Jeremiah 32:17

KJV

Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, [and] there is nothing too hard for thee:

KJV (with Strong's)

Ah {H162} Lord {H136} GOD {H3069}! behold, thou hast made {H6213} the heaven {H8064} and the earth {H776} by thy great {H1419} power {H3581} and stretched out {H5186} arm {H2220}, and there is nothing {H1697} too hard {H6381} for thee:

Complete Jewish Bible

"ADONAI, God! You made heaven and earth by your great power and outstretched arm; nothing is too hard for you.

Berean Standard Bible

“Oh, Lord GOD! You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too difficult for You!

American Standard Version

Ah Lord Jehovah! behold, thou hast made the heavens and the earth by thy great power and by thine outstretched arm; there is nothing too hard for thee,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 32:17 is a profound declaration of Yahweh's omnipotence, uttered by the prophet Jeremiah while imprisoned during the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem. This verse serves as the opening of Jeremiah's prayer, a heartfelt affirmation of God's limitless creative power and His ability to accomplish anything, even in the face of seemingly impossible circumstances. It anchors the prophet's hope and frames his subsequent questions and petitions concerning God's paradoxical command to purchase land amidst impending national destruction, ultimately testifying to the unwavering sovereignty of the Creator over all creation and human affairs.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 32:17 initiates a pivotal prayer (Jeremiah 32:16-25) within a significant narrative interlude (Jeremiah 32:1-44) in the book of Jeremiah. Preceding this prayer, God commands Jeremiah to purchase a field from his cousin Hanamel in Anathoth, despite the land being on the verge of Babylonian conquest. This act, detailed in [Jeremiah 32:6-15](/jeremiah/32-6 "Jeremiah 32:6-15 - Jeremiah Buys a Field"), is a symbolic prophecy of future restoration for Israel, promising a time when land will once again be bought and sold in the land. Jeremiah's prayer, beginning with this verse, expresses his struggle to reconcile God's command and promises of future hope with the immediate, devastating reality of Jerusalem's siege and impending destruction. His declaration of God's power in verse 17 sets the theological foundation for his subsequent questions and God's powerful response.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical setting is dire: Jerusalem is under siege by Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian army, and King Zedekiah has imprisoned Jeremiah for prophesying the city's fall and the people's exile. This period, around 588-586 BCE, marks the twilight of the Kingdom of Judah. The act of purchasing land, even with proper legal documentation, would have seemed utterly nonsensical and economically ruinous from a human perspective, as the land was soon to be occupied by foreign invaders. Culturally, the "stretched out arm" metaphor was deeply ingrained in Israelite consciousness, primarily recalling God's mighty acts of deliverance during the Exodus from Egypt (e.g., [Exodus 6:6](/exodus/6-6 "Exodus 6:6 - God's Stretched Out Arm in the Exodus")). This historical precedent would have amplified the significance of Jeremiah's affirmation of God's power, even as current events contradicted such a display.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Jeremiah and the broader biblical narrative. It underscores God's **Omnipotence and Sovereignty**, asserting that the Creator of the universe possesses unlimited power to act in history and fulfill His purposes, regardless of human limitations or geopolitical realities. It highlights the theme of **Divine Creative Power**, establishing God's authority over all things by referencing His act of creation, a foundational truth echoed throughout scripture, from [Genesis 1](/genesis/1 "Genesis 1 - The Creation Account") to [Psalm 33:6](/psalms/33-6 "Psalm 33:6 - Creation by God's Word"). Furthermore, the declaration "there is nothing too hard for thee" directly addresses the theme of **God's Ability to Overcome the Impossible**, a recurring motif that challenges human skepticism and invites faith, reminiscent of God's question to Abraham regarding Sarah's conception in [Genesis 18:14](/genesis/18-14 "Genesis 18:14 - Is Anything Too Hard for the LORD?"). Finally, Jeremiah's prayer models **Faith Amidst Despair**, demonstrating how to approach God in times of profound confusion by first affirming His character and power before articulating one's doubts or requests.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Ah (Hebrew, _ʼăhâhh'_):** This is an exclamation of pain or lament, often expressing distress, sorrow, or a plea for attention. In this context, it conveys Jeremiah's deep emotional state—a mixture of awe, perhaps bewilderment, and earnest supplication as he grapples with God's command amidst the dire circumstances. It sets a tone of raw, honest engagement with the divine.
* **great (Hebrew, _gâdôwl'_):** This adjective signifies vastness, magnitude, or importance in any sense. When applied to God's power, it emphasizes its immense, unparalleled, and overwhelming nature. It is not merely "sufficient" power, but power of an extraordinary, supreme degree, capable of accomplishing anything.
* **too hard (Hebrew, _pâlâʼ'_):** This root word carries the meaning of being "wonderful," "marvelous," or "difficult/impossible." When used in the negative ("nothing too hard"), it asserts that nothing is too amazing, too difficult, or beyond the capacity of God to perform. It encompasses both the miraculous and the insurmountable from a human perspective, declaring them utterly within God's power.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth":** Jeremiah begins with an exclamation of awe and a direct address to God, using the reverent combination of _Adonai Yahweh_. He immediately shifts to a foundational truth: God's role as the Creator of the entire cosmos. This opening clause establishes God's supreme authority and limitless power by referencing the ultimate act of creation—bringing the universe into existence from nothing. It is an appeal to God's inherent nature as the sovereign architect of all that is.
* **"by thy great power and stretched out arm":** This phrase further elaborates on the manner of God's creation and His ongoing activity. "Great power" (Hebrew: _koach gadol_) emphasizes the immense, inherent might of God. The "stretched out arm" (Hebrew: _zeroa' netuyah_) is a powerful anthropomorphic metaphor, commonly used in the Old Testament to describe God's active, irresistible intervention in history, particularly His acts of deliverance and judgment. It signifies God's direct, forceful, and effective action, demonstrating His ability to accomplish His will with absolute authority and might.
* **"and there is nothing too hard for thee":** This concluding declaration is the theological climax of the verse. It is an absolute affirmation of God's omnipotence, stating unequivocally that no task, no situation, no promise, and no obstacle is beyond God's capacity to handle or bring to pass. It directly counters any human doubt or perception of impossibility, asserting God's ultimate sovereignty and ability to perform wonders.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 32:17 is rich in **Apostrophe**, as Jeremiah directly addresses God with an impassioned plea and declaration. The phrase "stretched out arm" is a powerful **Anthropomorphism**, attributing a human physical characteristic (an arm) to God to convey His active and forceful intervention in the world, making His power more relatable and vivid. This specific anthropomorphism is also a potent **Metonymy** or **Synecdoche**, where the "arm" stands for God's entire might and active presence. The verse employs **Hyperbole** in its absolute declaration, "nothing too hard for thee," emphasizing the boundless nature of God's power. The structure itself moves from an exclamation of awe to a foundational truth (creation) and then to an ultimate theological conclusion (omnipotence), building a compelling argument for God's unassailable capability.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 32:17 serves as a foundational declaration of God's omnipotence, echoing throughout the biblical narrative as a bedrock truth for those facing impossible circumstances. It reminds us that the God who spoke the cosmos into existence with "great power and stretched out arm" is the same God who remains actively involved in human history, capable of fulfilling His promises against all odds. This verse is not merely an abstract theological statement but a profound act of faith, demonstrating that even when human reason fails to comprehend God's ways, His character as the all-powerful Creator provides an unshakeable anchor for hope and trust. It invites believers to ground their petitions and their hope in the absolute sovereignty of Yahweh, who can bring life from death, order from chaos, and restoration from ruin.

* [Genesis 18:14](/genesis/18-14 "Genesis 18:14 - Is Anything Too Hard for the LORD?")
* [Luke 1:37](/luke/1-37 "Luke 1:37 - For with God nothing will be impossible")
* [Matthew 19:26](/matthew/19-26 "Matthew 19:26 - With God all things are possible")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 32:17 offers a profound source of spiritual nourishment for believers navigating life's complexities and uncertainties. In moments of personal crisis, national turmoil, or seemingly insurmountable obstacles, this verse calls us to lift our gaze from the immediate circumstances to the eternal, omnipotent God. It challenges us to confront our limited perspectives with the boundless reality of His power, reminding us that the Creator of the heavens and the earth is not constrained by human logic or earthly limitations. Just as Jeremiah, imprisoned and facing the destruction of his homeland, chose to declare God's ultimate power before presenting his perplexity, we too are invited to ground our prayers and our hope in the unshakeable truth of God's sovereignty. This verse encourages us to cultivate a faith that believes in the impossible, trusting that God's purposes will prevail and His promises will be fulfilled, even when the path forward is shrouded in doubt.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "impossible" situation are you currently facing that this verse speaks into?**
* **How does remembering God as the Creator of "heaven and earth" change your perspective on your present challenges?**
* **In what ways can you emulate Jeremiah's approach of declaring God's power before articulating your doubts or requests in prayer?**
* **How does the concept of God's "stretched out arm" encourage you regarding His active involvement in your life?**

### FAQ
**What is the significance of Jeremiah's declaration "Ah Lord GOD!"?**

Answer: The opening exclamation, "Ah Lord GOD!" (Hebrew: _ʼăhâhh Adonai Yᵉhôvih_ or _Adonai Yahweh_), is highly significant. The word "Ah" (_ʼăhâhh_) is an interjection expressing lament, pain, or earnest appeal, indicating Jeremiah's deep emotional state as he grapples with his circumstances and God's command. "Lord GOD" combines _Adonai_ (my Lord, a title of reverence and ownership) with _Yᵉhôvih_ (a vocalization of the divine name YHWH, often pronounced _Elohim_ after _Adonai_ to avoid repeating the same sound). This combination emphasizes God's absolute sovereignty and covenant faithfulness. Together, it signifies Jeremiah's profound reverence, submission, and perhaps even a cry of bewilderment and earnest petition to the all-powerful, covenant-keeping God, even as he struggles to understand God's plan amidst the chaos of the Babylonian siege. It sets a tone of honest, yet reverent, dialogue with the Almighty.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 32:17, with its resounding declaration of God's limitless power, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The "great power and stretched out arm" of God, which created the heavens and the earth and for whom "nothing is too hard," is perfectly embodied in Jesus. He is the one through whom all things were made ([John 1:3](/john/1-3 "John 1:3 - All Things Made Through Him"); [Colossians 1:16](/colossians/1-16 "Colossians 1:16 - All Things Created By and For Him")), demonstrating the very creative power Jeremiah attributes to God. Moreover, the "nothing too hard for thee" finds its most dramatic expression in Christ's resurrection from the dead, a feat utterly impossible by human standards, yet accomplished by God's mighty power ([Ephesians 1:19-20](/ephesians/1-19 "Ephesians 1:19-20 - God's Incomparably Great Power in Christ")). Through Christ, God's "stretched out arm" is revealed not merely in physical deliverance, but in the spiritual deliverance from sin and death, offering new creation to those who believe ([2 Corinthians 5:17](/2_corinthians/5-17 "2 Corinthians 5:17 - New Creation in Christ")). Thus, Jeremiah's cry of faith in God's omnipotence becomes a foundational truth for the Christian, assuring us that the God who raised Jesus from the grave can overcome any impossibility in our lives, bringing about His redemptive purposes and making all things new through the power of His Son, our [Lord Jesus Christ](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God So Loved the World").

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

Luke 1:37

For with God nothing shall be impossible.

Jeremiah 32:27

Behold, I [am] the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?

Genesis 18:14

Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.

Job 42:2

I know that thou canst do every [thing], and [that] no thought can be withholden from thee.

Matthew 19:26

But Jesus beheld [them], and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

Exodus 20:11

For [in] six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them [is], and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Genesis 1:1

¶ In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.