Jeremiah 32 19

Jeremiah 32:19 kjv

Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:

Jeremiah 32:19 nkjv

You are great in counsel and mighty in work, for Your eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men, to give everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings.

Jeremiah 32:19 niv

great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds. Your eyes are open to the ways of all mankind; you reward each person according to their conduct and as their deeds deserve.

Jeremiah 32:19 esv

great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are open to all the ways of the children of man, rewarding each one according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds.

Jeremiah 32:19 nlt

You have all wisdom and do great and mighty miracles. You see the conduct of all people, and you give them what they deserve.

Jeremiah 32 verses

Jeremiah 32 19 meaning

Jeremiah 32:19 describes God's inherent nature, foundational to Jeremiah's prayer amidst the siege of Jerusalem. It declares God as supreme in wisdom ("great in counsel") and power ("mighty in deed"), acknowledging His ability to both conceive and execute His perfect will. It further affirms His omniscience ("whose eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men"), indicating His full awareness of all human actions, intentions, and life paths. Finally, it establishes His perfect justice ("giving to everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds"), asserting that He justly dispenses consequences aligned with each person's conduct and the outcomes of their actions. This verse portrays an all-knowing, all-powerful, and perfectly righteous God who oversees all of creation.

Jeremiah 32 19 Context

Jeremiah 32:19 is part of Jeremiah’s prayer to God (verses 17-25) during an unprecedented time. Jerusalem is under siege by the Babylonians, imminent destruction and exile loom. While in prison for his prophecies, God commanded Jeremiah to purchase a field in Anathoth from his cousin, Hanameel, an act that symbolized a future return and restoration, even amidst the present judgment. Jeremiah's prayer begins by affirming God's power and ability to do anything (v. 17). He then reflects on God's past faithfulness and present judgment on Judah due to their sin (v. 18). Verse 19 explicitly details God’s perfect attributes – His supreme wisdom, sovereign power, all-seeing knowledge, and impeccable justice – providing the theological foundation for Jeremiah’s acknowledgment of both the deserved punishment and the miraculous promise of future redemption that seemingly contradicts the immediate despair.

Jeremiah 32 19 Word analysis

• You (אַתָּה, ʾattâ): A direct, emphatic personal pronoun, highlighting Jeremiah's intimate and reverent address to God, establishing a direct connection.

• are great (גְּדֹל, gᵉdol): Implies immensity, excellence, and superiority, distinguishing God as incomparable in magnitude and significance.

• in counsel (בָּעֵצָה, baʿēṣâ): Refers to God's wise plans, deliberate purposes, and sovereign decision-making, which are flawless and all-encompassing.

• and mighty (וְגִבּוֹר, wᵉgibbôr): Conveys strength, heroism, and overwhelming power, portraying God as the divine warrior and supreme agent.

• in deed (בַמַּעֲשֶׂה, bam^aʿaseh): Denotes action, work, or accomplishment, emphasizing God's ability to perfectly execute His plans in reality.

• whose eyes (עֵינֶיךָ, ʿêneyḵā): Anthropomorphism signifying God's constant and complete awareness; it implies comprehensive understanding and vigilance.

• are open (פְקֻחֹות, pᵉquḥôṯ): Means fully alert, watchful, and perceiving without obstruction, indicating nothing is hidden from God.

• to all (עַל־כָּל־, ʿal-kāl-): Denotes universality and completeness; encompassing every aspect without exception.

• the ways (דַּרְכֵי, darḵê): Refers to paths, conduct, or course of life, encompassing all actions, behaviors, and moral choices.

• of the sons of men (בְּנֵי אָדָם, bᵉnê ʾādām): A Hebrew idiom for all humanity, emphasizing the universal scope of God's observation and knowledge.

• giving (וְנֹתֵן, wᵉnōṯēn): A present participle indicating continuous, active dispensing or granting, showcasing God as the sovereign giver of consequence.

• to everyone (לְאִישׁ, lᵉʾîš): Signifies individual application; God's justice is personal and specific to each individual.

• according to his ways (כִּדְרָכָיו, kiḏrāḵāw): Establishes a direct correspondence between individual conduct and divine response, underscoring personal accountability.

• and according to the fruit (וְכִפְרִי, wᵉḵiṯpᵊrî): A metaphor for the results, outcomes, or consequences of actions, similar to "harvest."

• of his deeds (מַעֲלָלָיו, maʿalālāyw): Refers to actual performances, practices, or acts, reiterating the direct link between human action and divine judgment.

• "great in counsel and mighty in deed": This phrase highlights God's perfect coherence between His thought and action. His wisdom (counsel) is always achievable because His power (deed) is absolute. There is no plan He devises that He cannot execute. This also signifies that His actions are never impulsive, but flow from perfectly considered wisdom.

• "whose eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men": This depicts God's pervasive omnipresence and perfect omniscience. It means no human action, thought, or hidden intention is unknown to Him, establishing the grounds for ultimate moral accountability. It serves as a strong reminder that human beings live their lives under God's constant, discerning gaze.

• "giving to everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds": This grouping firmly establishes the principle of divine justice or retribution. God’s recompense is neither arbitrary nor generalized; it is perfectly calibrated to individual behavior and the resulting consequences, ensuring equity and perfect fairness in judgment.

Jeremiah 32 19 Bonus section

• The phrasing "great in counsel and mighty in deed" is a merism, where two contrasting or complementary terms are used to express a complete idea, here emphasizing the full scope of God's wisdom and power in His comprehensive actions.
• This verse contains implicit polemics against the gods of surrounding nations (like those of Babylon), which were often depicted as capricious, limited in power, or bound by fate. In contrast, Yahweh is presented as absolutely sovereign, universally knowledgeable, and perfectly just, not needing consultation with other divine beings nor struggling to accomplish His will.
• Jeremiah's prayer, and this verse within it, serves as a powerful model of faith. Even when faced with seemingly contradictory divine commands (buying land during destruction), Jeremiah turns to worship and a reaffirmation of God's immutable character rather than despair, allowing his understanding of God's nature to bridge the gap in his human understanding of present circumstances.

Jeremiah 32 19 Commentary

Jeremiah 32:19 provides a cornerstone for understanding God's character and actions, particularly vital during times of chaos and uncertainty. Jeremiah, facing national destruction, reiterates fundamental truths about Yahweh: His unparalleled wisdom in planning (His "counsel" encompasses the entire sweep of redemptive history, including current judgment and future restoration) and His invincible power in execution ("mighty in deed," displayed in creation, sustaining life, and historical interventions like the Exodus and now, even the judgment on Judah). These attributes assure Jeremiah that even the perplexing command to buy a field during a siege is part of an unshakeable, wise, and mighty divine plan. Furthermore, God's "open eyes" signify His complete knowledge of human sin, which justifies the impending judgment, and also His perfect awareness of all paths that will eventually lead to His righteous and specific "giving" – recompense based precisely on an individual's "ways" and "the fruit of their deeds." This verse profoundly undergirds the concept of human accountability and the assurance that God’s governance is not only supreme but also utterly righteous and just, even when His ways are beyond human comprehension. It calls for unwavering trust in God’s unfathomable wisdom and power.