Jeremiah 9:24 · Bible study
Jeremiah 9:24 Commentary: True Boasting in Knowing God
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Jeremiah 9:24 redirects boasting from human achievements to knowing God, who exercises lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness and delights in these.
Research Summary
- Meaning: True glory is found only in knowing God intimately, not in human wisdom, strength, or wealth.
- Key words: Understanding (theoretical grasp) and knowing (experiential, relational); lovingkindness, judgment, righteousness, God’s covenant character.
- Main debate: Whether the two verbs “understand and know” denote distinct mental and moral aspects, or are a unified description of covenantal knowledge.
- Theological theme: The knowledge of God as the essence of the covenant relationship and the only secure ground for human confidence.
- Best use: A corrective to self-reliance and an invitation to anchor one’s identity in God’s character and delight.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
But let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, who exercises loving devotion, justice and righteousness on the earth— for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.
WEB World English Bible 2000
But let him who glories glory in this, that he has understanding, and knows me, that I am Yahweh who exercises loving kindness, justice, and righteousness in the earth, for I delight in these things,” says Yahweh.
KJV King James Version 1769
But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he hath understanding, and knoweth me, that I am Jehovah who exerciseth lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith Jehovah.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
But--in this let the boaster boast himself, In understanding and knowing Me, For I am Jehovah, doing kindness, Judgment, and righteousness, in the earth, For in these I have delighted, An affirmation of Jehovah.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I [am] Jehovah, who exercise loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth; for in these things I delight, saith Jehovah.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, for I am the Lord that exercise mercy, and judgment, and justice in the earth: for these things please me, saith the Lord.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Mas alábese en esto el que se hubiere de alabar: en entenderme y conocerme, que yo soy Jehová, que hago misericordia, juicio, y justicia en la tierra: porque estas cosas quiero, dice Jehová.
Mas aquele que se orgulhar, orgulhe-se nisto: em me entender e me conhecer, que eu sou o SENHOR, que faço bondade, juízo, e justiça na terra; porque destas coisas eu me agrado,diz o SENHOR.
Mais que celui qui veut se glorifier se glorifie
sondern wer sich rühmen will, der rühme sich des, daß er mich wisse und kenne, daß ich der HERR bin, der Barmherzigkeit, Recht und Gerechtigkeit übt auf Erden; denn solches gefällt mir, spricht der HERR.
Maar die zich beroemt, beroeme zich hierin, dat hij verstaat, en Mij kent, dat Ik de HEERE ben, doende weldadigheid, recht en gerechtigheid op de aarde, want in die dingen heb Ik lust, spreekt de HEERE.
ma chi si gloria si glori di questo: che ha intelligenza e conosce me, che sono l’Eterno, che esercita la benignità, il diritto e la giustizia sulla terra; perché di queste cose mi compiaccio, dice l’Eterno.
Ale w tem niechaj się chlubi, kto się chlubi, że rozumie a zna mię, żem Ja jest Pan, który czynię miłosierdzie, sąd i sprawiedliwość na ziemi; bo mi się to podoba, mówi Pan.
Но хвалящийся хвались тем, что разумеет и знает Меня, что Я - Господь, творящий милость, суд и правду на земле; ибо только это благоугодно Мне, говорит Господь.
誇口的 卻 因 他有聰明，認識 我 是耶和華，又知道 我 喜悅 在世上 施行 慈愛、公平，和公義，以 此 誇口。這是耶和華 說的。」
But if any man has pride, let it be in this, that he has the wisdom to have knowledge of me, that I am the Lord, working mercy, giving true decisions, and doing righteousness in the earth: for in these things I have delight, says the Lord.
Verse in Context
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that this verse redefines the proper basis for human boasting. While verse 23 forbids glorying in wisdom, strength, or riches, verse 24 directs all legitimate glory to the knowledge of God. Barnes calls this “the prophet’s remedy for the healing of the nation.” Calvin notes that God “delights not in the degradation of men” but strips them of false glory so they may seek true glory in knowing Him. Gill emphasizes that the person who truly understands himself as a dependent creature will glory only in the Lord. On the three attributes, lovingkindness, judgment, righteousness, Keil and Delitzsch describe them as God’s “grace, right, and justice,” with grace as the foundation. The unanimous point: human resources fail; only relational knowledge of God, who delights in these things, provides lasting security.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Knowing God and His character of lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness is the only proper object of boasting.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| The meaning of ‘understanding and knowing’ | Both verbs point to a true, relational knowledge of God, not mere intellectual information. | Some commentators (e.g., Wesley) see ‘understanding’ as more speculative and ‘knowing’ as more practical; others (e.g., Keil and Delitzsch) treat them as a single concept, with the second defining the first. |
| The relationship of the three attributes | They describe God’s character as revealed in the covenant, lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness work together. | Interpreters differ on whether ‘judgment’ refers primarily to punishment of the wicked or to the just ordering of all things; Grotius and JFB see it as directed toward the ungodly, while Calvin and Keil view it as part of God’s righteous rule over all. |
| The nature of permitted boasting | All forms of self-glory are forbidden; glory belongs to God alone. | The precise nuance: whether ‘glorying in the Lord’ means active verbal boasting or a heart posture of trust. Paul’s citation in 1 Corinthians 1:31 suggests the former, while Jeremiah’s context emphasises the latter. |
| Connection to circumcision of heart (vv.25-26) | External circumcision without inward knowledge of God is worthless and subject to judgment. | Scholars vary on whether the ‘days come’ refers to the Babylonian exile, the New Covenant, or the final judgment. Jeremiah 9:25-26 can be read as imminent judgment or eschatological warning. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Jeremiah prophesied during Judah’s final decades before the Babylonian exile, a time of political intrigue, false prophets, and misplaced confidence. The surrounding context (Jeremiah 9:20-26) records a lament over death and judgment, followed by a warning that even circumcision, the sign of the covenant, cannot protect those whose hearts remain uncircumcised. Against this backdrop, verses 23-24 stand as a counterweight to the nation’s fatal trust in human resources. The wise, the mighty, and the rich are those whom society looked to for security: counsellors, warriors, and merchants. But the prophet denies all three. True safety is not found in the wisdom that devises schemes, the strength that wins battles, or the wealth that buys allies. Instead, Jeremiah points to knowing God, a knowledge that echoes the revelation God gave Moses in Exodus 34:6-7, where Yahweh proclaims His name as merciful, just, and righteous. The three nouns, lovingkindness (hesed), justice (mishpat), righteousness (tsedaqah), are a deliberate echo of that theophany, grounding the call to glory in nothing less than God’s own character. For a people facing exile, this was not abstract theology; it was the only anchor that could hold. The prophet’s aim is to strip away every false refuge and direct the nation to the one God who delights in exercising these very attributes.
Textual Notes
The supplied sources note no significant textual variants for Jeremiah 9:24. The verse appears consistently across manuscripts.
Reception History
This verse has resonated across Christian traditions as a summary of true religion. The Apostle Paul likely alludes to it in 1 Corinthians 1:31 (“Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord”), applying the principle to the cross rather than human wisdom or status. Early church fathers such as Augustine used Jeremiah 9:24 to argue that the knowledge of God and the soul’s delight in Him is the highest good. During the Reformation, Catholics and Protestants alike cited the verse to insist that all glory belongs to God, not to human merits. In modern evangelical and Pentecostal contexts, the verse is often employed to challenge pride and redirect believers to intimacy with God as the foundation of Christian identity. Its pairing of God’s mercy and justice has also been a key text for those reflecting on the harmony of God’s attributes.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The forbidden grounds of boasting. Wisdom, strength, and riches, each a gift from God, each twisted into a source of self-reliance. The world honours these, but they cannot secure life or stand against God’s judgment.
- The legitimate ground of boasting. Understanding and knowing the Lord. This is not mere intellectual assent but experiential intimacy that reshapes how a person lives. To boast in God is to stake everything on who He is.
- The character of the God we boast in. He exercises lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness. He delights in these things. Our confidence rests not in our own qualities but in His unwavering character.
Five-point outline
- What the world glories in: wisdom (human ingenuity), might (military or physical power), and riches (material resources). Each is temporary.
- What God forbids: boasting that depends on any of these as ultimate security. They are not evil, but they are not solid ground.
- What God permits: glorying in understanding and knowing Him. This is the only boasting that reflects truth.
- What this knowledge includes: knowing God as the One who shows lovingkindness, executes judgment, and establishes righteousness. It is a personal, covenantal knowledge.
- Why this is safe: because God delights in these very things. Our boasting is anchored in God’s own joy, not our performance.
Illustration hooks
- A brilliant chess player who can see ten moves ahead, yet cannot prevent a terminal diagnosis. All that wisdom cannot buy an extra day.
- An Olympic athlete whose career ends with a single injury. Strength, no matter how trained, has limits.
- A tech entrepreneur whose company crashes in a market shift. Riches are here today, gone tomorrow.
Questions your congregation is asking
- “Is it wrong to feel proud of my achievements? Where is the line between healthy satisfaction and sin?”
- “I know facts about God, but how do I know I truly know Him?”
- “How do I anchor my sense of worth in God’s character rather than my performance?”
Leading a Discussion
This passage speaks directly to the human tendency to trust in what we can see and control. Yet it also opens a door: the only boast that never fails is the boast that is rooted in knowing God. As you work through these questions, help the group move from what the text says to how it reorients our daily confidence.
Discussion questions
- Read Jeremiah 9:23-24 aloud. What are the three things the world typically boasts in? Why are they so tempting?
- Verse 24 says we should glory in “understanding and knowing” God. How might “understanding” differ from “knowing” in this context?
- What do the three attributes, lovingkindness, justice, righteousness, tell us about God’s character? Why does God say He “delights” in these things?
- In what areas of life are you most tempted to place your confidence in wisdom, strength, or riches rather than in God?
- How does knowing that God delights in these virtues affect the way you approach Him in prayer or in times of fear?
- Jeremiah 9:25-26 follows with a warning about circumcision of the heart. How does knowledge of God lead to inner transformation, not just external ritual?
- What would it look like this week to “boast in the Lord” in a practical, everyday situation? How can you practice making God your only confidence?
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Exodus 34:5 | Yahweh descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed Yahweh’s name. |
| Exodus 34:7 | keeping loving kindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity and disobedience and sin; and who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and on the children’s children, on the third and on the fourth generation.” |
| I Samuel 15:22 | Samuel said, “Has Yahweh as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying Yahweh’s voice? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. |
| Psalms 36:5 | Your loving kindness, Yahweh, is in the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the skies. |
| Psalms 36:7 | How precious is your loving kindness, God! The children of men take refuge under the shadow of your wings. |
| Psalms 44:8 | In God we have made our boast all day long. We will give thanks to your name forever. Selah. |
| Psalms 51:1 | For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, God, according to your loving kindness. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. |
| Psalms 91:14 | “Because he has set his love on me, therefore I will deliver him. I will set him on high, because he has known my name. |
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
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke argues that true glorying or boasting means depending on something as the source of happiness, and that only belongs to knowing God personally through His mercy, justice, and righteousness. Even pagan poets like Phocylides recognized that wisdom, strength, and riches are gifts from the one God who alone is wise, mighty, and rich.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes sees the prophet's remedy as a true understanding of God that combines spiritual enlightenment with obedient training of the heart. This knowledge rests on three essential attributes: God's lovingkindness or grace, His justice or judgment, and His righteousness. Without believing that God's dealings are right and just, people cannot truly love or reverence Him.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin observes that God does not strip people of all glory to humiliate them, but so they will seek a better glory. The true glory is to know God, which he calls the chief part of perfect wisdom. This corrects the widespread error of neglecting that knowledge while pursuing lesser things.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator notes that these verses appear detached from their context and may not originally belong here. Scholars disagree on whether they are authentic, but their message — that true glory comes from piety, not from outward covenant marks like circumcision — matches Jeremiah's other sayings.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
But let him that glorieth, glorie in this, that he vnderstandeth, and knoweth me: for I am the Lord, which shewe mercie, iudgement, and righteousnes in the earth: for in these things I delite, sayth the Lord.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill insists that the knowledge of God that warrants glorying is not mere intellectual awareness but a deep, experiential understanding of God's character -- especially His lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness. This knowledge humbles a person, causing them to boast only in the Lord and not in their own wisdom, strength, or righteousness.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch stresses that safety comes not from human wisdom, strength, or riches but from true knowledge of the Lord. This knowledge means knowing Him as the God who shows grace, right, and justice on earth. Because God delights in these things, He will punish those who fail to practice them.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Matthew Henry shows that the people were relying on wisdom, power, and riches as defenses against judgment, but these all fail when trouble arrives. The only safe ground for boasting is knowing the Lord personally and understanding that He delights in kindness, justice, and righteousness on earth.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley dismisses any fine distinction between understanding God as a mental grasp and knowing God as practical direction. For him, both converge on trusting and depending on God alone in every situation. He then defines God's kindness, judgment and righteousness by how they relate to his people, to the wicked, and to both with justice.