performed and accomplished The intent of His heart. In the latter days you will understand this.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Jeremiah 30.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Troubles which shall be before the restoration of Israel. (1-11). Encouragement to trust Divine promises. (12-17). The blessings under Christ, and the wrath on the wicked. (18-24).
vv1-11
Jeremiah is to write what God had spoken to him. The very words are such as the Holy Ghost teaches. These are the words God ordered to be written; and promises written by his order, are truly his word. He must write a description of the trouble the people were now in, and were likely to be in. A happy end should be put to these calamities. Though the afflictions of the church may last long, they shall not last always. The Jews shall be restored again. They shall obey, or hearken to the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of David, their King. The deliverance of the Jews from Babylon, is pointed out in the prophecy, but the restoration and happy state of Israel and Judah, when converted to Christ their King, are foretold; also the miseries of the nations before the coming of Christ. All men must honour the Son as they honour the Father, and come into the service and worship of God by him. Our gracious Lord pardons the sins of the believer, and breaks off the yoke of sin and Satan, that he may serve God without fear, in righteousness and true holiness before him all the remainder of his days, as the redeemed subject of Christ our King.
vv12-17
When God is against a people, who will be for them? Who can be for them, so as to do them any kindness? Incurable griefs are owing to incurable lusts. Yet, though the captives suffered justly, and could not help themselves, the Lord intended to appear for them, and to punish their oppressors; and he will still do so. But every effort to heal ourselves must prove fruitless, so long as we neglect the heavenly Advocate and sanctifying Spirit. The dealings of His grace with every true convert, and every returning backslider, are the same in effect as his proceedings to the Jews.
vv18-24
We have here further intimations of the favour of God for them after the days of their calamity have expired. The proper work and office of Christ, as Mediator, is to draw near unto God, for us, as the High Priest of our profession. His own undertaking, in compliance with his Father's will, and in compassion to fallen man, engaged him. Jesus Christ was, in all this, truly wonderful. They shall be taken again into covenant with the Lord, according to the covenant made with their fathers. "I will be your God:" it is his good-will to us, which is the summary of that part of the covenant. The wrath of God against the wicked is very terrible, like a whirlwind. The purposes of his wrath, as well as the purposes of his love, will all be fulfilled. God will comfort all that turn to him; but those who approach him must have their hearts engaged to do it with reverence, devotion, and faith. How will they escape who neglect so great salvation?
Key Words
דָּבָר: a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
אֲשֶׁר: who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
יִרְמְיָה: Jirmejah, the name of eight or nine Israelites
מִן: properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
כֹּה: properly, like this, i.e. by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now
אֱלֹהִים: gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative
יִשְׂרָאֵל: Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
כָּתַב: to grave, by implication, to write (describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe)
סֵפֶר: properly, writing (the art or a document); by implication, a book
Cross References
Jeremiah 30Parallels Israel serving the Lord and David their king/shepherd, raised up to rule over them.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Prophesies that Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God and David their king.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
The supreme parallel for a unique, unparalleled day of trouble for Jacob out of which they are delivered.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Verbatim repetition of Jeremiah's assurance: 'Fear not thou, O my servant Jacob... neither be dismayed.'
Supported by Matthew Poole
Repeats God's promise to correct in measure, making a full end of nations but not of Jacob.
Supported by JFB
Confirms God will destroy sinful kingdoms, yet not utterly destroy the house of Jacob.
Supported by JFB
Direct internal connection; the prophet repeats and explains that the incurable wound is due to abundant sins.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Establishes the priestly/mediatorial right of approach to God, prefiguring Christ's supreme engagement of heart.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Verbatim parallel describing the whirlwind of the Lord going forth in fury upon the head of the wicked.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Highlights the command to write all spoken words in a book/scroll for a permanent record.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Connects the restoration of Judah and Israel with the raising of the righteous Branch of David.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Reinforces the mercy shown in bringing back the captivity of the whole house of Israel.
Supported by JFB
An earlier verbal echo in Jeremiah comparing Zion's anguish to a woman in travail.
Supported by JFB
Provides the background that many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of them.
Supported by JFB
Parallels Ephraim seeing his sickness and wound, yet being unable to find healing or a cure.
Supported by JFB
Genesis usage of 'latter days' aligning with Jeremiah's expectation of ultimate consideration of God's plans.
Supported by John Calvin