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Jeremiah 23:1-8

A Righteous Branch, and a King Shall Reign

Lyrics · Jeremiah

A Righteous Branch, and a King Shall Reign

Jeremiah 23:1-8

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A Righteous Branch, and a King Shall Reign

Jeremiah 23:1-8

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About this song

This song belongs to the Jeremiah collection. One recording is available to play here, with the complete lyrics below.

Bible book
Jeremiah
Collection
Jeremiah
Musical styles
Classical
[Intro] Woe to the shepherds who scatter my pasture; I will visit the evil their hands have done. [Verse 1] From every country I will gather the remnant, fold by fold I will bring them home. I will set shepherds who truly feed them; fear and dismay shall leave the flock, and not one shall be wanting. [Verse 2] Behold, the coming days lift a Branch for David. A King shall reign, prosper, and understand. He works judgment and justice through the earth; Judah is saved and Israel dwells safely, and not one shall be wanting. [Bridge] The living oath will reach beyond Egypt: The LORD brought Israel's seed from the north, from every country where the flock was driven. Roads from dispersion bend toward one land; the scattered enter their own gates, and dwell upon their ground again. [Verse 3] The folds will ring with fruitful increase; the guarded sheep will feed and rest. Justice will travel from the throne to the field; the righteous Branch will stand over the land, and not one shall be wanting. [Outro] Branch of David; King who shall reign. Judah saved; Israel secure. THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, his name.

Named in this songDavidEgypt

About the passage

Jeremiah 23: A righteous Branch and words that are not straw

Jeremiah 23 sets failed leadership beside promises of restored leadership, then turns the same scrutiny on prophetic speech. Shepherds who scattered God's flock are held responsible for the care they withheld, while God promises to gather the remnant and provide shepherds who actually feed it. The chapter then raises a righteous Branch for David, a king defined by judgment, justice, safety, and a new act of gathering. After that promise, the language becomes an extended examination of false prophecy. Priests and prophets can occupy sacred offices while spreading profaneness through the land. Speakers can run without being sent, promise peace to people determined not to turn, claim dreams, steal one another's words, and borrow formulas that sound authoritative. Jeremiah answers with images of counsel, wheat, chaff, fire, and a hammer. The decisive question is not how confident or familiar the message sounds, but whether God actually spoke and sent the speaker, and whether the word confronts rather than protects wrongdoing.

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