Jeremiah 33:18

18 neither shall there fail to the priests the Levites a man before me to offer up burnt-offerings, and to burn oblations, and to do sacrifice continually.

Jeremiah 33:18 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 33:18

Neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before me,
&c.] The Levitical priesthood has been abolished long ago; that was typical of Christ's priesthood, and is succeeded by it; who is a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek; and who, having offered up himself a sacrifice here on earth for his people, ever appears in heaven, in the presence of God, on their behalf, making intercession for them; and as long as he continues to do so, which will be always, a man shall not be wanting before the Lord: to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle meat offerings, and to do
sacrifice continually;
that is, to present that sacrifice before him, and plead the efficacy and virtue of it with him, which was typified by all those sacrifices, and has superseded them, being much better than they. Some understand this of a continuance of Gospel ministers unto the end of the world, who succeeded the priests and Levites; but as they are never called priests and Levites in the New Testament; nor were they properly the successors of the priests and Levites; rather it may be applied unto all believers now, who are priests unto God, and offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Christ; but the first sense is best.

Jeremiah 33:18 In-Context

16 In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell in safety. And this is the name wherewith she shall be called: Jehovah our Righteousness.
17 For thus saith Jehovah: There shall never fail to David a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel;
18 neither shall there fail to the priests the Levites a man before me to offer up burnt-offerings, and to burn oblations, and to do sacrifice continually.
19 And the word of Jehovah came to Jeremiah, saying,
20 Thus saith Jehovah: If ye can break my covenant [in respect] of the day, and my covenant [in respect] of the night, so that there should not be day and night in their season,

Footnotes 3

  • [a]. Lit. 'be cut off;' as ch. 35.19.
  • [b]. See Notes, Lev. 1.9; 2.2.
  • [c]. Lit. 'all the days.'
The Darby Translation is in the public domain.