Jeremiah 9 25

Jeremiah 9:25 kjv

Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will punish all them which are circumcised with the uncircumcised;

Jeremiah 9:25 nkjv

"Behold, the days are coming," says the LORD, "that I will punish all who are circumcised with the uncircumcised?

Jeremiah 9:25 niv

"The days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will punish all who are circumcised only in the flesh?

Jeremiah 9:25 esv

"Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will punish all those who are circumcised merely in the flesh ?

Jeremiah 9:25 nlt

"A time is coming," says the LORD, "when I will punish all those who are circumcised in body but not in spirit ?

Jeremiah 9 verses

Jeremiah 9 25 Meaning

Jeremiah 9:25 is a prophetic declaration from the Lord, announcing a future judgment. It asserts that God's impending punishment will extend to all who merely bear the physical mark of circumcision without possessing a genuine, inward heart devoted to Him. The verse underscores that reliance on external rituals as a guarantee of divine favor or immunity from judgment is futile; God looks for true spiritual transformation and obedience.

Jeremiah 9 25 Context

Jeremiah 9:25 is situated within a broader section of lament and judgment against Judah (Jeremiah chapters 8-10). Leading up to this verse, Jeremiah expresses profound sorrow over the moral and spiritual decay of his people, condemning their pervasive sinfulness, deceit, and rejection of God's law. Importantly, the preceding verses (Jer 9:23-24) contain the Lord's declaration about what truly constitutes boasting: not in wisdom, might, or riches, but in knowing and understanding Him, and recognizing His righteous, just, and loving character. Verse 25 directly builds on this by identifying a key area of false confidence: relying on physical circumcision as an identity marker for special favor, apart from genuine heart change. The historical context is critical; Judah believed its status as God's chosen people, evidenced by rituals like circumcision and the presence of the Temple, insulated them from judgment. Jeremiah's message is a stark refutation of this self-deception, preparing them for the impending Babylonian exile. The verse also lays the groundwork for the subsequent statement in Jer 9:26, which groups Judah alongside several Gentile nations, all destined for punishment precisely because their outward identity or practices lacked internal authenticity.

Jeremiah 9 25 Word analysis

• Behold (הִנֵּה - hinneh): A deictic particle that draws immediate attention, signaling an important, often imminent, divine declaration or event.
• the days are coming (יָמִים בָּאִים - yamim ba'im): A common prophetic idiom, usually introducing a future event of divine judgment or salvation, highlighting its certainty and foreordained nature.
• declares the LORD (נְאֻם יְהוָה - neum YHWH): A classic prophetic formula affirming the direct divine origin and ultimate authority of the message. YHWH refers to God's personal covenant name, indicating His sovereign involvement.
• when I will punish (פָּקַדְתִּי - paqadti): The verb paqad means "to visit," "to inspect," or "to call to account." In the context of divine justice, it consistently carries the meaning of meting out retribution or judgment.
• all (כָּל - kol): An intensifying term signifying inclusiveness, asserting that the judgment will apply universally to every single individual or group fitting the specified description.
• who are circumcised only in the flesh (מָּהוּל עָרְלָה - mahul orlah): This crucial phrase refers to those who have undergone the physical ritual of circumcision ("circumcised ones"). However, by pairing it with orlah ("foreskin" or "uncircumcision"), the text signifies a circumcision that is merely external, purely physical, lacking spiritual significance or inward obedience—it's circumcision of the flesh/foreskin, not of the heart.

• "Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD": This powerful opening establishes the absolute certainty and divine authority of the impending judgment. It functions as an immediate alarm for the hearers, emphasizing the inescapable nature of God's decree.
• "when I will punish all who are circumcised only in the flesh": This specific targeting reveals a profound critique of formal religion. God's judgment will not differentiate based on a mere external covenant sign if that sign is not accompanied by internal, spiritual reality. It asserts that all who possess only a physical mark (rather than a spiritual one) are subject to His righteous judgment, paralleling the "uncircumcised" in spirit, regardless of their ethnic identity.

Jeremiah 9 25 Bonus section

This verse, closely connected to Jer 9:26, actively dismantles the mistaken belief in ancient Israel that physical circumcision alone provided an inviolable shield against divine wrath. By placing Judah's physically circumcised people on par with surrounding Gentile nations like Egypt, Edom, Ammon, and Moab (some of whom practiced physical circumcision for cultural or tribal reasons), the Lord powerfully demonstrates that a mere external mark, detached from internal fidelity, offers no unique standing or protection. This is a profound polemic against ethnocentric spiritual arrogance, emphasizing a universal theological principle: genuine covenant relationship and salvation are ultimately determined by an inner state of devotion and obedience to God, rather than by ethnic lineage or ceremonial observance alone. The impending punishment serves as a stark reminder that covenant blessings are contingent upon genuine faithfulness, not superficial identity.

Jeremiah 9 25 Commentary

Jeremiah 9:25 conveys a fundamental principle of biblical faith: God's true relationship with humanity hinges not on outward performance or ritual adherence, but on the condition of the heart. Physical circumcision, given to Abraham as a sign of the covenant, was meant to symbolize a commitment to God and a separation unto Him. However, by Jeremiah's time, many Israelites had come to view it as an automatic guarantee of divine favor, even while their lives were characterized by disobedience and injustice. The Lord’s declaration through Jeremiah is a direct indictment of this spiritual complacency. It unequivocally states that external ritual devoid of internal righteousness will offer no protection from divine judgment. God desires a "circumcised heart"—one humble, receptive, and obedient to His will (Deut 10:16)—not just a "circumcised flesh." This message foreshadows the New Testament's teaching that true identity in God's covenant is secured through faith in Christ and the indwelling of the Spirit, which effects a new creation, transcending external marks (Rom 2:28-29).