FocusWarning, intercession, and refusal
Jeremiah 23:5
KJVBehold, 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.
This opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. Oracles and enacted signs expose covenant unfaithfulness and the coming judgment, including the warning about Babylon.
- 23:1 Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.
- 23:2 Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD.
- 23:3 And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase.
- 23:4 And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD.
- 23:5 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.
- 23:6 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.
- 23:7 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;
- 23:8 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.
Who
- Who wrote the book? Jeremiah son of Hilkiah is the prophet behind the book, with Baruch serving as his scribe. The complete collection includes narrative and a historical appendix as well as Jeremiah's dictated words. Biblical references: Jeremiah 1:1; Jeremiah 36:4; Jeremiah 36:32. stated in the text
- Who was present or being addressed in this passage? In the surrounding chapter context (Jeremiah 21:1–24:10): Jeremiah addresses royal envoys, Judah's kings, shepherds, and prophets; the people and exiles are the subjects of the messages concerning leadership and judgment. stated in the text
- Who was the book written to? Judah and Jerusalem before and during the Babylonian crisis, exiles in Babylon, and later readers of the preserved prophetic collection. Individual oracles name additional recipients. Biblical references: Jeremiah 2:2; Jeremiah 29:1; Jeremiah 46:1. stated in the text
What
- What is the topic of this reading unit? David’s Righteous Branch. Read Jeremiah 23:1 through Jeremiah 23:8 as a connected unit. interpretation
- How does it contribute to the book? This opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. Oracles and enacted signs expose covenant unfaithfulness and the coming judgment, including the warning about Babylon. interpretation
When
- When are the events or message set? The opening dates Jeremiah's ministry from Josiah's reign toward the captivity of Jerusalem. Individual messages also name particular reigns and events, and the book is not arranged as a simple diary. book background
Where
- What is the book’s geographic setting? Judah and Jerusalem dominate, with messages to exiles in Babylon, accounts involving Egypt, and oracles concerning other nations. book background
- Where does the context start? This passage sits in David’s Righteous Branch (Jeremiah 23:1 to Jeremiah 23:8). Start reading at Jeremiah 23:1. An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.
How
- How does this book connect with Jesus Christ? Hebrews explicitly quotes Jeremiah's new-covenant promise in its explanation of Christ's priestly work. The quotation retains the named houses of Israel and Judah; later application should account for that wording. See Jeremiah 31:31, Hebrews 8:8, Hebrews 8:10. interpretation
- How should this book guide our response? Listen to unwelcome truth and distinguish it from reassuring claims unsupported by God's word. Do not detach promises of restoration from the judgment, exile, and response described around them. interpretation
Cited: Jeremiah 23:1, Jeremiah 23:8, Jeremiah 31:31, Hebrews 8:8, Hebrews 8:10
Who wrote it, and how we know
Related passages
- the days Jer 30:3 Jer 31:27,31-38 Jer 33:14 Heb 8:8
- I Jer 33:15 Ps 72:1-2 Isa 32:1-2 Isa 40:10-11 Dan 9:24 Amos 9:11 Zech 9:9 Rev 19:11
- Branch Ps 80:15 Isa 4:2 Isa 11:1-5 Isa 40:9,11 Isa 53:2 Ezek 17:2-10,22-24 Ezek 34:29 Zech 3:8
- reign Jer 22:30 Ps 45:4 Isa 9:7 Isa 52:13 Isa 53:10 Luke 1:32-33
- and shall Jer 22:3,15 Ps 72:2
Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).
Macro-Structure
See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.
Macro-Structure of Jeremiah 23
Jeremiah 1:1 Jeremiah 1:2 Jeremiah 36:4
Lying Prophets
Jeremiah 23:9–32FocusWarning, intercession, and refusal
False Prophecies
Jeremiah 23:33–40FocusWarning, intercession, and refusal
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.
Macro-Structure of Jeremiah
Jeremiah 1:1 Jeremiah 1:2 Jeremiah 36:4
Jeremiah's call
Jeremiah 1:1–19FocusCommission and opposition
FocusWarning, intercession, and refusal
The prophet contested
Jeremiah 26:1–29:32FocusTrue and false messages
Promises of restoration
Jeremiah 30:1–33:26FocusReturn, covenant, and hope
Jerusalem's fall and its aftermath
Jeremiah 34:1–45:5FocusRejected words and continuing disobedience
Oracles against the nations
Jeremiah 46:1–51:64FocusJudgment on the surrounding powers
The fall of Jerusalem recounted
Jeremiah 52:1–34FocusDestruction and the exiled king
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.