Jeremiah 7 7

Jeremiah 7:7 kjv

Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever.

Jeremiah 7:7 nkjv

then I will cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever.

Jeremiah 7:7 niv

then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave your ancestors for ever and ever.

Jeremiah 7:7 esv

then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave of old to your fathers forever.

Jeremiah 7:7 nlt

Then I will let you stay in this land that I gave to your ancestors to keep forever.

Jeremiah 7 verses

Jeremiah 7 7 Meaning

Jeremiah 7:7 is a conditional promise from God to the people of Judah. It declares that if they truly amend their ways, cease their idolatry, social injustice, and reliance on false religious security (as detailed in verses 3-6), then God will allow them to remain dwelling in the land of Israel. This land is emphasized as the special heritage God specifically gave to their ancestors (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) as an everlasting possession. The verse, therefore, highlights God's enduring covenant promises while underscoring that the current generation's possession of the land is contingent upon their faithfulness and obedience to Him.

Jeremiah 7 7 Context

Jeremiah chapter 7 is commonly known as "The Temple Sermon," delivered by the prophet at the gate of the LORD's house. Judah, especially its leadership and people, had developed a dangerous theological presumption: they believed that as long as the Temple stood in Jerusalem, God would never allow the city to fall or His people to be completely conquered. They trusted in the physical presence of the Temple (verse 4: "This is the temple of the LORD...") as an unconditional guarantee of divine protection, even while their lives were filled with idolatry, injustice, and blatant sin (verses 5-6, 9).

Jeremiah, speaking for God, powerfully confronts this false security. He urges a radical spiritual and ethical transformation. Verses 3-6 detail the specific behavioral changes required: executing justice, ceasing oppression of the vulnerable (foreigners, orphans, widows), abandoning idol worship, and no longer shedding innocent blood. Verse 7 acts as the conditional promise; if they heed these warnings and truly repent, then God will allow them to continue living in the land given to their forefathers forever. This passage establishes a direct link between the nation's ethical and spiritual conduct and their continued tenure in the Promised Land, serving as a dire warning against presuming on God's grace without true obedience.

Jeremiah 7 7 Word analysis

• Then (וְשִׁכַּנְתִּי – v’shikantī): This Hebrew conjunction waw followed by the perfect verb form functions here as a consequential "then." It explicitly ties God's allowing them to dwell in the land to the conditions outlined in the preceding verses (Jer 7:3-6). It means "I will cause to dwell" or "I will make to settle," from the root shakan (שָׁכַן), emphasizing divine action and permission for their dwelling. This root also connects to the Shekinah (divine presence), hinting at the idea of God's dwelling with His people, which necessitates holiness on their part.

• I will let you dwell: This signifies God's sovereign control over the land and His people's presence in it. It's not a human right but a divine privilege, conditional upon their relationship with the Giver of the land. The implied meaning is: I will permit your continued residence, in contrast to expelling you.

• in this place (בַּמָּקוֹם הַזֶּ֑ה – bammāqōm hazzeh): "This place" refers specifically to the territory of Judah/Israel. It's not a generic location but the particular land promised to Abraham. It directly contrasts with the looming threat of exile, emphasizing the concrete, present geographical location.

• in the land (בָּאָ֕רֶץ – bā’āreṣ): Reinforces "this place." This term ’āreṣ (אֶרֶץ) signifies the Promised Land, the special geographical and spiritual center of the covenant between God and Israel, distinguished from other lands.

• that I gave (אֲשֶׁר־נָתַ֥תִּי – ’asher nātattī): Emphasizes divine bestowal. The land is a gift, not an entitlement earned by human merit, nor conquered by Israel's might alone (Deut 9:5-6). It highlights God's initiation and ownership of the covenant and the land.

• to your fathers (לַאֲבוֹתֵיכֶ֖ם – la’ăvōṯêḵem): Specifically refers to the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This explicitly connects to the Abrahamic Covenant (Gen 12, 15, 17) and the generational nature of the land promise. The present generation is reminded that their claim to the land is based on an ancient, established divine oath made to their progenitors.

• forever and ever (לְעוֹלָם֙ וָעֶֽד – lĕ‘ôlām wā‘eḏ): This strong Hebrew idiom emphasizes the enduring, perpetual nature of the covenant grant of the land and God's faithfulness to it. However, it's crucial to understand this not as an unconditional guarantee of Israel's continuous, uninterrupted occupation of the land regardless of their behavior, but of the land's designation as Israel's possession according to God's eternal plan, fulfilled through cycles of judgment and restoration. The phrase stands as a stark reminder of what they stood to lose if they violated the covenant conditions. The covenant promises are eternal, but human possession within those promises has conditions.

• "Then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land...": This phrase connects their presence directly to God's mercy and adherence to their part of the covenant. The repetition "this place... in the land" stresses the specific and beloved Promised Land. It implies that their continuation in the land is contingent, rather than a permanent fixture without condition.

• "...the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever.": This group of words encapsulates the historical depth and divine foundation of the land promise. It serves as both an anchor to God's eternal covenant faithfulness and a potent warning; though the promise is eternal, their tenure is tied to their current fidelity to the God who gave that promise to their forefathers eternally. They were in danger of losing what was promised forever through their present disobedience.

Jeremiah 7 7 Bonus section

The concept of "forever and ever" (lĕ‘ôlām wā‘eḏ) regarding the land highlights the tension between the unconditional (divine promise) and conditional (human obedience) aspects of God's covenant with Israel. While the land was eternally designated for Abraham's descendants, their physical tenure within it was tied to the Mosaic covenant's stipulations. This is a crucial distinction that many scholars point out: God’s ultimate ownership and purpose for the land in relation to Israel are permanent, but Israel’s immediate, uninterrupted occupation of it depends on their fidelity. Dispossession was a covenant curse for disobedience (e.g., Deut 28, Lev 26), while restoration was a covenant blessing upon repentance, ultimately leading to eschatological permanent dwelling as foreseen in prophets like Isaiah and Ezekiel. This verse foreshadows both the coming exile and the potential for return, emphasizing that God’s overall plan for Israel and the land endures, even through periods of judgment.

Jeremiah 7 7 Commentary

Jeremiah 7:7, within the potent "Temple Sermon," clarifies a critical theological distinction for Judah: while God's promise of the land to Abraham and his descendants is eternal and unbreakable, Israel's continuous, prosperous dwelling in that land is strictly conditional upon their obedience and faithful covenant living. The people had misinterpreted God's gracious gift as an unconditional guarantee, mistakenly believing the Temple's presence negated the need for personal and national righteousness. Jeremiah shatters this delusion, directly linking their current ethical behavior—or lack thereof—to their future in the land. This verse highlights divine patience, offering one last, urgent opportunity for repentance before inevitable judgment (exile). It reveals God as both the faithful covenant keeper (in remembering the promise to the fathers "forever and ever") and the righteous judge who demands obedience from those who bear His name. Ultimately, it emphasizes that a physical heritage means nothing without a spiritual heart committed to the Giver.