The big picture
Jeremiah 33 opens in verse 1 with “Moreover the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the second time, while he was yet shut…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 13 with “In the cities of the mountains, in the cities of the vale, and in the cities of the…”, and closes in verse 26 with “Then will I cast away the seed of Jacob, and David my servant, so that I will not take…” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, cities, Judah, David, voice. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Jeremiah · King James Version · 26Jeremiah 33:1-7
1–7: Moreover the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the second time, while…
Jeremiah 33:1–7 opens with “Moreover the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the second time, while he was yet shut up in…” and reaches “And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jeremiah 33 develops its own movement around LORD, cities, Judah, David, voice, with particular weight carried by LORD, captivity, city.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Moreover the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the second time, while he was yet shut up in the court of the prison…” Naming Jeremiah and Moreover keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Thus saith the LORD the maker thereof, the LORD that formed it, to establish it; the LORD is his name;” The line’s distinctive content terms include LORD, establish, formed. Its relationship to verses 1 and 3 shows what work it does in this passage.
Jeremiah 33:1-7
King James Version1Moreover the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the second time, while he was yet shut up in the court of the prison, saying,
2Thus saith the LORD the maker thereof, the LORD that formed it, to establish it; the LORD is his name;
3Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
4For thus saith the LORD , the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city, and concerning the houses of the kings of Judah, which are thrown down by the mounts, and by the sword;
5They come to fight with the Chaldeans, but it is to fill them with the dead bodies of men, whom I have slain in mine anger and in my fury, and for all whose wickedness I have hid my face from this city.
6Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth.
7And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first.
Jeremiah 33:8-14
8–14: I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned…
Jeremiah 33:8–14 opens with “And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will…” and reaches “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD , that I will perform that good thing which I have…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jeremiah 33 develops its own movement around LORD, cities, Judah, David, voice, with particular weight carried by LORD, cities, voice.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their…” The line’s distinctive content terms include sinned, cleanse, iniquities. Its relationship to verses 9 shows what work it does in this passage.
“And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and an honour before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“Thus saith the LORD ; Again there shall be heard in this place, which ye say shall be desolate without man and without…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Again in this place, which is desolate without man and without beast, and in all the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Jeremiah 33:8-14
King James Version8And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me.
9And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and an honour before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it.
10Thus saith the LORD ; Again there shall be heard in this place, which ye say shall be desolate without man and without beast, even in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, that are desolate, without man, and without inhabitant, and without beast,
11The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD . For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the LORD .
12Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Again in this place, which is desolate without man and without beast, and in all the cities thereof, shall be an habitation of shepherds causing their flocks to lie down.
13In the cities of the mountains, in the cities of the vale, and in the cities of the south, and in the land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, shall the flocks pass again under the hands of him that telleth them, saith the LORD .
14Behold, the days come, saith the LORD , that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah.
Jeremiah 33:15-21
15–21: In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of…
Jeremiah 33:15–21 opens with “In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David…” and reaches “Then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a son to…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jeremiah 33 develops its own movement around LORD, cities, Judah, David, voice, with particular weight carried by LORD, covenant, David.
Context that brings the passage to life
“In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Jeremiah 33:15-21
King James Version15In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land.
16In 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.
17For thus saith the LORD ; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel;
18Neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before me to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle meat offerings, and to do sacrifice continually.
19And the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah, saying,
20Thus saith the LORD ; If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season;
21Then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites the priests, my ministers.
Jeremiah 33:22-26
22–26: As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea…
Jeremiah 33:22–26 opens with “As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I…” and reaches “Then will I cast away the seed of Jacob, and David my servant, so that I will not take any of…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jeremiah 33 develops its own movement around LORD, cities, Judah, David, voice, with particular weight carried by seed, LORD, David.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David…” Naming David and Levites keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Jeremiah 33:22-26
King James Version22As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me.
23Moreover the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying,
24Considerest thou not what this people have spoken, saying, The two families which the LORD hath chosen, he hath even cast them off? thus they have despised my people, that they should be no more a nation before them.
25Thus saith the LORD ; If my covenant be not with day and night, and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth;
26Then will I cast away the seed of Jacob, and David my servant, so that I will not take any of his seed to be rulers over the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: for I will cause their captivity to return, and have mercy on them.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Jeremiah 33:1 begins with “Moreover the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the second time, while he was yet shut up in the court of the prison, saying,”
Where the chapter turns
Jeremiah 33:21 forms a natural hinge: “Then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites the priests, my…”
The final note
Jeremiah 33:26 leaves the reader with “Then will I cast away the seed of Jacob, and David my servant, so that I will not take any of his seed to be rulers over the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, cities, Judah, David, voice, captivity help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What action most sharply overturns Jacob's expectations?
Esau runs to embrace him instead of attacking.
How is Jacob's language about blessing different now?
He presses a gift on the brother from whom he once took, and credits God's generosity.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.