CLARITY EDITION · OLD TESTAMENT
Jeremiah 30
Chapter 30 of 52
Chapter Overview
What happens in Jeremiah 30
The Book of Consolation begins here. God tells Jeremiah to write down all his words in a book because the days are coming when God will bring his people back from captivity. Though the time of Jacob's trouble will be severe, God will save them. He will heal their wounds and restore their fortunes.
Scripture
Jeremiah 30
Write These Words in a Book
Study note
God tells Jeremiah to write down all the words he has spoken. The days are coming when God will bring back the captives of Israel and Judah and restore them to the land he gave their ancestors.
1 This is the message the Lord gave to Jeremiah. The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
2 The Lord, the God of Israel, says, "Write down in a book every word I have spoken to you." Thus speaketh the LORD God of Israel, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book.
3 "Because the days are coming," says the Lord, "when I will bring my people Israel and Judah back home from captivity. I will return them to the land I gave their ancestors, and they will take possession of it again." For, lo, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the LORD: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.
The Time of Jacob's Trouble
Study note
God describes a time of great distress unlike anything before. But Jacob will be saved out of it. God will break the yoke from their necks, and they will serve the Lord their God. Though God will destroy the nations where he scattered them, he will not completely destroy Israel. He will discipline them fairly.
4 These are the words the Lord spoke about Israel and Judah. And these are the words that the LORD spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah.
5 The Lord says, "We hear screams of panic and terror, not peace." For thus saith the LORD; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace.
6 "Think about it: Can a man give birth? Then why do I see every strong man doubled over with his hands on his stomach, like a woman having a baby? Why has every face gone white?" Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?
7 "What a terrible day that will be! There has never been one like it. It will be a time of enormous trouble for Jacob's descendants, but they will be rescued out of it." Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.
8 "When that day comes," says the Lord of Armies, "I will snap the yoke off their necks and tear their chains apart. Foreign nations will never again make them slaves." For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him:
9 "Instead, they will serve the Lord their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them." But they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.
10 "So don't be afraid, Jacob my servant," says the Lord. "Don't lose hope, Israel. I will certainly rescue you from that faraway place and bring your children home from the land where they are captives. Jacob will enjoy peace and rest again, and nobody will make him afraid." Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the LORD; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid.
11 "I am with you, and I will save you," says the Lord. "I will completely wipe out all the nations where I scattered you, but I will not completely wipe you out. I will discipline you fairly, but I will not let you off without any correction at all." For I am with thee, saith the LORD, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished.
Healing After Punishment
Study note
God acknowledges that Judah's wounds are incurable and their sin is great. All their allies have forgotten them. But God will restore their health, heal their wounds, and devour their enemies.
12 The Lord says, "Your wound is beyond healing. Your injury is very serious." For thus saith the LORD, Thy bruise is incurable, and thy wound is grievous.
13 "Nobody is stepping up to argue your case. There is no medicine for your wound, no means to make it better." There is none to plead thy cause, that thou mayest be bound up: thou hast no healing medicines.
14 "All the nations you counted as friends have forgotten you. They don't even look for you. I struck you the way an enemy would, with harsh punishment, because your guilt is enormous and your sins are countless." All thy lovers have forgotten thee; they seek thee not; for I have wounded thee with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of thine iniquity; because thy sins were increased.
15 "Why do you cry about your wound, your pain that has no cure? I did this to you because of your tremendous guilt and your many sins." Why criest thou for thine affliction? thy sorrow is incurable for the multitude of thine iniquity: because thy sins were increased, I have done these things unto thee.
16 "But everyone who devours you will be devoured themselves. Every one of your enemies will be hauled away as captives. Those who loot you will be looted. Those who plunder you will be plundered." Therefore all they that devour thee shall be devoured; and all thine adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; and they that spoil thee shall be a spoil, and all that prey upon thee will I give for a prey.
17 "I will give you back your health and heal your wounds," says the Lord, "because people called you an outcast. They said, 'Nobody cares about Zion anymore.'" For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.
The City Will Be Rebuilt
Study note
God promises to rebuild Jerusalem. Thanksgiving and joy will fill the city again. Their leader will come from among them. They will be God's people, and he will be their God. The fierce anger of the Lord will not turn back until he accomplishes his purposes.
18 The Lord says, "I will restore the homes of Jacob's descendants and show compassion on their dwelling places. The city will be rebuilt on its ruins, and the palace will stand where it belongs." Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will bring again the captivity of Jacob's tents, and have mercy on his dwellingplaces; and the city shall be builded upon her own heap, and the palace shall remain after the manner thereof.
19 "Songs of thanksgiving and the sounds of celebration will pour out from them. I will add to their population — they will not shrink. I will give them honor — they will not be looked down on." And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small.
20 "Their children will thrive as they did long ago. Their community will be firmly established in my presence. And I will punish everyone who tries to oppress them." Their children also shall be as aforetime, and their congregation shall be established before me, and I will punish all that oppress them.
21 "Their leader will be one of their own people. Their ruler will come from among them. I will invite him close, and he will approach me — because who else would dare to come near me on their own?" says the Lord. And their nobles shall be of themselves, and their governor shall proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me: for who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me? saith the LORD.
22 "You will be my people, and I will be your God." And ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.
23 Watch out! The Lord's storm will erupt in fury, a pounding storm that crashes down on the heads of the wicked. Behold, the whirlwind of the LORD goeth forth with fury, a continuing whirlwind: it shall fall with pain upon the head of the wicked.
24 The Lord's fierce anger will not let up until he has completely finished what he planned. When that time comes, you will understand this clearly. The fierce anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have done it, and until he have performed the intents of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it.
Key Themes
Themes in Jeremiah 30
The book of consolation beginsRestoration after judgmentHealing incurable woundsThe time of jacob's troubleGod's fierce love for His people
Apply This Today
Living Jeremiah 30
Even when our situation seems beyond repair and our wounds appear incurable, God promises restoration. The same God who disciplines is the God who heals. Writing down God's promises, as Jeremiah was told to do, helps us hold onto hope during the darkest chapters of our lives.
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