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Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Jeremiah 30:18–24. His three-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
We have here further intimations of the favour God had in reserve for them after the days of their calamity were over. It is promised,
I.That the city and temple should be rebuilt, Jer 30:18.
Jacob's tents, and his dwelling places, felt the effects of the captivity, for they lay in ruins when the inhabitants were carried away captives; but, when they have returned, the habitations shall be repaired, and raised up out of their ruins, and therein God will have mercy upon their dwelling places, that had been monuments of his justice. Then the city of Jerusalem shall be built upon her own heap, her own hill, though now it be no better than a ruinous heap. The situation was unexceptionable, and therefore it shall be rebuilt upon the same spot of ground. He that can make of a city a heap (Isa 25:2) can when he pleases make of a heap a city again. The palace (the temple, God's palace) shall remain after the manner thereof; it shall be built after the old model; and the service of God shall be constantly kept up there and attended as formerly.
II.That the sacred feasts should again be solemnized (Jer 30:19):
Out of the city, and the temple, and all the dwelling-places of Jacob, shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of those that make merry. They shall go with expressions of joy to the temple service, and with the like shall return from it. Observe, The voice of thanksgiving is the same with the voice of those that make merry; for whatever is the matter of our joy should be the matter of our praise. Is any merry? Let him sing psalms. What makes us cheerful should make us thankful. Serve the Lord with gladness.
III.That the people should be multiplied, and increased, and made considerable:
They shall not be few, they shall not be small, but shall become numerous and illustrious, and make a figure among the nations; for I will multiply them and I will glorify them. It is for the honour of the church to have many added to it that shall be saved. This would make them be of some weight among their neighbours. Let a people be ever so much diminished and despised, God can multiply and glorify them. They shall be restored to their former honour: Their children shall be as aforetime, playing in the streets (Zac 8:5); they shall inherit their parents' estates and honours as formerly; and their congregation shall, both in civil and sacred things, be established before me. There shall be a constant succession of faithful magistrates in the congregation of the elders, to establish that, and of faithful worshippers in the congregation of the saints. As one generation passes away another shall be raised up, and so the congregation shall be established before God.
IV.That they shall be blessed with a good government (Jer 30:21):
Their nobles and judges shall be of themselves, of their own nation, and they shall no longer be ruled by strangers and enemies; their governor shall proceed from the midst of them, shall be one that has been a sharer with them in the afflictions of their captive state; and this has reference to Christ our governor, David our King (Jer 30:9); he is of ourselves, in all things made like unto his brethren. And I will cause him to draw near; this may be understood either,
1.Of the people, Jacob and Israel: "I will cause them to draw near to me in the temple service, as formerly, to come in to covenant with me, as my people (Jer 30:22), to approach to me in communion; for who hath engaged his heart, made a covenant with it, and brought it into bonds, to approach unto me?" How few are there that do so! None can do it but by the special grace of God causing them to draw near. Note, Whenever we approach to God in any holy ordinance we must engage our hearts to do it; the heart must be prepared for the duty, employed in it, and kept closely to it. The heart is the main thing that God looks at and requires; but it is deceitful, and will start aside of a great deal of care and pains be not taken to engage it, to bind this sacrifice with cords. Or,
2.It may be understood of the governor; for it is a single person that is spoken of: Their governor shall be duly called to his office, shall draw near to God to consult him upon all occasions. God will cause him to approach to him, for, otherwise, who would engage to take care of so weak a people, and let this ruin come under their hand? But when God has work to do, though attended with many discouragements, he will raise up instruments to do it. But it looks further, to Christ, to him as Mediator. Note,
(1.)The proper work and office of Christ, as Mediator, is to draw near and approach unto God, not for himself only, but for us, and in our name and stead, as the high priest of our profession. The priests are said to draw nigh to God, Lev 10:3; Lev 21:17. Moses drew near, Exo 20:21.
(2.)God the Father did cause Jesus Christ thus to draw near and approach to him as Mediator. He commanded and appointed him to do it; he sanctified and sealed him, anointed him for this purpose, accepted him, and declared himself well pleased in him.
(3.)Jesus Christ, being caused by the Father to approach unto him as Mediator, did engage his heart to do it, that is, he bound and obliged himself to it, undertook for his heart (so some read it), for his soul, that, in the fullness of time, it should be made an offering for sin. His own voluntary undertaking, in compliance with his Father's will and in compassion to fallen man, engaged him, and then his own honour kept him to it. It also intimates that he was hearty and resolute, free and cheerful, in it, and made nothing of the difficulties that lay in his way, Isa 63:3-5.
(4.)Jesus Christ was, in all this, truly wonderful. We may well ask, with admiration, Who is this that thus engages his heart to such an undertaking?
V.That they shall be taken again into covenant with God, according to the covenant made with their fathers (Jer 30:22):
You shall be my people; and it is God's good work in us that makes us to him a people, a people for his name, Act 15:14. I will be your God. It is his good-will to us that is the summary of that part of the covenant.
VI.That their enemies shall be reckoned with and brought down (Jer 30:20):
I will punish all those that oppress them, so that it shall appear to all a dangerous thing to touch God's anointed, Psa 105:15. The last two verses come under this head: The whirlwind of the Lord shall fall with pain upon the head of the wicked. These two verses we had before (Jer 23:19, Jer 23:20); there they were a denunciation of God's wrath against the wicked hypocrites in Israel; here against the wicked oppressors of Israel. The expressions, exactly agreeing, speak the same with that (Isa 51:22, Isa 51:23), I will take the cup of trembling out of thy hand and put it into the hand of those that afflict thee. The wrath of God against the wicked is here represented to be.
1.Very terrible, like a whirlwind, surprising and irresistible.
2.Very grievous. It shall fall with pain upon their heads; they shall be as much hurt as frightened.
3.It shall pursue them. Whirlwinds are usually short, but this shall be a continuing whirlwind.
4.It shall accomplish that for which it is sent: The anger of the Lord shall not return till he have done it. The purposes of his wrath, as well as the purposes of his love, will all be fulfilled; he will perform the intents of his heart.
5.Those that will not lay this to heart now will then be unable to put off the thoughts of it: In the latter days you shall consider it, when it will be too late to prevent it.
Historical interpretation
Historical Reception
2 surviving comments on this verse. Each one is dated, so this reads as a timeline rather than a list.
Select a marker to jump to its quote. Markers stagger vertically where authors wrote within a few decades of each other.
“I will multiply them, and they will not be diminished. Their congregation will be before my face,” as during the time of Moses, Aaron and Joshua. All this and what would follow in the prophecy below was fulfilled and was accomplished in the coming of our Lord, as we have already noted above. Like many other things in the Lord’s divine plan predicted by the prophet and fulfilled by the redemption and restoration of the people of God, this passage also should not be simply understood in the sense of Israel but of people that the divine Paul calls the Israel of God who consisted of, and were gathered from, Jews and people of other nations. This passage is not simply about biological children of Abraham but about children of promise, and Paul teaches the same. Only in this more mysterious sense was the word of Jeremiah fulfilled, “They would no longer serve foreigners, but they shall serve the Lord their God and king David, whom I will raise up for them.” The Jews did not have peace. After they were conquered by the Chaldeans, they never were free from fear and oppression from other foreign nations. Rather, at various times they were enslaved by Persians, Greeks and Romans. These words of the prophet, “Jacob shall return, have rest and should not be afraid,” were not fulfilled for Jews. All prophets who prophesied after the Babylonian captivity say that during their time Jews were not free from fear and wars with neighboring nations, and they did not have even a moment of rest but were instead in fear of other peoples. And even though they served the Lord their God and did not worship pagan gods, they were oppressed.
(Verse 18 and following) Thus says the Lord: Behold, I will turn the fortunes of the tents of Jacob, and have compassion on their dwellings (or captivity). And the city shall be rebuilt on its mound, and the temple shall be founded according to its order. And praise shall come forth from them, and the voice of those who play. And I will multiply them, and they shall not be few. (And what follows: And I will glorify them, and they shall not be made small, is not found in the Septuagint). And they shall be, says the Lord, His sons as from the beginning, and His congregation shall remain before me, and I will visit all those who trouble him. And his leader shall come forth from him, and the ruler shall be produced from among them. And I will bring him near, and he shall approach me. For who is this who has applied his heart to draw near to me, says the Lord? (And this also is not found in the Septuagint.) And you shall be my people, and I will be your God. Whose image prefigured this in Zerubabel and Ezra, when the people returned and the city began to be built in its exalted state, and the religion of the Temple was observed, and the other things contained in the book of Ezra himself. But it was more fully and completely fulfilled in the Lord Savior and the Apostles, when the city was built on its highest point, of which it is written: A city set on a hill cannot be hidden (Matthew 5:14); and the Temple was established according to its order and ceremonies, so that whatever was done in the former people carnally, would be spiritually fulfilled in the Church. Then praise and thanksgiving came forth. For this means Thoda, as all the Apostles said: Grace to you and peace (1 Corinthians 1:3). And the voice of those who play, not in that game where the people ate and drank and rose up to play (Exodus 32:6), but in that game where David played before the Ark of the Lord (2 Samuel 6). And they were multiplied and not diminished, so that the whole world would believe in the Lord and Savior: and they were glorified, so that what is written would be fulfilled: Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God (Psalm 87:3). And his sons were, that is, the Apostles, just as they were from the beginning, Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, the leaders of the Israelite race. Then the Lord visited all those who troubled the people of God, namely, the opposing powers. And He was their leader from that time: without a doubt, the Lord and Savior according to the flesh came forth from the race of Israel, and the prince arose from their midst. The Father applied Him to Himself, and He approached Him, so that the Son might say: I am in the Father, and the Father in Me (John XIV, 11): for no one can so apply his heart to God, nor be joined to the Father as the Son is. And what he says according to the Septuagint: 'And you shall be my people, and I will be your God', we see fulfilled in part in Israel, and entirely in the multitude of the nations.
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Summary
Jeremiah 30:19 is a profound prophetic declaration within the "Book of Consolation," foretelling a future era of divine restoration for God's people, Israel. It promises a complete reversal of their fortunes from sorrow and diminishment to exuberant joy, abundant growth, and elevated honor. This verse encapsulates God's unwavering commitment to His covenant promises, assuring a time when His redeemed people will express their gratitude through worship and experience flourishing under His sovereign hand, dispelling any notion of their insignificance.
Context
Literary Context
Jeremiah 30:19 is nestled within the "Book of Consolation" (chapters 30-33), a distinct section of Jeremiah's prophecy that shifts from pronouncements of judgment to a message of hope and future restoration for Judah and Israel. This segment begins with a divine command to record these promises (Jeremiah 30:1-3), followed by a description of a future period of distress, "Jacob's trouble" (Jeremiah 30:4-7), but immediately pivots to assurances of deliverance from bondage and the return of their king (Jeremiah 30:8-11). Verse 19 directly follows the promise of the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the return to former habitations (Jeremiah 30:18), indicating that the thanksgiving, multiplication, and glorification are direct results and expressions of this promised restoration. It builds upon the idea that God will heal their wounds (Jeremiah 30:17) and establish a just leader among them (Jeremiah 30:21), setting the stage for a community characterized by divine blessing and renewed covenant relationship.
Historical & Cultural Context
The prophecies in Jeremiah were delivered during a tumultuous period in Judah's history, leading up to and encompassing the Babylonian exile (c. 605-586 BC). The people of Judah had repeatedly broken their covenant with God, leading to divine judgment, symbolized by the impending destruction of Jerusalem and forced deportation. The exile was a time of immense suffering, loss of national identity, and spiritual despair, as the people were scattered and their temple destroyed. In this context, the promises of restoration in Jeremiah 30-33 were revolutionary and counter-cultural. They spoke against the prevailing despair, offering a vision of return to their land, rebuilding of their cities, and renewal of their relationship with Yahweh. The cultural significance of "thanksgiving" often involved communal celebrations and sacrifices, particularly in the temple, while "multiplication" and "glorification" directly addressed the humiliation and decimation experienced by a defeated and exiled people, promising a reversal of their diminished status.
Key Themes
Jeremiah 30:19 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the book of Jeremiah and broader biblical theology. Firstly, it underscores God's Covenant Faithfulness, demonstrating that despite Israel's persistent unfaithfulness, God remains true to His promises to Abraham regarding a numerous seed and a blessed nation (Genesis 12:2). Secondly, it highlights the theme of Divine Restoration, portraying God as the active agent who reverses national decline, turning sorrow into joy and scarcity into abundance. This is a central message throughout the "Book of Consolation," culminating in the promise of a new covenant that would supersede the old. Thirdly, the verse emphasizes Joyful Worship and Thanksgiving as the natural and inevitable response to God's redemptive work. The "voice of them that make merry" signifies a profound spiritual and emotional transformation, moving from lament to celebration. Finally, it speaks to the theme of God's Glory Reflected in His People, where their multiplication and honor are not merely for their own sake but serve to magnify God's power and faithfulness among the nations.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
This word properly signifies "an extension of the hand," implying an act of confession, avowal, or adoration. It is often associated with a sacrifice of praise or a song of gratitude, particularly in the context of deliverance or salvation. In Jeremiah 30:19, it denotes a profound, heartfelt expression of gratitude and worship for God's redemptive work, moving beyond mere words to an embodied act of praise that acknowledges His mighty deeds.
This root means "to increase (in whatever respect)." It encompasses concepts of abundance, growth, and becoming numerous. In this context, it speaks to a demographic and perhaps economic flourishing, reversing the diminishment and scattering experienced during the exile, echoing God's original promises of fruitfulness and national growth.
This word (H3513) means "to be heavy" and, in a good sense, refers to being numerous, rich, or honorable. Causatively, it means "to make weighty," implying to bestow honor, importance, or renown. Here, it promises that God will elevate the status of His people, bestowing upon them dignity and respect, thereby reversing their previous humiliation and ignominy among the nations and reflecting His own greatness through them.
Verse Breakdown
"And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry:"
This clause introduces the spiritual and emotional transformation that will accompany the physical restoration. "Out of them" refers to the restored remnant of Israel. Their renewed existence will spontaneously generate expressions of profound gratitude and joyful celebration. This is not a forced act but an overflowing response to God's grace and deliverance, indicating a deep spiritual health and emotional well-being. The "voice" emphasizes the audible and communal nature of this praise, signifying a vibrant, celebratory community.
"and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few;"
This segment focuses on the quantitative aspect of God's blessing, highlighting His sovereign agency. The divine "I will" underscores God's direct involvement. After the decimation and scattering of the exile, God promises to increase their numbers significantly, ensuring they are no longer a diminished or insignificant people. The negative phrasing "they shall not be few" emphasizes the completeness of this reversal from their previous state of decline, assuring a return to numerical strength.
"I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small."
This final clause addresses the qualitative aspect of their restoration – their honor and status. Again, God is the active agent in this glorification. "Glorify" implies bestowing weight, honor, and importance upon them, elevating their standing. The parallel negative phrasing "they shall not be small" reinforces the idea that they will no longer be despised, humiliated, or insignificant in the eyes of the world. Instead, they will be elevated to a position of respect and prominence, reflecting God's own glory and faithfulness.
Literary Devices
Jeremiah 30:19 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its message of hope and restoration. Most notably, Parallelism is evident in the latter half of the verse, where "I will multiply them, and they shall not be few" is mirrored by "I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small." This synonymous parallelism emphasizes the comprehensive nature of God's blessing, reinforcing the idea of both quantitative increase and qualitative elevation. The use of double negatives ("not be few," "not be small") serves as a strong Litotes, underscoring the absolute certainty of their abundance and significance by denying their opposite, thereby intensifying the promise. Furthermore, the phrase "the voice of them that make merry" is a form of Metonymy, where "voice" stands for the entire act of joyful celebration, highlighting the audible and communal expression of their newfound happiness and liberation. The verse also functions as a powerful Prophecy, offering a future vision that contrasts sharply with the present suffering, thereby providing hope and encouragement to a despairing people.
Theological and Thematic Connections
Jeremiah 30:19 is a vibrant testament to God's unwavering faithfulness and His redemptive character. It underscores the biblical truth that God's ultimate intention for His people is not judgment, but restoration and flourishing, even after periods of severe discipline. This verse reveals that true spiritual restoration culminates in spontaneous, heartfelt worship and thanksgiving, as the redeemed community recognizes the source of their renewed life and abundance. It affirms God's power to reverse human suffering and humiliation, demonstrating His commitment to His covenant promises to multiply and bless His chosen people, ultimately for His own glory. This divine act of making a small and scattered people numerous and honored serves as a powerful witness to His sovereign might and enduring love, providing a pattern for His redemptive work throughout history.
Reflection and Application
Jeremiah 30:19 offers a powerful beacon of hope and a profound lesson in God's redemptive character for believers today. It reminds us that even in our deepest valleys of despair, whether personal or communal, God's ultimate plan is for our restoration, multiplication, and glorification. When we face periods of spiritual barrenness, emotional depletion, or seemingly insurmountable challenges, this verse assures us that God is capable of turning our lament into laughter, our scarcity into abundance, and our shame into honor. Our natural response to God's transforming work should be one of overflowing thanksgiving and joyful praise, recognizing that true flourishing comes from His hand alone. This passage encourages us to cultivate a posture of hope, trusting in God's ability to bring about radical change, not just in our circumstances, but within our very hearts, leading to lives characterized by gratitude and purpose, reflecting His goodness to a watching world.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What is the "Book of Consolation" and why is Jeremiah 30:19 part of it?
The "Book of Consolation" refers to Jeremiah chapters 30-33, a distinct section within the prophet Jeremiah's writings. While much of Jeremiah's prophecy focuses on judgment against Judah for its unfaithfulness and impending exile, these chapters shift dramatically to promises of future restoration, hope, and a new covenant. Jeremiah 30:19 is central to this theme because it articulates specific divine promises of turning sorrow into joy, scarcity into abundance, and humiliation into honor for God's people, directly countering the despair of their exile and offering a vision of their glorious future. It's a message of comfort and assurance, hence its inclusion in this section of hope.
How does this verse relate to the concept of God's covenant with Israel?
This verse is deeply rooted in God's covenant promises to Israel, particularly the Abrahamic covenant, which included the promise of a numerous offspring and a blessed nation (Genesis 12:2). The exile represented a severe breach of the Mosaic covenant due to Israel's disobedience. However, Jeremiah 30:19 demonstrates God's enduring faithfulness to His unconditional promises. Despite Israel's failures, God pledges to restore them, multiply them, and glorify them, fulfilling His original intentions for His chosen people and reaffirming His commitment to their national and spiritual well-being within the framework of His eternal covenant. It showcases God's steadfast love that endures beyond human unfaithfulness.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
While Jeremiah 30:19 directly addresses the physical and spiritual restoration of Israel from Babylonian exile, its prophetic vision finds its ultimate and profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ and the new covenant He inaugurated. The "thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry" are fully realized in the perpetual worship and joy of the Church, the redeemed people of God, who celebrate their salvation through the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ. The promise "I will multiply them, and they shall not be few" transcends ethnic Israel to encompass all believers, as the gospel spreads to every nation, bringing countless souls into the family of God, fulfilling the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations. Furthermore, "I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small" points to the spiritual glorification of believers who are made children of God through adoption by the Spirit (Romans 8:15), co-heirs with Christ in His kingdom (Romans 8:17), and will ultimately share in His resurrected glory, as our lowly bodies are transformed to be like His glorious body (Philippians 3:21). Thus, the restoration promised in Jeremiah finds its most complete and eternal expression in the redemptive work of Christ, establishing a spiritual kingdom characterized by unending praise, boundless growth, and divine honor.