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King James Version
¶ 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.
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KJV (with Strong's)
Therefore fear H3372 thou not, O my servant H5650 Jacob H3290, saith H5002 the LORD H3068; neither be dismayed H2865, O Israel H3478: for, lo, I will save H3467 thee from afar H7350, and thy seed H2233 from the land H776 of their captivity H7628; and Jacob H3290 shall return H7725, and shall be in rest H8252, and be quiet H7599, and none shall make him afraid H2729.
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Complete Jewish Bible
"So don't be afraid, Ya'akov my servant," says ADONAI, "or be alarmed, Isra'el; for I will return you from far away and your offspring from their country of exile. Ya'akov will again be quiet, at rest; and no one will make him afraid.
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Berean Standard Bible
As for you, O Jacob My servant, do not be afraid, declares the LORD, and do not be dismayed, O Israel. For I will surely save you out of a distant place, your descendants from the land of their captivity! Jacob will return to quiet and ease, with no one to make him afraid.
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American Standard Version
Therefore fear thou not, O Jacob my servant, saith Jehovah; 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 quiet and at ease, and none shall make him afraid.
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World English Bible Messianic
Therefore don’t you be afraid, O Jacob my servant, says the LORD; neither be dismayed, Israel: for, behold, I will save you from afar, and your seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be quiet and at ease, and no one shall make him afraid.
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Geneva Bible (1599)
Therefore feare not, O my seruant Iaakob, saith the Lord, neither be afrayde, O Israel: for loe, I will deliuer thee from a farre countrey, and thy seede from the lande of their captiuitie, and Iaakob shall turne againe, and shalbe in rest and prosperitie and none shall make him afraide.
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Young's Literal Translation
And thou, be not afraid, My servant Jacob, An affirmation of Jehovah, Nor be affrighted, O Israel, For, lo, I am saving thee from afar, And thy seed from the land of their captivity, And Jacob hath turned back and rested, And is quiet, and there is none troubling.
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Study This Verse

SUMMARY

Jeremiah 30:10, a pivotal verse within the "Book of Comfort" (Jeremiah 30-33), delivers a profound divine assurance to the exiled people of Israel. It serves as a powerful antidote to their fear and dismay, promising their future salvation from distant lands, a physical return to their homeland, and a lasting state of peace, security, and freedom from oppression. This declaration underscores God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant people, even amidst their judgment and dispersion, offering a vision of complete restoration and divine protection.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: Jeremiah 30:10 stands at the beginning of a section known as the "Book of Comfort" (chapters 30-33), which marks a significant shift in Jeremiah's prophetic message. Prior to this, much of Jeremiah's prophecy focused on pronouncements of judgment against Judah for its idolatry, unfaithfulness, and social injustice, culminating in the impending or actual Babylonian exile. Chapters 30-33, however, pivot from themes of destruction to those of restoration, hope, and the establishment of a new covenant. This verse immediately follows a prophetic declaration of a future "great day" for Jacob, a time of distress from which they will ultimately be saved, setting the stage for the detailed promises of return and renewal that follow. It contrasts sharply with the earlier warnings of desolation, providing a beacon of hope for a people facing utter despair.
  • Historical & Cultural Context: The historical backdrop for Jeremiah 30:10 is the tumultuous late 7th and early 6th centuries BCE, a period marked by the decline of the Assyrian Empire and the rise of Babylon as the dominant regional power. Judah, caught between these empires, faced repeated invasions, culminating in the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BCE and the forced deportation of its inhabitants to Babylon. The people addressed in this verse are either those anticipating this devastating exile or those already enduring its harsh realities. Culturally, the concept of "captivity" (Hebrew: shĕbîy) was a profound national trauma, signifying not only physical displacement but also the loss of land, temple, and national identity—all central to their covenant relationship with Yahweh. The promise of return "from afar" (Hebrew: râchôwq) speaks directly to the geographical reality of their dispersion across the vast Babylonian empire, offering a future that defied all human logic and political possibility.
  • Key Themes: Jeremiah 30:10 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the book of Jeremiah and broader prophetic literature. Firstly, it highlights Divine Faithfulness and Covenant Loyalty, assuring Israel that despite their unfaithfulness and subsequent judgment, God remains true to His promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The interchangeable use of "Jacob" and "Israel" reinforces this enduring covenant identity. Secondly, it emphasizes Sovereign Deliverance and Restoration, portraying God as the active agent who will miraculously bring His people back from exile, not through their own strength but by His mighty hand. This theme is echoed in other prophetic books, such as Isaiah's promises of return from exile in Isaiah 43:5-6. Thirdly, the verse introduces the theme of Lasting Peace and Security, promising a future state where Israel will be "in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make [him] afraid." This vision transcends mere political stability, pointing to a profound, Spirit-wrought tranquility and freedom from all forms of oppression, a concept also seen in Zechariah 3:10.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • fear (Hebrew, yârêʼ', H3372): This primitive root (H3372) signifies not only terror or fright but also a moral reverence or awe. In this context, the command "fear thou not" is a divine imperative to cast off the paralyzing dread and anxiety associated with their current and impending circumstances. It implies a call to trust in God's power and promises rather than succumbing to human fear, which is often a lack of reverence for God's sovereignty.
  • save (Hebrew, yâshaʻ', H3467): This word (H3467) means to be open, wide, or free, and by implication, to be safe. Causatively, it means to free or succor. Here, it denotes God's active intervention to rescue and deliver His people from their dire situation, specifically from "afar" and "the land of their captivity." It speaks to a comprehensive deliverance, encompassing physical, national, and spiritual liberation, bringing them into a state of safety and freedom.
  • rest (Hebrew, shâqaṭ', H8252): This primitive root (H8252) means to repose, usually figuratively. It conveys a sense of appeasement, quietness, and being at ease. In Jeremiah 30:10, it describes the profound tranquility and security that God promises to establish for Jacob upon their return. This "rest" is not merely the absence of conflict but a deep, settled peace and well-being, free from external threats and internal anxieties, a state of secure habitation in their land.

Verse Breakdown

  • "Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the LORD; neither be dismayed, O Israel:": This opening clause functions as a direct divine address and imperative. The "Therefore" links back to the preceding verses, which describe a time of distress but also a promise of deliverance. The commands "fear thou not" and "neither be dismayed" are powerful reassurances, directly confronting the natural human reactions to exile and oppression. The use of both "Jacob" and "Israel" interchangeably emphasizes God's enduring covenant relationship with His chosen people as a whole, regardless of their current fragmented state. The phrase "saith the LORD" authenticates the promise as a direct, authoritative word from Yahweh Himself.
  • "for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity;": This clause provides the foundational reason for the preceding commands to "fear not" and "be not dismayed." The "for, lo" introduces a divine declaration of certainty and emphasis. God explicitly states His intention: "I will save thee." This salvation is comprehensive, extending to "thee" (the present generation) and "thy seed" (future generations), and reaching them even "from afar" (their distant places of exile) and specifically "from the land of their captivity" (Babylon). This highlights God's omnipotence and His ability to act across vast distances to fulfill His promises.
  • "and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make [him] afraid.": This final clause details the blessed outcome of God's saving act. "Jacob shall return" signifies not only a physical repatriation from exile but also a national and spiritual restoration to their land and covenant relationship. The subsequent phrases "shall be in rest, and be quiet" describe a profound state of tranquility and security, implying freedom from external threats and internal anxieties. The ultimate promise, "and none shall make [him] afraid," encapsulates a complete and enduring peace, a reversal of their current state of terror and vulnerability, ensuring a future of undisturbed well-being under divine protection.

Literary Devices

Jeremiah 30:10 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message of hope and assurance. Parallelism is evident in the opening imperatives, "fear thou not, O my servant Jacob... neither be dismayed, O Israel," where "Jacob" and "Israel" function as synonymous parallels for the nation, reinforcing the comprehensive nature of the divine address. Further parallelism is seen in the promised future state: "shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make [him] afraid," where "rest" and "quiet" are closely related concepts, emphasizing profound tranquility and security. The phrase "saith the LORD" is a classic example of a Divine Oracle, a common prophetic device that authenticates the message as a direct, authoritative word from God, lending it ultimate weight and certainty. The entire verse functions as a powerful Antithesis to the preceding chapters of judgment and impending doom, shifting the narrative from despair to hope and demonstrating God's ultimate redemptive purpose for His people.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Jeremiah 30:10 stands as a powerful testament to God's unwavering covenant faithfulness and His ultimate redemptive plan for His people. It reveals a God who, despite His people's rebellion and the necessity of judgment, never abandons His promises. The assurance of return, rest, and security underscores the divine desire for His people's flourishing and well-being, demonstrating that His discipline is always ultimately aimed at restoration. This verse speaks to the enduring nature of God's love and His sovereign power to bring about His purposes, even when human circumstances seem utterly hopeless. It foreshadows a future where God's presence guarantees complete peace and freedom from fear, a vision that extends beyond the immediate return from Babylonian exile to the eschatological hope of God's eternal kingdom.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

Jeremiah 30:10 offers profound comfort and a steadfast anchor for the soul in times of personal and communal distress. Just as God addressed the fear and dismay of His exiled people, He speaks to our anxieties today. This verse reminds us that no matter how distant or overwhelming our "captivity" may feel—whether it's the grip of fear, the burden of anxiety, the weight of difficult circumstances, or the despair of a broken world—God's promise to save and bring us to a place of rest remains true. We are called to "fear not" because our God is sovereign, omnipotent, and faithful. His ability to save "from afar" means His reach extends to every corner of our lives, and no situation is beyond His redemptive power. Trusting in His word allows us to find rest and quiet even amidst the storm, knowing that ultimately, in Him, none can truly make us afraid. This verse encourages us to actively place our hope in God's promises, cultivating a posture of peace and security rooted in His unfailing character.

Questions for Reflection

  • What "captivity" or source of fear in your life does this verse speak to most directly?
  • How does the assurance "I will save thee from afar" challenge your perspective on seemingly impossible situations?
  • In what ways can you actively choose "rest" and "quiet" by trusting God's promises, even when circumstances are unsettling?
  • How does knowing God's enduring faithfulness to "Jacob" and "Israel" encourage your own faith journey?

FAQ

What is the "Book of Comfort" in Jeremiah?

Answer: The "Book of Comfort" refers to Jeremiah chapters 30-33. This section stands in stark contrast to the preceding prophecies of judgment and destruction against Judah. It contains messages of hope, restoration, and the promise of a new covenant, assuring the exiled people of Israel that God will ultimately bring them back to their land, restore their fortunes, and establish a lasting peace, even after the period of their punishment. It's a profound declaration of God's enduring faithfulness to His covenant promises.

How does Jeremiah 30:10 relate to the Babylonian exile?

Answer: Jeremiah 30:10 is directly addressed to the people of Judah who were either facing the imminent threat of, or already experiencing, the Babylonian exile. The phrase "from the land of their captivity" explicitly refers to their forced deportation to Babylon. The verse serves as a divine counter-narrative to their despair, promising a miraculous return from this distant land, a re-establishment in their homeland, and a future free from the terror and displacement they were enduring. It's a promise of national restoration after a period of divine judgment.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

Jeremiah 30:10, with its promise of divine salvation, return, rest, and freedom from fear, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. While initially addressing the physical return of Israel from Babylonian exile, the spiritual dimensions of this promise are fully realized in the New Covenant established through Christ. He is the ultimate "servant Jacob" (Isaiah 49:3), through whom God saves His people not merely from physical captivity, but from the far greater captivity of sin and death (Romans 6:23). Through His atoning sacrifice, Jesus delivers us "from afar"—from spiritual alienation and separation from God—bringing us near to the Father (Ephesians 2:13). He offers a rest that transcends earthly peace, a deep spiritual tranquility for our souls (Matthew 11:28-30), and assures us that in Him, we need not fear, for He has overcome the world (John 16:33). The promise that "none shall make him afraid" is fully realized in the secure and eternal peace found in Christ, who guarantees our ultimate safety in God's presence, where every tear will be wiped away and fear will be no more (Revelation 21:4).

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Commentary on Jeremiah 30 verses 10–17

In these verses, as in those foregoing, the deplorable case of the Jews in captivity is set forth, but many precious promises are given them that in due time they should be relieved and a glorious salvation wrought for them.

I. God himself appeared against them: he scattered them (Jer 30:11); he did all these things unto them, Jer 30:15. All their calamities came from his hands; whoever were the instruments, he was the principal agent. And this made their case very sad that God, even their own God, spoke concerning them, to pull down and to destroy. Now, 1. This was intended by him as a fatherly chastisement, and no other (Jer 30:11): "I will correct thee in measure, or according to judgment, with discretion, no more than thou deservest, nay, no more than thou canst well bear." What God does against his people is in a way of correction, and that correction is always moderated and always proceeds from love: "I will not leave thee altogether unpunished, as thou art ready to think I should, because of thy relation to me." Note, A profession of religion, though ever so plausible, will be far from securing to us impunity in sin. God is no respecter of persons, but will show his hatred of sin wherever he finds it, and that he hates it most in those that are nearest to him. God here corrects his people for the multitude of their iniquity, and because their sins were increased, Jer 30:14, Jer 30:15. Are our sorrows multiplied at any time and do they increase? We must acknowledge that it is because our sins have been multiplied and they have increased. Iniquities grow in us, and therefore troubles grow upon us. But, 2. What God intended as a fatherly chastisement they and others interpreted as an act of hostility; they looked upon him as having wounded them with the wound of an enemy and with the chastisement of a cruel one (Jer 30:14), as if he had designed their ruin, and neither mitigated the correction nor had any mercy in reserve for them. It did indeed seem as if God had dealt thus severely with them, as if he had turned to be their enemy and had fought against them, Isa 63:10. Job complains that God had become cruel to him and multiplied his wounds. When troubles are great and long we have need carefully to watch over our own hearts, that we entertain not such hard thoughts as these of God and his providence. His are the chastisements of a merciful one, not of a cruel one, whatever they may appear.

II. Their friends forsook them, and were shy of them. None of those who had courted them in their prosperity would take notice of them now in their distress, Jer 30:13. It is commonly thus when families go to decay; those hang off from them that had been their hangers-on. In two cases we are glad of the assistance of our friends and need their service: - 1. If we be impeached, accused, or reproached, we expect that our friends should appear in vindication of us, should speak a good word for us when we cannot put on a face to speak for ourselves; but here there is none to plead thy cause, none to stand up in thy defence, none to intercede for thee with thy oppressors; therefore God will plead their cause, for he might well wonder there was none to uphold a people that had been so much the favourites of Heaven, Isa 63:5. 2. If we be sick, or sore, or wounded, we expect our friends should attend us, advise us, sympathize with us, and, if occasion be, lend a hand for the applying of healing medicines; but here there is none to do that, none to bind up thy wounds, and by counsels and comforts to make proper applications to thy case; nay (Jer 30:14), All thy lovers have forgotten thee; out of sight out of mind; instead of seeking thee, they forsake thee. Such as this has often been the case of religion and serious godliness in the world; those that from their education, profession, and hopeful beginnings, one might have expected to be its friends and lovers, its patrons and protectors, desert it, forget it, and have nothing to say in its defence, nor will do any thing towards the healing of its wounds. Observe, Thy lovers have forgotten thee, for I have wounded thee. When God is against a people who will be for them? Who can be for them so as to do them any kindness? See Job 30:11. Now, upon this account, their case seemed desperate and past relief (Jer 30:12): Thy bruise is incurable, thy wound grievous, and (Jer 30:15) thy sorrow is incurable. The condition of the Jews in captivity was such as no human power could redress the grievances of; there they were like a valley full of dead and dry bones, which nothing less than Omnipotence can put life into. Who could imagine that a people so diminished, so impoverished, should ever be restored to their own land and re-established there? So many were the aggravations of their calamity that their sorrow would not admit of any alleviation, but they seemed to be hardened in it, and their souls refused to be comforted, till divine consolations proved strong ones, too strong to be borne down even by the floods of grief that overwhelmed them. Thy sorrow is incurable because thy sins, instead of being repented of and forsaken, were increased. Note, Incurable griefs are owing to incurable lusts. Now in this deplorable condition they are looked upon with disdain (Jer 30:17): They called thee an outcast, abandoned by all, abandoned to ruin; they said, This is Zion, whom no man seeks after. When they looked on the place where the city and temple had been built they called that an outcast; now all was in ruins, there was no resort to it, no residence in it, none asked the way to Zion, as formerly; no man seeks after it. When they looked on the people that formerly dwelt in Zion, but were now in captivity (and we read of Zion dwelling with the daughter of Babylon, Zac 2:7), they called them outcasts; these are those who belong to Zion, and are wont to talk much of it and weep at the remembrance of it, but no man seeks after them, or enquires concerning them. Note, It is often the lot of Zion to be deserted and despised by those about her.

III. For all this God will work deliverance and salvation for them in due time. Though no other hand, nay, because no other hand, can cure their wound, his will, and shall. 1. Though he seemed to stand at a distance from them, yet he assures them of his presence with them, his powerful and gracious presence: I will save thee, Jer 30:10. I am with thee, to save thee, Jer 30:11. When they are in their troubles he is with them, to save them from sinking under them; when the time has come for their deliverance he is with them, to be ready upon the first opportunity, to save them out of their trouble. 2. Though they were at a distance, remote from their own land, afar off in the land of their captivity, yet there shall salvation find them out, thence shall it fetch them, them and their seed, for they also shall be known among the Gentiles, and distinguished from them, that they may return, Jer 30:10. 3. Though they were now full of fears, and continually alarmed, yet the time shall come when they shall be in rest and quiet, safe and easy, and none shall make them afraid, Jer 30:10. 4. Though the nations into which they were dispersed should be brought to ruin, yet they should be preserved from that ruin (Jer 30:11): Though I make a full end of the nations whither I have scattered thee, and there might be danger of thy being lost among them, yet I will not make a full end of thee. It was promised that in the peace of these nations they should have peace (Jer 29:7), and yet in the destruction of these nations they should escape destruction. God's church may sometimes be brought very low, but he will not make a full end of it, Jer 5:10, Jer 5:18. 5. Though God correct them, and justly, for their sins, their manifold transgressions and mighty sins, yet he will return in mercy to them, and even their sin shall not prevent their deliverance when God's time shall come. 6. Though their adversaries were mighty, God will bring them down, and break their power (Jer 30:16): All that devour thee shall be devoured, and thus Zion's cause will be pleaded and will be made to appear to all the world a righteous cause. Thus Zion's deliverance will be brought about by the destruction of her oppressors; and thus her enemies will be recompensed for all the injury they have done her; for there is a God that judges in the earth, a God to whom vengeance belongs. "They shall every one of them, without exception, go into captivity, and the day will come when those that now spoil thee shall be a spoil." Those that lead into captivity shall go into captivity, Rev 13:10. This might serve to oblige the present conquerors to use their captives well, because the wheel would turn round, and the day would come when they also should be captives, and let them do now as they would then be done by. 7. Though the wound seem incurable, God will make a cure of it (Jer 30:17): I will restore health unto thee. Be the disease ever so dangerous, the patient is safe if God undertakes the cure.

IV. Upon the whole matter, they are cautioned against inordinate fear and grief, for in these precious promises there is enough to silence both. 1. They must not tremble as those that have no hope in the apprehension of future further trouble that might threaten them (Jer 30:10): Fear thou not, O my servant Jacob! neither be dismayed. Note, Those that are God's servants must not give way to disquieting fears, whatever difficulties and dangers may be before them. 2. They must not sorrow as those that have no hope for the troubles which at present they lie under, Jer 30:15. "Why criest thou for thy affliction? It is true thy carnal confidences fail thee, creatures are physicians of no value, but I will heal thy wound, and therefore, Why criest thou? Why dost thou fret and complain thus? It is for thy sin (Jer 30:14, Jer 30:15), and therefore, instead of repining, thou shouldest be repenting. Wherefore should a man complain for the punishment of his sins? The issue will be good at last, and therefore rejoice in hope."

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 10–17. Public domain.
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JeromeAD 420
Commentary on Jeremiah
(Verse 10, 11) Therefore do not be afraid, my servant Jacob, says the Lord; and do not be terrified, Israel. For behold, I will save you from a distant land, and your descendants from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return and be at rest, and shall enjoy abundant blessings, and there will be no one to fear: for I am with you, says the Lord, to save you. For I will make a complete destruction among all the nations where I have scattered you. But I will not make a complete end of you; I will discipline (or instruct) you in judgment, so that you may not appear innocent to yourself (or I will cleanse you and not leave you unpunished). This passage is not found in the Septuagint, and in many codices of the Vulgate edition it is added under asterisks from Theodotion. However, the divine word promises, and familiarly calls his servant Jacob, and Israel, just as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are called servants of God (Moses also, and other prophets, and the apostle Paul glories in this title at the beginning of his Epistles); so that the twelve tribes may know that they are to be saved from a distant land, and their captivity will be freed, and peace will be restored, and they will be filled with every abundance, according to what is said in the psalm: Let there be peace within your walls, and abundance within your towers (Psalm 122:7). But this will happen when they enjoy the presence of the Lord, when the opposing nations that had captured them will perish, and they will be freed from the nations. And they will be taught not for punishment, but for instruction, so that they may be judged as if they were their own and not be lost as if they were strangers. For whoever does not believe has already been judged (John 3:18), that is, prejudged for destruction. And what he said: 'So that you may not appear innocent to yourself', according to Symmachus, 'and I will not cleanse you who are already clean', or according to Aquila, 'when I have instructed you through judgment, I will not make you innocent in any way', means that the entire world, even if it is impure, is in need of God's mercy, and no one, however holy, can approach the judge with confidence. This goes against the new heresy from the old belief, which believes that in this age and in this mortal flesh, before it puts on this corruptible state of incorruptibility and this mortal state of immortality, there can be perfection in anyone, and that all together can fulfill the virtues of righteousness.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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