¶ 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.
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}.
"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.
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.
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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Jeremiah 46:27
But fear not thou, O my servant Jacob, and be not dismayed, O Israel: for, behold, I will save thee from afar off, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and be in rest and at ease, and none shall make [him] afraid. -
Jeremiah 46:28
Fear thou not, O Jacob my servant, saith the LORD: for I [am] with thee; for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I have driven thee: but I will not make a full end of thee, but correct thee in measure; yet will I not leave thee wholly unpunished. -
Jeremiah 29:14
And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive. -
Isaiah 43:5
Fear not: for I [am] with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; -
Hosea 2:18
And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and [with] the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely. -
Isaiah 44:2
Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, [which] will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen. -
Isaiah 35:9
No lion shall be there, nor [any] ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk [there]:
Jeremiah 30:10, a cornerstone of what is often called the "Book of Comfort" (Jeremiah chapters 30-33), delivers a profound message of hope and restoration to a people facing immense hardship. It is a divine assurance directly from the LORD to His covenant people, Israel, during a time of looming or actual Babylonian captivity.
Historical and Cultural Context
The prophet Jeremiah ministered in Judah during its final decades leading to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Babylonian exile. His early prophecies were largely focused on warnings of impending judgment due as a result of Israel's idolatry and disobedience. However, chapters 30-33 shift dramatically, offering a vision of future restoration and renewal after the period of punishment. This verse, therefore, serves as a powerful counterpoint to the earlier pronouncements of doom, addressing the fear and dismay of the exiles by promising their return and establishment in safety. The reference to "Jacob" and "Israel" interchangeably emphasizes God's enduring covenant with His chosen nation, despite their present circumstances.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew phrase "fear thou not" (al-tira) is a common expression of divine reassurance throughout the Old Testament, often preceding a significant promise or command. The words translated "rest" (shaqat) and "quiet" (shalah) are rich in meaning, conveying a sense of profound tranquility, security, and freedom from disturbance. They imply a state of settled peace where external threats are removed and internal anxieties are calmed, indicating a holistic well-being for the nation.
Practical Application
Jeremiah 30:10 offers timeless comfort and hope for believers today. When facing personal "captivity" – whether it be fear, anxiety, illness, or difficult circumstances – this verse reminds us that God's promises are steadfast. We are called to "fear not" because the LORD is our deliverer. His ability to save "from afar" means no situation is too distant or difficult for His intervention. It encourages us to trust in God's faithfulness to His word, knowing that He desires to bring us into a place of rest, quiet, and security, ultimately fulfilled in the eternal peace of His presence.