Jeremiah 33:20

Thus saith the LORD; If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season;

Thus saith {H559} the LORD {H3068}; If ye can break {H6565} my covenant {H1285} of the day {H3117}, and my covenant {H1285} of the night {H3915}, and that there should not be day {H3119} and night {H3915} in their season {H6256};

"Here is what ADONAI says: 'If you can break my covenant with the day and my covenant with the night, so that daytime and nighttime no longer come when they are supposed to,

“This is what the LORD says: If you can break My covenant with the day and My covenant with the night, so that day and night cease to occupy their appointed time,

Thus saith Jehovah: If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, so that there shall not be day and night in their season;

Commentary

Jeremiah 33:20 in the King James Version reads: "Thus saith the LORD; If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season;"

Context

This verse is part of a larger passage in Jeremiah 33 (verses 14-26) where God reaffirms His promises to restore Israel and Judah after their exile. Specifically, God promises to raise up a righteous Branch from David (the Messiah) and to ensure the continuity of the Levitical priesthood. Verses 20 and 21, and later verses 25 and 26, use the established, unchangeable order of creation—the regular cycle of day and night—as a powerful illustration and guarantee of the certainty and permanence of God's covenant promises concerning the lineage of David and the covenant with the priests.

Key Themes

  • God's Faithfulness: The verse emphasizes the absolute reliability and faithfulness of God. Just as the cycle of day and night is an unbreakable law of creation, so too are God's promises unbreakable.
  • Unchangeable Covenants: It highlights the permanence of God's covenants, particularly those mentioned in the surrounding verses related to the Davidic line and the priesthood.
  • Reliability of Creation: The predictable order of the natural world serves as a visible testimony to God's power and the steadfastness of His word. The promise of day and night continuing is a foundational aspect of God's interaction with creation.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night" refers not to a formal agreement with humanity regarding day and night, but rather to God's established, unchangeable decree or law governing the natural order. It is a "covenant" in the sense of a fixed divine ordinance. The structure of the verse, beginning with "If ye can break...", presents an impossible hypothetical scenario to underscore the absolute impossibility of God's promises failing.

Practical Application

For believers today, this verse offers immense assurance. If God's control over the fundamental cycles of creation is so absolute that only the breaking of day and night could signify the failure of His word, how much more certain are His spiritual promises? This includes the promise of salvation through Christ, the assurance of His presence, and the hope of future glory. We can rest in the knowledge that God is unchanging and His word is utterly reliable. Just as the sun rises each morning, we can trust that God's faithfulness endures.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Psalms 104:19 (6 votes)

    ¶ He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down.

  • Psalms 104:23 (6 votes)

    Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.

  • Isaiah 54:9 (6 votes)

    For this [is as] the waters of Noah unto me: for [as] I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.

  • Isaiah 54:10 (6 votes)

    For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.

  • Genesis 8:22 (6 votes)

    While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

  • Psalms 89:37 (6 votes)

    It shall be established for ever as the moon, and [as] a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.

  • Jeremiah 33:25 (5 votes)

    Thus saith the LORD; If my covenant [be] not with day and night, [and if] I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth;