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

This verse declares that if the people of Judah will practice justice and righteousness, and refrain from oppressing strangers, orphans, and widows, and from shedding innocent blood, then God will allow them to remain in the land He gave to their ancestors. It's a conditional promise tied to obedience and ethical living.

Jeremiah 7 7 Context

Jeremiah chapter 7 is known as the "Temple Sermon." Jeremiah is standing at the entrance of the Temple in Jerusalem, proclaiming a message from God. The people were relying on their outward religious practices and their security in the Temple, believing it guaranteed God's favor. However, God reveals through Jeremiah that their hypocrisy and unrighteousness have rendered their worship meaningless. This verse provides a crucial conditional statement: if they change their behavior to reflect true righteousness and justice, especially towards the vulnerable, they can retain God's blessings and their place in the land. Otherwise, judgment is inevitable. This sermon directly counters the false sense of security the people felt, preparing them for the coming destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 7 7 Word Analysis

• "and" (וְ - ve): A conjunction used here to connect phrases, indicating that these conditions must all be met.
• "do" (תַּעֲשׂוּ - ta'asu): "You shall do" or "you shall practice." It signifies active participation and consistent behavior.
• "justice" (מִשְׁפָּט - mishpat): Refers to the concept of what is right, lawful, equitable, and the administration of law. It's about fair dealings.
• "and" (וְ - ve): Again, connecting clauses, linking justice with righteousness.
• "righteousness" (צְדָקָה - tzedakah): Encompasses uprightness, doing what is right, moral and ethical integrity. Often translated as charity or righteousness.
• "do" (תַּעֲשׂוּ - ta'asu): "You shall practice," emphasizing consistent application.
• "them" (אוֹתָם - otam): Referring back to the foreigner, orphan, and widow.
• "to" (אֶל - el): A preposition indicating direction or relationship.
• "live" (תֵּשְׁבוּ - tesh'vu): "You shall dwell" or "you shall settle." It's about inhabiting the land securely.
• "in" (בָּאֲרֶץ - ba'aretz): "In the land."
• "this" (הַזֹּאת - hazot): Refers to the specific land God had given them.
• "the" (אֲשֶׁר - asher): A relative pronoun introducing the next phrase.
• "I" (אֲנִי - ani): God speaking.
• "give" (נֹתֵן - noten): "Giving," present participle, indicating the ongoing nature of His provision.
• "to" (לַאֲבֹתֵיכֶם - la'avoteikhem): "To your fathers."
• "to" (וְ - ve): Connecting clause.
• "you" (לָכֶם - lakhem): "To you."
• "for" (לְעוֹלָם - le'olam): "For ever" or "to perpetuity." This signifies an enduring, long-term possession of the land.

• Group: "do justice and righteousness" (תַּעֲשׂוּ מִשְׁפָּט וּצְדָקָה - ta'asu mishpat utzedakah): This pairing is common in the Old Testament, highlighting the interconnectedness of external acts of fairness and internal moral uprightness. It's not just about following rules, but about the heart's orientation towards right living.
• Group: "oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow" (בִּשְׁפָּט־אַל־תַּעֲשׂוּ אֶת־גֵּר וְאֶת־יָתוֹם וְאֶת־אַלְמָנָה - bishpot al ta'asu et ger vet yetom ve'et almanah): This specific prohibition against oppressing the most vulnerable in society represents the practical outworking of justice and righteousness. These groups were particularly susceptible to exploitation.
• Group: "and shed not innocent blood" (וְדַם־נָקִ֥י אַל־תִּשְׁפְּכוּ - vedam naqi al tishpekhu): This points to the sanctity of life and the gravity of violence. It speaks against murder and injustice that leads to death.
• Group: "and live in this land" (וְשָׁכַנְתִּי בָּאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת - veshakhanti ba'aretz hazot): This links continued inhabitation and God's presence with their righteous behavior. The promise of dwelling is directly contingent on their actions.
• Group: "which I gave to your fathers for ever" (אֲשֶׁר־נָתַתִּי לַאֲבֹתֵיכֶם לְעֹלָם - asher natati la'avoteikhem le'olam): This anchors the promise in God's faithfulness to the covenant made with the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, emphasizing the long-standing nature of the covenant land.

Jeremiah 7 7 Bonus Section

The concept of "justice and righteousness" here reflects the Hebrew understanding that these were not separate ideas but intertwined. Justice (mishpat) referred to administering right judgment and maintaining order, while righteousness (tzedakah) pertained to living a life aligned with God's will, often involving acts of kindness and generosity. The vulnerable classes mentioned (stranger, orphan, widow) were intentionally included in the Mosaic Law's protections to ensure they were not exploited by a powerful society. God's presence ("I will dwell among you") was intrinsically linked to the holiness and justice practiced by His people. The ultimate fulfillment of such a land promise, free from oppression and shedding innocent blood, points forward to the Messianic Kingdom and the new heavens and new earth where all forms of injustice are absent.

Jeremiah 7 7 Commentary

Jeremiah 7:7 delivers a stark, conditional promise from God. The people believed their physical presence in Jerusalem and their participation in Temple rituals were sufficient for God's favor. Jeremiah clarifies that God’s acceptance is tied to ethical conduct. True worship is expressed through just and righteous actions, particularly in how one treats the vulnerable – foreigners, orphans, and widows – who were easily exploited. Shedding innocent blood, a violation of the covenant, is also explicitly forbidden. The assurance of continuing to "live in this land," a profound blessing rooted in God's covenant promises to the fathers, was contingent on obedience to these ethical demands. This verse serves as a timeless reminder that outward religious observance without inner transformation and demonstrable justice is unacceptable to God. It underscores the principle that our relationship with God is integrated with our relationships with others, especially the marginalized.