Jeremiah 30WEB
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Jeremiah30

World English Bible · Public Domain

1The word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying,

2“Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, ‘Write all the words that I have spoken to you in a book.

3For, behold, the days come,’ says Yahweh, ‘that I will reverse the captivity of my people Israel and Judah,’ says Yahweh. ‘I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they will possess it.’”

4These are the words that Yahweh spoke concerning Israel and concerning Judah.

5For Yahweh says: “We have heard a voice of trembling; a voice of fear, and not of peace.

6Ask now, and see whether a man travails with child. Why do I see every man with his hands on his waist, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned pale?

7Alas, for that day is great, so that none is like it! It is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he will be saved out of it.

8It will come to pass in that day, says Yahweh of Armies, that I will break his yoke from off your neck, and will burst your bonds. Strangers will no more make them their bondservants;

9but they will serve Yahweh their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up to them.

10Therefore don’t be afraid, O Jacob my servant, says Yahweh. Don’t be dismayed, Israel. For, behold, I will save you from afar, and save your offspring from the land of their captivity. Jacob will return, and will be quiet and at ease. No one will make him afraid.

11For I am with you, says Yahweh, to save you; for I will make a full end of all the nations where I have scattered you, but I will not make a full end of you; but I will correct you in measure, and will in no way leave you unpunished.”

12For Yahweh says, “Your hurt is incurable. Your wound is grievous.

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 don’t seek you. For I have wounded you with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the greatness of your iniquity, because your sins were increased.

15Why do you cry over your injury? Your pain is incurable. For the greatness of your iniquity, because your sins have increased, I have done these things to you.

16Therefore all those who devour you will be devoured. All your adversaries, everyone of them, will go into captivity. Those who plunder you will be plunder. I will make all who prey on you become prey.

17For I will restore health to you, and I will heal you of your wounds,” says Yahweh, “because they have called you an outcast, saying, ‘It is Zion, whom no man seeks after.’”

18Yahweh says: “Behold, I will reverse the captivity of Jacob’s tents, and have compassion on his dwelling places. The city will be built on its own hill, and the palace will be inhabited in its own place.

19Thanksgiving will proceed out of them with the voice of those who make merry. I will multiply them, and they will not be few; I will also glorify them, and they will not be small.

20Their children also will be as before, and their congregation will be established before me. I will punish all who oppress them.

21Their prince will be one of them, and their ruler will proceed from among them. I will cause him to draw near, and he will approach me; for who is he who has had boldness to approach me?” says Yahweh.

22“You shall be my people, and I will be your God.

23Behold, Yahweh’s storm, his wrath, has gone out, a sweeping storm; it will burst on the head of the wicked.

24The fierce anger of Yahweh will not return until he has accomplished, and until he has performed the intentions of his heart. In the latter days you will understand it.”

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Jeremiah 30.

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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?

Cross References

Jeremiah 30
v9Ezekiel 37:24thematic

Parallels Israel serving the Lord and David their king/shepherd, raised up to rule over them.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB

v9Hosea 3:5thematic

Prophesies that Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God and David their king.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v7Daniel 12:1thematic

The supreme parallel for a unique, unparalleled day of trouble for Jacob out of which they are delivered.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v10Jeremiah 46:27thematic

Verbatim repetition of Jeremiah's assurance: 'Fear not thou, O my servant Jacob... neither be dismayed.'

Supported by Matthew Poole

v11Jeremiah 46:28thematic

Repeats God's promise to correct in measure, making a full end of nations but not of Jacob.

Supported by JFB

v11Amos 9:8thematic

Confirms God will destroy sinful kingdoms, yet not utterly destroy the house of Jacob.

Supported by JFB

v12Jeremiah 30:15thematic

Direct internal connection; the prophet repeats and explains that the incurable wound is due to abundant sins.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

v21Numbers 16:5typology

Establishes the priestly/mediatorial right of approach to God, prefiguring Christ's supreme engagement of heart.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v23Jeremiah 23:19thematic

Verbatim parallel describing the whirlwind of the Lord going forth in fury upon the head of the wicked.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v2Jeremiah 36:2thematic

Highlights the command to write all spoken words in a book/scroll for a permanent record.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v3Jeremiah 23:5thematic

Connects the restoration of Judah and Israel with the raising of the righteous Branch of David.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v3Ezekiel 39:25thematic

Reinforces the mercy shown in bringing back the captivity of the whole house of Israel.

Supported by JFB

v6Jeremiah 4:31allusion

An earlier verbal echo in Jeremiah comparing Zion's anguish to a woman in travail.

Supported by JFB

v8Jeremiah 25:14thematic

Provides the background that many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of them.

Supported by JFB

v12Hosea 5:13thematic

Parallels Ephraim seeing his sickness and wound, yet being unable to find healing or a cure.

Supported by JFB

v24Genesis 49:1thematic

Genesis usage of 'latter days' aligning with Jeremiah's expectation of ultimate consideration of God's plans.

Supported by John Calvin