Jeremiah 33:14-26

The Lord's Eternal Covenant with David

14 1"Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when 2I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah.
15 In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous 3Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.
16 In those days Judah will be saved, 4and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: 5'The LORD is our righteousness.'
17 "For thus says the LORD: 6David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel,
18 7and the Levitical priests shall never lack a man in my presence to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings, and to make sacrifices forever."
19 The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah:
20 8"Thus says the LORD: 9If you can break my covenant with the day and my covenant with the night, 10so that day and night will not come at their appointed time,
21 11then also my covenant with David my servant may be broken, so that he shall not have a son to reign on his throne, and my covenant with the Levitical priests my ministers.
22 As 12the host of heaven cannot be numbered and 13the sands of the sea cannot be measured, so I will multiply the offspring of David my servant, and the Levitical priests who minister to me."
23 The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah:
24 "Have you not observed that these people are saying, 'The LORD has rejected the two clans that he chose'? Thus they have despised my people so that they are no longer a nation in their sight.
25 Thus says the LORD: 14If I have not established my covenant with day and night and the fixed order of heaven and earth,
26 then I will reject the offspring of Jacob and David my servant and will not choose one of his offspring to rule over the offspring of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 15For I will restore their fortunes and will have mercy on them."

Jeremiah 33:14-26 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.

Cross References 15

  • 1. For ver. 14-16, see Jeremiah 23:5, 6
  • 2. Jeremiah 29:10
  • 3. Jeremiah 23:5; [Isaiah 4:2; Isaiah 11:1]
  • 4. Jeremiah 23:6; Jeremiah 32:37
  • 5. Jeremiah 23:6
  • 6. 2 Samuel 7:16; 1 Kings 2:4; Psalms 89:3, 4
  • 7. [Isaiah 66:21]
  • 8. For ver. 20-26, see Jeremiah 31:36, 37
  • 9. ver. 25; [Isaiah 54:9]
  • 10. Genesis 8:22; Psalms 72:5
  • 11. Psalms 89:34
  • 12. Genesis 22:17
  • 13. Genesis 22:17
  • 14. Psalms 74:16, 17; Psalms 104:19
  • 15. ver. 7, 11; See Jeremiah 30:3
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.