Jeremiah 33

Restoration Promised

1 Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the second time, while he was still ¹confined in the court of the guard, saying,

2 "Thus says ²the LORD who made the earth, the LORD who formed it to establish it, the ³LORD is His name,

3 '⁴Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you ⁵great and mighty things, ⁶which you do not know.'

4 "For thus says the LORD God of Israel concerning the ⁷houses of this city, and concerning the houses of the kings of Judah which are broken down to make a defense against the ⁸siege ramps and against the sword,

5 'While they are coming to ⁹fight with the Chaldeans and to fill them with the corpses of men whom I have slain in My anger and in My wrath, and I have ¹⁰hidden My face from this city because of all their wickedness:

6 'Behold, I will bring to it ¹¹health and healing, and I will heal them; and I will reveal to them an ¹²abundance of peace and truth.

7 'I will ¹³restore the fortunes of Judah and the fortunes of Israel and will ¹⁴rebuild them as they were at first.

8 'I will ¹⁵cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against Me, and I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned against Me and by which they have transgressed against Me.

9 'It will be to Me a ¹⁶name of joy, praise and glory before ¹⁷all the nations of the earth which will hear of all the ¹⁸good that I do for them, and they will ¹⁹fear and tremble because of all the good and all the peace that I make for it.'

10 "Thus says the LORD, 'Yet again there will be heard in this place, of which you say, "It is a ²⁰waste, without man and without beast," that is, in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem that are ²¹desolate, without man and without inhabitant and without beast,

11 the voice of ²²joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who say, "²³Give thanks to the LORD of hosts, For the LORD is good, For His lovingkindness is everlasting "; and of those who bring a ²⁴thank offering into the house of the LORD. For I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were at first,' says the LORD.

12 "Thus says the LORD of hosts, 'There will again be in this place which is waste, ²⁵without * man or beast, and in all its cities, a habitation of shepherds who rest their ²⁶flocks.

13 'In the ²⁷cities 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 ²⁸pass under the hands of the one who numbers them,' says the LORD.

The Davidic Kingdom

14 'Behold, ²⁹days are coming,' declares the LORD, 'when I will ³⁰fulfill 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 ³¹righteous Branch of David to spring forth; and He shall execute ³²justice and righteousness on the earth.

16 'In those days ³³Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will dwell in safety; and this is the name by which she will be called: the ³⁴LORD is our righteousness.'

17 "For thus says the LORD, 'David shall ³⁵never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel;

18 and the ³⁶Levitical priests shall never lack a man before * Me to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings and to ³⁷prepare sacrifices continually *.' "

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

20 "Thus says the LORD, 'If you can ³⁸break 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 ³⁹My 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 ⁴⁰host of heaven cannot be counted and the ⁴¹sand of the sea cannot be measured, so I will ⁴²multiply the descendants of David My servant and the ⁴³Levites who minister to Me.' "

23 And the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying,

24 "Have you not observed what this people have spoken, saying, 'The ⁴⁴two families which the LORD chose, He has ⁴⁵rejected them'? Thus they ⁴⁶despise My people, no longer are they as a nation in their sight.

25 "Thus says the LORD, 'If My ⁴⁷covenant for day and night stand not, and the fixed patterns of heaven and earth I have ⁴⁸not established,

26 then I would ⁴⁹reject the descendants of Jacob and David My servant, not taking from his descendants ⁵⁰rulers over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But I will ⁵¹restore their fortunes and will have ⁵²mercy on them.' "

Jeremiah 33 Commentary

Chapter 33

The restoration of the Jews. (1-13) The Messiah promised; happiness of his times. (14-26)

Verses 1-13 Those who expect to receive comforts from God, must call upon him. Promises are given, not to do away, but to quicken and encourage prayer. These promises lead us to the gospel of Christ; and in that God has revealed truth to direct us, and peace to make us easy. All who by sanctifying grace are cleansed from the filth of sin, by pardoning mercy are freed from the guilt. When sinners are thus justified, washed, and sanctified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Holy Spirit, they are enabled to walk before God in peace and purity. Many are led to perceive the real difference between the people of God and the world around them, and to fear the Divine wrath. It is promised that the people who were long in sorrow, shall again be filled with joy. Where the Lord gives righteousness and peace, he will give all needful supplies for temporal wants; and all we have will be comforts, as sanctified by the word and by prayer.

Verses 14-26 To crown the blessings God has in store, here is a promise of the Messiah. He imparts righteousness to his church, for he is made of God to us righteousness; and believers are made the righteousness of God in him. Christ is our Lord God, our righteousness, our sanctification, and our redemption. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. But in this world prosperity and adversity succeed each other, as light and darkness, day and night. The covenant of priesthood shall be secured. And all true believers are a holy priesthood, a royal priesthood, they offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God; themselves, in the first place, as living sacrifices. The promises of that covenant shall have full accomplishment in the gospel Israel. In Ga. 6:16 , all that walk according to the gospel rule, are made to be the Israel of God, on whom shall be peace and mercy. Let us not despise the families which were of old the chosen people of God, though for a time they seem to be cast off.

Cross References

• 1. Jeremiah 32:2, 8; Jeremiah 37:21; Jeremiah 38:28
• 2. Jeremiah 51:19
• 3. Exodus 3:15; Exodus 6:3; Exodus 15:3; Jeremiah 10:16
• 4. Psalms 50:15; Psalms 91:15; Isaiah 55:6, 7; Jeremiah 29:12
• 5. Jeremiah 32:17, 27
• 6. Isaiah 48:6
• 7. Isaiah 32:13, 14
• 8. Jeremiah 32:24; Ezekiel 4:2; Ezekiel 21:22; Habakkuk 1:10
• 9. Jeremiah 21:4-7; Jeremiah 32:5
• 10. Isaiah 8:17; Jeremiah 21:10; Micah 3:4
• 11. Jeremiah 17:14; Jeremiah 30:17; Hosea 6:1
• 12. Isaiah 66:12; Galatians 5:22, 23
• 13. Psalms 85:1; Jeremiah 30:18; Jeremiah 32:44; Jeremiah 33:26; Amos 9:14
• 14. Isaiah 1:26; Jeremiah 30:18; Jeremiah 31:4, 38; Amos 9:14, 15
• 15. Psalms 51:2; Isaiah 44:22; Jeremiah 50:20; Ezekiel 36:25, 33; Micah 7:18, 19; Zechariah 13:1; Hebrews 9:11-14
• 16. Is 62:2, 4, 7; Jeremiah 13:11
• 17. Jeremiah 3:17, 19; Jeremiah 4:2; Jeremiah 16:19
• 18. Jeremiah 24:6; Jeremiah 32:42
• 19. Nehemiah 6:16; Psalms 40:3; Isaiah 60:5; Hosea 3:5
• 20. Jeremiah 32:43
• 21. Jeremiah 26:9; Jeremiah 34:22
• 22. Isaiah 35:10; Isaiah 51:3, 11
• 23. 1 Chronicles 16:8, 34; 2 Chronicles 5:13; 2 Chronicles 7:3; Ezra 3:11; Psalms 100:4, 5; Psalms 106:1; Psalms 107:1; Psalms 118:1; Psalms 136:1
• 24. Leviticus 7:12, 13; Psalms 107:22; Psalms 116:17; Jeremiah 17:26; Hebrews 13:15
• 25. Jeremiah 32:43; Jeremiah 36:29; Jeremiah 51:62
• 26. Isaiah 65:10; Jeremiah 31:12; Ezekiel 34:12-15; Zephaniah 2:6, 7
• 27. Jeremiah 17:26; Jeremiah 32:44
• 28. Leviticus 27:32; Luke 15:4
• 29. Jeremiah 23:5
• 30. Isaiah 32:1, 2; Jeremiah 29:10; Jeremiah 32:42; Jeremiah 33:9; Ezekiel 34:23-25; Haggai 2:6-9
• 31. Isaiah 4:2; Isaiah 11:1-5; Jeremiah 23:5, 6; Jeremiah 30:9; Zechariah 3:8; Zechariah 6:12, 13
• 32. Psalms 72:1-5
• 33. Isaiah 45:17, 22; Jeremiah 23:6
• 34. Isaiah 45:24, 25; Jeremiah 23:6; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 3:9
• 35. 2 Samuel 7:16; 1 Kings 2:4; 1 Kings 8:25; 1 Chronicles 17:11-14; Psalms 89:29-37
• 36. Numbers 3:5-10; Deuteronomy 18:1; Deuteronomy 24:8; Joshua 3:3; Ezekiel 44:15
• 37. Ezra 3:5; Hebrews 13:15
• 38. Psalms 89:37; Psalms 104:19-23; Isaiah 54:9, 10; Jeremiah 31:35-37; Jeremiah 33:25
• 39. 2 Samuel 23:5; 2 Chronicles 7:18; 2 Chronicles 21:7
• 40. Genesis 15:5; Jeremiah 31:37
• 41. Genesis 22:17
• 42. Ezekiel 37:24-27
• 43. Isaiah 66:21; Jeremiah 33:18
• 44. Isaiah 7:17; Isaiah 11:13; Jer 3:7, 8, 10, 18; Jeremiah 33:26; Ezekiel 37:22
• 45. Jeremiah 30:17
• 46. Nehemiah 4:2-4; Esth 3:6, 8, 9; Psalms 44:13, 14; Psalms 83:4
• 47. Genesis 8:22; Jeremiah 31:35, 36; Jeremiah 33:20
• 48. Psalms 74:16, 17
• 49. Jeremiah 31:37
• 50. Genesis 49:10
• 51. Jeremiah 33:7
• 52. Isaiah 14:1; Isaiah 54:8; Jeremiah 31:20; Ezekiel 39:25; Hosea 1:7; Hosea 2:23

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "shut up"
• [b]. Lit "it"
• [c]. Or "captivity"
• [d]. I.e. This city
• [e]. Or "captivity"
• [f]. Or "pasture"
• [g]. Lit "There shall not be cut off for David"
• [h]. Lit "there shall not be cut off for the Levitical priests"
• [i]. Lit "all the days"
• [j]. Lit "seed"
• [k]. Lit "to their faces"
• [l]. Lit "statutes"
• [m]. Lit "seed"
• [n]. Lit "from taking"
• [o]. Lit "seed"
• [p]. Lit "seed"
• [q]. Or "captivity"

Chapter Summary

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.