Jeremiah 32:21

KJV

And hast brought forth thy people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs, and with wonders, and with a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with great terror;

KJV (with Strong's)

And hast brought forth {H3318} thy people {H5971} Israel {H3478} out of the land {H776} of Egypt {H4714} with signs {H226}, and with wonders {H4159}, and with a strong {H2389} hand {H3027}, and with a stretched out {H5186} arm {H248}, and with great {H1419} terror {H4172};

Complete Jewish Bible

You brought your people of Isra'el out of the land of Egypt with signs and miracles, with a strong hand and an outstretched arm and with great terror.

Berean Standard Bible

You brought Your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and wonders, with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, and with great terror.

American Standard Version

and didst bring forth thy people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs, and with wonders, and with a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great terror;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 32:21 serves as a profound declaration of God's unparalleled power and unwavering faithfulness, articulated by the prophet Jeremiah during Judah's dire siege by Babylon. This verse, embedded within Jeremiah's prayer, functions as a powerful recollection of the foundational event of Israel's history: their miraculous and awe-inspiring liberation from Egyptian bondage. It vividly highlights God's active, irresistible intervention on behalf of His people, providing a historical anchor for faith in His ability to fulfill seemingly impossible promises even amidst the darkest national crisis.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 32:21 is an integral component of Jeremiah's heartfelt prayer to the Lord, which commences in [Jeremiah 32:17](/jeremiah/32-17 "Jeremiah 32:17 - Jeremiah's Prayer of Awe") and extends through [Jeremiah 32:25](/jeremiah/32-25 "Jeremiah 32:25 - Jeremiah's Questioning Faith"). This prayer immediately follows God's seemingly counterintuitive command to Jeremiah to purchase a field in Anathoth, despite Jerusalem being under siege by the Babylonian army and the imminent loss of all land. This symbolic act, meticulously detailed in [Jeremiah 32:6-15](/jeremiah/32-6 "Jeremiah 32:6-15 - Jeremiah Buys a Field as a Sign of Hope"), represents God's promise of future restoration and return from exile. Jeremiah's prayer, therefore, is a deep theological reflection prompted by this divine instruction, as he grapples with the paradox of impending judgment alongside a promise of future hope, anchoring his trust in God's past, undeniable acts of deliverance, particularly the Exodus.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The backdrop for Jeremiah 32 is a period of intense national crisis for the kingdom of Judah, specifically around 588-586 BC. Jerusalem was enduring a brutal siege by Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian forces, a direct and devastating fulfillment of Jeremiah's prophecies of judgment against a disobedient nation. Jeremiah himself was imprisoned in the court of the guard, unjustly accused of treason for prophesying the city's inevitable fall. In this desperate hour, the recollection of the Exodus from Egypt was far more than a mere historical anecdote; it was a profound cultural and theological touchstone for Israel. The Exodus was the defining event that established Israel as God's covenant people, unequivocally demonstrating His unique power to deliver and His unwavering faithfulness to His promises, even when human circumstances seemed utterly hopeless. It served as the ultimate, irrefutable proof of God's character and capability, a memory that would have resonated deeply with any Israelite facing national annihilation.
* **Key Themes:** Jeremiah 32:21 powerfully encapsulates several overarching themes found throughout the book of Jeremiah and the broader Old Testament narrative. Firstly, it profoundly underscores **Divine Sovereignty and Power**, emphasizing that God is the ultimate actor in history, capable of executing His will regardless of human resistance or apparent impossibility. The vivid description of the Exodus highlights God's irresistible might, a theme echoed in God's declaration of His power over all creation in [Jeremiah 32:17](/jeremiah/32-17 "Jeremiah 32:17 - God's Omnipotence"). Secondly, it speaks directly to **God's Unwavering Faithfulness to His Covenant**, reminding both Jeremiah and the reader that despite Israel's persistent disobedience leading to severe judgment, God's foundational commitment to His people, established at the Exodus (as seen in [Exodus 19:4-6](/exodus/19-4-6 "Exodus 19:4-6 - God's Covenant with Israel at Sinai")), remains intact. This enduring faithfulness provides the basis for the future restoration promised in [Jeremiah 32:44](/jeremiah/32-44 "Jeremiah 32:44 - Promise of Future Restoration"). Thirdly, the verse exemplifies the critical importance of **Remembering God's Past Works** as a vital source of hope and trust in present difficulties. Jeremiah's prayer demonstrates how reflecting on God's historical acts of salvation, particularly the miraculous deliverance from Egypt (referenced repeatedly, for example, in [Deuteronomy 26:8](/deuteronomy/26-8 "Deuteronomy 26:8 - Recalling the Exodus Deliverance")), can bolster faith when facing seemingly insurmountable challenges.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **brought forth (Hebrew, _yâtsâ'_):** (H3318) This primitive root signifies "to go (causatively, bring) out" in a vast array of applications, both literal and figurative, including "to appear," "to depart," or "to issue out." In Jeremiah 32:21, it underscores God's active, decisive, and powerful agency in the Exodus. It was not a passive escape facilitated by circumstances, but a divine extraction, emphasizing God as the initiator and executor of Israel's liberation, demonstrating His sovereign will and might.
* **signs (Hebrew, _ʼôwth'_):** (H226) Probably derived from a root meaning "to appear," this term refers to a signal, mark, miracle, omen, or evidence. In the context of the Exodus, "signs" refer to the miraculous displays of God's power, such as the ten plagues, which served as undeniable proof of His presence, authority, and intention to deliver His people and judge their oppressors. These were visible, supernatural manifestations of divine intervention, designed to reveal God's character and power to both Israel and Egypt.
* **terror (Hebrew, _môwrâ'_):** (H4172) This word, stemming from the root _yârêʼ_ (to fear), denotes fear itself, or by implication, a fearful thing or deed, dread, or terribleness. In the Exodus narrative, "great terror" describes the overwhelming awe and dread inspired by God's mighty acts, not only among the Egyptians who suffered His judgments but also among the Israelites, instilling a profound reverence for His power and sovereignty. It speaks to the awe-inspiring, fear-inducing quality of God's overwhelming might.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And hast brought forth thy people Israel":** This opening clause immediately establishes God as the singular, active agent of Israel's liberation. The verb "brought forth" (H3318, _yâtsâ'_) emphasizes a purposeful, powerful, and decisive act of extraction, not a mere escape. It highlights God's initiative in forming and delivering His chosen nation, Israel (H3478, _Yisrâʼêl_), underscoring His unique covenant relationship with them from their very inception as a people.
* **"out of the land of Egypt":** This phrase precisely pinpoints the specific historical and geographical context of this foundational act of deliverance. Egypt (H4714, _Mitsrayim_) represents the epitome of oppressive power and severe bondage, making God's act of liberation from such a formidable empire all the more miraculous, definitive, and demonstrative of His supreme authority over all earthly powers. It was the crucible in which Israel was forged as a distinct nation.
* **"with signs, and with wonders":** These two terms (H226, _ʼôwth_ and H4159, _môwphêth_) are frequently paired in the Old Testament to describe supernatural occurrences that serve to demonstrate God's power and validate His message or messenger. They refer to the miraculous plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, and other divine interventions that accompanied the Exodus, proving God's sovereignty over nature and human rulers, and compelling Pharaoh to release Israel against his will.
* **"and with a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm":** This is a powerful and frequently used anthropomorphic idiom in the Old Testament, describing God's irresistible power and direct, forceful intervention. "Strong hand" (H2389, _châzâq_ and H3027, _yâd_) denotes His might, authority, and firm grip, while "stretched out arm" (H5186, _nâṭâh_ and H248, _ʼezrôwaʻ_) conveys His active, unhindered exertion of force, reaching out to accomplish His will. Together, they paint a vivid picture of God's overwhelming strength, which no human power could withstand or thwart.
* **"and with great terror":** The final phrase (H1419, _gâdôwl_ and H4172, _môwrâ'_) describes the profound and awe-inspiring impact of God's mighty acts. This "great terror" refers to the overwhelming awe, dread, and fear that God's powerful interventions instilled in both the Egyptians (who witnessed His devastating judgment) and the Israelites (who witnessed His saving power), leading to a deep reverence for His majesty and an understanding of His absolute, unchallengeable authority.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 32:21 is rich in literary devices that amplify its message of divine power and historical significance. The most prominent is **Anthropomorphism**, vividly seen in the phrase "with a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm." This imagery attributes human physical characteristics (hand, arm) to God, making His abstract power more tangible, relatable, and comprehensible to the audience. It powerfully conveys His direct, active, and irresistible intervention in human affairs. Another device at play is **Merism**, particularly in the pairing of "signs, and with wonders." This rhetorical device uses two complementary parts to express a totality, indicating the full spectrum and comprehensive nature of the miraculous events God performed. The verse also employs **Repetition** and **Parallelism** through the cumulative list of descriptors ("signs," "wonders," "strong hand," "stretched out arm," "great terror"), which builds a powerful crescendo, emphasizing the overwhelming, multi-faceted, and undeniable nature of God's intervention. Finally, the phrase "great terror" can be seen as a form of **Hyperbole**, underscoring the immense, awe-inspiring, and fear-inducing impact of God's actions, which transcended normal human experience and left an indelible mark on all who witnessed them.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 32:21 serves as a profound theological anchor, reminding us that God's character is consistent and His power is unyielding. The Exodus, recounted here, is not merely a historical event but a theological paradigm for God's redemptive activity throughout history. It demonstrates His absolute sovereignty over nations and natural forces, His unwavering commitment to His covenant promises, and His unique ability to deliver His people from any form of bondage. In a time of national despair, Jeremiah appeals to this foundational act of salvation as the basis for trusting God's future promises of restoration, illustrating that God's past faithfulness is the bedrock for present hope. This verse affirms that the God who delivered Israel from Egypt is the same God who can bring about seemingly impossible salvation in any age, proving His enduring power and faithfulness to His people.

* [Deuteronomy 26:8](/deuteronomy/26-8 "Deuteronomy 26:8 - Recalling God's Mighty Hand in the Exodus")
* [Deuteronomy 7:9](/deuteronomy/7-9 "Deuteronomy 7:9 - God's Faithfulness to His Covenant")
* [Exodus 6:6](/exodus/6-6 "Exodus 6:6 - God's Promise of Deliverance with a Strong Hand")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
In the midst of personal or collective crises, Jeremiah 32:21 offers a powerful invitation to remember God's past acts of deliverance. Just as Jeremiah, imprisoned and facing national ruin, looked back to the Exodus as irrefutable proof of God's omnipotence and unwavering faithfulness, so too can believers today draw profound strength from recalling God's interventions both in redemptive history and in their own personal lives. This verse encourages us to anchor our hope not in fleeting circumstances, human capabilities, or political solutions, but in the unchanging character of a God whose "strong hand and stretched out arm" remains eternally capable of delivering from any bondage—whether spiritual, emotional, physical, or societal. It calls us to cultivate a robust and resilient faith that trusts God's power to act even when the future seems bleak or impossible, knowing that His past faithfulness is a divine guarantee of His future provision, ultimate triumph, and unwavering commitment to His people.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "Egypts" or seemingly impossible situations are you currently facing, and how might remembering God's past acts of deliverance strengthen your faith and resolve?**
* **How does the vivid imagery of God's "strong hand and stretched out arm" challenge or expand your understanding of His power and willingness to intervene directly in your life and in the world?**
* **In what practical ways can reflecting on God's historical faithfulness (e.g., the Exodus, or personal testimonies) help you to trust His promises for your future, even when they appear unlikely or beyond human comprehension?**

### FAQ
**Why is the Exodus from Egypt so frequently referenced in the Old Testament?**

Answer: The Exodus is foundational to Israel's identity because it was the definitive act where God revealed Himself as their unique deliverer and established His covenant with them at Sinai. It demonstrated His unique power over all creation and human rulers, His unwavering faithfulness to His promises made to the patriarchs, and His sovereign choice of Israel as His treasured people. This event served as the ultimate proof that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was actively involved in history, capable of overcoming any obstacle to save His chosen ones. It became the benchmark for all future acts of divine salvation and a constant reminder of God's character and covenant relationship with Israel, as seen in passages like [Deuteronomy 6:20-25](/deuteronomy/6-20-25 "Deuteronomy 6:20-25 - Teaching the Significance of the Exodus to Future Generations").

**What does the phrase "strong hand and stretched out arm" signify about God?**

Answer: This anthropomorphic phrase is a powerful idiom used throughout the Old Testament to convey God's absolute, irresistible, and direct power. The "strong hand" (Hebrew: _yad chazaqah_) denotes His might, authority, and firm grip on events, while the "stretched out arm" (Hebrew: _zeroa' netuyah_) symbolizes His active, unhindered exertion of force, reaching out to accomplish His will. It means that God's intervention is not passive or indirect but is a forceful, personal, and overwhelming display of His sovereignty, capable of overcoming any opposition and achieving His purposes, as seen in [Exodus 13:3](/exodus/13-3 "Exodus 13:3 - Remembering the Strong Hand of the Lord in Deliverance").

**How does Jeremiah's prayer, which includes this verse, offer hope in a time of judgment?**

Answer: Jeremiah's prayer, uttered during the Babylonian siege, embodies a profound tension between impending judgment and enduring hope. By recounting the Exodus, Jeremiah grounds his hope in God's unchanging character and past faithfulness. He acknowledges God's righteous power to judge a disobedient nation, but also His redemptive power to save and restore. This act of remembering serves as a theological argument: if God could miraculously deliver Israel from the formidable power of Egypt, He is certainly capable of fulfilling His promises of future restoration, even after the severe judgment of exile. It teaches that even in the darkest valleys of consequence and despair, God's redemptive power and covenant faithfulness remain the ultimate source of hope, as promised in [Jeremiah 29:11](/jeremiah/29-11 "Jeremiah 29:11 - God's Plans for Hope and a Future").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 32:21, with its vivid portrayal of God's mighty deliverance from Egypt, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. The Exodus, a liberation from physical and spiritual bondage to Pharaoh, serves as a powerful type foreshadowing the far greater "new exodus" accomplished by Christ. Just as God brought forth His people Israel with "signs, and with wonders, and with a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with great terror," so too did Jesus, the very arm of God made flesh, deliver humanity from the dominion of sin, death, and the devil. His earthly ministry was marked by countless "signs and wonders" (miracles) that testified to His divine authority and power over all creation and spiritual forces, culminating in the "strong hand" of His crucifixion, which broke the power of sin, and His "stretched out arm" in resurrection, which decisively conquered death itself. Through His atoning sacrifice and victorious resurrection, Christ has "delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son" ([Colossians 1:13](/colossians/1-13 "Colossians 1:13 - Deliverance from Darkness and Transfer to Christ's Kingdom")). He is the true [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), leading His people out of spiritual slavery into true freedom and eternal life ([John 8:36](/john/8-36 "John 8:36 - The Son Sets You Free")). The "great terror" of God's righteous judgment against sin, which was due to humanity, was fully borne by Christ on the cross, so that those who believe might experience not terror, but peace, reconciliation, and adoption as children of God. Thus, the Exodus stands as a powerful prophetic type, pointing forward to the ultimate, Christ-centered deliverance that secures eternal salvation and promises a future where God will dwell eternally with His redeemed people, wiping away every tear ([Revelation 21:3-4](/revelation/21-3-4 "Revelation 21:3-4 - God Dwells with Humanity and Wipes Away Tears")).

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

Deuteronomy 26:8

And the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great terribleness, and with signs, and with wonders:

Exodus 6:6

Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I [am] the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments:

Psalms 105:37

He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and [there was] not one feeble [person] among their tribes.

1 Kings 8:42

(For they shall hear of thy great name, and of thy strong hand, and of thy stretched out arm;) when he shall come and pray toward this house;

Deuteronomy 4:34

Or hath God assayed to go [and] take him a nation from the midst of [another] nation, by temptations, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by a mighty hand, and by a stretched out arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?

Psalms 89:8

O LORD God of hosts, who [is] a strong LORD like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee?

Psalms 89:10

Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces, as one that is slain; thou hast scattered thine enemies with thy strong arm.