Bible Commentaries
Jeremiah 33

Verse 1

Moreover the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the second time, while he was yet shut up in the court of the prison, saying,

Moreover, the word of the Lord came unto Jeremiah the second time. — To the same purpose with the former, Jeremiah 32:1 which is reckoned his fourteenth sermon, as this his fifteenth; by both we see that "the word of God is not bound," though the preacher may; 2 Timothy 2:9 "It runs and is glorified," is free and not fettered. 2 Thessalonians 3:1

While he was yet shut up. — God forsaketh not his prisoners, but giveth them oft extraordinary comforts. Philip, Landgrave of Hesse, being a long time held prisoner by Charles V for the defence of the gospel, was demanded what upheld him all that time? he answered, Divinas martyrum consolationes se sensisse, that he felt in his soul the divine consolations of martyrs, in whom as the afflictions of Christ do abound, so do comforts by Christ abound much more. 2 Corinthians 1:5

Verse 2

Thus saith the LORD the maker thereof, the LORD that formed it, to establish it; the LORD [is] his name;

Thus saith the Lord the maker thereof. — i.e., Of the promise of restoration. Jeremiah 32:41-44 Or of Jerusalem, which he is said to make in the sense that he "made Moses and Aaron," that is, "advanced" them. 1 Samuel 12:6 , marg.

The Lord is his name. — Jehovah the essentiator, who giveth being to all things, and particularly to his word.

Verse 3

Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

Call unto me, and I will answer thee. — Thou hast a promise, and I will perform it; but so as that thou Jeremiah, and such as thou art, Daniel, Ezekiel, Nehemiah, …, pray over the promise. The angel told Daniel he came for his prayer’s sake. Jeremiah 10:12

And show thee great and mighty things. — Or, Abstruse and reserved things. God’s praying people get to know much of his mind above others; like as John, by weeping, got the book opened; and Daniel, by prayer, had the king’s secret revealed unto him in a night vision. Daniel 2:18-19 Bene orasse, est bene studuisse, said Luther; who, because he had much communion with God by prayer, so holy truths were daily more and more made known unto him, he knew not how nor which way, as himself said.

Verse 4

For thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city, and concerning the houses of the kings of Judah, which are thrown down by the mounts, and by the sword;

Which are thrown down by the mounts. — Or, Catapults, or engines of demolition, used to batter with. See Jeremiah 32:24 .

And by the sword. — Or, Mattocks - scil., After that the enemy had entered the city, and cried, as Psalms 137:3 ,

“ Destruite, ex imis subvertite fundamentis: ”

Down with it, down with it, even to the ground.

Verse 5

They come to fight with the Chaldeans, but [it is] to fill them with the dead bodies of men, whom I have slain in mine anger and in my fury, and for all whose wickedness I have hid my face from this city.

They come to fight with the Chaldeans. — But they fight not in God’s name; for he hath, for all their wickedness, hidden his face from them; therefore they fight with such sorry success; the houses which they would defend are filled with their dead caresses. This whole verse would be hemmed in with a parenthesis.

Verse 6

Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth.

Behold, I will bring it health and cure. — Una eademque manus vulnus opemque feret. This is God’s usual method and manner of dealing with his people, Hosea 6:1 as a skilful physician, primo pungit, deinde ungit.

“ Enecat, ut possit vivificare Deus. ”

And I will reveal Revelabo., i.e., re ipsa exhibebo. unto them abundance of peace and truth. — Why then, feri, Domine, feri; such gold as "peace and truth" cannot be bought too dear. The Chaldee here hath it, Revelabo iis portam poenitentiae, I will reveal unto them the gate of repentance, and show them how they may walk in the way of peace and truth.

Verse 7

And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first.

And I will cause the captivity of Judah. — As Jeremiah 24:5 ; Jeremiah 30:3 ; Jeremiah 32:44 . They shall be as if I had not cast them off, and I will hear them. Zechariah 10:6

Verse 8

And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me.

And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity. — Which must therefore needs be a filthy and loathsome thing, else what need cleansing? Christ, for this cause, came by water and blood.

And I will pardon all their iniquities. — This clause expoundeth the former, and containeth the mother mercy.

Verse 9

And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and an honour before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it.

And it shall be to me a name In nomen laetum, i.e., laeificum. of joy, — i.e., An honour, that I shall take singular delight in.

And they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness. — Which bodes no good to them; for the Church’s welfare is ever joined with the downfall and destruction of her enemies.

Verse 10

Thus saith the LORD; Again there shall be heard in this place, which ye say [shall be] desolate without man and without beast, [even] in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, that are desolate, without man, and without inhabitant, and without beast,

Again there shall be heard in this place. — God loveth to help his people, when they are forsaken of their hopes.

Verse 11

The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD [is] good; for his mercy [endureth] for ever: [and] of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the LORD.

The voice of joy. — See Jeremiah 7:34 ; Jeremiah 16:9 .

The voice of them that shall say, Praise the Lord of hosts, for he is good. — This carmen intercalare the Jews sang joyfully at their return from Babylon, Ezra 3:11 and the saints shall have cause to sing throughout all eternity.

And of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise. — Even "the calves of their lips, giving thanks to his name," Hebrews 13:15 together with other evangelical sacrifices, as contrition; Psalms 51:17 confidence; Psalms 4:4 alms deeds; Hebrews 13:16 the obedience of faith; Romans 15:16 self-denial, Romans 12:1 … The Talmudists say that the sacrifice of praise here mentioned shall continue when all other sacrifices are abolished; and this we see verified in the Christian Church.

Verse 12

Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Again in this place, which is desolate without man and without beast, and in all the cities thereof, shall be an habitation of shepherds causing [their] flocks to lie down.

In all the cities thereof shall be an habitation of shepherds, — i.e., Several sorts of buildings, yea, even sheep cotes and lodges for shepherds and their flocks. All these promises are antitheta, opposite to those menaces, Jeremiah 7:34 ; Jeremiah 16:9 ; cf. Jeremiah 25:10 ; Jeremiah 31:24 .

Verse 13

In the cities of the mountains, in the cities of the vale, and in the cities of the south, and in the land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, shall the flocks pass again under the hands of him that telleth [them], saith the LORD.

Shall the flocks pass again under the hand of him that telleth them. — As shepherds used oft to tell their sheep. Christ the great Shepherd and Bishop of souls knoweth all his sheep, and calleth them by name; he hath them ever in numerato, for he numbereth the stars also. See John 10:3 ; John 10:11-12 .

Verse 14

Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah.

I will perform that good thing. — Praestabo verbum istud optimum, as Tremellius well rendereth it. I will perform that best word or promise, viz., concerning Christ, in whom all the former and future promises are Yea and Amen, to the glory of God. 2 Corinthians 1:20

“ Haec dicenda bono sunt bona verba die. ”

Verse 15

In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land.

I will cause the branch of righteousness. — See the same, Jeremiah 23:5 . The sweet promise concerning Christ can never be too often repeated. The Greek and German versions have that clause here also as there, "And a king shall reign and prosper, or understand."

Verse 16

In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this [is the name] wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness.

And this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The Lord is our righteousness. — Heb., This is that he shall call her, Jehovah our righteousness; called the Church shall be by Christ’s own name, which is a very high honour, as being his spouse, and making up one mystical body with him. Hence she is called "Christ," 1 Corinthians 12:12 and "the fulness of him who filleth all in all." Ephesians 1:23 See Jeremiah 23:6 , with Ezekiel 48:35 .

Verse 17

For thus saith the LORD; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel;

David shall never want a man. — The man Christ Jesus. Luke 1:32-33

Verse 18

Neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before me to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle meat offerings, and to do sacrifice continually.

Neither shall the priest want a man. — The same man Christ Jesus, who is, as a King everlasting, so a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek; and his sacrificing of himself once is more than equivalent to the daily perpetual sacrificing. Whereunto may be added the continuance of an evangelical ministry in the Church to the world’s end. Matthew 28:20 Ephesians 4:11-13

Verse 19

And the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah, saying,

And the word of the Lord, … — Iterum de perpetuitate regni Christi tractat et iurat, saith Oecolampadius. Once more he treateth of the perpetuity of Christ’s kingdom, and assureth it as by oath.

Verse 20

Thus saith the LORD; If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season;

If ye can break my covenant of the day. — God hath hitherto kept promise with nights and days, that one shall succeed the other; and will he not then keep in touch with his people?

Verse 21

[Then] may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites the priests, my ministers.

Then may also my covenant. — See Jeremiah 33:17-18 . The poet hath somewhat like this:

“ Iungantur ante saeva sideribus freta,

Et ignis undae, tartaro tristi polus,

Lux alma tenebris, roscidae nocti dies, ”& c.

- Sen. in Octavia.

Verse 22

As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me.

As the host of heaven. — See Genesis 13:16 ; Genesis 15:5 .

So will I multiply the seed of David. — True believers.

And the Levites. — Godly ministers. See Psalms 68:11 .

Verse 23

Moreover the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying,

Moreover. — Or, Again. Idem repetit; the same thing is repeated, that it may be the better believed.

Verse 24

Considerest thou not what this people have spoken, saying, The two families which the LORD hath chosen, he hath even cast them off? thus they have despised my people, that they should be no more a nation before them.

Consider thou not what this people have spoken. — This unbelieving, misgiving, desponding people of mine.

The two families. — Iudah et Israel habentur pro properipsemate.

Verse 25

Thus saith the LORD; If my covenant [be] not with day and night, [and if] I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth;

If my covenant be not with day and night. — See on Jeremiah 33:20 . If there be not a constant intercourse of either.

Verse 26

Then will I cast away the seed of Jacob, and David my servant, [so] that I will not take [any] of his seed [to be] rulers over the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: for I will cause their captivity to return, and have mercy on them.

Then will I cast away the seed of Jacob. — The body of the faithful, whom he ruleth by his Word and Spirit. Psalms 105:1 ; Psalms 105:6 Romans 9:6 Galatians 3:16-17 ; Galatians 6:16

And will have mercy on them. — This is a complexive promise, and better than money, answereth all things.