Jeremiah 32:40

40 And I shall smite to them a covenant everlasting, and I shall not cease to do well to them, and I shall give my dread in the heart of them, hat they go not away from me. (And I shall strike an everlasting covenant with them, and I shall not cease to do good things for them, and I shall put the fear of me in their hearts/and I shall put reverence for me in their hearts, so that they do not go away from me.)

Jeremiah 32:40 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 32:40

And I will make an everlasting covenant with them
Which is made known and manifest at conversion; when the grace of it is applied; the blessings of it bestowed; and the promises of it made good; and therefore said to be made; for otherwise the covenant of grace here spoken of was made from all eternity with Christ, and his people in him; as appears from his being set up as the Mediator so early, and from the blessings and promises of it being of such a date. It is founded on the everlasting love of God, and is according to his eternal purpose; and is no other than an eternal transaction between the Father and the Son concerning the salvation of his elect; and which will last for ever, and never be antiquated, as the covenant under the former dispensation was; and which shows that this respects Gospel times: that I will not turn away from them to do them good;
he may withdraw his gracious presence for a while; but he never turns from his love and affections to his people; nor from his gracious purposes concerning them; nor from his promises to them; nor from his gifts bestowed on them; or so as to utterly leave them and forsake them, or cease to do them good: he has laid up goodness for them; he has bestowed much on them whom he has called by his grace; he has given himself to them as their God and portion; his Son as their Saviour and Redeemer, and all good things with him; his Spirit as their Sanctifier, with his gifts and graces; and he has wrought a good work in them; and he will continue to do them good, by fresh discoveries of his love; by granting his gracious presence; by carrying on his work of grace; by supplying their wants, and making all things work together for their good. The Targum is,

``my Word shall not turn away''
but I will put my fear in their hearts;
which is not naturally in the hearts of then; and, where it is, it is put there by the grace of God, and as a blessing of the covenant; it appears in those who are brought to a true sight of sin, in their humble sense of themselves, and dependence on the Lord; and in a reverent affection for him: and in a true and spiritual worship of him; and which is a security from a final and total apostasy from him, as follows: that they shall not depart from me;
not but that they may and do sin against God; and there may be a partial departure from him in those that truly fear him; but not a wicked, final, and total one: the fear of God influences them to cleave close unto him; and the power of God keeps them from departing from him, from his doctrines, worship, and ordinances, from his people, and a profession of his name.

Jeremiah 32:40 In-Context

38 And they shall be into a people to me, and I shall be into God to them. (And they shall be my people, and I shall be their God.)
39 And I shall give to them one heart, and one soul, that they dread me in all days, and that it be well to them, and to their sons after them. (And I shall give to them one heart, and one soul, so that they fear me forever/so that they revere me forever, and so that it be well with them, and with their children after them.)
40 And I shall smite to them a covenant everlasting, and I shall not cease to do well to them, and I shall give my dread in the heart of them, hat they go not away from me. (And I shall strike an everlasting covenant with them, and I shall not cease to do good things for them, and I shall put the fear of me in their hearts/and I shall put reverence for me in their hearts, so that they do not go away from me.)
41 And I shall be glad on them, when I shall do well to them; and I shall plant them in this land in truth, in all mine heart, and in all my soul. (And I shall be happy over them, when I shall do good things for them; and truly, with all my heart, and with all my soul, I shall plant them in this land.)
42 For the Lord saith these things, As I brought on this people all this great evil, so I shall bring on them all the good (things), which I shall speak to them (that I have promised them).
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.