Jeremiah 23:23

[Am] I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off?

Am I a God {H430} at hand {H7138}, saith {H5002} the LORD {H3068}, and not a God {H430} afar off {H7350}?

Am I God only when near," asks ADONAI, "and not when far away?

“Am I only a God nearby,” declares the LORD, “and not a God far away?”

Am I a God at hand, saith Jehovah, and not a God afar off?

Jeremiah 23:23 presents a powerful rhetorical question from the LORD, challenging any notion of His limited presence or awareness. It serves as a foundational declaration of God's omnipresence and intimate knowledge of all things.

Context

This verse is situated within a significant section of Jeremiah's prophecy (Jeremiah 23) where the prophet vehemently condemns the false prophets of Judah. These deceitful leaders were misleading the people with their own dreams and lies, claiming divine authority for their deceptive messages. The LORD, through Jeremiah, exposes their folly by asserting His absolute presence and knowledge, contrasting it with the prophets' belief that their hidden actions or words might escape divine notice. This declaration sets the stage for the following verse, Jeremiah 23:24, which explicitly states, "Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD."

Key Themes

  • God's Omnipresence: The core message is that God is not confined to a specific place or distant realm. He is "at hand" (near, present) and not "afar off" (remote, absent). This emphasizes His immediate and universal presence in all creation.
  • Divine Knowledge and Sovereignty: Because God is everywhere, He is aware of everything. No thought, word, or deed, no matter how secret, escapes His notice. This theme directly counters the false prophets who might have believed their lies were hidden from God.
  • Accountability: The omnipresence of God implies ultimate accountability. If God is always near and knows all, then there is no place to hide from His scrutiny or His righteous judgment.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "at hand" translates the Hebrew word qarob (קָרוֹב), which signifies being "near," "close," or "imminent." Conversely, "afar off" comes from rachowq (רָחוֹק), meaning "distant," "remote," or "far away." The rhetorical question structure ("Am I... and not...?") powerfully underscores the LORD's assertion of His complete and pervasive presence, leaving no room for doubt about His immediate awareness of all events and intentions.

Practical Application

The truth of Jeremiah 23:23 holds profound implications for believers and non-believers alike:

  • Comfort and Assurance: For those who trust in God, this verse offers immense comfort. It assures us that God is always near, listening to our prayers, aware of our struggles, and present in every circumstance. His divine presence is a constant source of strength and guidance, echoing the sentiment found in Psalm 139:7-10 regarding His inescapable presence.
  • Call to Integrity and Discernment: For those who might attempt to deceive or live in secret sin, this verse serves as a stark warning. God sees and knows all, including the hidden motives and intentions of the heart, as highlighted in Jeremiah 17:10. This truth encourages a life of authenticity, integrity, and genuine worship, knowing that nothing is hidden from the all-seeing eye of the LORD. It also empowers believers to exercise spiritual discernment against false teachings, knowing that God will expose what is not from Him.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Psalms 139:1

    ¶ To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known [me].

  • Psalms 139:10

    Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

  • 1 Kings 20:23

    And the servants of the king of Syria said unto him, Their gods [are] gods of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we; but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.

  • 1 Kings 20:28

    And there came a man of God, and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith the LORD, Because the Syrians have said, The LORD [is] God of the hills, but he [is] not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I [am] the LORD.

  • Jonah 1:3

    But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.

  • Jonah 1:4

    ¶ But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.

  • Psalms 113:5

    Who [is] like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high,
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