Read & explore together
Jerusalem is comforted with a reversal of her oppressors’ joy
This prophecy speaks directly to Jerusalem with courage and comfort, then declares a reversal for those who enjoyed her downfall. It shows that the one who named Jerusalem also announces judgement on her oppressors.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
Jerusalem is addressed by name and told to take courage because the one who called her by name will comfort her. The passage then pronounces misery on those who afflicted her, on cities connected with her children’s service, and on a singular “she” whose joy at Jerusalem’s ruin will be reversed.
Baruch 4:30–35Main takeaway
This passage teaches that the Everlasting promises comfort to Jerusalem and grief, mourning and desolation for the one who rejoiced at her fall.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Jerusalem is called to courageThe passage opens with a direct call: “Take courage, O Jerusalem.” The reason follows immediately.
Explanation
The passage opens with a direct call: “Take courage, O Jerusalem.” The reason follows immediately. The one who called Jerusalem by name will comfort her. This makes the comfort personal and certain within the wording of the verse, because Jerusalem is both addressed and named.
02Those who afflicted Jerusalem are called miserableAfter the promise of comfort, the passage turns to those on the other side of Jerusalem’s suffering.
Explanation
After the promise of comfort, the passage turns to those on the other side of Jerusalem’s suffering. It calls miserable those who afflicted Jerusalem and rejoiced at her fall. The same word is then used for cities connected with her children’s service and for “she who received your sons”.
03Joy over Jerusalem’s ruin is reversedVerse 33 focuses on a singular “she”. The text says she rejoiced at Jerusalem’s fall and was glad of her ruin.
Explanation
Verse 33 focuses on a singular “she”. The text says she rejoiced at Jerusalem’s fall and was glad of her ruin. That response is then answered with a matching reversal: she will be grieved at her own desolation. The judgement mirrors her earlier attitude toward Jerusalem’s disaster.
04Pride, boasting and desolationThe closing verses describe the downfall in stronger terms. Pride in a “great multitude” will be taken away, and boasting will turn into mourning.
Explanation
The closing verses describe the downfall in stronger terms. Pride in a “great multitude” will be taken away, and boasting will turn into mourning. Then fire is said to come upon her from the Everlasting for many days, and she is described as inhabited by demons for a long time.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What reason does Jerusalem have to take courage?
The verse itself gives the reason: the one who called Jerusalem by name will comfort her.
02Who or what is called miserable in these verses?
List each group or place named in the passage, using the wording of Baruch 4:31–32.
03How does verse 33 describe a reversal?
Notice the matching pattern between rejoicing at Jerusalem’s ruin and being grieved at one’s own desolation.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Baruch 4:30–35
30Take courage, O Jerusalem, for he who called you by name will comfort you.
31Miserable are those who afflicted you and rejoiced at your fall.
32Miserable are the cities which your children served. Miserable is she who received your sons.
33For as she rejoiced at your fall and was glad of your ruin, so she will be grieved at her own desolation.
34And I will take away her pride in her great multitude and her boasting will be turned into mourning.
35For fire will come upon her from the Everlasting for many days; and she will be inhabited by demons for a long time.