Jeremiah 16 14

Jeremiah 16:14 kjv

Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that it shall no more be said, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;

Jeremiah 16:14 nkjv

"Therefore behold, the days are coming," says the LORD, "that it shall no more be said, 'The LORD lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of Egypt,'

Jeremiah 16:14 niv

"However, the days are coming," declares the LORD, "when it will no longer be said, 'As surely as the LORD lives, who brought the Israelites up out of Egypt,'

Jeremiah 16:14 esv

"Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when it shall no longer be said, 'As the LORD lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt,'

Jeremiah 16:14 nlt

"But the time is coming," says the LORD, "when people who are taking an oath will no longer say, 'As surely as the LORD lives, who rescued the people of Israel from the land of Egypt.'

Jeremiah 16 verses

Jeremiah 16 14 Meaning

Jeremiah 16:14 foretells a profound shift in Israel's foundational narrative and source of oath-taking. It declares that the monumental deliverance from Egyptian bondage, a constant point of reference and the basis for covenant oaths, will eventually be overshadowed by an even greater divine act. This future event, detailed in the subsequent verse, refers to God gathering His people from their northern exile and other lands, restoring them to their own land. This verse highlights God's ongoing capacity for redemption and signals that past salvations, though significant, can be superseded by future, even grander, displays of His faithfulness.

Jeremiah 16 14 Context

Jeremiah chapter 16 unfolds as a stark declaration of God's impending judgment upon Judah, primarily for their persistent idolatry and forsaking the Lord. Jeremiah is commanded not to marry or have children, nor to participate in mourning or feasting, as these customary rituals would soon become obsolete or mournful due to the coming destruction, famine, and exile (vv. 1-9). The people's suffering is a direct consequence of their ancestral and personal sins. Yet, in the midst of this dire prophecy of judgment, verses 14-15 present an abrupt shift, introducing a powerful message of hope and future restoration. This "new Exodus" prophecy follows directly from the declaration of judgment, showing God's ultimate intention for His people beyond the immediate calamity. Historically, this points towards the Babylonian exile and the subsequent return, and ultimately foreshadows an even greater spiritual restoration.

Jeremiah 16 14 Word analysis

• Therefore (לָכֵן - lakhen): This conjunctive adverb signals a consequence or the logical progression of thought from what precedes, though sometimes, as here, it can introduce an entirely new divine declaration or promise that might seem surprising after severe pronouncements of judgment. It marks a turn in the prophetic message.
• behold (הִנֵּה - hinneh): An interjection used to draw attention emphatically to something significant, often heralding a new and important development or revelation. It's like saying, "Listen closely!" or "Pay attention to this new thing!"
• the days are coming (יָמִים בָּאִים - yamim ba'im): A common prophetic idiom, denoting a future time that is certain to occur, often emphasizing God's control over time and history. It can refer to either the near or distant future, signaling a significant, often unprecedented, epoch.
• declares the LORD (נְאֻם יְהוָה - ne'um Yahweh): This authoritative divine formula reinforces the message's origin and certainty. It assures the listener that this is not merely Jeremiah's word, but an direct, inerrant utterance from Yahweh, the covenant-keeping God. It establishes divine authenticity and power.
• when it shall no longer be said (לֹא יֵאָמֵר עוֹד - lo ye'amer od): This phrase indicates cessation or obsolescence. It does not imply forgetting the Exodus, but rather that its prominence as the supreme defining act of God's salvation will be superseded by an even more impactful event. It suggests a re-prioritization in national memory and confession.
• ‘As the LORD lives (חַי יְהוָה - ḥay Yahweh): This is a standard and very ancient Israelite oath formula, used to make a solemn vow or declaration by invoking the living God. It attributes life and ultimate power to God. By swearing in His name, one pledges allegiance to Him as the true, living God.
• who brought up (הֶעֱלָה - he'elah): From the root עָלָה ('alah), meaning "to go up, ascend." In the hiphil (causative) stem, it means "to cause to go up, bring up." This specific verb is consistently used in the Hebrew Bible to describe God bringing Israel up out of Egypt, emphasizing His powerful intervention.
• the people of Israel (בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - bene Yisrael): Literally "sons of Israel." This term denotes the covenant nation, chosen by God and uniquely related to Him through their ancestor Jacob (Israel). It underscores the specific focus of God's redemptive actions on His chosen people.
• out of the land of Egypt (מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם - me'erets Mitsrayim): Refers to the defining historical event of the Exodus, which established Israel as a nation and cemented their covenant with God. It was the quintessential act of deliverance, a powerful testament to Yahweh's unique identity and power over other nations' gods, forming the very core of Israelite historical and theological understanding.

• "Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD": This is a standard prophetic formula introducing a momentous, divinely ordained future event. The "therefore" connects it to the preceding discourse of judgment, indicating that while punishment is certain, so is God's ultimate plan for restoration. The "behold" stresses the radical nature of what's coming, a new chapter in God's interaction with His people.
• "when it shall no longer be said, ‘As the LORD lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt,’": This entire phrase, particularly "no longer be said," marks a symbolic re-evaluation. It doesn't negate the importance of the Exodus, which was truly foundational. Instead, it predicts that a new divine act will be so impactful and glorious that it will supplant the Exodus as the primary reference point in oaths and national identity. The oath "As the LORD lives" will persist, but its explanatory clause, recalling the Exodus, will yield to the coming "new Exodus" (v.15). This suggests a God who continually works wonders, never confined to past patterns, always capable of a greater redemption. The Exodus was a paradigm, but the God who performed it is capable of even more.

Jeremiah 16 14 Bonus section

This verse introduces the "New Exodus" motif, a powerful theological concept widely explored in later biblical prophecy and New Testament theology. The original Exodus from Egypt was a geopolitical, national deliverance, freeing a people from physical slavery. The prophetic "new Exodus", particularly prominent in Jeremiah and Isaiah, often involves a return from exile, signifying spiritual and physical restoration, re-establishment of the covenant, and even a new creation. In the New Testament, this motif is significantly expanded and ultimately finds its most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. His life, death, and resurrection represent a spiritual "Exodus," liberating humanity not just from political bondage, but from the greater slavery of sin and death. He is the ultimate leader of God's people out of spiritual "Egypt" and into the promised land of God's kingdom. The cross, in this light, becomes the new "Passover," and baptism, the new "Red Sea crossing." This continuous "newness" of God's saving acts is a testament to His sovereign freedom and boundless mercy, always exceeding past manifestations of His grace.

Jeremiah 16 14 Commentary

Jeremiah 16:14 marks a pivotal point within a prophecy of impending doom, asserting that a future act of divine deliverance will be so remarkable it will eclipse the nation's foundational memory—the Exodus from Egypt. This verse does not imply forgetting or diminishing the original Exodus, which remains core to Israel's identity and their understanding of Yahweh. Rather, it declares a profound shift in emphasis: a future act of God will demonstrate His power and faithfulness in an even more encompassing way, becoming the new standard for national oaths and remembrances. This future event, specified in the subsequent verse (16:15), is the gathering of Israel from a broader, more severe dispersion—from the "north country and from all the countries where he had driven them." This "new Exodus" signifies God's unwavering commitment to His covenant people, assuring them of restoration even in the deepest troughs of exile and judgment. It serves as a profound promise of hope, illustrating God's capacity to transcend past mercies with new and greater redemptions.