Jeremiah 3:17 kjv
At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart.
Jeremiah 3:17 nkjv
"At that time Jerusalem shall be called The Throne of the LORD, and all the nations shall be gathered to it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem. No more shall they follow the dictates of their evil hearts.
Jeremiah 3:17 niv
At that time they will call Jerusalem The Throne of the LORD, and all nations will gather in Jerusalem to honor the name of the LORD. No longer will they follow the stubbornness of their evil hearts.
Jeremiah 3:17 esv
At that time Jerusalem shall be called the throne of the LORD, and all nations shall gather to it, to the presence of the LORD in Jerusalem, and they shall no more stubbornly follow their own evil heart.
Jeremiah 3:17 nlt
In that day Jerusalem will be known as 'The Throne of the LORD.' All nations will come there to honor the LORD. They will no longer stubbornly follow their own evil desires.
Jeremiah 3 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 2:2-4 | Now it shall come to pass in the latter days... that all nations shall flow to it. And many peoples shall come... | Jerusalem as spiritual center; nations gather. |
| Mic 4:1-2 | It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord... and peoples shall flow to it. | Zion exalted, nations coming to learn God's ways. |
| Zech 8:3 | Thus says the Lord: "I will return to Zion and dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; Jerusalem shall be called The City of Truth..." | God's presence in Jerusalem, making it righteous. |
| Zech 14:16 | And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up... | Nations gathering to Jerusalem for worship. |
| Isa 60:3 | And Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. | Nations drawn to the light emanating from Zion. |
| Rev 21:24 | And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory... | Nations enter the New Jerusalem in final state. |
| Ps 22:27 | All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship... | Universal worship and turning to God. |
| Zeph 3:9-10 | "For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, that they all may call on the name of the Lord... | Nations serving the Lord with one accord. |
| Jer 31:33 | "But this is the covenant that I will make... I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts..." | New Covenant promise of inner transformation. |
| Ezek 11:19 | Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them... that they may walk in My statutes... | God replacing the stubborn heart with a new one. |
| Ezek 36:26-27 | I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you... I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk... | Divine work enabling obedience to God's laws. |
| Rom 11:26-27 | And so all Israel will be saved... "The Deliverer will come out of Zion... He will turn ungodliness from Jacob... | Israel's future salvation and removal of sin. |
| Heb 8:10 | For this is the covenant that I will make... "I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts..." | Echoes Jer 31 regarding the New Covenant. |
| Deut 12:5 | But you shall seek the place where the Lord your God chooses, out of all your tribes, to put His name for His dwelling... | The significance of God placing His Name. |
| 1 Kgs 8:29 | that Your eyes may be open toward this temple night and day, toward the place of which You said, 'My name shall be there.' | God's Name representing His presence and authority. |
| Isa 11:9 | They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord... | Knowledge of the Lord filling the earth in messianic age. |
| Psa 72:11 | Yes, all kings shall fall down before Him; all nations shall serve Him. | Universal homage to the future King. |
| Hag 2:7 | "And I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory..." | Nations bringing their wealth and glory to the Lord. |
| Zech 2:11 | Many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and shall become My people. I will dwell in your midst... | Nations becoming God's people, indwelt by God. |
| Isa 45:22-23 | "Look to Me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth!... To Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall take an oath." | Universal salvation and allegiance to God. |
| Heb 12:22-23 | But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem... | Spiritual reality of believers coming to God's heavenly city. |
| Psa 9:10 | And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You. | Trust in God based on knowing His name/character. |
| Deut 10:16 | Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be stiff-necked no longer. | Command to reject stubbornness, a prerequisite for obedience. |
| Jer 24:7 | Then I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the Lord; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God... | God promises a heart for true knowledge of Him. |
| Gal 6:15 | For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. | Emphasizes internal transformation (new creation) over external markers. |
Jeremiah 3 verses
Jeremiah 3 17 Meaning
Jeremiah 3:17 proclaims a profound eschatological promise for the future when Jerusalem will be recognized as the epicenter of divine rule. It describes a time when the Lord's presence and authority will be uniquely centered there, leading all nations to willingly gather, not to a human kingdom, but to worship the Name of the Lord. Critically, this future state is characterized by a radical inner transformation, where the ingrained human stubbornness and evil inclination, which had plagued Israel and humanity, will be overcome, allowing for a walk in obedience to God. This verse paints a vision of universal worship and moral renewal flowing from a divinely transformed Jerusalem.
Jeremiah 3 17 Context
Jeremiah chapter 3 opens with Judah's severe apostasy, portraying the nation as an unfaithful wife who repeatedly returns to idolatry. Despite Israel's earlier treachery (the Northern Kingdom), Judah, having witnessed its destruction, continued in even greater unfaithfulness. The Lord, however, calls for repentance (Jer 3:1, 12, 14), urging Israel (the Northern Kingdom) and Judah to return to Him. Amidst this backdrop of widespread spiritual harlotry and impending judgment, Jeremiah interweaves profound promises of future restoration. The immediate verses preceding 3:17 speak of a time when the Ark of the Covenant, central to Israel's old covenant worship, will no longer be necessary, because the Lord Himself will be Israel's dwelling (Jer 3:16). Furthermore, Israel and Judah will be reunited under one shepherd, gathered to Jerusalem (Jer 3:18). Verse 3:17 thus functions as a climactic vision within these restoration promises, envisioning a dramatically transformed future for Jerusalem, for Israel, and for all nations, marked by the direct and universal rule of God, in stark contrast to the idolatrous and stubborn-hearted state of Jeremiah's contemporary audience. This hope transcends the immediate judgments and serves as a powerful polemic against the false security and idol worship prevalent in Judah.
Jeremiah 3 17 Word analysis
- At that time (בָּעֵת הַהִיא, ba'et hahi): This phrase typically points to a specific future, often referring to the eschatological or Messianic age. It signals a major shift in divine dispensation or a prophetic culmination, emphasizing a time different from the present experience of judgment and apostasy.
- Jerusalem (יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, Yerushalaim): More than just a geographical city, Jerusalem here represents the spiritual capital of God's people. In this prophetic vision, its identity is redefined not by its present state of idolatry, but by its future role as the locus of divine government.
- shall be called (יִקְרְאוּ, yik're'u): This is not merely a naming, but indicates a definitive status, identity, and recognized character. To "be called" something in biblical context signifies actually being that thing in its essence and function, universally acknowledged.
- The Throne of the Lord (כִּסֵּא יְהוָה, kisse YHVH): This phrase highlights the direct, supreme, and visible rule of God Himself from Jerusalem. It suggests divine governance replaces earthly kingdoms and even priestly systems that previously mediated His presence. It contrasts with earthly, fallible thrones and points to universal authority.
- all the nations (כָּל־הַגּוֹיִם, kol-hagoyim): This emphasizes a universal scope, extending beyond Israel to include all Gentile peoples. It marks a departure from exclusive covenant thinking to an inclusive, global embrace of God's rule.
- shall be gathered to it (יִקָּבְצוּ אֵלֶיהָ, yikavtzu eleiha): This denotes a purposeful, willing pilgrimage. The nations are not conquered or coerced, but rather drawn to Jerusalem, indicating an attraction based on the manifest presence and just rule of the Lord.
- to the name of the Lord (לְשֵׁם יְהוָה, leshem YHVH): The "Name of the Lord" encompasses His revealed character, attributes, authority, and presence. Gathering to His Name means acknowledging and submitting to who He is, implying worship, allegiance, and seeking His instruction.
- nor shall they walk anymore (וְלֹא־יֵלְכוּ עוֹד, v'lo-yelchu od): This phrase denotes a complete cessation of former behavior. The old way of life, rooted in disobedience, will be definitively abandoned.
- after the stubbornness of their evil heart (אַחֲרֵי שְׁרִירוּת לִבָּם הָרָע, akharei sh'rirut libbam hara'):
- stubbornness (שְׁרִירוּת, sh'rirut): Refers to the hard-hearted obstinacy and firm refusal to obey God. It implies an internal resistance to divine instruction and correction, a recurring sin in Israel's history.
- their evil heart (לִבָּם הָרָע, libbam hara'): The "heart" in Hebrew thought is the center of will, intellect, emotion, and moral decision-making. "Evil heart" indicates a core corrupting influence leading to sinful choices. This prophecy points to a complete reversal of this foundational human problem.
Jeremiah 3 17 Bonus section
This verse offers a glimpse into the biblical concept of the Messianic Kingdom or the eschatological new heaven and new earth. It ties directly to prophetic visions from Isaiah, Micah, and Zechariah concerning the ultimate global influence of God's rule from Zion. The emphasis on the transformation of the "evil heart" is pivotal, suggesting that such a universal ingathering and pure worship is only possible through a divine work that changes humanity from within. While some interpretations see a literal fulfillment of nations gathering to a restored earthly Jerusalem during the millennium, others view it primarily through the lens of spiritual fulfillment in the Church (the "heavenly Jerusalem") and the ultimate reign of Christ. Regardless, the core message of God's sovereign rule, the drawing of all peoples to Him, and the internal transformation of the human heart remain central to the eschatological hope found throughout Scripture. The cessation of "stubbornness" contrasts starkly with the character of both Israel and the nations throughout history, portraying a truly unprecedented era of divine harmony.
Jeremiah 3 17 Commentary
Jeremiah 3:17 stands as a beacon of hope in a chapter largely consumed by God's lament over Judah's spiritual adultery and the threat of judgment. It articulates a radical eschatological transformation: Jerusalem, the scene of so much betrayal and idol worship, will one day be so completely permeated by God's presence that it becomes "The Throne of the Lord." This signifies the establishment of God's direct and universal rule, replacing all human authorities and religious compromises.
The scope of this vision is remarkable. "All the nations," previously estranged or hostile, will converge on Jerusalem, drawn not by military might but by the compelling reality of God's Name – His revealed character and authority. Their gathering is an act of voluntary homage and submission to the one true God, moving away from idolatry and self-will. The most profound aspect of this promise is the internal change: "nor shall they walk anymore after the stubbornness of their evil heart." This addresses the fundamental human problem of sin and rebellion, often rooted in an unyielding heart. This transformation points forward to the New Covenant promises (Jer 31:31-34, Ezek 36:26-27), where God's law would be written on the heart, empowering true obedience. It signifies an age of true faith, moral purity, and universal fellowship with God. This verse reveals God's ultimate redemptive purpose, turning a deeply flawed city and people into the radiant center of His global, righteous reign, characterized by hearts aligned with His will.