Read & explore together
A Promise of Restoration
Jeremiah 32:36–44 speaks to a city facing disaster and answers words of despair with Yahweh’s promise. The passage stays in the form of prophecy and teaching, moving from judgement already spoken about to restoration, covenant, and renewed life in the land.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
In this passage, Yahweh speaks about “this city”, which people say has been given into the hand of the king of Babylon by sword, famine, and pestilence. Yahweh answers that bleak assessment with promises to gather, restore, and bless his people, including ordinary life returning to the land.
Jeremiah 32:36–44Main takeaway
This passage teaches that Yahweh promises not only to restore his people to the land but also to renew their relationship with him for their good.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A city described as lostThe passage begins with what people are saying about the city: it is handed over to the king of Babylon through sword, famine, and pestilence.
Explanation
The passage begins with what people are saying about the city: it is handed over to the king of Babylon through sword, famine, and pestilence. That makes the promise that follows more striking. Yahweh speaks directly to the fear and loss that have already been named in their own words.
02Gathered back and belonging to GodYahweh says he will gather the people from all the countries where he has driven them and bring them back to this place.
Explanation
Yahweh says he will gather the people from all the countries where he has driven them and bring them back to this place. He will cause them to dwell safely. The centre of this restoration is relationship: “They will be my people, and I will be their God.”
03One heart, one way, and an everlasting covenantThe promise is not only about location but also inward change. Yahweh will give them “one heart and one way” so that they may fear him forever.
Explanation
The promise is not only about location but also inward change. Yahweh will give them “one heart and one way” so that they may fear him forever. He also promises an everlasting covenant, to do them good, and to put his fear in their hearts so they do not depart from him.
04Good promised, life restoredYahweh says he will rejoice to do them good and plant them in the land assuredly. As surely as great evil came upon this people, Yahweh says the promised good will come.
Explanation
Yahweh says he will rejoice to do them good and plant them in the land assuredly. As surely as great evil came upon this people, Yahweh says the promised good will come. Even the desolate land will again have ordinary signs of settled life, such as buying fields and witnessing deeds.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What problem do the people describe about the city at the start of the passage?
Look for the words they use about the city being given into Babylon’s hand and the three troubles they name.
02Which parts of the passage show that restoration includes both place and relationship?
Notice the promises about returning to “this place”, dwelling safely, and the words, “They will be my people, and I will be their God.”
03How does the passage describe inward change among the people?
Focus on the phrases “one heart and one way” and “I will put my fear in their hearts”.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Jeremiah 32:36–44
36Now therefore Yahweh, the God of Israel, says concerning this city, about which you say, “It is given into the hand of the king of Babylon by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence:”
37“Behold, I will gather them out of all the countries where I have driven them in my anger, and in my wrath, and in great indignation; and I will bring them again to this place. I will cause them to dwell safely.
38Then they will be my people, and I will be their God.
39I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their good and the good of their children after them.
40I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from following them, to do them good. I will put my fear in their hearts, that they may not depart from me.
41Yes, 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.”
42For Yahweh says: “Just as I have brought all this great evil on this people, so I will bring on them all the good that I have promised them.
43Fields will be bought in this land, about which you say, ‘It is desolate, without man or animal. It is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.’
44Men will buy fields for money, sign the deeds, seal them, and call witnesses, in the land of Benjamin, and in the places around Jerusalem, in the cities of Judah, in the cities of the hill country, in the cities of the lowland, and in the cities of the South; for I will cause their captivity to be reversed,” says Yahweh.