Jeremiah 31 35

Jeremiah 31:35 kjv

Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name:

Jeremiah 31:35 nkjv

Thus says the LORD, Who gives the sun for a light by day, The ordinances of the moon and the stars for a light by night, Who disturbs the sea, And its waves roar (The LORD of hosts is His name):

Jeremiah 31:35 niv

This is what the LORD says, he who appoints the sun to shine by day, who decrees the moon and stars to shine by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar? the LORD Almighty is his name:

Jeremiah 31:35 esv

Thus says the LORD, who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar ? the LORD of hosts is his name:

Jeremiah 31:35 nlt

It is the LORD who provides the sun to light the day
and the moon and stars to light the night,
and who stirs the sea into roaring waves.
His name is the LORD of Heaven's Armies,
and this is what he says:

Jeremiah 31 verses

Jeremiah 31 35 meaning

Jeremiah 31:35 proclaims the Lord God as the absolute sovereign over creation, the one who establishes and maintains the fixed order of the cosmos, from the sun, moon, and stars to the roaring sea. This verse serves as a powerful theological anchor, grounding the certainty and immutability of God's covenant promises, particularly the New Covenant detailed in the surrounding chapter, in His unchanging and supreme control over the natural world. It assures Israel that just as the cosmic order is secure under God's hand, so too are His unbreakable commitments to His people.

Jeremiah 31 35 Context

Jeremiah 31:35 is situated within Jeremiah's "Book of Comfort" (chapters 30-33), a section predominantly filled with promises of restoration, hope, and the future return of Israel and Judah from exile. Specifically, verse 35 immediately follows the momentous prophecy of the New Covenant (Jer 31:31-34), a profound promise of internal, transformative relationship with God. The verse's function is to undergird the absolute certainty and permanence of this New Covenant and the restoration of God's people.

Historically and culturally, ancient Israelites, like their Near Eastern neighbors, were acutely aware of celestial bodies and the power of the sea. However, while surrounding pagan cultures often deified the sun, moon, stars, or personified the chaos of the sea, attributing their behavior to independent, sometimes capricious, divine entities, Jeremiah 31:35 offers a direct polemic. It explicitly asserts that Yahweh alone "gives" the lights and "stirs up" the sea. The cosmic order is not arbitrary or controlled by competing deities but is a fixed "ordinance" (חקה - chuqqah) established and maintained solely by the one, sovereign Lord. This highlights God's unique power and authority, far surpassing any other supposed deity, and ensures that His promises are built upon an unshakeable foundation, unlike the unpredictable fortunes tied to lesser gods.

Jeremiah 31 35 Word analysis

• Thus: Marks an authoritative declaration, signaling divine utterance directly from the Lord. It commands attention and asserts the weight of the following statement.
• says: Indicates a direct word from God, affirming prophetic inspiration and divine revelation.
• the LORD: יהוה (YHWH) - The covenantal, personal name of God, revealing His self-existence, eternal nature, and His special relationship with Israel. This name grounds His cosmic power in His faithful character.
• who gives: Emphasizes God as the active, intentional, and generous provider. It asserts divine origination and ongoing provision for the very sources of light and natural order.
• the sun: שׁמשׁ (shemesh) - The primary celestial body for light and warmth. In contrast to pagan cultures where the sun was worshipped as a god, here it is depicted merely as an object provided and controlled by Yahweh.
• for light by day: Specifies the precise, ordered function and purpose for the sun, demonstrating divine intentionality and design.
• and the fixed order: חקת (chuqqah) - A crucial term signifying an established ordinance, decree, or statute. This is not arbitrary nature but a divinely ordained, unchanging pattern or law, ensuring cosmic stability. It emphasizes permanence and reliability.
• of the moon and the stars: The nocturnal lights. Just like the sun, their appearance and movements are not random but operate according to God's set ordinances, dispelling any notion of astrological determinism from independent astral deities.
• for light by night: Their divinely appointed role and function, complementing the sun's purpose.
• who stirs up: A strong verb indicating God's active involvement and control over powerful natural phenomena, not just setting things in motion initially but continuing to manage them. It implies initiation and guidance.
• the sea: Represents a force of immense power and, in ancient cosmology, often associated with primeval chaos (e.g., Ps 74:13). God's control over it signifies His absolute dominion even over forces perceived as destructive or unruly.
• so that its waves roar: A vivid sensory detail emphasizing the raw, uncontrollable power of the sea from a human perspective, yet explicitly stated to be under God's ultimate command. This natural display of power is orchestrated by Him.
• the LORD of hosts: יהוה צבאות (YHWH Sabaoth) - A powerful title highlighting God's supreme omnipotence, authority over all celestial and earthly powers, and His leadership over cosmic armies. It speaks to His limitless might and universal dominion.
• is his name: This identifies God's very character, reputation, and being with the preceding descriptions of cosmic creation and control. It means this is who He inherently is – a God of unparalleled power and unfailing order.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Thus says the LORD who gives the sun for light by day, and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night": This phrase firmly establishes God as the sovereign Creator and Sustainer of the celestial bodies, dispelling any idolatrous notions and highlighting His ongoing providential control over the fundamental rhythms of life. It speaks to a divinely engineered universe, not a chaotic or self-sustaining one.
• "who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar": This showcases God's direct control over the formidable, often terrifying, forces of nature. It asserts His dominion over the unpredictable and powerful, illustrating His comprehensive power, not limited to orderly patterns but also encompassing the chaotic.
• "the LORD of hosts is his name": This triumphant concluding phrase summarizes and identifies the magnificent, powerful Creator and Sustainer described with the covenant God of Israel. It asserts His identity as the all-powerful God who rules all things, thus affirming His absolute trustworthiness for the covenant promises made.

Jeremiah 31 35 Bonus section

The Hebrew word חקת (chuqqah) translated as "fixed order" or "ordinance" points to the theological concept of "natural law" as a divinely instituted order, not merely inherent properties of nature. It implies a creator who actively sets limits and rules for creation to follow. This is crucial for understanding God's reliability – His very character is intertwined with maintaining this order.

The stability of the physical world, explicitly under God's decree, acts as an analogy and a guarantee for the spiritual stability of His covenant with Israel (as articulated more clearly in Jer 31:36). God binds Himself, in a sense, to His own creation ordinances as a testimony to the immutable nature of His promises. If these cosmic laws could fail, then His covenant could too; but since they cannot, His covenant cannot. This concept profoundly links protology (doctrine of creation) with eschatology (future promises).

Jeremiah 31 35 Commentary

Jeremiah 31:35 provides the unshakable bedrock for the certainty of God's covenant with Israel, particularly the New Covenant of Jer 31:31-34. By recounting God's singular, unchallenged sovereignty over the most constant and powerful elements of creation – the predictable rising and setting of the sun, moon, and stars according to fixed decrees, and His command over the formidable, roaring sea – the prophet illustrates God's unassailable power and fidelity. The cosmic order is not random; it is established and maintained by Yahweh, the "LORD of hosts." This means the God who meticulously and powerfully orders the cosmos will undoubtedly uphold His word and promises to His people. Just as one can reliably expect day to follow night or the sea's boundary to be respected, so too can one expect God to honor His covenant, making its future fulfillment absolute. This verse directly refutes any pagan worship of natural forces by declaring them to be mere instruments of the one true God, under His complete authority. It is a powerful affirmation that God's covenant love for Israel is as enduring and certain as the laws of the universe He established.