Jeremiah 31:35

Translation
King James Version
¶ Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name:
Ask
KJV (with Strong's)
Thus saith H559 the LORD H3068, which giveth H5414 the sun H8121 for a light H216 by day H3119, and the ordinances H2708 of the moon H3394 and of the stars H3556 for a light H216 by night H3915, which divideth H7280 the sea H3220 when the waves H1530 thereof roar H1993; The LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 is his name H8034:
Ask
Complete Jewish Bible
This is what ADONAI says, who gives the sun as light for the day, who ordained the laws for the moon and stars to provide light for the night, who stirs up the sea until its waves rorar -- ADONAI-Tzva'ot is his name:
Ask
Berean Standard Bible
Thus says the LORD, who gives the sun for light by day, who sets in order the moon and stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—the LORD of Hosts is His name:
Ask
American Standard Version
Thus saith Jehovah, who giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, who stirreth up the sea, so that the waves thereof roar; Jehovah of hosts is his name:
Ask
World English Bible Messianic
Thus says the LORD, who gives the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, who stirs up the sea, so that its waves roar; the LORD of Hosts is his name:
Ask
Geneva Bible (1599)
Thus saith the Lord, which giueth the sunne for a light to the day, and the courses of the moone and of the starres for a light to the night, which breaketh the sea, when the waues thereof roare: his Name is the Lord of hostes.
Ask
Young's Literal Translation
Thus said Jehovah, Who is giving the sun for a light by day, The statutes of moon and stars for a light by night, Quieting the sea when its billows roar, Jehovah of Hosts is His name:
Ask
See also
Isaiah 51:15Jeremiah 10:16Psalms 136:7Psalms 136:9Jeremiah 50:34Genesis 1:14Genesis 1:18
In the KJVVerse 19,727 of 31,102

Study This Verse

SUMMARY

Jeremiah 31:35 stands as a profound declaration of Yahweh's absolute sovereignty and unwavering faithfulness, grounding His covenant promises in the immutable order of His creation. The verse asserts God's consistent governance over the celestial bodies—the sun, moon, and stars—and His formidable power over the tumultuous forces of the sea, culminating in the majestic affirmation of His name, "The LORD of hosts." This foundational truth serves as an unshakeable assurance that God's word and His commitment to His people are as certain and reliable as the cosmic laws He Himself has established and sustains.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: Jeremiah 31:35 is situated within the "Book of Comfort" (Jeremiah 30-33), a pivotal section of the prophet's writings that dramatically shifts from pronouncements of judgment and exile to glorious prophecies of restoration and hope for both Israel and Judah. Specifically, chapter 31 is renowned for its detailed vision of a future return from captivity and the establishment of a New Covenant that will supersede the old, written on the hearts of God's people, ensuring internal transformation and an enduring relationship with God. Verse 35, along with the subsequent verses (Jeremiah 31:36-37), functions as a divine oath, providing an unassailable guarantee for the permanence and reliability of God's promises to His chosen people. It grounds the certainty of God's covenant faithfulness in the unchangeable order of His creation, emphasizing that His commitment is as fixed as the laws governing the universe.
  • Historical & Cultural Context: Jeremiah prophesied during a tumultuous period in Judah's history, leading up to and during the Babylonian exile (late 7th to early 6th centuries BCE). The people of Judah were experiencing immense suffering, displacement, and the apparent failure of God's covenant promises, as their land was desolated and their temple destroyed. In such a context of despair and doubt, the prophet's message of future restoration and a new covenant was radical and counter-intuitive. The ancient Near Eastern world, including Israel, understood the cosmos as divinely ordered. The sun, moon, and stars were seen as powerful, consistent entities, often deified by surrounding cultures. By asserting Yahweh's sole and absolute control over these elements, Jeremiah not only refuted pagan idolatry but also provided a tangible, universally observable proof of God's constancy and power, thereby bolstering the credibility of His promises to a disheartened nation.
  • Key Themes: This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Jeremiah and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it underscores Divine Sovereignty and Order, presenting God as the supreme Architect and Sustainer of the universe, whose meticulous design and ongoing control over creation demonstrate His absolute power. Secondly, it highlights Unwavering Faithfulness, emphasizing that God's word and covenant are as reliable as the fixed laws of the cosmos, providing immense assurance that what God has promised, He will surely perform, regardless of human circumstances or failures. This theme is echoed in passages like Malachi 3:6 and Hebrews 13:8. Thirdly, the verse showcases God's Power Over Chaos, with the allusion to dividing the sea, recalling the miraculous parting of the Red Sea during the Exodus. This signifies God's ability to bring order out of chaos and to overcome any obstacle that might threaten His plans or people. Finally, the declaration of "The LORD of hosts" reinforces the theme of God's Absolute Authority and Omnipotence, signifying His irresistible power as the commander of all heavenly and earthly forces, capable of fulfilling every promise and enacting every decree.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • giveth (Hebrew, nâthan', H5414): This primitive root (H5414) is broadly used to mean "to give," but also "to put," "to make," "to appoint," or "to establish." In Jeremiah 31:35, it signifies God's active role as the bestower and ordainer of the cosmic lights. It's not merely that the sun, moon, and stars exist, but that God purposefully gives them their function and existence as sources of light and order, highlighting His intentional and ongoing creative and sustaining power.
  • ordinances (Hebrew, chuqqâh', H2708): This term (H2708) refers to an enactment, statute, or established law. It denotes something fixed, prescribed, and unchangeable. When applied to the moon and stars, it emphasizes the regularity, predictability, and inviolable nature of their celestial movements and functions. These are not random occurrences but operate according to divine, unalterable decrees, reinforcing the idea of a cosmos governed by precise and reliable divine law.
  • divideth (Hebrew, râgaʻ', H7280): This primitive root (H7280) properly means "to toss violently and suddenly" (as the sea with waves) or, conversely, "to settle" or "quiet." In this context, it refers to God's power to control and subdue the tumultuous sea, making it calm or separating its waters. It evokes images of God's mastery over chaotic natural forces, demonstrating His ability to impose order and peace where there is inherent instability and danger.

Verse Breakdown

  • "Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day": This opening clause establishes the divine authority of the declaration, identifying the speaker as Yahweh (H3068). It immediately highlights God's role as the Creator and Sustainer of the most fundamental cosmic order—the provision of daylight through the sun (H8121). This is a daily, observable miracle, testifying to His consistent power and benevolent provision.
  • "[and] the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night": Expanding on the theme of divine order, this clause emphasizes God's establishment of fixed, unchangeable laws ("ordinances" - H2708) governing the nocturnal lights (H216). The moon (H3394) and stars (H3556), with their predictable cycles and positions, serve as a constant source of light (H216) and a testament to God's meticulous design and control over the entire cosmos, ensuring order even in darkness (H3915).
  • "which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar": This powerful phrase shifts from celestial order to terrestrial dominion. It alludes to God's formidable power over the chaotic and often terrifying forces of nature, particularly the sea (H3220). The "roaring" (H1993) "waves" (H1530) symbolize untamed, destructive power, yet God is depicted as the one who "divideth" (H7280) or calms them, demonstrating His absolute mastery over all that is wild and uncontrollable. This likely echoes the parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 14) and other biblical narratives where God asserts His sovereignty over the waters.
  • "The LORD of hosts [is] his name": The verse culminates in this majestic affirmation of God's identity. "The LORD of hosts" (Yahweh Sabaoth - H3068, H6635) is a powerful divine title signifying God's absolute authority and irresistible power as the commander of all heavenly armies (angels) and earthly forces. It underscores His omnipotence, His ability to command and control all things, and His unwavering capacity to fulfill every promise and enact every decree. This name encapsulates the very essence of the God who governs the cosmos and subdues chaos.

Literary Devices

Jeremiah 31:35 makes rich use of several literary devices to convey its profound theological message. The primary device is Parallelism, specifically synthetic parallelism, where the second part of the verse expands upon or completes the thought of the first. The provision of sun by day is paralleled by the ordinances of the moon and stars by night, both illustrating God's cosmic order. The shift to "dividing the sea" then introduces a new, yet related, aspect of God's power over chaos. Personification is subtly present in "when the waves thereof roar," giving the waves a voice or a menacing presence, which further highlights God's power to subdue such forces. The verse also employs Metonymy or Synecdoche by using "sun," "moon," and "stars" to represent the entire cosmic order and its consistent laws. Finally, the concluding declaration, "The LORD of hosts is his name," serves as a powerful Apostrophe and Affirmation, directly stating God's sovereign identity as the ultimate guarantor of the preceding statements, acting as a divine signature on the reliability of His creation and, by extension, His promises.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Jeremiah 31:35 serves as a profound theological anchor, asserting that God's covenant faithfulness is as immutable as the laws governing the universe. This verse establishes a direct correlation between God's consistent governance of the cosmos and His steadfast commitment to His people, particularly in the context of the New Covenant. If the sun, moon, and stars continue in their appointed courses, and if God can subdue the raging sea, then His promises of restoration and an everlasting covenant are absolutely certain. This truth provides immense comfort and a solid foundation for faith, assuring believers that God's character is unchanging and His word is utterly reliable, regardless of the chaotic circumstances or human failures that may arise.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

Jeremiah 31:35 offers a powerful antidote to doubt and despair, inviting us to ground our hope in the unchangeable character of God. In a world often characterized by instability, broken promises, and overwhelming challenges, this verse reminds us that there is an ultimate, sovereign authority who orchestrates the vast cosmos with meticulous precision and calms the most turbulent forces. Just as we can depend on the sun to rise each morning and the moon to govern the tides, we can unequivocally trust God to fulfill every promise He has made, particularly His promises of salvation, restoration, and eternal life through Christ. This truth should inspire not only unwavering faith but also deep worship, as we acknowledge the immense power and steadfast love of the "LORD of hosts." It calls us to surrender our anxieties, knowing that the same God who orders the universe is intimately involved in the details of our lives, bringing order out of our chaos and light into our darkness.

Questions for Reflection

  • How does reflecting on God's control over the sun, moon, and stars impact your trust in His promises for your personal life?
  • In what "roaring waves" or chaotic circumstances are you currently experiencing, and how does the truth of God's power to "divide the sea" offer you comfort or courage?
  • What does the title "The LORD of hosts" reveal about God's character, and how should this understanding shape your worship and obedience?

FAQ

What is the significance of God being called "The LORD of hosts" in this verse?

Answer: The title "The LORD of hosts" (Hebrew: Yahweh Sabaoth) is profoundly significant. Yahweh is God's covenant name, emphasizing His self-existence and faithfulness. Sabaoth means "armies" or "hosts," referring to both celestial armies (angels) and earthly forces. Therefore, "The LORD of hosts" signifies God's absolute sovereignty and irresistible power as the supreme commander of all spiritual and physical forces. In Jeremiah 31:35, it underscores that the God who establishes cosmic order and controls the raging sea is the same omnipotent God who guarantees His covenant promises. This title provides immense assurance of His ability to fulfill what He has declared, as seen in other prophetic books like Isaiah 6:3.

How does this verse connect God's creation power to His covenant faithfulness?

Answer: Jeremiah 31:35 explicitly links God's consistent power in creation to the reliability of His covenant faithfulness. By pointing to the unchangeable "ordinances" of the sun, moon, and stars, and His power to "divide the sea," God uses the stability and predictability of the natural world as a tangible metaphor for the immutability of His word and promises. The argument is: if God is faithful and powerful enough to maintain the cosmic order day after day, year after year, then His promises to His people, particularly the New Covenant mentioned earlier in the chapter, are equally certain and unbreakable. This connection provides a powerful foundation for trust, demonstrating that God's character is consistent across all His actions, from creation to redemption.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

Jeremiah 31:35 finds its ultimate and most glorious fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who is the very embodiment of the "LORD of hosts" and the guarantor of the New Covenant. The God who "giveth the sun for a light by day" and establishes the "ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night" is the same God whose eternal Word became flesh in Jesus. Christ is the one through whom "all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible" (Colossians 1:16). He is the one who demonstrated power over chaos by rebuking the wind and the waves, causing a great calm (Mark 4:39), thereby fulfilling the imagery of God "dividing the sea when the waves thereof roar." Furthermore, the "ordinances" of God's faithfulness, so vividly displayed in the cosmic order, find their supreme expression in Christ, who is the "same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8). He is the mediator and surety of the New Covenant, whose blood ratifies its promises, ensuring that God's commitment to His people is not merely as reliable as the cosmos, but eternally secured by His perfect sacrifice and resurrection. Thus, in Christ, the unchanging Creator and Controller of the universe becomes the faithful Redeemer, making God's promises of light, order, and victory over chaos a present reality for all who believe.

Copy as

Commentary on Jeremiah 31 verses 35–40

I. II. Main points1. 2. Sub-points

Glorious things have been spoken in the foregoing verses concerning the gospel church, which that epocha of the Jewish church that was to commence at the return from captivity would at length terminate in, and which all those promises were to have their full accomplishment in. But may we depend upon these promises? Yes, we have here a ratification of them, and the utmost assurance imaginable given of the perpetuity of the blessings contained in them. The great thing here secured to us is that while the world stands God will have a church in it, which, though sometimes it may be brought very low, shall yet be raised again, and its interests re-established; it is built upon a rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Now here are two things offered for the confirmation of our faith in this matter - the building of the world and the rebuilding of Jerusalem.

I. The building of the world, and the firmness and lastingness of that building, are evidences of the power and faithfulness of that God who has undertaken the establishment of his church. He that built all things at first is God (Heb 3:4), and the same is he that makes all things now. The constancy of the glories of the kingdom of nature may encourage us to depend upon the divine promise for the continuance of the glories of the kingdom of grace, for this is as the waters of Noah, Isa 54:9. Let us observe here,

1.The glories of the kingdom of nature, and infer thence how happy those are that have this God, the God of nature, to be their God for ever and ever. Take notice, (1.) Of the steady and regular motion of the heavenly bodies, which God is the first mover and supreme director of: He gives the sun for a light by day (Jer 31:35), not only made it at first to be so, but still gives it to be so; for the light and heat, and all the influences of the sun, continually depend upon its great Creator. He gives the ordinances of the moon and stars for a light by night; their motions are called ordinances both because they are regular and by rule and because they are determined and under rule. See Job 38:31-33. (2.) Take notice of the government of the sea, and the check that is given to its proud billows: The Lord of hosts divides the sea, or (as some read it) settles the sea, when the waves thereof roar (divide et impera - divide and rule); when it is most tossed God keeps it within compass (Jer 5:22), and soon quiets it and makes it calm again. The power of God is to be magnified by us, not only in maintaining the regular motions of the heavens, but in controlling the irregular motions of the seas. (3.) Take notice of the vastness of the heavens and the unmeasurable extent of the firmament; he must needs be a great God who manages such a great world as this is; the heavens above cannot be measured (Jer 31:37), and yet God fills them. (4.) Take notice of the mysteriousness even of that part of the creation in which our lot is cast and which we are most conversant with. The foundations of the earth cannot be searched out beneath, for the Creator hangs the earth upon nothing (Job 26:7), and we know not how the foundations thereof are fastened, Job 38:6. (5.) Take notice of the immovable stedfastness of all these (Jer 31:36): These ordinances cannot depart from before God; he has all the hosts of heaven and earth continually under his eye and all the motions of both; he has established them, and they abide, abide according to his ordinance, for all are his servants, Psa 119:90, Psa 119:91. The heavens are often clouded, and the sun and moon often eclipsed, the earth may quake and the sea be tossed, but they all keep their place, are moved, but not removed. Herein we must acknowledge the power, goodness, and faithfulness of the Creator.

2.The securities of the kingdom of grace inferred hence: we may be confident of this very thing that the seed of Israel shall not cease from being a nation, for the spiritual Israel, the gospel church, shall be a holy nation, a peculiar people, Pe1 2:9. When Israel according to the flesh is no longer a nation the children of the promise are counted for the seed (Rom 9:8) and God will not cast off all the seed of Israel, no, not for all that they have done, though they have done very wickedly, Jer 31:37. He justly might cast them off, but he will not. Though he cast them out from their land, and cast them down for a time, yet he will not cast them off. Some of them he casts off, but not all; to this the apostle seems to refer (Rom 11:1), Hath God cast away his people? God forbid that we should think so! For (Jer 31:5) at this time there is a remnant, enough to save the credit of the promise that God will not cast off all the seed of Israel, though many among them throw away themselves by unbelief. Now we may be assisted in the belief of this by considering, (1.) That the God that has undertaken the preservation of the church is a God of almighty power, who upholds all things by his almighty word. Our help stands in his name who made heaven and earth, and therefore can do any thing. (2.) That God would not take all this care of the world but that he designs to have some glory to himself out of it; and how shall he have it but by securing to himself a church in it, a people that shall be to him for a name and a praise? (3.) That if the order of the creation therefore continues firm because it was well-fixed at first, and is not altered because it needs no alteration, the method of grace shall for the same reason continue invariable, as it was a first well settled. (4.) That he who has promised to preserve a church for himself has approved himself faithful to the word which he has spoken concerning the stability of the world. He that is true to his covenant with Noah and his sons, because he established it for an everlasting covenant (Gen 9:9, Gen 9:16), will not, we may be sure, be false to his covenant with Abraham and his seed, his spiritual seed, for that also is an everlasting covenant. Even that which they have done amiss, though they have done much, shall not prevail to defeat the gracious intentions of the covenant. See Psa 89:30, etc.

II. The rebuilding of Jerusalem which was now in ruins, and the enlargement and establishment of that, shall be an earnest of these great things that God will do for the gospel church, the heavenly Jerusalem, Jer 31:38-40. The days will come, though they may be long in coming, when, 1. Jerusalem shall be entirely built again, as large as ever it was; the dimensions are here exactly described by the places through which the circumference passed, and no doubt the wall which Nehemiah built, and which, the more punctually to fulfil the prophecy, began about the tower of Hananeel, here mentioned (Neh 3:1), enclosed as much ground as is here intended, though we cannot certainly determine the places here called the gate of the corner, the hill Gareb, etc. 2. When built it shall be consecrated to God and to his service. It shall be built to the Lord (Jer 31:38), and even the suburbs and fields adjacent shall be holy unto the Lord. It shall not be polluted with idols as formerly, but God shall be praised and honoured there; the whole city shall be as it were one temple, one holy place, as the new Jerusalem is, which therefore has no temple, because it is all temple. 3. Being thus built by virtue of the promise of God, it shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down, any more for ever; that is, it shall continue very long, the time of the new city from the return to its last destruction being fully as long as that of the old from David to the captivity. But this promise was to have its full accomplishment in the gospel church, which, as it is the spiritual Israel, and therefore God will not cast it off, so it is the holy city, and therefore all the powers of men shall not pluck it up, nor throw it down. It may lie waste for a time, as Jerusalem did, but shall recover itself, shall weather the storm and gain its point, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 35–40. Public domain.
Copy as
Ephrem the SyrianAD 373
COMMENTARY ON JEREMIAH 31:36
“If laws of day and night cease to speak before my face, says the Lord, then the descendants of Israel cease to be a nation forever.” It is impossible that the world order established from the beginning would change, that is, movement of stars, change of seasons. Therefore, without doubt, the promise given to David would not be left unfulfilled, and his kingdom and his seed would not cease before God’s face. Although this prophecy was fulfilled in its own time for Zerubbabel, who ruled over David’s kingdom, it was more completely fulfilled in our Lord, as even the angel said, “The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. He will reign in the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.”And the prophet repeats and confirms later on what is said here about the spread and eternity of Christ’s kingdom by saying, “Just as the heavenly stars could not be counted and the sands of the sea could not be measured, so I will increase the seed of David,” that is, the seed of his Word (Logos), son of David, priests and the Levites of the new covenant. According to their dignified status, the prophet depicts the gospel and the church of Christ in the image of the powers of heaven (stars) and their spread in the image of the sands of the sea, because thus it should be that the gospel and the church would become known to all the ends of the universe and that all nations would believe in them.
JeromeAD 420
Commentary on Jeremiah
(Verse 35, 36) Thus says the Lord, who gives the sun for light by day, the order of the moon and the stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar: The Lord of hosts is his name. If these laws (or statutes) depart from before me, says the Lord, then the seed of Israel shall also cease from being a nation before me forever. And in the beginning of Genesis, we read that the sun was placed in the sky for light by day, and the moon and stars for light by night (Gen. 1). And in the psalm it says: Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge (Psalm 19:2), meaning that night and day succeed each other. Just as, he says, the order of things, especially the celestial spheres, cannot be changed, and the waves of the sounding sea roll toward the shore, and the terrifying noise of the swelling waves is heard, but it cannot go beyond what is commanded by God, according to that: You set a boundary that they may not pass, so that they might not again cover the earth (Psalm 104:9). Similarly, he says, the offspring and lineage of Israel will be perpetual by the will of the Lord, and will never fail. However, here the laws are not to be understood as Mosaic, but as the constitution and order of nature. Let us ask the Jews, if the heavens will perish, and all will become old like a garment; and to the Lord it is said: But thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail (Ps. CI, 28), how can the seed of Israel be perpetual? For if the heavens perish, the seed of Israel will perish; but if it is perpetual, then the heavens will not perish. But if the Scriptures cannot lie, and the heavens are perishable, then the seed of Israel will perish as well, especially since Jacob speaks to his sons, saying: Come, and I will tell you what will happen in the last days (Gen. XLIX, 1). When it is said, in the last days, therefore the world will cease to exist, and there will be a different arrangement of things (or dispensation). This is against them. Furthermore, the Gospel also shows that this world is not everlasting, saying: Heaven and earth will pass away (Matth. XXIV, 35). And behold, I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world (Matt. XXVIII, 20). Let us also say it differently: As long as this world exists, the seed of Israel and the Jewish nation will remain, not in those who are now unbelievers, but in those who believed with the Apostles and through the Apostles, so that the remnants may be saved.
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.
Copy as

Continue studying Jeremiah 31:35 across the web’s major study libraries — every link below opens this exact verse, chapter, or book on the destination site.

Read & Compare

Commentaries

Original Language & Research

Sermons, Hymns & Audio

TrulyRandomVerse is not affiliated with these sites and doesn’t control their content. They’re linked because they’re genuinely useful.