TRV
Translation
King James Version
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;
Complete Jewish Bible
Here is what ADONAI says: 'If I have not established my covenant with day and night and fixed the laws for sky and earth,
Berean Standard Bible
This is what the LORD says: If I have not established My covenant with the day and the night and the fixed order of heaven and earth,
American Standard Version
Thus saith Jehovah: If my covenant of day and night stand not, if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth;
World English Bible Messianic
Thus says the LORD: If my covenant of day and night fails, if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth;
Geneva Bible (1599)
Thus sayth the Lord, If my couenant be not with day and night, and if I haue not appointed the order of heauen and earth,
Young's Literal Translation
Thus said Jehovah: If My covenant is not daily and nightly, The statutes of heaven and earth I have not appointed--
See on the biblical-era map
In the KJVVerse 19,801 of 31,102
Study This Verse
Commentary on Jeremiah 33 verses 17–26
17 ¶ For thus saith the LORD; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel;
18 Neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before me to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle meat offerings, and to do sacrifice continually.
19 And the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah, saying,
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;
21 Then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites the priests, my ministers.
22 As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me.
23 Moreover the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying,
24 Considerest thou not what this people have spoken, saying, The two families which the LORD hath chosen, he hath even cast them off? thus they have despised my people, that they should be no more a nation before them.
25 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;
26 Then will I cast away the seed of Jacob, and David my servant, so that I will not take any of his seed to be rulers over the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: for I will cause their captivity to return, and have mercy on them.
Three of God's covenants, that of royalty with David and his seed, that of the priesthood with Aaron and his seed, and that of Peculiarity with Abraham and his seed, seemed to be all broken and lost while the captivity lasted; but it is here promised that, notwithstanding that interruption and discontinuance for a time, they shall all three take place again, and the true intents and meaning of them all shall be abundantly answered in the New Testament blessings, typified by those conferred on the Jews after their return out of captivity.
I. The covenant of royalty shall be secured and the promises of it shall have their full accomplishment in the kingdom of Christ, the Son of David, Jer 33:17. The throne of Israel was overturned in the captivity; the crown had fallen from their head; there was not a man to sit on the throne of Israel; Jeconiah was written childless. After their return the house of David made a figure again; but it in the Messiah that this promise is performed that David shall never want a man to sit on the throne of Israel, and that David shall have always a son to reign upon his throne. For as long as the man Christ Jesus sits on the right hand of the throne of God, rules the world, and rules it for the good of the church, to which he is a quickening head, and glorified head over all things, as long as he is King upon the holy hill of Zion, David does not want a successor, nor is the covenant with him broken. When the first-begotten was brought into the world it was declared concerning him, The Lord God shall give him the throne of his father David and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever, Luk 1:32, Luk 1:33. For the confirmation of this it is promised, 1. That the covenant with David shall be as firm as the ordinances of heaven, to the stability of which that of God's promise is compared, Jer 31:35, Jer 31:36. There is a covenant of nature, by which the common course of providence is settled and on which it is founded, here called a covenant of the day and the night (Jer 33:20, Jer 33:25), because this is one of the articles of it, That there shall be day and night in their season, according to the distinction put between them in the creation, when God divided between the light and the darkness, and established their mutual succession, and a government to each, that the sun should rule by day and the moon and stars by night (Gen 1:4, Gen 1:5, Gen 1:16), which establishment was renewed after the flood (Gen 8:22), and has continued ever since, Psa 19:2. The morning and the evening have both of them their regular outgoings (Psa 65:8); the day-spring knows its place, knows its time, and keeps both, so do the shadows of the evening; and, while the world stands, this course shall not be altered, this covenant shall not be broken. The ordinances of heaven and earth (of this communication between heaven and earth, the dominion of these ordinances of heaven upon the earth), which God has appointed (Jer 33:25; compare Job 38:33), shall never be disappointed. Thus firm shall the covenant of redemption be with the Redeemer - God's servant, but David our King, Jer 33:21. This intimates that Christ shall have a church on earth to the world's end; he shall see a seed in which he shall prolong his days till time and day shall be no more. Christ's kingdom is an everlasting kingdom; and when the end cometh, and not till then, it shall be delivered up to God, even the Father. But it intimates that the condition of it in this world shall be intermixed and counterchanged, prosperity and adversity succeeding each other, as light and darkness, day and night. But this is plainly taught us, that, as sure as we may be that, though the sun will set tonight, it will rise again tomorrow morning, whether we live to see it or no, so sure we may be that, though the kingdom of the Redeemer in the world may for a time be clouded and eclipsed by corruptions and persecutions, yet it will shine forth again, and recover its lustre, in the time appointed. 2. That the seed of David shall be as numerous as the host of heaven, that is, the spiritual seed of the Messiah, that shall be born to him by the efficacy of his gospel and his Spirit working with it. From the womb of the morning he shall have the dew of their youth, to be his willing people, Psa 110:3. Christ's seed are not, as David's were, his successors, but his subjects; yet the day is coming when they also shall reign with him (Jer 33:22): As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, so will I multiply the seed of David, so that there shall be no danger of the kingdom's being extinct, or extirpated, for want of heirs. The children are numerous; and, if children, then heirs.
II. The covenant of priesthood shall be secured, and the promises of that also shall have their full accomplishment. This seemed likewise to be forgotten during the captivity, when there was no altar, no temple service, for the priests to attend upon; but this also shall revive. It did so; immediately upon their coming back to Jerusalem there were priests and Levites ready to offer burnt-offerings and to do sacrifice continually (Ezr 3:2, Ezr 3:3), as is here promised, Jer 33:18. But that priesthood soon grew corrupt; the covenant of Levi was profaned (as appears Mal 2:8), and in the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans it came to a final period. We must therefore look elsewhere for the performance of this word, that the covenant with the Levites, the priests, God's ministers, shall be as firm, and last as long, as the covenant with the day and the night. And we find it abundantly performed, 1. In the priesthood of Christ, which supersedes that of Aaron, and is the substance of that shadow. While that great high priest of our profession is always appearing in the presence of God for us, presenting the virtue of his blood by which he made atonement in the incense of his intercession, it may truly be said that the Levites do not want a man before God to offer continually, Heb 7:3, Heb 7:17. He is a priest for ever. The covenant of the priesthood is called a covenant of peace (Num 25:12), of life and peace, Mal 2:5. Now we are sure that this covenant is not broken, nor in the least weakened, while Jesus Christ is himself our life and our peace. This covenant of priesthood is here again and again joined with that of royalty, for Christ is a priest upon his throne, as Melchizedek. 2. In a settled gospel ministry. While there are faithful ministers to preside in religious assemblies, and to offer up the spiritual sacrifices of prayer and praise, the priests, the Levites, do not want successors, and such as have obtained a more excellent ministry. The apostle makes those that preach the gospel to come in the room of those that served at the altar, Co1 9:13, Co1 9:14. 3. In all true believers, who are a holy priesthood, a royal priesthood (Pe1 2:5, Pe1 2:9), who are made to our God kings and priests (Rev 1:6); they offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God, and themselves, in the first place, living sacrifices. Of these Levites this promise must be understood (Jer 33:22), that they shall be as numerous as the sand of the sea, the same that is promised concerning Israel in general (Gen 22:17); for all God's spiritual Israel are spiritual priests, Rev 5:9, Rev 5:10; Rev 7:9, Rev 7:15.
III. The covenant of peculiarity likewise shall be secured and the promises of that covenant shall have their full accomplishment in the gospel Israel. Observe, 1. How this covenant was looked upon as broken during the captivity, Jer 33:24. God asks the prophet, "Hast though not heard, and dost thou not consider, what this people have spoken?" either the enemies of Israel, who triumphed in the extirpation of a people that had made such a noise in the world, or the unbelieving Israelites themselves, "this people among whom thou dwellest;" they have broken covenant with God, and then quarrel with him as if he had not dealt faithfully with them. The two families which the Lord hath chosen, Israel and Judah, whereas they were but one when he chose them, he hath even cast them off. "Thus have they despised my people, that is, despised the privilege of being my people as if it were a privilege of no value at all." The neighbouring nations despised them as now no more a nation, but the ruins of a nation, and looked upon all their honour as laid in the dust; but, 2. See how firm the covenant stands notwithstanding, as firm as that with day and night; sooner will God suffer day and night to cease then he will cast away the seed of Jacob. This cannot refer to the seed of Jacob according to the flesh, for they are cast away, but to the Christian church, in which all these promises were to be lodged, as appears by the apostle's discourse, Rom 11:1, etc. Christ is that seed of David that is to be perpetual dictator to the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and, as this people shall never want such a king, so this king shall never want such a people. Christianity shall continue in the dominion of Christ, and the subjection of Christians to him, till day and night come to an end. And, as a pledge of this, that promise is again repeated, I will cause their captivity to return; and, having brought them back, I will have mercy on them. To whom this promise refers appears Gal 6:16, where all that walk according to the gospel rule are made to be the Israel of God, on whom peace and mercy shall be.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 17–26. Public domain.
Copy as
Theodoret of CyrusAD 458
ON JEREMIAH 7:33.18
We see the fulfillment of this prophecy as well. When the new covenant was given, in keeping with the divine promise, the priesthood was also given according to the order of Melchizedek, and those to whom it was promised offer the spiritual sacrifice to God continually. Then he says, as it is impossible for day to become night, so it is impossible for the Davidic monarchy to be destroyed. The fulfillment of this prophecy is also clear: Christ, who is of David according to the flesh, does not occupy the throne here below. He does, however, govern all things as he sits next to the Father. This is precisely what he also says about the priests and the Levites, noting that their line will be compared with the host of heaven and the sand of the sea. The facts confirm what is said: the whole land and sea are full of high priests and the deacons performing the liturgy of the Levites.
CassiodorusAD 585
EXPLANATION OF THE PSALMS 32:11
“But the counsel of the Lord stands forever. The thoughts of his heart are for all time.” Just as he said that the debased plans of people are to be made vain, so now he says that the dispositions of the Lord remain forever. While the sinner and the mortal person experience transient things, the eternal Lord established what will never be blameworthy. As Isaiah says, “All my counsel shall be enduring, and all that I meditated I shall achieve.” Jeremiah too says the same thing: “If my covenant were not under guard day and night, I should not have issued the laws of heaven and earth.”
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 33:25 across the web’s major study libraries — every link below opens this exact verse, chapter, or book on the destination site.
Read & Compare
BibleGatewayThis verse in more than 200 translations and 70 languages.
Bible.comThe YouVersion reader — hundreds of translations, reading plans, and highlights.
ESV.orgCrossway's official English Standard Version reader.
NET BibleThe NET translation with 60,000+ translators' notes on every rendering decision.
STEP BibleTyndale House's free study tool — original text, vocabulary, and scholarly resources.
BibliaLogos Bible Software's free web reader.
USCCBThe New American Bible (Revised Edition) with the U.S. bishops' study notes.
Commentaries
BibleHub CommentariesDozens of classic commentaries on this verse, gathered on one page.
StudyLightMore than 100 commentary sets — the largest collection on the web.
BibleRefPlain-English commentary on what this verse means, verse by verse.
Enduring WordDavid Guzik's free commentary on this chapter, widely used by Bible teachers.
Bible Study ToolsVerse commentary alongside Greek and Hebrew study aids.
Original Language & Research
- BibleHub InterlinearThe verse word by word — original language, transliteration, and English.
- BibleHub LexiconEvery word's original-language definition and Strong's entry.
Blue Letter BibleDeep-study tools — Strong's numbers, concordance, and word studies.
SefariaThe Hebrew text with Rashi and centuries of Jewish commentary.
Sermons, Hymns & Audio
TrulyRandomVerse is not affiliated with these sites and doesn’t control their content. They’re linked because they’re genuinely useful.
SUMMARY
Jeremiah 33:25 serves as a profound testament to the LORD's unwavering faithfulness, asserting the absolute certainty of His divine covenants by drawing an irrefutable parallel to the immutable order of the natural world. In this verse, God rhetorically challenges the very possibility of His promises failing, equating their steadfastness with the predictable, divinely established cycles of day and night and the fixed, unchangeable "ordinances" or laws that govern the cosmos. It stands as an unshakeable foundation for the subsequent promises of restoration and the enduring nature of the Davidic covenant, assuring Judah that just as creation remains ordered, so too will God's word prove eternally true.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Jeremiah 33:25 masterfully employs several powerful literary devices to convey its message of divine certainty and unwavering faithfulness. The most prominent is Metaphor, where the "covenant with day and night" and the "ordinances of heaven and earth" serve as a concrete, universally observable metaphor for the steadfastness and reliability of God's spiritual covenants with His people. The natural order, with its unyielding predictability, becomes a visible, tangible guarantee of God's invisible promises. This is closely linked to Rhetorical Question (implied), as the "If... not" construction functions as a powerful challenge that expects an obvious negative answer, thereby affirming the utter impossibility of God's covenant failing. It is a potent way to assert an undeniable truth that resonates with common human experience. Furthermore, there is an element of Hyperbole in the implied comparison; the idea that God's covenants could fail is presented as absurd as the sun failing to rise or gravity ceasing to exist, emphasizing the absolute, unshakeable, and non-negotiable nature of His word and His commitments.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse profoundly undergirds the biblical understanding of God's character as utterly trustworthy, immutable, and sovereign over all creation. It asserts that the same divine power, wisdom, and faithfulness that meticulously uphold the cosmic order—ensuring the consistent cycles of day and night and the fixed laws governing heaven and earth—are precisely what guarantee the absolute reliability of God's specific promises to humanity, particularly His covenant with David and the New Covenant. God's faithfulness is not merely an attribute but the very foundation upon which all creation and all redemptive history rests. The stability, predictability, and enduring nature of the universe serve as a constant, visible sermon on the steadfastness of the Creator, providing an enduring source of hope and assurance for His people through all generations, regardless of their circumstances.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 33:25 offers an unshakeable anchor of stability and hope in a world perpetually defined by flux, uncertainty, and shifting circumstances. It calls us to ground our faith not in fleeting human reliability, economic indicators, or political stability, but in the immutable character of God Himself. If we can confidently expect the sun to rise each morning, the moon to appear each night, and the seasons to follow their appointed course with perfect regularity, how much more should we trust the God who established and flawlessly sustains this cosmic order? This verse invites us to rest deeply in His unwavering faithfulness, knowing that His promises, whether for personal provision, spiritual growth, the fulfillment of His kingdom, or ultimate redemption, are as dependable as the very fabric of the universe. It should inspire us to live with confident hope, courage, and peace, knowing that the God who controls the macrocosm also meticulously cares for the microcosm of our individual lives, orchestrating all things according to His perfect, wise, and unchangeable plan.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What is the "covenant with day and night" mentioned in this verse?
Answer: The "covenant with day and night" is not a formal, explicitly stated covenant like those God made with Noah, Abraham, or David. Rather, it is a powerful metaphorical expression referring to the established, fixed, and unchangeable order of creation itself. It signifies God's unwavering decree that the cycles of day and night, the regular progression of seasons, and indeed all the fundamental laws governing the universe, will continue as long as the earth endures. This cosmic stability, set in place by God (as seen in Genesis 1:14-19 and reaffirmed in Genesis 8:22), serves as a visible, undeniable, and constant testament to His absolute faithfulness and the reliability of His word.
How does this verse relate to God's other covenants, like the Davidic covenant?
Answer: Jeremiah 33:25 serves as the foundational premise and ultimate guarantee for the certainty of God's specific redemptive covenants, particularly the Davidic covenant, which is a major theme throughout Jeremiah 33. The verse implies a powerful logical argument: "If I, the LORD, am so faithful and powerful that I maintain the unchangeable order of day and night and the fixed laws of the entire universe, then how much more certain and unbreakable are My specific, sworn promises to My people, such as the enduring line of Davidic kings and priests, and the future restoration of Israel?" The cosmic order acts as a visible, tangible, and undeniable guarantee for the historical and redemptive covenants, assuring the audience that God's word is as immutable and reliable as His creation.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 33:25, with its profound emphasis on God's unwavering faithfulness and the immutability of His divine ordinances, finds its ultimate and most glorious fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The "covenant with day and night" points to the steadfastness of the Creator, whose faithful ordering of the cosmos is but a shadow and a testament to His even greater faithfulness in redemption. Christ is the very Word of God made flesh (John 1:14), the one through whom all things were created and by whom all things hold together (Colossians 1:16-17). His coming inaugurated the New Covenant, a covenant "not like the covenant that I made with their fathers" (Jeremiah 31:31-34), which is eternal, unbreakable, and sealed by His own precious blood (Hebrews 8:6-13). Just as the natural laws are fixed and dependable, so too are the promises of God in Christ "Yes" and "Amen" (2 Corinthians 1:20). The stability of the heavens and earth, which will one day pass away (Matthew 24:35), ultimately points to the eternal reign of Christ, whose kingdom "shall have no end" (Luke 1:33), fulfilling the Davidic covenant in a way far surpassing any earthly dynasty or temporal promise.