Jeremiah30
New King James Version
1The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying,
2“Thus speaks the Lord God of Israel, saying: ‘Write in a book for yourself all the words that I have spoken to you.
3For behold, the days are coming,’ says the Lord, ‘that I will bring back from captivity My people Israel and Judah,’ says the Lord. ‘And I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.’ ”
4Now these are the words that the Lord spoke concerning Israel and Judah.
5“For thus says the Lord: ‘We have heard a voice of trembling, Of fear, and not of peace.
6Ask now, and see, Whether a man is ever in labor with child? So why do I see every man with his hands on his loins Like a woman in labor, And all faces turned pale?
7Alas! For that day is great, So that none is like it; And it is the time of Jacob’s trouble, But he shall be saved out of it.
8‘For it shall come to pass in that day,’ Says the Lord of hosts, ‘That I will break his yoke from your neck, And will burst your bonds; Foreigners shall no more enslave them.
9But they shall serve the Lord their God, And David their king, Whom I will raise up for them.
10‘Therefore do not fear, O My servant Jacob,’ says the Lord, ‘Nor be dismayed, O Israel; For behold, I will save you from afar, And your seed from the land of their captivity. Jacob shall return, have rest and be quiet, And no one shall make him afraid.
11For I am with you,’ says the Lord, ‘to save you; Though I make a full end of all nations where I have scattered you, Yet I will not make a complete end of you. But I will correct you in justice, And will not let you go altogether unpunished.’
12“For thus says the Lord: ‘Your affliction is incurable, Your wound is severe.
13There is no one to plead your cause, That you may be bound up; You have no healing medicines.
14All your lovers have forgotten you; They do not seek you; For I have wounded you with the wound of an enemy, With the chastisement of a cruel one, For the multitude of your iniquities, Because your sins have increased.
15Why do you cry about your affliction? Your sorrow is incurable. Because of the multitude of your iniquities, Because your sins have increased, I have done these things to you.
16‘Therefore all those who devour you shall be devoured; And all your adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; Those who plunder you shall become plunder, And all who prey upon you I will make a prey.
17For I will restore health to you And heal you of your wounds,’ says the Lord, ‘Because they called you an outcast saying: “This is Zion; No one seeks her.” ’
18“Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will bring back the captivity of Jacob’s tents, And have mercy on his dwelling places; The city shall be built upon its own mound, And the palace shall remain according to its own plan.
19Then out of them shall proceed thanksgiving And the voice of those who make merry; I will multiply them, and they shall not diminish; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small.
20Their children also shall be as before, And their congregation shall be established before Me; And I will punish all who oppress them.
21Their nobles shall be from among them, And their governor shall come from their midst; Then I will cause him to draw near, And he shall approach Me; For who is this who pledged his heart to approach Me?’ says the Lord.
22‘You shall be My people, And I will be your God.’ ”
23Behold, the whirlwind of the Lord Goes forth with fury, A continuing whirlwind; It will fall violently on the head of the wicked.
24The fierce anger of the Lord will not return until He has done it, And until He has performed the intents of His heart. In the latter days you will consider it.
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