Jeremiah 33:12-22

12 "Thus says the LORD of hosts, 'There will again be in this place which is waste, ¹without * man or beast, and in all its cities, a habitation of shepherds who rest their ²flocks.

13 'In the ³cities of the hill country, in the cities of the lowland, in the cities of the Negev, in the land of Benjamin, in the environs of Jerusalem and in the cities of Judah, the flocks will again ⁴pass under the hands of the one who numbers them,' says the LORD.

The Davidic Kingdom

14 'Behold, ⁵days are coming,' declares the LORD, 'when I will ⁶fulfill the good word which I have spoken concerning the house of Israel and the house of Judah.

15 'In those days and at that time I will cause a ⁷righteous Branch of David to spring forth; and He shall execute ⁸justice and righteousness on the earth.

16 'In those days ⁹Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will dwell in safety; and this is the name by which she will be called: the ¹⁰LORD is our righteousness.'

17 "For thus says the LORD, 'David shall ¹¹never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel;

18 and the ¹²Levitical priests shall never lack a man before * Me to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings and to ¹³prepare sacrifices continually *.' "

19 The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying,

20 "Thus says the LORD, 'If you can ¹⁴break My covenant for the day and My covenant for the night, so that day and night will not be at their appointed time,

21 then ¹⁵My covenant may also be broken with David My servant so that he will not have a son to reign on his throne, and with the Levitical priests, My ministers.

22 'As the ¹⁶host of heaven cannot be counted and the ¹⁷sand of the sea cannot be measured, so I will ¹⁸multiply the descendants of David My servant and the ¹⁹Levites who minister to Me.' "

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Jeremiah 33:12-22 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 33

This chapter is a continuation of prophecies of spiritual blessings on the church of Christ in Gospel times, of which the return of the Jews from captivity, and the benefits following on that, were types. The place where Jeremiah had this prophecy communicated to him, the prison, Jer 33:1; the author of it, Jehovah, who describes himself, Jer 33:2; encourages the prophet to pray unto him, promising an answer, and a discovery of great and hidden things, Jer 33:3; not so much concerning the destruction of the city, and the rebuilding it, Jer 33:4,5; as spiritual blessings to the church, signified by it; such as a healthful state and condition through Christ, the sun of righteousness, arising with healing in his wings, and a revelation of abundance of peace and truth by him, Jer 33:6; a release of captives, and a rebuilding of the church, Jer 33:7; free and full forgiveness of all sins, Jer 33:8; the church a praise in the whole earth; much joy in it, and glory to God by it, Jer 33:9-11; spiritual pastors or shepherds feeding their flocks, and taking very diligent care of them, Jer 33:12,13; a promise of the Messiah as a righteous Branch; as the Saviour and safeguard of his people; and as the Lord their righteousness, Jer 33:14-16; an assurance of the continuance of the kingly and priestly offices in him, whereby the covenant of God with David and the Levites would be for ever secured, Jer 33:17-22; and the chapter is concluded with a promise of the perseverance of the saints and people of God; which is represented as certain as the covenant with day and night, and as the ordinances of heaven and earth, in opposition to a suggestion to the contrary, Jer 33:23-26.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 19

1. Jeremiah 32:43; Jeremiah 36:29; Jeremiah 51:62
2. Isaiah 65:10; Jeremiah 31:12; Ezekiel 34:12-15; Zephaniah 2:6, 7
3. Jeremiah 17:26; Jeremiah 32:44
4. Leviticus 27:32; Luke 15:4
5. Jeremiah 23:5
6. Isaiah 32:1, 2; Jeremiah 29:10; Jeremiah 32:42; Jeremiah 33:9; Ezekiel 34:23-25; Haggai 2:6-9
7. Isaiah 4:2; Isaiah 11:1-5; Jeremiah 23:5, 6; Jeremiah 30:9; Zechariah 3:8; Zechariah 6:12, 13
8. Psalms 72:1-5
9. Isaiah 45:17, 22; Jeremiah 23:6
10. Isaiah 45:24, 25; Jeremiah 23:6; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 3:9
11. 2 Samuel 7:16; 1 Kings 2:4; 1 Kings 8:25; 1 Chronicles 17:11-14; Psalms 89:29-37
12. Numbers 3:5-10; Deuteronomy 18:1; Deuteronomy 24:8; Joshua 3:3; Ezekiel 44:15
13. Ezra 3:5; Hebrews 13:15
14. Psalms 89:37; Psalms 104:19-23; Isaiah 54:9, 10; Jeremiah 31:35-37; Jeremiah 33:25
15. 2 Samuel 23:5; 2 Chronicles 7:18; 2 Chronicles 21:7
16. Genesis 15:5; Jeremiah 31:37
17. Genesis 22:17
18. Ezekiel 37:24-27
19. Isaiah 66:21; Jeremiah 33:18

Footnotes 5

[a]. Or "pasture"
[b]. Lit "There shall not be cut off for David"
[c]. Lit "there shall not be cut off for the Levitical priests"
[d]. Lit "all the days"
[e]. Lit "seed"