Jeremiah 31:34

KJV

And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

KJV (with Strong's)

And they shall teach {H3925} no more every man {H376} his neighbour {H7453}, and every man {H376} his brother {H251}, saying {H559}, Know {H3045} the LORD {H3068}: for they shall all know {H3045} me, from the least {H6996} of them unto the greatest {H1419} of them, saith {H5002} the LORD {H3068}: for I will forgive {H5545} their iniquity {H5771}, and I will remember {H2142} their sin {H2403} no more.

Complete Jewish Bible

No longer will any of them teach his fellow community member or his brother, 'Know ADONAI'; for all will know me, from the least of them to the greatest; because I will forgive their wickednesses and remember their sins no more."

Berean Standard Bible

No longer will each man teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquities and will remember their sins no more.”

American Standard Version

And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know Jehovah; for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith Jehovah: for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin will I remember no more.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 31:34 stands as a cornerstone of the New Covenant prophecy, envisioning a radical transformation in humanity's relationship with God. It declares an end to the need for external instruction in knowing the Lord, promising a future where intimate, personal knowledge of God will be universally accessible to all within the covenant community, from the humblest to the most prominent. This profound shift is predicated entirely on God's sovereign act of complete and irreversible forgiveness of sin and iniquity, removing the fundamental barrier that separates humanity from their Creator.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 31:34 is the culmination of the "New Covenant" passage, beginning in [Jeremiah 31:31](/jeremiah/31-31 "Jeremiah 31:31 - The New Covenant"). This section, often referred to as the "Book of Comfort" (chapters 30-33), shifts from prophecies of judgment and exile to promises of restoration and hope for Israel and Judah. The preceding verses (31-33) establish the nature of this new covenant: it will not be like the old one, which was broken, but will involve God writing His law on the hearts of His people. Verse 34 then details a key outcome of this internal transformation – a universal, direct knowledge of God, secured by His complete forgiveness. It builds upon the idea that the internalizing of the law leads to an inherent understanding of God's character and will.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The prophecy was delivered during a tumultuous period for Judah, marked by impending or ongoing Babylonian exile. The Old Covenant, mediated through the Mosaic Law, priests, and prophets, had proven insufficient to prevent the people's repeated apostasy and subsequent judgment. Knowledge of God was often external, dependent on teaching and adherence to written statutes. The promise of [Jeremiah 31:34](/jeremiah/31-34 "Jeremiah 31:34 - Universal Knowledge and Forgiveness") directly addresses this historical failure, presenting a future where the relationship with God is internalized and direct, removing the reliance on human mediation for fundamental knowledge of the Divine. This vision offered profound hope to a people facing the disintegration of their national and religious identity.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully articulates several central themes within Jeremiah and biblical theology. The primary theme is the **New Covenant**, which represents a qualitative leap beyond the Old Covenant, characterized by an internal, rather than external, relationship with God. This leads to the theme of **Universal and Direct Knowledge of God**, where every individual within the covenant community possesses an intimate understanding of the Lord, negating the need for intermediaries to teach basic divine truths. Crucially, this direct knowledge is founded upon the theme of **Divine Forgiveness and Atonement**. God's promise to "forgive their iniquity" and "remember their sin no more" is the bedrock upon which the new, intimate relationship is built, highlighting God's grace and initiative in restoring His people. This forgiveness addresses the fundamental problem of sin that plagued the Old Covenant.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Know (Hebrew, _yâdaʻ'_):** This word (H3045) signifies more than mere intellectual acquaintance; it implies a deep, intimate, experiential knowledge, often used in the Old Testament to describe relational intimacy (e.g., a husband "knowing" his wife). In [Jeremiah 31:34](/jeremiah/31-34 "Jeremiah 31:34 - Universal Knowledge and Forgiveness"), it speaks of a personal, direct apprehension of God's character and will, a profound relationship that transcends rote learning or mediated instruction. This is the core promise of the New Covenant: an internal, relational knowing.
* **Iniquity (Hebrew, _ʻâvôn'_):** This term (H5771) refers to perversity, moral evil, and the guilt or punishment associated with sin. It encompasses the twistedness of human nature and the resulting acts that deviate from God's righteous standards. By promising to "forgive their iniquity," God addresses the fundamental problem of human rebellion and moral corruption, which had historically separated His people from Him. The removal of this barrier is essential for the promised intimate knowledge of God.
* **Remember (Hebrew, _zâkar'_):** While meaning to recall or bring to mind (H2142), in the context of God remembering sin "no more," it signifies a complete and permanent cessation of holding sin against His people. It's not that God literally forgets, but rather that He chooses not to bring sin to account, effectively removing its damning power and consequences from the relationship. This promise underscores the absolute nature of the forgiveness offered under the New Covenant, ensuring a perpetually renewed and unblemished relationship.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD:"** This clause sets up a dramatic contrast with the Old Covenant. Under the old system, knowledge of God's law and character was often transmitted through human teaching, requiring constant instruction. The phrase "no more" indicates a radical shift, implying that the need for such foundational instruction about who God is will become obsolete within the covenant community. This is not to say that teaching will cease entirely, but that the fundamental, saving knowledge of God will be innate and universally shared.
* **"for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD:"** This is the positive affirmation of the preceding negative. The reason human teaching about knowing God will diminish is because God Himself will ensure that "all" His people, without exception or social distinction ("from the least... unto the greatest"), will possess a personal, direct, and intimate knowledge of Him. This universal access to divine knowledge signifies a profound democratization of spiritual understanding, moving beyond a priestly or prophetic elite. The phrase "saith the LORD" underscores the divine authority and certainty of this promise.
* **"for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."** This final clause provides the theological foundation and enabling power for the universal knowledge of God. The ability for all to intimately "know" the Lord is directly contingent upon God's gracious and complete forgiveness. "Forgive their iniquity" speaks to the removal of guilt and the restoration of relationship, while "remember their sin no more" emphasizes the permanence and totality of this divine pardon. It is this radical act of grace, addressing the root problem of sin, that makes the intimate, direct relationship with God possible for all.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 31:34 employs several powerful literary devices. The most prominent is **Contrast**, as the verse explicitly contrasts the future state ("they shall teach no more") with the present or past need for external instruction, thereby highlighting the radical newness of the covenant. **Hyperbole** is also present in the phrase "from the least of them unto the greatest of them," which emphasizes the universality and inclusivity of God's promise, suggesting that no one within the covenant community will be excluded from this direct knowledge. The repeated use of "saith the LORD" functions as a **Divine Oracle Formula**, lending absolute authority and certainty to the prophecy, reinforcing that these are not mere human hopes but God's definitive declaration. Finally, the entire passage is steeped in **Covenant Language**, describing the terms of a new relationship between God and His people, characterized by internal transformation and divine initiative in forgiveness.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 31:34 is a profound theological statement, asserting God's initiative in establishing a covenant of grace that transcends the limitations of the Mosaic Law. It reveals God's ultimate desire for an intimate, personal relationship with His people, unhindered by sin and mediated by His Spirit rather than solely by external teaching. The promise of universal knowledge underscores God's commitment to democratizing spiritual access, making Himself known to every individual who belongs to Him. The complete forgiveness of sin is not merely a legal pardon but the very means by which this deep, unhindered relationship becomes possible, demonstrating the depth of God's mercy and His unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises. This forgiveness is the foundation for true spiritual knowing.

* [Hebrews 8:10-12](/hebrews/8-10 "Hebrews 8:10-12 - The New Covenant Quoted")
* [Hebrews 10:16-17](/hebrews/10-16 "Hebrews 10:16-17 - The Law on Hearts and Forgiveness")
* [John 6:45](/john/6-45 "John 6:45 - Taught by God")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This verse offers immense comfort and challenge to believers today. The promise of a direct, personal knowledge of God, rooted in His complete forgiveness, means that our relationship with the Creator is not dependent on human performance or external mediation, but on His grace and the work of His Spirit within us. It invites us to pursue a deep, experiential understanding of God, knowing that He desires to be known intimately by each of us. This truth liberates us from the burden of striving to earn His favor and instead calls us to rest in the finished work of Christ, which secures our forgiveness and opens the way to His presence. It also reminds us that while teaching and discipleship are vital, the ultimate goal is for every believer to have a personal, Spirit-empowered relationship with God, where His voice is heard and His presence is known directly.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways do I still rely on external teaching about God, rather than cultivating a direct, personal knowledge of Him through prayer, Scripture, and the Holy Spirit?**
* **How does the promise that God "remembers my sin no more" impact my sense of guilt, shame, and freedom in my relationship with Him?**
* **If all are to "know the LORD," what is my role in facilitating this knowledge for others, not by being the sole source, but by pointing them to the One who reveals Himself?**

### FAQ
**Does this verse mean that teaching about God is no longer necessary?**

Answer: Not at all. While [Jeremiah 31:34](/jeremiah/31-34 "Jeremiah 31:34 - Universal Knowledge and Forgiveness") states that people "shall teach no more every man his neighbour... saying, Know the LORD," this refers to the fundamental, saving knowledge of God that becomes inherent under the New Covenant. It implies that the basic truth of God's existence and character will be universally apprehended by those in the covenant community, no longer requiring initial, foundational instruction on "who God is." However, the New Testament clearly affirms the ongoing importance of teaching for discipleship, growth, and deeper understanding of God's Word and will (e.g., [Ephesians 4:11-12](/ephesians/4-11 "Ephesians 4:11-12 - Gifts for the Church")). It's a shift from teaching *how to know* God to teaching *how to walk with* God and grow in that knowledge.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 31:34 finds its ultimate and glorious fulfillment in Jesus Christ and the New Covenant inaugurated through His atoning work. The promise that "they shall all know me" is realized through the indwelling Holy Spirit, whom Christ poured out upon His ascension ([Acts 2:1-4](/acts/2-1 "Acts 2:1-4 - Pentecost and the Holy Spirit")). The Spirit enables believers to have a direct, intimate, and personal relationship with God, serving as our Teacher and Guide, writing God's law not on stone tablets but on the "tables of the heart" ([2 Corinthians 3:3](/2_corinthians/3-3 "2 Corinthians 3:3 - Letters on Hearts")). The foundation for this universal knowledge and intimate communion is Christ's sacrifice on the cross, through which God's promise to "forgive their iniquity, and... remember their sin no more" is fully accomplished. His blood is the "blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins" ([Matthew 26:28](/matthew/26-28 "Matthew 26:28 - The Blood of the New Covenant")). Thus, in Christ, the barriers of sin are removed, and every believer, "from the least... unto the greatest," is granted direct access to God and an experiential knowledge of His saving grace, fulfilling Jeremiah's ancient prophecy. This is the essence of the new and living way opened for us through the veil, that is, His flesh ([Hebrews 10:19-20](/hebrews/10-19 "Hebrews 10:19-20 - Access Through Christ's Blood")).

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

Isaiah 43:25

I, [even] I, [am] he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

Hebrews 8:12

For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

Isaiah 54:13

And all thy children [shall be] taught of the LORD; and great [shall be] the peace of thy children.

1 John 2:27

But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

Jeremiah 33:8

And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me.

Hebrews 10:17

And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

Hebrews 10:18

Now where remission of these [is, there is] no more offering for sin.