Jeremiah 30

1 The word that came to Yirmeyahu from the LORD, saying,
2 Thus speaks the LORD, the God of Yisra'el, saying, Write you all the words that I have spoken to you in a book.
3 For, behold, the days come, says the LORD, that I will turn again the captivity of my people Yisra'el and Yehudah, says the LORD; and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.
4 These are the words that the LORD spoke concerning Yisra'el and concerning Yehudah.
5 For thus says the LORD: We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of shalom.
6 Ask now, and see whether a man does travail with child: why do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?
7 Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Ya`akov's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.
8 It shall come to pass in that day, says the LORD of Hosts, that I will break his yoke from off your neck, and will burst your bonds; and strangers shall no more make him their bondservant;
9 but they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up to them.
10 Therefore don't you be afraid, O Ya`akov my servant, says the LORD; neither be dismayed, Yisra'el: for, behold, I will save you from afar, and your seed from the land of their captivity; and Ya`akov shall return, and shall be quiet and at ease, and none shall make him afraid.
11 For I am with you, says the LORD, 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.
12 For thus says the LORD, Your hurt is incurable, and your wound grievous.
13 There is none to plead your cause, that you may be bound up: you have no healing medicines.
14 All 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.
15 Why cry you for your hurt? your pain is incurable: for the greatness of your iniquity, because your sins were increased, I have done these things to you.
16 Therefore all those who devour you shall be devoured; and all your adversaries, everyone of them, shall go into captivity; and those who despoil you shall be a spoil, and all who prey on you will I give for a prey.
17 For I will restore health to you, and I will heal you of your wounds, says the LORD; because they have called you an outcast, [saying], It is Tziyon, whom no man seeks after.
18 Thus says the LORD: Behold, I will turn again the captivity of Ya`akov's tents, and have compassion on his dwelling-places; and the city shall be built on its own hill, and the palace shall be inhabited after its own manner.
19 Out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of those who make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small.
20 Their children also shall be as before, and their congregation shall be established before me; and I will punish all who oppress them.
21 Their prince shall be of themselves, and their ruler shall proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach to me: for who is he who has had boldness to approach to me? says the LORD.
22 You shall be my people, and I will be your God.
23 Behold, the tempest of the LORD, [even his] wrath, is gone forth, a sweeping tempest: it shall burst on the head of the wicked.
24 The fierce anger of the LORD shall not return, until he has executed, and until he have performed the intents of his heart: in the latter days you shall understand it.

Jeremiah 30 Commentary

Chapter 30

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)

Verses 1-11 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.

Verses 12-17 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.

Verses 18-24 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?

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 30

This chapter contains a prophecy of the call and conversion of the Jews in the latter day; which being a matter of moment and importance, and that it might continue, and be read hereafter, it is ordered to be written in a book, Jer 30:1,2; the thing itself is expressed by a return from captivity to their own land, Jer 30:3; but previous to this there would be most dreadful times, as never were the like, Jer 30:4-7; yet there would be a deliverance from them, and from the yoke of the oppressor; when the Jews should serve the Lord God, and the true Messiah, Jer 30:8,9; of which deliverance and salvation they are assured in the strongest terms, though all other nations should be made an end of, among whom they were, Jer 30:10,11; and though their ease might seem to be desperate, Jer 30:12-17; nevertheless they should be brought into a very comfortable and happy estate; their city rebuilt; their offspring increased; and religious worship established; and, above all, the Messiah should be made known to them as their King and Priest, and they appear to be the Lord's covenant people, Jer 30:18-22; and the chapter is concluded with threatening utter destruction to the wicked, Jer 30:23,24.

Jeremiah 30 Commentaries

The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.