King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 23:7 Mean?

Jeremiah 23:7 in the King James Version says “Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that they shall no more say, The LORD liveth, which brought up the chi...” — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 23 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that they shall no more say, The LORD liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;”

Jeremiah 23:7 · KJV

Context

5

Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.

6

In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. THE LORD: Heb. Jehovahtsidkenu

7

Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that they shall no more say, The LORD liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;

8

But, The LORD liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land.

9

Mine heart within me is broken because of the prophets; all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine hath overcome, because of the LORD, and because of the words of his holiness.

Read Jeremiah 23 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Jeremiah prophesies that a future deliverance will be so significant it will eclipse even the Exodus in Israel's national memory and worship. The Exodus was the foundational event of Israel's identity—it demonstrated God's power, established His covenant relationship with them, and became the paradigm for understanding salvation. Yet Jeremiah announces a coming deliverance that will supersede it as the defining moment of God's redemptive work.

This prophecy operates on multiple levels. Immediately, it referred to the return from Babylonian exile—Jews would be gathered from where they had been scattered and return to their land. Yet this return was disappointing; the second temple was inferior to Solomon's, most Jews remained in dispersion, and Israel remained under foreign domination (Persia, Greece, Rome). The prophecy therefore points beyond the historical return to the greater exodus accomplished by Christ.

The New Testament presents Jesus as the new Moses who leads a new exodus. His death and resurrection deliver God's people not from Egyptian slavery but from sin's slavery. His ascension and sending of the Spirit inaugurate the gathering of God's people from all nations. The ultimate fulfillment awaits the eschaton when Christ returns to gather His elect from the four winds (Matthew 24:31) and establish the new heavens and new earth where righteousness dwells.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The Exodus was commemorated annually in Passover and referenced constantly in Israel's worship and teaching. To suggest any event could surpass it was revolutionary. Yet the New Testament explicitly identifies Jesus as the Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7), His death as the new exodus (Luke 9:31, literally 'exodus' in Greek), and believers as those who have been delivered from a greater bondage than Egypt—the bondage to sin and death (Romans 6:17-18).

Reflection Questions

  1. How does understanding Christ's work as a greater exodus than the Exodus reshape our understanding of salvation?
  2. What does it mean that the deliverance through Christ is so significant it eclipses even the Exodus in God's redemptive plan?
  3. In what ways should we, like Israel, regularly commemorate and teach the next generation about God's great deliverance?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 18 words
לָכֵ֛ן1 of 18
H3651

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

הִנֵּֽה2 of 18
H2009

lo!

יָמִ֥ים3 of 18

“Therefore behold the days”

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

בָּאִ֖ים4 of 18

“come”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

נְאֻם5 of 18

“saith”

H5002

an oracle

יְהוָ֔ה6 of 18

“The LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

וְלֹא7 of 18
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

יֹ֤אמְרוּ8 of 18

“that they shall no more say”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

עוֹד֙9 of 18
H5750

properly, iteration or continuance; used only adverbially (with or without preposition), again, repeatedly, still, more

חַי10 of 18

“liveth”

H2416

alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin

יְהוָ֔ה11 of 18

“The LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

אֲשֶׁ֧ר12 of 18
H834

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

הֶעֱלָ֛ה13 of 18

“which brought up”

H5927

to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative

אֶת14 of 18
H853

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

בְּנֵ֥י15 of 18

“the children”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל16 of 18

“of Israel”

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

מֵאֶ֥רֶץ17 of 18

“out of the land”

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

מִצְרָֽיִם׃18 of 18

“of Egypt”

H4714

mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt

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 23:7 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 23:7 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jeremiah 16:14-15Jeremiah 23:3Isaiah 43:18-19Jeremiah 31:31-34

Places in This Verse

EgyptRegion · Modern: Ain Shams · 30.13°N, 31.31°E658 verses across 33 books
View all places in Jeremiah 23 →

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