Jeremiah, who delivers judgment oracles in 58 of his 61 biblical appearances, here uniquely proclaims restoration promises, marking this as his most hopeful prophetic message.
1The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
2“The LORD, the God of Israel, says, ‘Write all the words that I have spoken to you in a book.
3For, behold, the days come,’ says the LORD, ‘that I will reverse the captivity of my people Israel and Judah,’ says the LORD. ‘I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they will possess it.’”
4These are the words that the LORD spoke concerning Israel and concerning Judah.
5For the LORD says: “We have heard a voice of trembling; a voice of fear, and not of peace.
6Ask now, and see whether a man travails with child. Why do I see every man with his hands on his waist, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned pale?
7Alas, for that day is great, so that none is like it! It is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he will be saved out of it.
8It will come to pass in that day, says the LORD of Armies, that I will break his yoke from off your neck, and will burst your bonds. Strangers will no more make them their bondservants;
9but they will serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up to them.
10Therefore don’t be afraid, O Jacob my servant, says the LORD. Don’t be dismayed, Israel. For, behold, I will save you from afar, and save your offspring from the land of their captivity. Jacob will return, and will be quiet and at ease. No one will make him afraid.
11For I am with you, says the LORD, to save you; for I will make a full end of all the nations where I have scattered you, but I will not make a full end of you; but I will correct you in measure, and will in no way leave you unpunished.”
12For the LORD says, “Your hurt is incurable. Your wound is grievous.
13There is no one to plead your cause, that you may be bound up. You have no healing medicines.
14All your lovers have forgotten you. They don’t seek you. For I have wounded you with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the greatness of your iniquity, because your sins were increased.
15Why do you cry over your injury? Your pain is incurable. For the greatness of your iniquity, because your sins have increased, I have done these things to you.
16Therefore all those who devour you will be devoured. All your adversaries, everyone of them, will go into captivity. Those who plunder you will be plunder. I will make all who prey on you become prey.
17For I will restore health to you, and I will heal you of your wounds,” says the LORD, “because they have called you an outcast, saying, ‘It is Zion, whom no man seeks after.’”
18The LORD says: “Behold, I will reverse the captivity of Jacob’s tents, and have compassion on his dwelling places. The city will be built on its own hill, and the palace will be inhabited in its own place.
19Thanksgiving will proceed out of them with the voice of those who make merry. I will multiply them, and they will not be few; I will also glorify them, and they will not be small.
20Their children also will be as before, and their congregation will be established before me. I will punish all who oppress them.
21Their prince will be one of them, and their ruler will proceed from among them. I will cause him to draw near, and he will approach me; for who is he who has had boldness to approach me?” says the LORD.
22“You shall be my people, and I will be your God.
23Behold, the LORD’s storm, his wrath, has gone out, a sweeping storm; it will burst on the head of the wicked.
24The fierce anger of the LORD will not return until he has accomplished, and until he has performed the intentions of his heart. In the latter days you will understand it.”
Jeremiah 30 marks a pivotal shift from judgment to hope as God commands the prophet to record His promises of restoration for Israel and Judah. Though the people will first endure 'the time of Jacob's trouble'—a period of unprecedented distress—God promises deliverance and return from captivity. The chapter moves from describing Israel's incurable wounds caused by sin to God's promise of complete healing, restoration of the land, and renewal of joy and worship.
Context
This chapter begins the 'Book of Consolation' (chapters 30-33), shifting from the predominantly judgmental tone of earlier chapters to messages of hope and restoration.
Key Themes
Outline
God promises to restore Israel and Judah from captivity, bringing them back to their land. Despite a time of great trouble, God will deliver Jacob and raise up a Davidic king to rule over them.
person_contrast
Jeremiah, who delivers judgment oracles in 58 of his 61 biblical appearances, here uniquely proclaims restoration promises, marking this as his most hopeful prophetic message.
God acknowledges Israel's incurable wounds caused by their sins but promises healing and restoration. Those who oppressed Israel will themselves face judgment, while God will restore health to His people.
theme_rarity
Jeremiah uniquely pairs medical language ("incurable wound," "healing medicines") with legal terminology ("plead your cause"), creating one of only two biblical passages where healing and justice themes converge.
God promises to restore Jacob's fortunes with compassion, rebuilding cities and establishing righteous leadership from among the people. The covenant relationship will be renewed while God's wrath falls upon the wicked.
person_contrast
Jacob appears with divine "compassion" (racham) only here and in Isaiah 14:1, making this restoration promise uniquely tender among the patriarch's 85 biblical mentions.
Jeremiah, who delivers judgment oracles in 58 of his 61 biblical appearances, here uniquely proclaims restoration promises, marking this as his most hopeful prophetic message.
Jeremiah uniquely pairs medical language ("incurable wound," "healing medicines") with legal terminology ("plead your cause"), creating one of only two biblical passages where healing and justice themes converge.
Jacob appears with divine "compassion" (racham) only here and in Isaiah 14:1, making this restoration promise uniquely tender among the patriarch's 85 biblical mentions.
Connected passages across Scripture
Therefore you delivered them into the hand of their adversaries, who distressed them. In the time of their trouble, when…
Go and cry to the gods which you have chosen. Let them save you in the time of your distress!”
You hope of Israel, its Savior in the time of trouble, why should you be as a foreigner in the land, and as a wayfaring…
“For long ago I broke off your yoke, and burst your bonds. You said, ‘I will not serve;’ for on every high hill and unde…
I will go to the great men and will speak to them, for they know the way of the LORD, and the law of their God.” But the…
“‘“‘It will happen that I will punish the nation and the kingdom which will not serve the same Nebuchadnezzar king of Ba…
But the nation that brings their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serves him, that nation I will let remai…
Now I will break his yoke from off you, and will burst your bonds apart.”
“But don’t you be afraid, Jacob my servant. Don’t be dismayed, Israel; for, behold, I will save you from afar, and your…
I will set up shepherds over them who will feed them. They will no longer be afraid or dismayed, neither will any be lac…
“Moab has been at ease from his youth, and he has settled on his dregs, and has not been emptied from vessel to vessel,…
Woe is me because of my injury! My wound is serious; but I said, “Truly this is my grief, and I must bear it.”
“You shall say this word to them: “‘Let my eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease; for the virgi…
There is no healing your wound, for your injury is fatal. All who hear the report of you clap their hands over you, for…
Word-by-word original language
Places and events in this chapter
The forced deportation of Judah's population to Babylon after Jerusalem's destruction. This pivotal event reshaped Jewish identity and theology, leading to the compilation of much of the Hebrew Bible.
God promises to restore Israel and Judah from their current state of exile.
Restoration Promised