Jeremiah 30

God promises to bring Israel back from exile

The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,

30:1 The four chapters 30–33 form a unit. In them God gives repeated promises that He will restore both Israel and Judah to the land of Canaan. In contrast to many other parts of Jeremiah’s writing this whole section abounds with words of comfort and hope for the future.⚜

2 “Thus speaks the LORD God of Israel, saying, Write all the words that I have spoken to you in a book.

30:2 We now have the privilege of studying the things Jeremiah wrote down nearly 2,600 years ago. This “book” was in the form of a scroll. See Jer 36:2.⚜

3 For, see, the days are coming, says the LORD, that I will bring back my people Israel and Judah from captivity, says the LORD, and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they will possess it”.

4 And these are the words that the LORD spoke concerning Israel and concerning Judah.

30:3-4 Jer 16:14-15; 23:3-8; 24:4-7; 29:14. Israel means the northern kingdom taken into captivity by Assyria in 721 BC; Judah means the southern kingdom destroyed finally in 586 BC. What follows concerns people from both kingdoms.⚜

5 “For thus says the LORD:

We have heard a voice of trembling,

of fear, and not of peace.

6 Ask now and see whether a man

ever bears a child?

Why do I see every man with his hands

on his loins, like a woman in labour,

and all faces turned pale?

7 Alas! For that day is great,

so that none is like it.

So it is the time of Jacob’s trouble,

but he will be saved out of it.

30:7 The time (the meaning of “day” here) referred to in verses 5 and 6 will be so terrible that there will never be one like it again. The Lord Jesus also spoke of a time of trouble unequaled in the whole history of the world (Matt 24:21). Since there cannot be two distinct times both of which are unequaled, it is reasonable to think that both Jeremiah and the Lord Jesus refer to the same period of time. The Scriptures sometimes speak of a time of terrible trouble at the end of this age followed by the outpouring of God’s wrath. Notes on the great tribulation at Matt 24:21, 29; Rev 6:9-17; 7:14. Notes on the Day of the LORD at Joel 1:15.

Though that future time will mean great trouble for Jacob (the Jewish people), this does not mean that others also will not experience this trouble. Rev 7:9; 16; 19:11-21 and other Scriptures reveal that both the great tribulation and the Day of the Lord will affect every nation. As for the people of Israel they will not be completely destroyed in that future time but “will be saved out of it”.⚜

8 “For it will happen in that day,

says the LORD of hosts, that

I will break his yoke off your neck,

and will tear off your bonds, and foreigners

will no longer make him their servant.

30:8 A prophecy of permanent freedom for the people of Israel. Notice the words “foreigners will no longer make him their servant”. This certainly was not true of the Jews through the centuries following their return from Babylon. At times during those centuries they endured some of the very worst treatment in their long history. So the words still await the future for their complete fulfilment.⚜

9 But they will serve the LORD their God,

and David their king, whom I will raise up

for them.

10 “Therefore do not be afraid,

O Jacob, my servant, says the LORD,

nor be dismayed, O Israel.

For, see, I will save you from afar,

and your offspring from the land

of their captivity;

and Jacob will return, and will be at rest,

and be quiet, and no one

will make him afraid.

30:10 Jer 46:27-28. The promise of “rest” and “quiet”, and the words “no one will make him afraid” were not completely fulfilled after the return from Babylon. There were almost constant troubles from that time till the Romans destroyed Jerusalem in AD 70 and scattered the Jews, and since then there has been trouble wherever they have gone.⚜

11 For I am with you,

says the LORD, to save you.

Though I make a full end of all nations

where I have scattered you,

yet I will not make a full end of you;

but I will correct you in measure,

and will not leave you altogether

unpunished.

30:11 God will destroy wicked peoples, He disciplines His own people (Prov 3:11-12; Heb 12:5-6).⚜

30:5-11 From some expressions in this section we may judge that the return of the exiles of Judah from Babylon in 537-538 BC was only a partial fulfilment of Jeremiah’s prophecies (if even that).⚜

12 For thus says the LORD:

Your injury is incurable,

and your wound is grievous.

13 There is no one

to plead your case,

so that you may be bandaged.

You have no healing medicines.

30:12-13 Jer 8:22; 10:19; Isa 1:5-9; Hos 5:13. There was no human remedy for their wounds.⚜

14 All your lovers have forgotten you.

They are not looking for you.

For I have wounded you with the wound

of an enemy, with the discipline

of a cruel one, for your many evil deeds,

because your sins had increased.

15 Why do you cry for yourself

in your affliction?

Your sorrow is incurable.

Because of your many iniquities,

because your sins had increased,

I did these things to you.

30:12-15 The Lord describes the wounds He has had to inflict on His people.⚜

16 Therefore all those who devour

you will be devoured;

and all your adversaries, every one of them,

will go into captivity; and those who plunder

you will be a plunder;

and all who prey on you I will give as a prey.

17 For I will restore health to you,

and I will heal you of your wounds,

says the LORD, because they called you

an outcast,

saying, ‘This is Zion,

whom no one seeks.’

30:17 God can heal the wounds that are beyond the help of man (v 12). And He will heal Israel because of the scorn of other nations.⚜

18 “Thus says the LORD:

See, I will bring back Jacob’s tents

from captivity,

and have mercy on his dwelling places;

and the city will be built on its own ruins,

and the palace will stand in its proper place.

19 And out of them will issue thanksgiving

and the voice of those who make merry.

And I will increase their number,

and they will not be few.

I will also glorify them, and they will not

be insignificant.

20 Their children also will be as before,

and their congregation will be

established before me,

and I will punish all who oppress them.

21 And their nobles will be from among them,

and their governor will come

from among them;

and I will cause him to draw near,

and he will approach me.

For who else would venture

to approach me? says the LORD.

22 And you will be my people,

and I will be your God”.

23 See, the whirlwind of the LORD

goes out with fury, a sweeping whirlwind.

It will fall violently on the head

of the wicked.

24 The fierce anger of the LORD will not

go back until he has done it,

and until he has carried out the purposes

of his heart.

In the latter days you will understand it.

30:23-24 Jer 23:19-20. God doesn’t say when Israel will understand what He has done, only that they will understand eventually. But other references in the Bible make it clear that men can understand God’s words, actions, and ways only when their spiritual eyes are opened and they are taught by the Holy Spirit (see notes at Eph 1:17-18).⚜