King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 31:33 Mean?

Jeremiah 31:33 in the King James Version says “But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put m...” — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 31 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.”

Jeremiah 31:33 · KJV

Context

Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:

Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: although: or, should I have continued an husband unto them?

But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name:

Read Jeremiah 31 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary

This verse details the first characteristic of the New Covenant. 'But this shall be the covenant' contrasts with the old Mosaic covenant (v. 32). 'That I will make' emphasizes divine initiative—God establishes and guarantees this covenant. 'With the house of Israel' again emphasizes comprehensive scope. 'After those days' refers to the future fulfillment time. 'Saith the LORD' adds prophetic authority. 'I will put my law in their inward parts' uses nathan (נָתַן, give/put) with torah (תּוֹרָה, law/instruction) and qerev (קֶרֶב, inward parts/midst)—the innermost being. Unlike external tablets of stone, God's law will be internalized. 'And write it in their hearts' employs kathav (כָּתַב, write) with lev (לֵב, heart)—the center of mind, will, and affections. The contrast with the old covenant is stark: Exodus 31:18 describes 'tables of stone, written with the finger of God,' external and objective but requiring human effort to obey. The New Covenant writes God's law internally through the Holy Spirit's work, transforming desires and enabling obedience from the heart. 'And will be their God, and they shall be my people' is the covenant formula (Exodus 6:7, Leviticus 26:12). It establishes mutual belonging and intimate relationship—not merely external national identity but internal spiritual reality. The verse promises that New Covenant believers will have God's law as part of their nature, not merely external command. This anticipates Ezekiel 36:26-27: 'A new heart also will I give you...and I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes.' Paul references this in 2 Corinthians 3:3: 'Ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ...written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.' The New Covenant secures internal transformation, making believers delight in God's law (Psalm 119:97, Romans 7:22) rather than merely commanding external compliance.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The contrast between external and internal law addressed Israel's persistent covenant failure. The Mosaic Law was 'holy, just, and good' (Romans 7:12), but Israel lacked power to obey it. Their history demonstrated that external commands couldn't transform hearts—even with the Law, temple worship, and prophetic ministry, they repeatedly fell into idolatry and injustice. The problem wasn't the Law but human nature: 'The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be' (Romans 8:7). The exile proved this conclusively—despite knowing God's standards, Israel violated them catastrophically. Jeremiah's promise of internalized law revolutionized covenant theology. It meant God would do something unprecedented: change human nature itself. This awaited Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came to indwell believers permanently (Acts 2). The Spirit's ministry includes: illuminating Scripture (1 Corinthians 2:12-14), convicting of sin (John 16:8), empowering obedience (Galatians 5:16), and conforming believers to Christ's image (2 Corinthians 3:18). The 'law written on hearts' doesn't mean the Mosaic Law's 613 commandments are memorized, but that the Spirit creates love for God and desire to obey Him—fulfilling the Law's purpose (Romans 13:8-10). This internal transformation was prophesied throughout the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 30:6, Ezekiel 11:19-20, Joel 2:28-29) and fulfilled in the New Testament church.

Reflection Questions

What is the difference between knowing God's law externally and having it written on your heart internally?
How does the Holy Spirit's ministry in believers fulfill the promise of God's law written on hearts?
In what ways does internal transformation enable genuine obedience that external commands alone cannot produce?
How should the New Covenant reality of internalized law affect Christian approaches to sanctification and spiritual growth?
What evidence in your own life demonstrates that God's law is written on your heart rather than merely imposed externally?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 27 words

כִּ֣י1 of 27

H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

זֹ֣את2 of 27

H2063

this (often used adverb)

הַבְּרִ֡ית3 of 27

“But this shall be the covenant”

H1285

a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh)

אֲשֶׁ֣ר4 of 27

H834

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

אֶכְרֹת֩5 of 27

“that I will make”

H3772

to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant (i.e., make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutt

אֶת6 of 27

H854

properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc

בֵּ֨ית7 of 27

“with the house”

H1004

a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל8 of 27

“of Israel”

H3478

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

אַחֲרֵ֨י9 of 27

“After”

H310

properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)

הַיָּמִ֤ים