Jeremiah 23:20

20 1The anger of the LORD will not turn back until he has executed and 2accomplished the intents of his heart. 3In the latter days you will understand it 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.


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 For who among them has stood in the council of the LORD to see and to hear his word, or who has paid attention to his word and listened?
19 Behold, the storm of the LORD! Wrath has gone forth, a whirling tempest; it will burst upon the head of the wicked.
20 The anger of the LORD will not turn back until he has executed and accomplished the intents of his heart. In the latter days you will understand it clearly.
21 "I did not send the prophets, yet they ran; I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied.
22 But if they had stood in my council, then they would have proclaimed my words to my people, and they would have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their deeds.

Cross References 3

  • 1. Jeremiah 30:24; [Isaiah 55:11]
  • 2. Jeremiah 30:24; [Isaiah 55:11]
  • 3. Jeremiah 30:24
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.