Jeremiah 23:20

20 and it will not end until he has done everything he intends to do. In days to come his people will understand this clearly."

Jeremiah 23:20 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 23:20

The anger of the Lord shall not return
Having a commission from him, and being sent forth on an errand to do business for him, it shall not return to him, without having done it; as a servant sent by his master does not return till he has finished what he was sent about: until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his
heart;
all his counsels, purposes, and designs, respecting those his anger kindled against, the false prophets and wicked Jews: in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly;
when too late to avert it by repentance and reformation when all this shall be fulfilled, and the seventy years captivity take place; or, "in the end of days" ^F4; in the latter part off time, when the Jews shall be converted, and seek the Lord their God, ( Hosea 3:5 ) ; then "shall [they] understand it with an understanding" ^F5, as it may be rendered; when they shall have the veil removed from them, and turn to the Lord; then they shall have a true and thorough understanding of these things; of the cause and reason of them; and of the mind of God in them, and the ends to be answered by them. Kimchi says this will be in the times of the Messiah.

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FOOTNOTES:

F4 (Mymyh tyrxab) "in extremo dierum", Cocceius; "in extremitate dierum", Calvin, Piscator, Schmidt.
F5 (hnyb hb wngwbtt) "intelligetis hoc inteliigentia", Calvin, Gataker.

Jeremiah 23:20 In-Context

18 I said, "None of these prophets has ever known the Lord's secret thoughts. None of them has ever heard or understood his message, or ever listened or paid attention to what he said.

19 His anger is a storm, a furious wind that will rage over the heads of the wicked

20 and it will not end until he has done everything he intends to do. In days to come his people will understand this clearly."

21 The Lord said, "I did not send these prophets, but even so they went. I did not give them any message, but still they spoke in my name

22 If they had known my secret thoughts, then they could have proclaimed my message to my people and could have made them give up the evil lives they live and the wicked things they do.