Jeremiah 31:35-37 · Bible study
Jeremiah 31:35-37 Commentary: Study: God's Sovereign Guarantee of Covenant
Hebrew · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why the sun, moon, stars and sea become God's strongest pledge that He will never abandon His people.
Research Summary
- Meaning: God's covenant promises are as certain and unshakable as the created order itself.
- Key words: Ordinances (chuqot), the fixed laws governing the moon and stars; impossible conditions underscore certainty.
- Main debate: Whether “offspring of Israel” refers to ethnic Israel as a distinct people or to the spiritual Israel, the Church.
- Theological theme: The connection between creation theology and covenant faithfulness, the Creator keeps his word.
- Best use: Preaching on assurance, God's sovereignty, and the permanence of grace under the new covenant.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
35Thus says the LORD, who gives the sun for light by day, who sets in order the moon and stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—the LORD of Hosts is His name:
36“Only if this fixed order departed from My presence, declares the LORD, would Israel’s descendants ever cease to be a nation before Me.”
37This is what the LORD says: “Only if the heavens above could be measured and the foundations of the earth below searched out would I reject all of Israel’s descendants because of all they have done,” declares the LORD.
WEB World English Bible 2000
35Yahweh, who gives the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, who stirs up the sea, so that its waves roar— Yahweh of Armies is his name, says:
36“If these ordinances depart from before me,” says Yahweh, “then the offspring of Israel also will cease from being a nation before me forever.”
37Yahweh says: “If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, then I will also cast off all the offspring of Israel for all that they have done,” says Yahweh.
KJV King James Version 1769
35Thus saith the Lord, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The Lord of hosts is his name:
36If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the Lord, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever.
37Thus saith the Lord; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the Lord.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
35Thus saith Jehovah, who giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, who stirreth up the sea, so that the waves thereof roar; Jehovah of hosts is his name:
36If these ordinances depart from before me, saith Jehovah, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever.
37Thus saith Jehovah: If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, then will I also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith Jehovah.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
35Thus said Jehovah, Who is giving the sun for a light by day, The statutes of moon and stars for a light by night, Quieting the sea when its billows roar, Jehovah of Hosts is His name:
36If these statutes depart from before Me, An affirmation of Jehovah, Even the seed of Israel doth cease From being a nation before Me all the days.
37Thus said Jehovah: If the heavens above be measured, And the foundations of earth below searched, Even I kick against all the seed of Israel, For all that they have done, An affirmation of Jehovah.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
35Thus saith Jehovah, who giveth the sun for light by day, the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for light by night, who stirreth up the sea so that the waves thereof roar, — Jehovah of hosts is his name:
36If those ordinances depart from before me, saith Jehovah, the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever.
37Thus saith Jehovah: If the heavens above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off the whole seed of Israel, for all that they have done, saith Jehovah.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
35Thus saith the Lord, who giveth the sun for the light of the day, the order of the moon and of the stars, for the light of the night: who stirreth up the sea, and the waves thereof roar, the Lord of hosts is his name.
36If these ordinances shall fail before me, saith the Lord: then also the seed of Israel shall fail, so as not to be a nation before me for ever.
37Thus saith the Lord: If the heavens above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I also will cast away all the seed of Israel, for all that they have done, saith the Lord.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Jeremiah 31:35
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that Jeremiah 31:35-37 functions as a divine oath, using the stability of creation to guarantee the new covenant promises from verses 31-34. Adam Clarke notes a literal fulfillment: the Jewish people continue as a distinct nation despite all attempts at assimilation. Barnes applies the promise to the Church, observing that while Israel has ceased to be a political nation, it endures as a people, and this pattern extends to the Church's perpetual existence. Calvin emphasizes God's regular order in nature (sun, moon, stars) as proof that His covenant cannot fail; the same Creator who governs the cosmos will keep His word. Matthew Henry calls it the strongest possible ratification: while the world stands, God will have a people. The two "if...then" conditions are deliberately impossible, so the conclusion stands, God's faithfulness to His people is as unshakable as the sun, moon and stars.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Ethnic Israel preserved forever: Reads 'offspring of Israel' literally; supported by Clarke and the continued distinct identity of the Jewish people across centuries.
- Spiritual Israel, the Church: Applies the promise typologically to the Church, the new covenant community; Barnes and Gill point to Matthew 28:19-20.
- Both/and: ethnic preservation plus spiritual fulfillment: Seeing the Jewish people's survival as a sign pointing to the ultimate fulfillment in the Church; combines both readings.
What is clear: God will never utterly abandon his people; the new covenant is as certain and stable as the created order that he upholds.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Identity of the 'offspring of Israel' | God promises a perpetual people for himself, a nation that will never entirely cease to exist before him. | Clarke and Jamieson-Fausset-Brown apply it to ethnic Israel (the Jewish people continue as a distinct race). Barnes and Gill apply it primarily to the spiritual Israel, the Church, which will endure forever. |
| Authorship of these verses | Part of the book of Jeremiah and the new covenant section. | The Cambridge Bible notes scholars who see a later hand due to affinities with Isaiah 40-55 and differences in style. Most traditional commentators (Calvin, Keil, Matthew Henry) accept them as Jeremiah's own. |
| Scope of 'all that they have done' | God's covenant is ultimately not revoked by human sin, forgiveness is promised. | Barnes allows that unworthy individuals may be cast off, while the corporate promise stands. Calvin sees it as assurance that chastisement is not rejection. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Jeremiah prophesied in the final decades of Judah's existence, when Babylon was rising and exile was certain. The people had broken the old covenant (Jeremiah 31:32), and the promise of a new covenant in verses 31-34 was radical: law written on hearts, universal knowledge of God, complete forgiveness. These three verses (35-37) seal that promise with an appeal to creation.
The language echoes Genesis 1:14-18, where the sun, moon and stars are given "for lights" and for "signs and seasons." The key Hebrew word is chuqot ("fixed orders" or "ordinances"), the same term used for the laws governing heavenly bodies. God's control of the sea ("who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar") recalls Job 26:12 and Exodus 14:21, where Yahweh commands the waters. In the ancient Near East, the sea symbolized chaos; by claiming authority over it, God shows that nothing in creation, not even chaos, escapes His rule.
The prophecy thus grounds Israel's restoration not in human merit but in the Creator's sovereign power. The two conditions (that the heavenly order depart, that the heavens be measured and the earth's foundations searched out) are absurd impossibilities. Therefore the conclusion, that Israel will never cease to be a nation before God, is as certain as the sun rising.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note one text-critical variation: the Septuagint (LXX) places verse 37 before verse 35, which some scholars take as evidence of a marginal gloss later inserted. The Masoretic Text (Hebrew) follows the order given here. No other significant variants are noted in the supplied excerpts.
Reception History
In Jewish tradition, these verses have been cited as proof of Israel's eternal election and continued distinct existence. Early Christian writers saw them fulfilled in the Church as the people of God under the new covenant. During the Reformation, Calvin used the passage to demonstrate the certainty of God's promises, especially after apparent failure. Matthew Henry applied it to the gospel age, arguing that while the world stands, God will maintain a church. In modern discussion, the passage is referenced both in debates about Israel's national restoration and in broader teachings on the security of the believer.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Creator's Authority (v.35), God presents himself as the one who gives the sun, moon and stars their place, and who commands the roaring sea. This is not an abstract claim; it is the grounds for everything that follows. The God who makes the cosmos keeps covenant.
- The Unchangeable Order (v.36), The sun rises, the moon waxes and wanes, the seasons turn. If that order could break down, then, and only then, would Israel cease. Since creation remains stable, so does God's promise.
- The Unfathomable Depths (v.37), The second condition pushes further: if someone could measure the heavens or drill to the earth's foundations, then God would cast off Israel. Both are impossible. The point is the same: God's commitment is absolute.
Five-point outline
- God identifies himself with his name and his works (v.35a).
- He controls the cosmic forces, sun, moon, stars, sea (v.35b).
- First guarantee: fixed ordinances of nature undergird the new covenant (v.36).
- Second guarantee: the unfathomable heavens and earth confirm the promise (v.37a).
- Conclusion: even the sins of Israel cannot undo God's covenant faithfulness (v.37b).
Illustration hooks
- A parent's promise to a child that the sun will rise tomorrow. The child doesn't doubt it, because it has never failed. Jeremiah says God's promise is like that.
- A bank vault with a multi-ton door. The security of the vault depends on a mechanism that is almost impossible to breach. God's covenant is sealed by the same power that keeps the planets in orbit.
- A signed contract witnessed by a trustworthy authority. God does not just promise, he invokes his own identity as Lord of hosts as the guarantor.
Questions your congregation is asking
- How can I be sure God still loves me after my repeated failures?
- Does God's plan for me depend on my performance, or on something more solid?
- What does the continued existence of the Jewish people tell us about God's faithfulness?
Leading a Discussion
This passage comes at the end of the new covenant prophecy. After promising a heart-transforming relationship, God seals it with the most solid guarantee imaginable: the stability of creation itself. As you discuss, consider how this changes the way you trust God's promises.
Discussion questions
- What does verse 35 tell us about who God is? List every action and attribute mentioned.
- Why does God use the sun, moon and stars, rather than something else, as the foundation for his promise?
- The Hebrew word chuqot ("ordinances" or "fixed orders") appears in both verses 35 and 36. What does this repetition emphasize?
- How do the two "if...then" statements in verses 36 and 37 work as arguments? What makes them persuasive?
- Calvin wrote that these verses comforted a despondent people. What situations in your own life or in the world today make God's promises seem uncertain?
- Barnes applies this passage to the Church, while Clarke applies it to the Jewish people. How does this affect your understanding of God's plan?
- Verse 37 says God would not cast off Israel "for all that they have done." What does this tell you about the basis of our relationship with God?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 1:14 | God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs to mark seasons, days, and years; |
| Genesis 1:18 | and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. God saw that it was good. |
| Exodus 14:21 | Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and Yahweh caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. |
| Exodus 14:22 | The children of Israel went into the middle of the sea on the dry ground; and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. |
| Deuteronomy 4:19 | and lest you lift up your eyes to the sky, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, even all the army of the sky, you are drawn away and worship them, and serve them, which Yahweh your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole sky. |
| Job 26:12 | He stirs up the sea with his power, and by his understanding he strikes through Rahab. |
| Job 38:10 | marked out for it my bound, set bars and doors, |
| Job 38:11 | and said, ‘You may come here, but no further. Your proud waves shall be stopped here’? |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke points to the Jews' continued existence as a distinct people as literal fulfillment of God's promise, proven by every failed attempt to assimilate them, including a well-supported effort in England in 1830. He sees this as evidence of God's unshakable purpose.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes draws a parallel between God's control over the sea and His faithfulness to His people. Though Israel no longer exists as a nation, it remains a distinct people, and this promise extends to the Church, which will never cease to exist even as its members should remain distinct from the world.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin argues that the prophet confirms God's covenant by comparing it to the fixed order of the sun, moon, and stars. Yet he stresses that this promise does not apply to every descendant of Abraham, only to a remnant that will survive God's judgment. The covenant's permanence mirrors creation's stability, but God's mercy after punishment is not universal.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible commentary observes that many scholars question whether these verses originally came from Jeremiah, citing their intense nationalistic tone, stylistic links to Second Isaiah, and awkward placement after the New Covenant prophecy. Regardless of authorship, the passage declares that God's covenant with Israel is as unshakeable as the fixed order of creation itself.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note stresses that God’s promise to keep Israel as a nation forever rests on the same unchangeable order that governs the sun, moon, and sea. As surely as these natural laws remain fixed, so will Israel endure; not even their sins can undo this pledge.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill applies the passage in two layers: the natural order of sun, moon and sea demonstrates God's power to keep His covenant, first with national Israel who remain a distinct people despite scattering, and more fully with spiritual Israel, the elect, who will never be cast off regardless of their sins because of God's unchangeable love and Christ's satisfaction.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB points out that Jeremiah quotes Isaiah 51:15, confirming that passage's genuineness. The commentator highlights Israel's preservation as a distinct people through eighteen centuries of scattering and persecution as a perpetual miracle, proving that God keeps His covenant promise despite their sins.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange insists the new covenant is not merely a fuller version of the old one but a different kind of relationship altogether. The old covenant was external and broken; the new one is written on the heart, based on real forgiveness won by Christ’s sacrifice, and lasts as surely as the laws of nature.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry draws a direct parallel between the unshakable laws of nature—the sun, moon, and stars keeping their appointed courses—and the certainty of God’s promise to preserve a church for himself. As long as creation holds, God will have a people; the church may be brought low but can never be destroyed.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley draws a connection between the fixed order of nature and God's lasting commitment to Israel. The "ordinances" refer to God's established laws for the regular workings of natural causes. He explains that "I will cast off" means God will never completely reject all the descendants of Israel.