Jeremiah33
World English Bible · Public Domain
1Moreover Yahweh’s word came to Jeremiah the second time, while he was still locked up in the court of the guard, saying,
2“Yahweh who does it, Yahweh who forms it to establish it—Yahweh is his name, says:
3‘Call to me, and I will answer you, and will show you great and difficult things, which you don’t know.’
4For Yahweh, the God of Israel, says concerning the houses of this city and concerning the houses of the kings of Judah, which are broken down to make a defense against the mounds and against the sword:
5‘While men come to fight with the Chaldeans, and to fill them with the dead bodies of men, whom I have killed in my anger and in my wrath, and for all whose wickedness I have hidden my face from this city,
6behold, I will bring it health and healing, and I will cure them; and I will reveal to them abundance of peace and truth.
7I will restore the fortunes of Judah and Israel, and will build them as at the first.
8I will cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against me. I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned against me and by which they have transgressed against me.
9This city will be to me for a name of joy, for praise, and for glory, before all the nations of the earth, which will hear all the good that I do to them, and will fear and tremble for all the good and for all the peace that I provide to it.’”
10Yahweh says: “Yet again there will be heard in this place, about which you say, ‘It is waste, without man and without animal, even in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, that are desolate, without man and without inhabitant and without animal,’
11the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who say, ‘Give thanks to Yahweh of Armies, for Yahweh is good, for his loving kindness endures forever;’ who bring thanksgiving into Yahweh’s house. For I will cause the captivity of the land to be reversed as at the first,” says Yahweh.
12Yahweh of Armies says: “Yet again there will be in this place, which is waste, without man and without animal, and in all its cities, a habitation of shepherds causing their flocks to lie down.
13In the cities of the hill country, in the cities of the lowland, in the cities of the South, in the land of Benjamin, in the places around Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, the flocks will again pass under the hands of him who counts them,” says Yahweh.
14“Behold, the days come,” says Yahweh, “that I will perform that good word which I have spoken concerning the house of Israel and concerning the house of Judah.
15“In those days and at that time, I will cause a Branch of righteousness to grow up to David. He will execute justice and righteousness in the land.
16In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell safely. This is the name by which she will be called: Yahweh our righteousness.”
17For Yahweh says: “David will never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel.
18The Levitical priests won’t lack a man before me to offer burnt offerings, to burn meal offerings, and to do sacrifice continually.”
19Yahweh’s word came to Jeremiah, saying,
20“Yahweh says: ‘If you can break my covenant of the day and my covenant of the night, so that there will not be day and night in their time,
21then my covenant could also be broken with David my servant, that he won’t have a son to reign on his throne; and with the Levitical priests, my ministers.
22As the army of the sky can’t be counted, and the sand of the sea can’t be measured, so I will multiply the offspring of David my servant and the Levites who minister to me.’”
23Yahweh’s word came to Jeremiah, saying,
24“Don’t consider what this people has spoken, saying, ‘Has Yahweh cast off the two families which he chose?’ Thus they despise my people, that they should be no more a nation before them.”
25Yahweh says: “If my covenant of day and night fails, if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth,
26then I will also cast away the offspring of Jacob, and of David my servant, so that I will not take of his offspring to be rulers over the offspring of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; for I will cause their captivity to be reversed and will 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