King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 23:39 Mean?

Jeremiah 23:39 in the King James Version says “Therefore, behold, I, even I, will utterly forget you, and I will forsake you, and the city that I gave you and your fat...” — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 23 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Therefore, behold, I, even I, will utterly forget you, and I will forsake you, and the city that I gave you and your fathers, and cast you out of my presence:”

Jeremiah 23:39 · KJV

Context

37

Thus shalt thou say to the prophet, What hath the LORD answered thee? and, What hath the LORD spoken?

38

But since ye say, The burden of the LORD; therefore thus saith the LORD; Because ye say this word, The burden of the LORD, and I have sent unto you, saying, Ye shall not say, The burden of the LORD;

39

Therefore, behold, I, even I, will utterly forget you, and I will forsake you, and the city that I gave you and your fathers, and cast you out of my presence:

40

And I will bring an everlasting reproach upon you, and a perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten.

Read Jeremiah 23 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Therefore, behold, I, even I, will utterly forget you, and I will forsake you, and the city that I gave you and your fathers, and cast you out of my presence (לָכֵן הִנְנִי וְנָשִׁיתִי אֶתְכֶם נָשֹׁא וְנָטַשְׁתִּי אֶתְכֶם וְאֶת־הָעִיר אֲשֶׁר נָתַתִּי לָכֶם וְלַאֲבוֹתֵיכֶם מֵעַל פָּנָי, lakhen hin'ni v'nashiti etkhem nasho v'natashti etkhem v'et-ha'ir asher natatti lakhem v'la'avoteikhem me'al panai). The emphatic אָנֹכִי וְנָשִׁיתִי (anokhi v'nashiti, 'I, even I, will forget') uses the infinitive absolute נָשֹׁא נָשָׁה (nasho nashah) for emphasis—'utterly, completely forget.' The verbs pile up: forget (נָשָׁה, nashah), forsake (נָטַשׁ, natash), cast out (שָׁלַךְ implied in context).

The threefold judgment mirrors the Trinity of divine rejection: (1) God will forget them—reversing His covenant remembrance (Exodus 2:24), (2) God will forsake them—withdrawing presence, (3) God will cast them from His presence—exile from land and proximity. The city 'that I gave you and your fathers' emphasizes gift being revoked—Jerusalem was grace, not entitlement. Being cast מֵעַל פָּנָי (me'al panai, 'from my face/presence') is ultimate curse, reversal of Aaronic blessing ('The LORD make his face shine upon thee,' Numbers 6:25). To be forgotten by God is worse than death.

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Historical & Cultural Context

This prophecy found literal fulfillment in 586 BC when Babylon destroyed Jerusalem and exiled Judah. God's presence departed the temple (Ezekiel 10), the city was forsaken, and people were cast from the land. The exile represented divine forgetting—ceasing to remember covenant promises in their favor. Only after 70 years would God 'remember' again (Jeremiah 29:10), demonstrating that even divine forgetting has limits bounded by grace.

Reflection Questions

  1. What would it mean for God to 'utterly forget' you—ceasing to attend to your prayers or life?
  2. How does understanding blessing as gift (not entitlement) change your relationship with God's provision?
  3. In what ways might you already be experiencing exile 'from God's presence' without recognizing it?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 15 words
לָכֵ֣ן1 of 15
H3651

properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner

הִנְנִ֔י2 of 15
H2005

lo!; also (as expressing surprise) if

וְנָשִׁ֥יתִי3 of 15

“forget”

H5382

to forget; figuratively, to neglect; causatively, to remit, remove

אֶתְכֶ֖ם4 of 15
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

נָשֹׁ֑א5 of 15

“Therefore behold I even I will utterly”

H5377

to lead astray, i.e., (mentally) to delude, or (morally) to seduce

וְנָטַשְׁתִּ֣י6 of 15

“you and I will forsake”

H5203

properly, to pound, i.e., smite; by implication (as if beating out, and thus expanding) to disperse; also, to thrust off, down, out or upon (inclusive

אֶתְכֶ֗ם7 of 15
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

וְאֶת8 of 15
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

הָעִיר֙9 of 15

“you and the city”

H5892

a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)

אֲשֶׁ֨ר10 of 15
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

נָתַ֧תִּי11 of 15

“that I gave”

H5414

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

לָכֶ֛ם12 of 15
H0
וְלַאֲבוֹתֵיכֶ֖ם13 of 15

“you and your fathers”

H1

father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application

מֵעַ֥ל14 of 15
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

פָּנָֽי׃15 of 15

“and cast you out of my presence”

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Jeremiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Jeremiah 23:39 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Jeremiah 23:39 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jeremiah 23:33Ezekiel 8:18Deuteronomy 32:39Jeremiah 7:15Isaiah 51:12Ezekiel 6:3

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