King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 32:42 Mean?

Jeremiah 32:42 in the King James Version says “For thus saith the LORD; Like as I have brought all this great evil upon this people, so will I bring upon them all the ... — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 32 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

For thus saith the LORD; Like as I have brought all this great evil upon this people, so will I bring upon them all the good that I have promised them.

Jeremiah 32:42 · KJV


Context

40

And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me. from them: Heb. from after them

41

Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul. assuredly: Heb. in truth, or, stability

42

For thus saith the LORD; Like as I have brought all this great evil upon this people, so will I bring upon them all the good that I have promised them.

43

And fields shall be bought in this land, whereof ye say, It is desolate without man or beast; it is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.

44

Men shall buy fields for money, and subscribe evidences, and seal them, and take witnesses in the land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, and in the cities of the mountains, and in the cities of the valley, and in the cities of the south: for I will cause their captivity to return, saith the LORD.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Like as I have brought all this great evil upon this people (כַּאֲשֶׁר הֵבֵאתִי אֶל־הָעָם הַזֶּה אֵת כָּל־הָרָעָה הַגְּדוֹלָה הַזֹּאת)—God's parallel sovereignty over calamity and restoration. The Hebrew ra'ah gedolah (great evil) refers not to moral evil but catastrophic judgment—the Babylonian conquest and exile. Divine agency is explicit: 'I have brought' (הֵבֵאתִי, he'veti), no passive voice or secondary causation.

So will I bring upon them all the good that I have promised them (כֵּן אָנֹכִי מֵבִיא עֲלֵיהֶם אֶת־כָּל־הַטּוֹבָה אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי דֹּבֵר עֲלֵיהֶם)—the same verb bo (bring) governs both judgment and salvation. The emphatic anokhi (I Myself) stresses divine personal commitment. God's faithfulness to His threats guarantees His faithfulness to His promises—the same covenant character produces both. This verse answers Jeremiah's doubt (v. 25) after his symbolic field purchase.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Spoken in 587 BC during Jerusalem's final siege, with Jeremiah imprisoned (vv. 2-3), this promise seemed absurd—yet God commanded him to buy land in Anathoth as prophetic sign-act. The field deed (vv. 9-15) testified to future restoration when buying property appeared financially insane, demonstrating faith's 'substance of things hoped for' (Hebrews 11:1).

Reflection Questions

  1. How does God's equal power over disaster and deliverance challenge the view that He controls only 'good' events?
  2. What symbolic actions might God call you to perform that testify to His promises despite contrary circumstances?
  3. How does this verse's logic—'As surely as judgment came, so restoration will come'—strengthen your confidence in unfulfilled promises?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 25 words
כִּֽי1 of 25
H3588

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

כֹה֙2 of 25
H3541

properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now

אָמַ֣ר3 of 25

For thus saith

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

יְהוָ֔ה4 of 25

the LORD

H3068

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

כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר5 of 25
H834

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

מֵבִ֤יא6 of 25

Like as I have brought

H935

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

אֶל7 of 25
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

הָעָ֣ם8 of 25

upon this people

H5971

a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock

הַזֶּ֔ה9 of 25
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

אֵ֛ת10 of 25
H853

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

כָּל11 of 25
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

הָרָעָ֥ה12 of 25

evil

H7451

bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)

הַגְּדוֹלָ֖ה13 of 25

all this great

H1419

great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent

הַזֹּ֑את14 of 25
H2063

this (often used adverb)

כֵּ֣ן15 of 25
H3651

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

אָנֹכִ֞י16 of 25
H595

i

מֵבִ֤יא17 of 25

Like as I have brought

H935

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

עֲלֵיהֶם֙18 of 25
H5921

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

אֶת19 of 25
H853

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

כָּל20 of 25
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

הַטּוֹבָ֔ה21 of 25

upon them all the good

H2896

good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good

אֲשֶׁ֥ר22 of 25
H834

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

אָנֹכִ֖י23 of 25
H595

i

דֹּבֵ֥ר24 of 25

that I have promised

H1696

perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue

עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃25 of 25
H5921

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


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 32:42 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 32:42 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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