Jeremiah 33 16

Jeremiah 33:16 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.

Jeremiah 33:16 kjv

In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness.

Jeremiah 33:16 nkjv

In those days Judah will be saved, And Jerusalem will dwell safely. And this is the name by which she will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.'

Jeremiah 33:16 niv

In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. This is the name by which it will be called: The LORD Our Righteous Savior.'

Jeremiah 33:16 esv

In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: 'The LORD is our righteousness.'

Jeremiah 33:16 nlt

In that day Judah will be saved,
and Jerusalem will live in safety.
And this will be its name:
'The LORD Is Our Righteousness.'

Jeremiah 33 16 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Jer 23:6In his days Judah will be saved... this is the name by which he will be called: The Lord is our Righteousness.Messiah named Yahweh Tsidkenu
Isa 45:24In the Lord alone, it will be said of me, are righteousness and strength...Righteousness found solely in the Lord
Jer 32:37I will gather them... and bring them back to this place...Gathering and return of Israel/Judah
Jer 32:39I will give them one heart and one way... to fear me forever...New heart and covenant
Jer 33:15In those days... I will cause a righteous Branch of David to spring forth...Direct context of the righteous Branch
Ezek 34:25I will make a covenant of peace with them and banish wild animals...Covenant of peace and security
Ezek 34:27-28they shall know that I am the Lord... They shall no more be a prey...God known, people secure
Joel 3:17Then you will know that I am the Lord your God... Jerusalem will be holy...Jerusalem's holiness and God's dwelling
Zech 8:3I will return to Zion and will dwell in Jerusalem...God dwelling in restored Jerusalem
Zech 8:4-5Old men and old women... fill the streets... boys and girls playing...Restoration of secure city life
Isa 60:18Violence shall no more be heard in your land... call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise.Security and new names
Rom 3:21-22...the righteousness of God has been manifested... righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ...God's provided righteousness in Christ
Rom 5:19...by the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.Righteousness imputed through Christ's obedience
Phil 3:9...not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ...Reliance on Christ's righteousness
2 Cor 5:21...so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.Believers becoming God's righteousness
Gal 2:16...a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ...Justification by faith, not works
Rev 21:2And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God...New Jerusalem
Rev 21:24The nations will walk by its light...Glorified Jerusalem's radiance
Heb 8:10For this is the covenant that I will make... I will put my laws into their minds...New Covenant heart transformation
Isa 1:26I will restore your judges as at the first... Afterward you shall be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City.Jerusalem's previous righteous title
Zeph 3:13The remnant of Israel shall do no injustice... for they shall graze and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.Security of the righteous remnant
Hos 2:19-20I will betroth you to me forever in righteousness... in steadfast love and in mercy.Eternal covenant in righteousness and love
Mal 4:2But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings.Messiah as "Sun of Righteousness" (Healing)
Isa 54:14In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear...Security established by righteousness

Jeremiah 33 verses

Jeremiah 33 16 meaning

Jeremiah 33:16 prophesies a future era of complete restoration for Judah and Jerusalem. It assures a time when the people will experience divine salvation and live in unwavering security. Central to this promise is the new name given to Jerusalem: "The Lord Is Our Righteousness" (Yahweh Tsidkenu). This name signifies not just a title but a transformed reality where God's inherent righteousness is not only embodied by their promised king, "the Branch," but also wholly manifest in the very character and experience of His city and people, providing their salvation and secure dwelling.

Jeremiah 33 16 Context

Jeremiah chapter 33 falls within a section known as "The Book of Consolation" (chapters 30-33), delivered during a time of immense national distress. King Zedekiah had imprisoned Jeremiah, and the Babylonian army was besieging Jerusalem. The immediate future was bleak, promising destruction and exile. Against this backdrop of despair, God reveals powerful promises of future restoration for both the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. These promises of hope assure the establishment of a New Covenant, the return of the exiles, the rebuilding of cities, and the resurgence of the Davidic dynasty under a righteous king. Verse 16 specifically elaborates on the state of this restored kingdom, emphasizing the salvation and security Jerusalem will enjoy under God's righteous rule, which is intimately tied to the prophecy of the "Righteous Branch of David" mentioned in the preceding verse (33:15).

Jeremiah 33 16 Word analysis

  • In those days and at that time: This phrase (ba'yyamim hahemah uva'eith hahi'y) consistently denotes a future, often eschatological, period within biblical prophecy, pointing to the culmination of God's redemptive plan beyond the immediate Babylonian exile. It signals a divinely ordained era of fulfillment.
  • Judah will be saved: The Hebrew yivvashe'a yehudah (יוּדָה תִוָּשֵׁעַ) indicates deliverance or salvation from all forms of threat—physical, political, and spiritual. This refers to the southern kingdom, implying a holistic restoration encompassing all her people, transcending mere political survival to spiritual reconciliation.
  • Jerusalem will dwell securely: The Hebrew vīrūšalayiim tishkôn lābeṭaḥ (וִירוּשָׁלַ‍ִם תִּשְׁכֹּן לָבֶטַח) highlights a state of profound peace, safety, and undisturbed habitation. This stands in stark contrast to the immediate historical context of a city under siege and facing imminent destruction, promising ultimate protection and flourishing under God's favor.
  • And this is the name by which she will be called: This phrasing denotes a definitive declaration of identity and character. The name reflects the essential nature or destiny of the entity, moving beyond a simple label to a statement of intrinsic being, empowered and defined by God.
  • 'The Lord Is Our Righteousness.': The Hebrew Yĕhōwâ ṣiḏqēnû (יְהוָה צִדְקֵנוּ). This is the focal point.
    • The Lord (Yĕhōwâ / Yahweh): God's covenant name, signifying His eternal, self-existent, and active presence. It underscores that this righteousness originates directly from God Himself.
    • Our (ēnu /נוּ): The suffix indicates a possessive plural, profoundly connecting God's righteousness to His people. It is not an abstract concept but a personal, relational, and shared attribute.
    • Righteousness (ṣiḏqâ / צִדְקָה or צֶדֶק): In the biblical context, tzedek or tzedakah carries multifaceted meanings beyond mere ethical correctness. It implies conformity to divine standards, justice, integrity, vindication, salvation, and the rectifying work of God. Here, it is God's salvific act that renders His people just and upright, establishing them in right relationship with Him.
  • "Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will dwell securely.": This combination emphasizes a comprehensive national restoration. "Saved" speaks to spiritual and physical deliverance, while "dwell securely" paints a picture of settled peace and prosperity rooted in that salvation. It's the fulfillment of covenant promises of shalom.
  • "And this is the name by which she will be called: 'The Lord Is Our Righteousness.'": This links the city's future name and character directly to the King mentioned in the preceding verse (33:15). While Jer 23:6 applies the name to the Messiah, Jer 33:16 applies it to Jerusalem, showing the King's righteousness directly impacts and transforms His people and their dwelling place. This name signals an eschatological identity where the city embodies the righteousness that God himself provides and attributes. This righteous standing ensures their secure dwelling.

Jeremiah 33 16 Bonus section

The promise in Jeremiah 33:16, applying the name "The Lord Is Our Righteousness" to Jerusalem, signifies a radical departure from her past unfaithfulness and underscores a new spiritual reality. It presents a strong polemic against reliance on human strength, military alliances, or false gods, all of which had proven to be sources of Jerusalem's insecurity and eventual downfall. Instead, true security and identity are found solely in God's nature and His salvific act. This transference of the Messiah's name to the city suggests a profound union between the righteous King and His people. The future ideal state of the city and its inhabitants directly reflects the character and reign of the Righteous Branch, portraying a people whose spiritual standing is entirely a gift from God. This echoes a new covenant dynamic, where internal spiritual transformation accompanies external peace and restoration.

Jeremiah 33 16 Commentary

Jeremiah 33:16 provides a beacon of hope in a dark hour, promising not just physical restoration but a profound spiritual transformation. It prophesies that Judah will experience divine salvation and Jerusalem will be a city of complete peace and security. The climax is Jerusalem's new designation: "The Lord Is Our Righteousness." This name is an appropriation and extension of the title given to the Messianic king in Jeremiah 23:6 and 33:15, indicating that the righteousness of the promised Davidic Branch will fundamentally transform His people and their dwelling place. It signifies that God Himself is the source, sustainer, and embodiment of their righteousness, which, in turn, underwrites their salvation and secure dwelling. This is not a righteousness achieved by human effort but a divinely imputed and imparted status, leading to a new, holy, and safe existence, ultimately pointing to Christ's redeeming work for believers who become "the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Cor 5:21).