Jeremiah30
New International Version
1This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord:
2“This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Write in a book all the words I have spoken to you.
3The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will bring my people Israel and Judah back from captivity and restore them to the land I gave their ancestors to possess,’ says the Lord.”
4These are the words the Lord spoke concerning Israel and Judah:
5“This is what the Lord says: “‘Cries of fear are heard— terror, not peace.
6Ask and see: Can a man bear children? Then why do I see every strong man with his hands on his stomach like a woman in labor, every face turned deathly pale?
7How awful that day will be! No other will be like it. It will be a time of trouble for Jacob, but he will be saved out of it.
8“‘In that day,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘I will break the yoke off their necks and will tear off their bonds; no longer will foreigners enslave them.
9Instead, they will serve the Lord their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them.
10“‘So do not be afraid, Jacob my servant; do not be dismayed, Israel,’ declares the Lord. ‘I will surely save you out of a distant place, your descendants from the land of their exile. Jacob will again have peace and security, and no one will make him afraid.
11I am with you and will save you,’ declares the Lord. ‘Though I completely destroy all the nations among which I scatter you, I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you but only in due measure; I will not let you go entirely unpunished.’
12“This is what the Lord says: “‘Your wound is incurable, your injury beyond healing.
13There is no one to plead your cause, no remedy for your sore, no healing for you.
14All your allies have forgotten you; they care nothing for you. I have struck you as an enemy would and punished you as would the cruel, because your guilt is so great and your sins so many.
15Why do you cry out over your wound, your pain that has no cure? Because of your great guilt and many sins I have done these things to you.
16“‘But all who devour you will be devoured; all your enemies will go into exile. Those who plunder you will be plundered; all who make spoil of you I will despoil.
17But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,’ declares the Lord, ‘because you are called an outcast, Zion for whom no one cares.’
18“This is what the Lord says: “‘I will restore the fortunes of Jacob’s tents and have compassion on his dwellings; the city will be rebuilt on her ruins, and the palace will stand in its proper place.
19From them will come songs of thanksgiving and the sound of rejoicing. I will add to their numbers, and they will not be decreased; I will bring them honor, and they will not be disdained.
20Their children will be as in days of old, and their community will be established before me; I will punish all who oppress them.
21Their leader will be one of their own; their ruler will arise from among them. I will bring him near and he will come close to me— for who is he who will devote himself to be close to me?’ declares the Lord.
22“‘So you will be my people, and I will be your God.’”
23See, the storm of the Lord will burst out in wrath, a driving wind swirling down on the heads of the wicked.
24The fierce anger of the Lord will not turn back until he fully accomplishes the purposes of his heart. In days to come 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