Jeremiah 16 21

Jeremiah 16:21 kjv

Therefore, behold, I will this once cause them to know, I will cause them to know mine hand and my might; and they shall know that my name is The LORD.

Jeremiah 16:21 nkjv

"Therefore behold, I will this once cause them to know, I will cause them to know My hand and My might; And they shall know that My name is the LORD.

Jeremiah 16:21 niv

"Therefore I will teach them? this time I will teach them my power and might. Then they will know that my name is the LORD.

Jeremiah 16:21 esv

"Therefore, behold, I will make them know, this once I will make them know my power and my might, and they shall know that my name is the LORD."

Jeremiah 16:21 nlt

The LORD says,
"Now I will show them my power;
now I will show them my might.
At last they will know and understand
that I am the LORD.

Jeremiah 16 verses

Jeremiah 16 21 Meaning

Jeremiah 16:21 declares God's decisive intention to reveal His unmatched power and unique divine identity, Yahweh, to both the nations and His own people. Through impending acts of judgment and subsequent restoration, He will cause all to experientially understand His active might and His exclusive claim as the only true God, distinct from any false deities they have made for themselves. This verse signals a powerful, active intervention by God, ensuring a profound and undeniable realization of who He is.

Jeremiah 16 21 Context

Jeremiah chapter 16 focuses on the dire judgment coming upon Judah, prohibiting Jeremiah from common activities like marriage, mourning, or feasting, to graphically illustrate the utter desolation awaiting the people. Despite this pervasive message of impending doom and the sins that provoke it, verses 19-21 suddenly pivot to a profound declaration of future hope and global recognition of Yahweh. Following Jeremiah's lament and an affirmation from the nations that their idols are false, verse 21 announces God's proactive measure to teach these very nations (and by extension, Judah) His supreme power and His unique identity as the Lord. Historically, Judah faced the imminent Babylonian invasion and exile due to their persistent idolatry, mirroring the folly of the surrounding nations who worshipped inanimate gods. This verse acts as a future promise that transcends the immediate judgment, offering a glimpse of God's ultimate redemptive plan to reveal Himself universally.

Jeremiah 16 21 Word analysis

• Therefore (לָכֵן, lakhen): This connective word indicates a logical consequence or a strong transition. It signals that what follows is directly linked to or arises from the preceding verses, especially Jeremiah 16:19-20, where the nations acknowledge the futility of their false gods.
• behold (הִנֵּה, hinneh): An exclamation that draws immediate attention to the statement following. It emphasizes the certainty, importance, and impending nature of God's action, a divine decree.
• I will make them know (אוֹדִיעֵם, o'di'em): Derived from the Hebrew root yada (יָדַע), meaning "to know." This verb is in the Hiphil causative form, which means "to cause to know," "to teach," or "to declare." This is not passive learning, but an active, intentional, and sovereign act of God to ensure knowledge. It denotes a deep, experiential, and transformative understanding, not just intellectual awareness.
• this time (בַּפַּעַם הַזֹּאת, bappa'am hazzo't): Signifies a specific, critical moment in history. It highlights the uniqueness and the decisive nature of this impending revelation. It implies that this revelation will be unlike any previous or, perhaps, a culmination of previous, less complete, revelations.
• My hand (יָדִי, yadi): A common biblical anthropomorphism. "Hand" represents God's power, agency, active intervention, strength, and authority. It frequently denotes actions of judgment, deliverance, creation, and sustained power.
• and My might (וּגְבוּרָתִי, ugvurati): Refers to inherent strength, power, heroic acts, or irresistible force. It conveys God's unassailable capacity to act decisively and accomplish His will, often in a grand and overwhelming manner.
• and they shall know (וְיֵדְעוּ, veyed'u): Again from the root yada, but this time in the Qal imperfect, meaning "they will know" or "they will come to know." It signifies a profound, internalized, and acknowledged understanding resulting from God's revelation.
• that My name is the Lord (כִּי־שְׁמִי יְהוָה, ki shmi YHWH):
  • My name (שְׁמִי, shmi): In ancient Near Eastern thought, a name represented the essence, character, authority, and presence of a person. To know God's name is to know His very nature and character.
  • the Lord (יְהוָה, YHWH): This is the Tetragrammaton, God's personal, covenantal name, usually pronounced Yahweh. It means "He is," or "I AM Who I AM" (Exod 3:14), emphasizing God's eternal, self-existent, unchanging nature, and His faithfulness to His covenant promises. It is the name that distinguishes Him absolutely from all false gods.
• Words-group Analysis:
  • "I will make them know... My hand and My might": This pairing underscores God's active involvement and overwhelming power. The revelation of His might is tied to concrete actions—judgments, deliverances—that demonstrate His unparalleled ability. It is an act of demonstration, not just declaration.
  • "and they shall know that My name is the Lord": This phrase reveals the ultimate purpose of God's revelation of power. The goal isn't just an appreciation of strength, but a deep, personal, and theological knowledge of His unique identity as Yahweh. This acknowledges His covenant relationship, His absolute sovereignty, and His distinctness as the one true God, unlike any other named deity.

Jeremiah 16 21 Bonus section

• Polemics against Idolatry: This verse is a direct challenge and a stark contrast to the idolatrous practices of Judah and the surrounding nations, as highlighted in Jeremiah 16:19-20. While nations make "gods for themselves which are not gods," Yahweh declares He will demonstrate His absolute reality and power, utterly discrediting all false deities.
• Universal Scope of God's Revelation: The repeated "make them know" and "they shall know" points to a global, undeniable impact, indicating God's plan for the ultimate recognition of His sovereignty extending beyond Israel to all humanity.
• Progressive Revelation: While God had revealed His name and power to Israel extensively (e.g., Exodus), this "this time" (בַּפַּעַם הַזֹּאת) signifies a new and climactic stage of revelation, particularly in its breadth to include the Gentiles in a significant, comprehensive way. This foreshadows a major theme fulfilled through the global impact of the Gospel message and Christ's reign.
• Divine Initiative: The language "I will make them know" underscores God's sovereign initiative. This knowledge is not achieved through human intellectual prowess or effort alone, but is a divine impartation, an enforced encounter with reality brought about by God's own will and actions in history.

Jeremiah 16 21 Commentary

Jeremiah 16:21 stands as a powerful declaration amidst the prophetic pronouncements of judgment, highlighting God's ultimate purpose beyond the immediate devastation. God promises to orchestrate events – likely through both judgment and subsequent restoration – that will serve as an undeniable classroom experience for all nations, including the beleaguered Judah. His actions will cause them to experientially know His "hand" (His active power and intervention) and His "might" (His inherent, overwhelming strength). The culmination of this forced understanding is the profound realization that "My name is the Lord (YHWH)." This isn't merely knowing a label; it's comprehending His unique, self-existent, and faithful character, utterly distinct from powerless idols. This truth will be revealed so powerfully that no one can ignore or deny the exclusive claim of Yahweh as the one true God. This verse therefore carries immense evangelistic and missional weight, showing God's sovereign intent to make Himself known globally.