Jeremiah 23:20

KJV

The anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly.

KJV (with Strong's)

The anger {H639} of the LORD {H3068} shall not return {H7725}, until he have executed {H6213}, and till he have performed {H6965} the thoughts {H4209} of his heart {H3820}: in the latter {H319} days {H3117} ye shall consider {H995} it perfectly {H998}.

Complete Jewish Bible

ADONAI's anger will not abate till he fully accomplishes the purpose in his heart. In the acharit-hayamim, you will understand everything.

Berean Standard Bible

The anger of the LORD will not turn back until He has fully accomplished the purposes of His heart. In the days to come you will understand this clearly.

American Standard Version

The anger of Jehovah shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the intents of his heart: in the latter days ye shall understand it perfectly.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 23:20 presents a powerful declaration of the LORD's unwavering resolve and the certainty of His divine judgment. It affirms that God's righteous anger will not subside until He has fully accomplished His deep-seated purposes and intentions. Furthermore, it promises that the profound truth and justice of these divine actions will be perfectly comprehended by humanity in a future, decisive era, often referred to as "the latter days."

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 23:20 is embedded within a scathing indictment against the false prophets of Judah, beginning in [Jeremiah 23:9](/jeremiah/23-9 "Jeremiah 23:9 - The False Prophets"). Jeremiah contrasts the LORD's authentic, powerful word with the deceptive, self-serving messages of these prophets who spoke "visions of their own heart" rather than from God's mouth ([Jeremiah 23:16](/jeremiah/23-16 "Jeremiah 23:16 - False Prophets Speak Their Own Vision")). The preceding verse, [Jeremiah 23:19](/jeremiah/23-19 "Jeremiah 23:19 - The Whirlwind of the LORD"), vividly describes the "whirlwind of the LORD" that "is gone forth in fury," directly setting the stage for the unyielding nature of divine wrath and purpose articulated in verse 20. This verse serves as a stark reminder of the inescapable consequences of sin and the ultimate triumph of God's will over human rebellion and false assurances.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Jeremiah prophesied during a tumultuous period in Judah's history, spanning the reigns of several kings, from Josiah to Zedekiah, leading up to the Babylonian exile. The nation was deeply entrenched in idolatry, social injustice, and spiritual apostasy, despite repeated warnings from God's true prophets. False prophets, however, offered comforting but deceptive messages of peace and prosperity, directly contradicting God's impending judgment. Culturally, the people often sought divine guidance through prophets, making the distinction between true and false prophecy critically important. Jeremiah 23:20 underscores the reality that God's judgment was not arbitrary but a just response to covenant unfaithfulness, and it would be executed with the same certainty as His promises.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Jeremiah and the broader prophetic literature. Firstly, it highlights the **Sovereignty and Unwavering Purpose of God**. Despite human sin and the proliferation of false messages, God's plans are immutable and will be perfectly executed, demonstrating His ultimate control over history and destiny. Secondly, it emphasizes **Divine Judgment and Justice**, portraying God's anger not as an uncontrolled emotion but as a holy, righteous response to sin that will not cease until its purpose is fulfilled. This contrasts sharply with the false peace offered by deceitful prophets. Lastly, the mention of "the latter days" introduces the theme of **Future Revelation and Understanding**, suggesting a time when the full scope, wisdom, and justice of God's actions, including His judgments and His redemptive plan, will be fully revealed and clearly understood by all. This echoes similar prophetic motifs found in passages like [Daniel 2:28](/daniel/2-28 "Daniel 2:28 - God's Revelation in the Latter Days").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **anger (Hebrew, _ʼaph'_):** From H639, properly referring to the nose or nostril, but figuratively denoting ire or wrath, stemming from the rapid breathing associated with intense emotion. In the context of the LORD, it signifies His righteous indignation and fierce displeasure, a holy response to sin and unfaithfulness, not a capricious human emotion.
* **thoughts (Hebrew, _mᵉzimmâh'_):** From H4209, meaning a plan or device. While often used in a negative sense for wicked schemes, here it refers to God's deliberate, settled intentions and purposes. It speaks to the divine counsel and the strategic, unchangeable nature of God's will.
* **consider (Hebrew, _bîyn'_):** From H995, meaning to separate mentally, distinguish, or understand. When paired with "perfectly" (H998, _bîynâh'_), it denotes a deep, discerning, and complete comprehension. It implies that what is currently obscure or difficult to grasp will, in the future, be seen with full clarity and justification.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The anger of the LORD shall not return,"**: This clause declares the unwavering nature of God's righteous indignation. "Shall not return" implies that once set in motion, God's wrath, manifested as judgment, will not be withdrawn or cease its course until its intended purpose is achieved. It underscores the certainty and inevitability of divine consequence for sin.
* **"until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart:"**: This specifies the condition for the cessation of God's anger. It will persist until God has fully "executed" (carried out) and "performed" (brought to completion) His deep-seated intentions and purposes. The "thoughts of his heart" refer to His deliberate, unchangeable will and plans, emphasizing that His actions are not arbitrary but flow from His very being and perfect counsel.
* **"in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly."**: This final clause shifts focus to future understanding. "In the latter days" is a common prophetic idiom referring to a future, often eschatological, period when God's purposes come to a climax. At this time, humanity will "consider it perfectly," meaning they will gain a profound, complete, and discerning understanding of God's actions, His judgments, and the fulfillment of His word, vindicating His wisdom and justice.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 23:20 employs several powerful literary devices. **Anthropomorphism** is evident in the phrases "the anger of the LORD" and "the thoughts of his heart," attributing human emotions and internal processes (anger, thought, heart) to God. This helps human readers grasp divine attributes in relatable terms, emphasizing God's active engagement and personal resolve. The verse also functions as a **Prophecy**, foretelling a future time ("in the latter days") when divine actions will be fully understood, providing both a warning of impending judgment and a promise of ultimate clarity. Furthermore, the declaration that God's anger "shall not return" until His purposes are fulfilled uses **Hyperbole** to underscore the absolute certainty and unstoppable nature of God's will, ensuring that His word is not idle but effective.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 23:20 profoundly speaks to the unyielding nature of God's character and His divine program. It reveals a God who is not only just in His wrath but also utterly faithful to His own intentions, ensuring that His word and will are always brought to full fruition. This verse stands as a testament to God's sovereignty, reminding us that His plans, whether of judgment or redemption, are not subject to human resistance or delay. The promise of perfect understanding in "the latter days" offers a theological anchor, assuring believers that even when God's ways seem inscrutable in the present, His ultimate wisdom and justice will be undeniably clear. This future clarity serves to vindicate God's actions and solidify faith in His perfect governance of history.

* [Isaiah 55:11](/isaiah/55-11 "Isaiah 55:11 - God's Word Accomplishes Its Purpose")
* [Habakkuk 2:3](/habakkuk/2-3 "Habakkuk 2:3 - The Vision Awaits Its Appointed Time")
* [Romans 9:22-23](/romans/9-22 "Romans 9:22-23 - God's Purpose in Wrath and Mercy")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 23:20 calls us to a deeper trust in the unwavering nature of God's character and His ultimate control over all things. In a world often characterized by uncertainty, injustice, and conflicting narratives, this verse reminds us that God's purposes are fixed and will be fully realized. It encourages us to discern truth from falsehood, recognizing that genuine peace and security are found not in avoiding God's judgment but in aligning with His righteous will. The promise of perfect understanding in "the latter days" provides a profound hope, assuring us that every action of God, no matter how difficult to comprehend in the moment, will ultimately be revealed as perfectly just, wise, and good. This perspective fosters patience, resilience, and an enduring faith that God is working all things according to the counsel of His will, leading to His glory and our ultimate good.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the certainty of God's "anger" and "thoughts of his heart" being fully executed impact your understanding of divine justice and mercy?**
* **What does it mean for you to "consider it perfectly" in the "latter days," and how does this future understanding shape your present perspective on difficult circumstances?**
* **In what ways might we, like the false prophets, be tempted to speak "visions of our own heart" rather than truly listening to and proclaiming God's unwavering word?**

### FAQ
**What does "the anger of the LORD shall not return" mean?**

Answer: This phrase signifies the absolute certainty and unyielding nature of God's righteous indignation and judgment. It means that once God's anger is set in motion due to sin and rebellion, it will not be withdrawn or cease its course until His specific, intended purposes for that judgment have been fully accomplished. It emphasizes the divine resolve and the inevitability of His will being carried out.

**What are "the thoughts of his heart" in this context?**

Answer: "The thoughts of his heart" refers to God's deliberate, settled intentions, His divine counsel, and His unchangeable purposes. It's not a fleeting emotion but His deep-seated, well-considered plan for justice, judgment, and ultimately, redemption. This phrase highlights that God's actions are purposeful and flow from His very being, not from caprice or whim. These thoughts are ultimately fulfilled, as seen in passages like [Isaiah 46:10](/isaiah/46-10 "Isaiah 46:10 - God Declares the End from the Beginning").

**What is the significance of "in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly"?**

Answer: "In the latter days" is a common prophetic idiom referring to a future, decisive period, often with eschatological implications, when God's ultimate plans and purposes come to a climax. To "consider it perfectly" means to gain a complete, discerning, and profound understanding of God's actions, His judgments, and the fulfillment of His word. This signifies that what may seem obscure, harsh, or unjust in the present will, in that future time, be revealed as perfectly wise, just, and good, vindicating God's character and sovereignty. This theme of ultimate understanding is also present in [1 Corinthians 13:12](/1_corinthians/13-12 "1 Corinthians 13:12 - Knowing Fully in the Future").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 23:20, with its declaration of God's unwavering purpose and the certainty of His judgment, finds its ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The "anger of the LORD" against sin, which "shall not return until he have executed... the thoughts of his heart," was fully poured out upon Christ on the cross. He became the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), bearing the full weight of divine wrath so that those who believe might be reconciled to God. This act was the ultimate execution and performance of "the thoughts of his heart"—God's eternal plan for salvation, conceived before the foundation of the world ([Ephesians 1:4](/ephesians/1-4 "Ephesians 1:4 - Chosen in Christ Before the Foundation of the World")). Furthermore, the promise that "in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly" points to the full revelation of God's redemptive plan through Christ. At His first coming, Christ inaugurated the "latter days" ([Hebrews 1:2](/hebrews/1-2 "Hebrews 1:2 - God Has Spoken in These Last Days by His Son")), and at His second coming, all of God's purposes, including judgment and the establishment of His eternal kingdom, will be perfectly understood and fully realized. Every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord ([Philippians 2:10-11](/philippians/2-10 "Philippians 2:10-11 - Every Knee Shall Bow to Jesus")), and the perfect wisdom and justice of God's heart will be undeniably clear to all creation.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Jeremiah 30:24

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.

Isaiah 55:11

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper [in the thing] whereto I sent it.

Zechariah 1:6

But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.

Proverbs 21:30

¶ [There is] no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.

Isaiah 14:24

¶ The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, [so] shall it stand:

Genesis 49:1

¶ And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you [that] which shall befall you in the last days.

Zechariah 8:14

For thus saith the LORD of hosts; As I thought to punish you, when your fathers provoked me to wrath, saith the LORD of hosts, and I repented not: