Jeremiah 32 39

Jeremiah 32:39 kjv

And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them:

Jeremiah 32:39 nkjv

then I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me forever, for the good of them and their children after them.

Jeremiah 32:39 niv

I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me and that all will then go well for them and for their children after them.

Jeremiah 32:39 esv

I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them.

Jeremiah 32:39 nlt

And I will give them one heart and one purpose: to worship me forever, for their own good and for the good of all their descendants.

Jeremiah 32 verses

Jeremiah 32 39 Meaning

This verse promises a new covenant and a comprehensive renewal of God's people, bringing about an internal transformation. God will write His laws on their hearts and minds, ensuring a deep-seated understanding and obedience. This is not merely an external ritual but a profound, intrinsic change leading to genuine relationship and unity with God. The outcome is that they will be His people, and He will be their God, a constant and inseparable relationship.

Jeremiah 32 39 Context

Jeremiah 32:39 is situated within a prophetic oracle delivered by Jeremiah during the siege of Jerusalem. The Babylonian army is at the gates, and the people are facing immense despair and punishment for their persistent sin and idolatry. In chapter 32, God commands Jeremiah to purchase a field from his cousin, Hanameel, a seemingly irrational act given the impending destruction. This act serves as a powerful symbol of faith and hope, foreshadowing God's future faithfulness and restoration. This particular verse, however, leaps forward from the immediate crisis to the ultimate outcome of God's redemptive plan – the New Covenant. It speaks of a time of thorough inward cleansing and transformation for God's people, enabling a true and abiding relationship with Him, irrespective of national catastrophes or outward forms of worship. The promise contrasts sharply with the people's current unfaithfulness and their outward adherence to a covenant that they consistently broke.

Jeremiah 32 39 Word Analysis

• And (וְ, ve): Connective particle, indicating continuation or addition, linking this new covenant promise to previous declarations.

• I (אֲנִי, ani): First person singular pronoun, emphasizing God's personal agency and initiative in establishing this covenant.

• will give (נָתַתִּי, natatti): Perfect form of "to give," signifying a completed action in God's plan, conveying certainty.

• them (לָהֶם, lahem): Third person masculine plural suffix, referring to the people of Israel and Judah.

• one heart (לֵב אֶחָד, lev echad):

  • Heart (לֵב, lev): Represents the inner being – intellect, emotions, will, and moral center. The locus of one's true self and disposition.
  • One (אֶחָד, echad): Indicates unity, singularity, and undivided loyalty. A unified inner disposition, focused entirely on God.

• and (וְ, ve): Connective particle.

• a new spirit (רוּחַ חֲדָשָׁה, ruach chadashah):

  • Spirit (רוּחַ, ruach): Refers to the animating principle, inner disposition, courage, or essence. Here, it denotes a renewed inner vitality and a spirit that aligns with God.
  • New (חֲדָשָׁה, chadashah): Implies not merely "fresh" but "renewed" or "restored," suggesting something made completely new by God's power.

• within (בְּקִרְבָּם, b'kirbam): Literally "in their midst" or "in their inward parts." Emphasizes the internal nature of this giving.

• I (אֲנִי, ani): First person singular pronoun, personal assurance.

• will remove (וְהִסַּרְתִּי, v'hissarti): Hiphil (causative) perfect form of "to remove." God's active intervention to take away something detrimental.

• the heart of stone (לֵב הָאֶבֶן, lev ha'even):

  • Heart (לֵב, lev): As above, the inner self.
  • Stone (אֶבֶן, even): Symbolizes hardness, insensitivity, impurity, and recalcitrance – the opposite of a responsive and obedient heart.

• from their flesh (מִתּוֹךְ בְּשָׂרָם, mitoch b'saram): Indicates the removal from their physical being or their natural, unregenerated state.

• and (וְ, ve): Connective particle.

• will give (נָתַתִּי, natatti): Perfect form, God's certain act of bestowal.

• a heart of flesh (לֵב בָּשָׂר, lev basar):

  • Heart (לֵב, lev): The inner self.
  • Flesh (בָּשָׂר, basar): Represents life, sensitivity, and responsiveness. A heart that is alive to God and capable of genuine response. This contrasts with the lifeless "stone."

• Words-group analysis: The structure "give... heart... and spirit... remove... heart of stone... give... heart of flesh" clearly delineates a divine transaction. God is taking away what is inert and unresponsive (stone heart) and replacing it with what is living and sensitive (flesh heart). This dual action constitutes the essence of spiritual renewal and the establishment of the New Covenant, as further elaborated in Jeremiah 31. The repeated "I will give" underscores God's direct and sovereign role in this transformative process.

Jeremiah 32 39 Bonus Section

This promise directly anticipates and explains the mechanism behind the spiritual transformation that occurred at Pentecost, as described in Acts 2. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit provided believers with the "new spirit" and the capacity to live according to God's law from the heart. Furthermore, the concept of a "heart of flesh" is echoed in the New Testament's emphasis on the believer as a living temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19). This internal reality contrasts sharply with the Old Testament sacrificial system and the fixed location of God's presence in the tabernacle or temple. The ultimate fulfillment of God dwelling with His people and them being His people, as stated here, is realized in the new heavens and new earth where God's presence is immanent and undistorted (Rev 21:3). This verse is not merely a predictive prophecy; it is a theological charter for the new humanity in Christ.

Jeremiah 32 39 Commentary

Jeremiah 32:39 articulates the very core of the New Covenant promised in Jeremiah 31. It’s about an internal revolution of the human heart, empowered by the Holy Spirit. No longer will God’s law be an external set of rules on stone tablets, but an internal inscription, integrated into the very being of His people. This transforms the ability to obey from a burden into a desire. The removal of the "heart of stone"—representing unresponsiveness, hardness, and spiritual death—and the bestowal of a "heart of flesh"—signifying life, sensitivity, and responsiveness to God—is the promise of complete spiritual regeneration. This is achieved through the indwelling Spirit who enables genuine love for God and willing obedience. The result is a unified people, truly devoted to God, living in an intimate and unwavering relationship with Him, which is foundational to His identity as their God and their identity as His people. This covenant, fulfilled in Christ, signifies a profound shift from external observance to internal transformation, enabling believers to live in accordance with God’s will out of love, not obligation.

• Practical Example: Imagine a student who struggles with discipline, finding it a constant battle to study. The "stone heart" perspective would be that discipline is an external pressure they must resist. However, a "heart of flesh" allows them to find genuine interest and personal motivation in their studies, leading to intrinsic diligence and passion, without the oppressive feeling of being forced. Similarly, Christians are enabled by the Spirit to desire God's ways, not merely conform.