Jeremiah 16 19

Jeremiah 16:19 kjv

O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit.

Jeremiah 16:19 nkjv

O LORD, my strength and my fortress, My refuge in the day of affliction, The Gentiles shall come to You From the ends of the earth and say, "Surely our fathers have inherited lies, Worthlessness and unprofitable things."

Jeremiah 16:19 niv

LORD, my strength and my fortress, my refuge in time of distress, to you the nations will come from the ends of the earth and say, "Our ancestors possessed nothing but false gods, worthless idols that did them no good.

Jeremiah 16:19 esv

O LORD, my strength and my stronghold, my refuge in the day of trouble, to you shall the nations come from the ends of the earth and say: "Our fathers have inherited nothing but lies, worthless things in which there is no profit.

Jeremiah 16:19 nlt

LORD, you are my strength and fortress,
my refuge in the day of trouble!
Nations from around the world
will come to you and say,
"Our ancestors left us a foolish heritage,
for they worshiped worthless idols.

Jeremiah 16 verses

Jeremiah 16 19 Meaning

Jeremiah 16:19 is a profound declaration by the prophet, personally confessing Yahweh as his ultimate source of strength, defense, and safety during times of trouble. This personal testimony then pivots to a remarkable prophecy concerning the Gentile nations. It foretells that people from all over the world will eventually turn to the one true God, acknowledging that the traditional, ancestral worship practices and beliefs inherited from their forefathers were nothing but deceptions, empty rituals, and utterly worthless in providing any true benefit or salvation. This verse seamlessly weaves personal reliance on God with a universal eschatological vision of truth overcoming idolatry.

Jeremiah 16 19 Context

Jeremiah chapter 16 is a difficult but deeply significant chapter in the book, outlining God's severe judgments on Judah through a series of prophetic signs and pronouncements. The prophet Jeremiah is commanded not to marry (16:2-4), not to mourn (16:5-7), and not to feast (16:8-9), signifying the complete desolation and end of normal life that is rapidly approaching for Judah due to their persistent idolatry and rejection of God. Despite this impending judgment, a glimmer of hope for future restoration is woven throughout the chapter, shifting from warnings of exile and punishment (16:10-13) to promises of a "new exodus" (16:14-15) where God will gather His people. Verse 19 sits precisely at this crucial juncture, transitioning from the immediate desolation of Judah to a sweeping, universal prophecy of the Gentiles' eventual conversion and recognition of God's sovereignty. It's a striking contrast: while Judah rejects God, distant nations will acknowledge Him.

Jeremiah 16 19 Word analysis

• O LORD: Hebrew: Adonai (אֲדֹנָי). This term signifies sovereign Lordship and intimate, reverent address, reflecting Jeremiah's deep personal relationship and trust in God despite the overwhelming despair surrounding him. It emphasizes God's authority and control.
• my strength: Hebrew: ḥizqî (חִזְקִי). Literally "my strength" or "my strong one." It denotes the source of inner fortitude, resilience, and capability. Jeremiah acknowledges that his very power to endure, speak truth, and withstand opposition comes directly from God.
• and my fortress: Hebrew: u-miśgabbî (וּמִשְׂגָּבִי). Derived from a root meaning "to be high." It refers to a high, inaccessible place of security, a strong defense or refuge, often a natural stronghold like a cliff. God is an impenetrable haven.
• and my refuge: Hebrew: u-mānôsî (וּמָנוֹסִי). This term signifies a place to flee for safety, an escape, or an asylum. It emphasizes God as the ultimate deliverer when all other options fail and dangers are present.
• in the day of affliction: Hebrew: bə-yôm ṣārâ (בְּיוֹם צָרָה). This phrase points to a specific time of distress, anguish, trouble, or severe calamity. Jeremiah expects to face such days, highlighting God's faithfulness specifically during periods of great personal or national hardship.
• the Gentiles: Hebrew: gôyim (גּוֹיִם). Literally "nations" or "peoples." In biblical context, it commonly refers to non-Israelite nations. Its use here is pivotal, extending the scope of God's future redemptive plan beyond Israel to the entire world.
• shall come unto thee: Hebrew: yāvō'û 'ēlekā (יָבֹאוּ אֵלֶיךָ). Future tense, indicating a definite coming towards God, suggesting an act of worship, submission, and conversion. This is a voluntary pilgrimage, drawn by divine truth.
• from the ends of the earth: Hebrew: miqṣôt hā'āreṣ (מִקְצוֹת הָאָרֶץ). This phrase emphasizes the vast, universal reach of this prophecy. It signifies the most distant, remote parts of the globe, underscoring that God's renown and drawing power will extend to all humanity.
• and shall say: Hebrew: wə-yō'mərû (וְיֹאמְרוּ). A future declaration, an open confession and acknowledgement. This is a spoken testimony of their transformed understanding.
• Surely: Hebrew: 'āḵēn (אָכֵן). An emphatic affirmation, meaning "truly," "indeed," or "certainly." It underscores the absolute conviction of the coming Gentiles in their confession.
• our fathers: Hebrew: 'avōtēnû (אֲבֹתֵינוּ). Refers to ancestors or forefathers. It indicates an inherited tradition or a practice passed down through generations. The confession targets deeply rooted, historical errors.
• have inherited lies: Hebrew: naḥălû šeqer (נַחֲălû šeqer). Naḥălû means "to inherit" or "to possess by inheritance." Sheqer means "falsehood," "deception," or "lie." The phrase indicates that their traditional religious practices were based on deceit, false promises, or unreal deities handed down through generations.
• vanity: Hebrew: hevel (הֶבֶל). This word implies emptiness, breath, vapor, meaninglessness, futility. It strongly echoes themes from Ecclesiastes, emphasizing the ultimate emptiness and lack of substance in idolatrous practices.
• and things wherein there is no profit: Hebrew: wə-'ēn bām mô'îl (וְאֵין בָּהֶם מוֹעִיל). A direct and conclusive statement on the utter worthlessness of idolatry. These inherited practices provide no true benefit, no salvation, no life, no divine intervention. They are utterly useless.

Words-group analysis:

• "O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction": This opening segment reveals Jeremiah's intimate relationship with Yahweh. It is a profound declaration of personal reliance and a testimony to God's multifaceted role as provider of strength, impenetrable defense, and safe haven, specifically tailored for times of intense personal and national suffering. It positions God as the ultimate security against all adversity.
• "the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say": This phrase marks a dramatic shift from individual trust to a sweeping universal prophecy. It foretells a future where diverse, distant nations actively seek and acknowledge Yahweh, transitioning from polytheistic worship to the singular truth of the living God. It envisions a global pilgrimage towards God.
• "Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit": This concluding confession by the future Gentiles is a polemic against idolatry. It signifies a profound awakening and repudiation of their ancestral, inherited false religions. Their statement dismantles the spiritual foundations of idol worship by categorizing them as inherently deceitful, utterly meaningless, and completely unproductive in providing any true spiritual or temporal advantage. It underlines the stark contrast between human traditions and divine truth.

Jeremiah 16 19 Bonus section

The structure of Jeremiah 16:19, moving from Jeremiah's personal declaration to a grand eschatological vision of Gentile conversion, makes it a significant prophetic text often interpreted as prefiguring the New Testament church. This verse implicitly suggests that God's long-term plan includes all humanity, and their recognition of inherited error leads them to the one true God, bypassing the inherited religious institutions of Judah if those institutions fail. The very act of "coming to You" by the Gentiles points to a voluntary seeking, not a conquest. This demonstrates God's heart for all people and His ultimate purpose to reveal Himself as the one and only profit-bringing, non-vain God to all the nations of the world. It provides profound hope amidst despair, pointing beyond local judgment to global redemption.

Jeremiah 16 19 Commentary

Jeremiah 16:19 is a remarkably hopeful and expansive prophecy nestled within a chapter dominated by grim pronouncements of judgment against Judah. It begins with Jeremiah’s personal affirmation of Yahweh as his steadfast strength, fortress, and refuge in the day of affliction. This declaration is crucial; it grounds the universal vision that follows in the prophet's immediate, lived experience of God's dependable nature. Despite the nation's spiritual apostasy and impending doom, Jeremiah himself finds his stability solely in God.

The heart of the verse lies in its extraordinary prediction: "the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth." This envisions a future conversion of non-Israelite nations to Yahweh worship, a concept truly revolutionary for its time when God's covenant was primarily with Israel. It indicates a scope far beyond Judah's immediate concerns, pointing to a global recognition of God's sovereignty. The imagery of "ends of the earth" emphasizes the comprehensive and worldwide nature of this coming to God.

The Gentiles' anticipated confession, "Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit," is a powerful indictment of idolatry. This is not just an acknowledgment of God's existence but a repentance and a rejection of their own spiritual heritage. "Lies" (Hebrew: sheqer) implies active deception or false claims by their ancestral deities. "Vanity" (Hebrew: hevel) portrays the emptiness and futility, a sheer lack of substance or ultimate purpose in idol worship, akin to breath that disappears. "Things wherein there is no profit" makes the ultimate statement of worthlessness – these gods offer no true help, no salvation, and no lasting benefit. This collective repentance foreshadows a future where divine truth triumphs over inherited spiritual falsehoods. It highlights God's universal drawing power and the self-defeating nature of anything other than Him.