Jeremiah 32:22

And hast given them this land, which thou didst swear to their fathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey;

And hast given {H5414} them this land {H776}, which thou didst swear {H7650} to their fathers {H1} to give {H5414} them, a land {H776} flowing {H2100} with milk {H2461} and honey {H1706};

Then you gave them this land, which you had sworn to their ancestors that you would give them, a land flowing with milk and honey.

You gave them this land that You had sworn to give their fathers, a land flowing with milk and honey.

and gavest them this land, which thou didst swear to their fathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey;

Jeremiah 32:22 is part of a profound prayer offered by the prophet Jeremiah while he was imprisoned during the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem. This verse serves as a powerful reminder of God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises, even in the midst of national crisis and impending judgment.

Context

The immediate backdrop to this verse (Jeremiah 32:1-15) is God instructing Jeremiah to purchase a field in Anathoth, his hometown, even as the Babylonian army was at the city gates. This act of buying land was a symbolic gesture, demonstrating God's future restoration of Judah, despite the imminent destruction and exile. In his subsequent prayer (Jeremiah 32:17-25), Jeremiah recounts God's mighty acts and His historical faithfulness to Israel, culminating in this verse about the land. He acknowledges that God had indeed given them the land, fulfilling His ancient oath to their ancestors, a stark contrast to their current dire circumstances. This prayer highlights the prophet's trust in God's power and past provision, even when facing overwhelming despair.

Key Themes

  • God's Unwavering Faithfulness: The verse highlights God's absolute commitment to His word. He swore an oath to the patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—and He fulfilled it by bringing their descendants into the Promised Land. This faithfulness stands as a bedrock truth, even when human circumstances seem hopeless. For more on God's covenant with Abraham, see Genesis 12:7 and Genesis 17:8.
  • The Promised Land: The land of Israel, often called Canaan, was central to God's covenant with His people. It was not merely territory but a tangible sign of His blessing and their inheritance. Its description as "a land flowing with milk and honey" underscores its ideal nature and divine provision.
  • Divine Provision and Abundance: The phrase "a land flowing with milk and honey" is a classic biblical metaphor for extraordinary fertility, abundance, and prosperity. It signifies a land that naturally yields rich sustenance, symbolizing God's generous provision for His people when they obey Him. This imagery is used throughout the Old Testament, for instance, in Exodus 3:8.

Linguistic Insights

The iconic phrase "a land flowing with milk and honey" translates the Hebrew 'eretz zavat chalav u'devash (אֶרֶץ זָבַת חָלָב וּדְבָשׁ). While literally referring to the produce of livestock (milk) and wild bees (honey), the idiom conveys a sense of lushness, ease of living, and abundant natural resources. It paints a picture of a land so rich that it spontaneously provides, a testament to God's blessing and the fulfillment of His promise to make His people fruitful and prosperous within it. It's a hyperbole that emphasizes the superlative quality of the land.

Practical Application

Jeremiah's prayer, including this verse, teaches us to ground our hope in God's past faithfulness, even when faced with overwhelming challenges. Just as God kept His ancient promises to Israel, He remains faithful to His people today. When we face our own "sieges"—whether personal struggles, societal crises, or spiritual battles—remembering God's character and His track record of keeping His word can strengthen our faith. It encourages us to look beyond immediate difficulties to God's ultimate plan of restoration and blessing, reminding us that His mercies are new every morning, and His faithfulness is great. This verse calls us to remember God's past blessings as a foundation for trusting Him with our future.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Exodus 13:5

    And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, that thou shalt keep this service in this month.

  • Exodus 3:8

    And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

  • Jeremiah 11:5

    That I may perform the oath which I have sworn unto your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as [it is] this day. Then answered I, and said, So be it, O LORD.

  • Exodus 3:17

    And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.

  • Psalms 105:9

    Which [covenant] he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac;

  • Psalms 105:11

    Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance:

  • Deuteronomy 1:8

    Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them.

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