Jeremiah 23:39 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Jeremiah 23:39 kjv
Therefore, behold, I, even I, will utterly forget you, and I will forsake you, and the city that I gave you and your fathers, and cast you out of my presence:
Jeremiah 23:39 nkjv
therefore behold, I, even I, will utterly forget you and forsake you, and the city that I gave you and your fathers, and will cast you out of My presence.
Jeremiah 23:39 niv
Therefore, I will surely forget you and cast you out of my presence along with the city I gave to you and your ancestors.
Jeremiah 23:39 esv
therefore, behold, I will surely lift you up and cast you away from my presence, you and the city that I gave to you and your fathers.
Jeremiah 23:39 nlt
I will forget you completely. I will expel you from my presence, along with this city that I gave to you and your ancestors.
Jeremiah 23 39 Cross References
| Topic / Category | Verse | Text (shortened) | Reference (short note) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Divine Judgment/Rejection for Sin | Jer 7:15 | "And I will cast you out of My sight... as I cast out all your brothers, all the offspring of Ephraim." | God's historical pattern of casting out unfaithful people. |
| 2 Kgs 17:18 | "So the LORD was very angry with Israel and removed them from His presence; only the tribe of Judah was left." | Northern Kingdom already exiled due to sin. | |
| Hos 1:9 | "Then He said, 'Name him Lo-Ammi, for you are not My people and I am not your God.'" | Symbolic naming illustrating God's disowning. | |
| Isa 1:7 | "Your land is desolate... Your cities are burned with fire..." | Foretelling the desolation as a consequence of sin. | |
| Ps 51:11 | "Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me." | A prayer reflecting the fear of losing God's presence. | |
| Rom 11:1-2 | "I ask then, God has not rejected His people, has He? ... God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew." | Long-term hope and God's faithfulness despite temporary rejection. | |
| Heb 10:26-27 | "For if we go on sinning willfully... there remains no longer a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment." | New Covenant warning against willful apostasy. | |
| Consequences of Rejecting God's Word/Prophets | 2 Chr 36:15-16 | "But they mocked God’s messengers, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD rose against His people..." | Clear consequence of despising divine message. |
| Prov 1:24-31 | "Because I called and you refused... then they will call on Me, but I will not answer..." | Wisdom's warning against ignoring correction. | |
| Zech 7:11-13 | "But they refused to pay attention... So it came about that as He called and they did not listen, so they called and I would not listen." | Reciprocal silence from God for rejected word. | |
| Gal 6:7 | "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a person sows, this he will also reap." | Universal principle of reaping what is sown. | |
| 1 Sam 2:30 | "Therefore the LORD, the God of Israel, declares, 'I will honor those who honor Me, but those who think lightly of Me will be scorned.'" | Divine response to those who treat Him lightly. | |
| Loss of God's Presence/Protection | Gen 4:16 | "Then Cain went out from the presence of the LORD..." | First instance of being banished from God's immediate presence. |
| Ezek 8:6 | "Then He said to me, 'Son of man, do you see what they are doing... so that I will go far from My sanctuary?'" | God threatening to withdraw from His temple. | |
| Ezek 11:23 | "The glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city..." | Depiction of God's glory departing from Jerusalem. | |
| Jerusalem's Judgment and Revocation of Gifts | Jer 7:1-15 | "Go to My place which was in Shiloh... So I will do to this house on which My name is called... just as I did to Shiloh." | Threat to destroy the Temple and Jerusalem like Shiloh. |
| Lam 2:1-7 | "How the Lord has covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud... He has given up His dwelling place like a garden shed..." | Lamenting God's destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. | |
| Mic 3:12 | "Therefore, because of you, Zion will be plowed as a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of ruins..." | Prophecy of Jerusalem's utter destruction. | |
| Matt 23:37-39 | "Jerusalem, Jerusalem... How often I wanted to gather your children... and you were unwilling. Behold, your house is being left to you desolate!" | Jesus lamenting and predicting Jerusalem's future desolation. | |
| God's Remembrance/Forgetting (Covenant Context) | Deut 8:19-20 | "And it will come about if you ever forget the LORD your God... you will certainly perish just as the nations whom the LORD made to perish." | Forgetting God leads to perishing. |
| Isa 49:15 | "Can a woman forget her nursing child... Even these may forget, but I will not forget you." | Highlights God's unique remembrance (in the ultimate sense). | |
| Jer 29:10-14 | "For thus says the LORD, 'When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you... I will restore your fortunes.'" | Promise of future restoration after a period of "forgetting." | |
| Ezek 36:24-28 | "For I will take you from the nations... and bring you into your own land." | Promise of ultimate spiritual and physical restoration. |
Jeremiah 23 verses
Jeremiah 23 39 meaning
Jeremiah 23:39 declares a severe, irreversible (in the immediate context) divine judgment upon Judah. God emphatically states His intent to "utterly forget" them, meaning to disown and cease to acknowledge them in a covenantal, protective sense, and to "cast them out" of His immediate favor and presence. This judgment is extended to Jerusalem, the beloved city, which God Himself had graciously bestowed upon His people. The verse emphasizes that their unfaithfulness, particularly in mocking His word, has led to their abandonment and the revocation of His blessings, signaling impending exile and desolation.
Jeremiah 23 39 Context
Jeremiah 23:39 falls within a powerful section (Jeremiah 23:9-40) primarily directed against the false prophets of Judah, who were leading the people astray with deceitful words, promising peace and prosperity when God was, in fact, pronouncing judgment. These prophets corrupted the land and undermined Jeremiah's true prophecies of impending disaster (Babylonian exile). Specifically, the verse follows God's condemnation of those who glibly asked, "What is the burden [Hebrew: masa'] of the Lord?" They used this sacred term (referring to an oracle, often one of judgment) lightly and mockingly. God declares that He will turn them, His people, into the "burden" He will cast off, effectively becoming the object of divine judgment. This verse is the pronouncement of that judicial abandonment, shattering the false sense of security derived from their status as God's chosen people or Jerusalem's supposed inviolability, preparing them for the reality of the coming Babylonian invasion and exile.
Jeremiah 23 39 Word analysis
- Therefore (`Lāḵēn`, לָכֵן): Introduces a solemn consequence. It signifies that the impending judgment is a direct, logical outcome of the actions described in the preceding verses, especially the mockery of God's word and the actions of false prophets.
- behold (`Hinnēh`, הִנֵּה): An exclamation demanding immediate attention and underscoring the certainty and gravity of what is about to be declared. It emphasizes the direct, unavoidable nature of God's action.
- I, even I (`’Ānōḵî `āḵî`, אָנֹכִי אָנֹכִי): This double use of the first-person singular pronoun is a highly emphatic Hebrew construction, conveying the solemnity, certainty, and personal resolve of God in issuing this judgment. It underlines that this is God's own, personal decision and action, not merely a threat.
- will utterly forget (`nāšōh ’eškaḥ`, נָשֹׁה אֶשְׁכַּח): This employs an infinitive absolute followed by the finite verb from the root `šākaḥ` (to forget). This construction powerfully emphasizes the completeness and decisiveness of the action. "Forgetting" here does not imply divine amnesia, but a deliberate act of judicial disinheritance, a removal from God's covenantal care, protection, and remembrance in a relational sense. It means to cease acknowledging them as His people in a saving way.
- you (`’et-kem`, אֶתְכֶם): Refers directly to the people of Judah, specifically those who were perverting God's word and following false prophets.
- and I will cast you out (`wənaṭaštî ’et-kem`, וְנָטַשְׁתִּי אֶתְכֶם): The verb `nāṭaš` means to leave, abandon, cast off. This is another strong verb indicating definitive rejection and withdrawal of favor and protection. It parallels "utterly forget," reinforcing the theme of abandonment.
- of My presence (`mikkalpanaʸ`, מִכַּלְפָּנָי): Literally, "from before My face" or "from My presence." This signifies a complete loss of God's intimate fellowship, favor, and direct care. To be cast out of God's presence is to lose the protective and benevolent aspects of His covenant relationship.
- along with the city (`wə’et-hā‘îr`, וְאֶת־הָעִיר): Points to Jerusalem, the capital and the symbolic heart of the kingdom and God's dwelling place on earth (the Temple city). The judgment is not just on the people but on the very locus of their national identity and religious life.
- which I gave (`’ăšer nāṯattî`, אֲשֶׁר נָתַתִּי): Highlights God's previous gracious act of bestowing Jerusalem as a gift to His people. This emphasizes the gravity of the revocation; it's the removal of a divine gift due to their abuse of it.
- to you and to your fathers (`lākem wěla’ăḇōṯêḵem`, לָכֶם וְלַאֲבוֹתֵיכֶם): Connects the present generation to the historical covenant. The city was a heritage, a testament to God's faithfulness to Abraham and his descendants. Their current apostasy directly disdained this sacred gift.
- "I, even I, will utterly forget you": This phrase emphasizes the deliberate and comprehensive nature of God's judgment. It signifies a covenantal disinheritance, a withdrawal of His remembrance in a relational, protective sense, rather than an inability to recall. It marks a period of non-acknowledgment of Israel as His favored people in the promised land, paving the way for the Babylonian exile.
- "and I will cast you out of My presence": This further clarifies the nature of God's "forgetting." It's an active removal, a severing of the close communion and protection that defines God's presence among His people. It points to a profound spiritual and physical displacement from the land and the Temple, where His presence was uniquely manifested.
- "along with the city which I gave to you and to your fathers": This inclusion highlights the scope of the judgment, extending beyond the people to the very symbol of their national and religious identity—Jerusalem. By reminding them that He "gave" the city, God underscores His sovereign right to reclaim what was once His gift, signifying that even sacred places are not immune to judgment when covenant stipulations are violated.
Jeremiah 23 39 Bonus section
The concept of God "forgetting" His people (našōh 'eškaḥ) is a powerful anthropomorphism that needs careful interpretation. It doesn't imply a deficiency in God's infinite knowledge, but rather a deliberate and judicial decision to act as if they are no longer in His active memory or favor, for the purpose of enacting judgment. This "forgetting" is temporary within the broader biblical narrative, as God consistently promises ultimate restoration and "remembers" His covenant (Jer 29:10-14; Ezek 36:24-28). The immediate forgetting, however, is a severe consequence for their persistent mockery and spiritual adultery. This judgment also sets up a stark contrast with the genuine prophetic ministry, like Jeremiah's, whose unpopular warnings truly represented God's heart, leading to eventual exile as a period of refining, not utter annihilation. It also underscores a core theological truth: God's relationship with humanity is always predicated on covenant, and persistent rebellion inevitably brings severe consequences, even for the most chosen.
Jeremiah 23 39 Commentary
Jeremiah 23:39 represents a pinnacle of divine judgment against Judah for its persistent apostasy and, specifically, the irreverent abuse of God's name and word by false prophets and the complicity of the people. God’s emphatic "I, even I," coupled with the intense "utterly forget," reveals a deliberate and resolute act of covenantal disowning, not literal amnesia. It is a judicial abandonment, signifying a cessation of His protective and sustaining presence in a tangible way. The phrase "cast you out of My presence" speaks to the painful reality of losing divine favor and intimate fellowship, leading to vulnerability and eventual exile. Significantly, this judgment encompasses Jerusalem itself, "the city which I gave to you and to your fathers." This highlights that even God's most precious gifts and the symbols of His covenant are subject to withdrawal when the beneficiaries flagrantly dishonor the Giver. The verse underscores God's holiness and His commitment to His word, demonstrating that while He is merciful, He is also a God of justice who holds His people accountable, even to the point of temporarily "forgetting" His promise of presence due to their flagrant unfaithfulness.