Jeremiah 16:14-15
“Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when it shall no longer be said, ‘As the LORD lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt,’ but ‘As the LORD lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the north country and out of all the countries where he had driven them.’ For I will bring them back to their own land that I gave to their fathers.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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What's easy to miss here is that this isn't just about forgetting the Exodus; it's about a future deliverance that will be so spectacular it will overshadow it. God is hinting that the coming exile and restoration will be an even more profound display of His power and faithfulness than bringing Israel out of Egypt, making that foundational act seem almost commonplace in comparison.
Jeremiah has just announced a devastating judgment on Judah, emphasizing their deep sin and the impending exile. This verse, however, pivots to offer a startling prophecy of future redemption, one that will ultimately overshadow even the monumental exodus from Egypt in the people's collective memory. The promise of deliverance implies a captivity far more severe than the one their ancestors endured.
For generations, the story of God rescuing Israel from Egypt was the ultimate proof of His power and faithfulness. It was the bedrock of their identity.
But Jeremiah says this defining event will be… outshone?
The Exodus as the Ultimate Testimony
For the Israelites, the liberation from Egyptian bondage wasn't just a historical event; it was the defining moment of their relationship with God. It was the ultimate testament to His power, His faithfulness, and His chosen people.
Jeremiah’s prophecy here suggests a future event so monumental that it will dwarf even this incredible liberation.
Jeremiah is preparing his people for a future exile, not just to Egypt, but to the far-off 'land of the north.'
This coming judgment will be so severe that the memory of escaping Egypt will seem… almost minor in comparison.
The 'Land of the North' Exceeds Egypt's Bondage
The prophecy points to a future exile, often understood as Babylon, described as the "land of the north." This captivity, Jeremiah implies, will be a more profound and devastating experience than the enslavement in Egypt.
Understand the original words
Yisra'el · Hebrew Noun
The Hebrew term for the descendants of Jacob/Israel, who are God’s chosen covenant people. The term signifies their identity as those set apart by God for His purposes and through whom His redemptive plan is mediated.
This prophecy was delivered during a period of escalating judgment against Judah, culminating in the Babylonian exile. Jeremiah contrasts the impending, more severe scattering and suffering with the historical Exodus from Egypt, suggesting that future deliverances will be even more miraculous and memorable than the first.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern Kingdom of Israel, scattering its population and initiating a period of exile for many Israelites.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquers Judah and deports a number of its citizens, including members of the royal family and skilled workers, to Babylon.
597 BC
Second Babylonian Deportation
Babylon deports more Judeans, including the prophet Ezekiel and King Jehoiachin, intensifying the exile and its impact on Judah.
c. 588-586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple Destruction
Nebuchadnezzar lays siege to Jerusalem, ultimately destroying the city and its sacred Temple. Many survivors are deported to Babylon, marking a profound national catastrophe.
This passage directly contrasts the past mighty act of bringing Israel out of Egypt with a new, even greater act of deliverance, echoing Jeremiah's theme of diminishing the significance of the Exodus in light of future events.
Jeremiah 23:7-8This passage is a parallel, offering a more prominent promise of future restoration, explicitly stating that the deliverance from the 'land of the north' will overshadow the memory of the Exodus from Egypt.
Exodus 15:11This passage celebrates God's incomparable glory in the Exodus, highlighting how Jeremiah's prophecy challenges this established narrative by pointing to a future salvation that will be even more astonishing.
Deuteronomy 4:32-34This passage reminds Israel of God's great acts, specifically the Exodus, which was meant to be remembered. Jeremiah's prophecy indicates that a future act will be so profound it will eclipse even this foundational memory.
clarkeJeremiah 16:14: "Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that it shall no more be said, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;"
The Lord liveth, that brought up - See Isaiah 43:18 .
calvinJeremiah 16:14-15: "Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that it shall no more be said, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;"
But, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers.
Quin potius, vivit Jehova, qui ascendere fecit filios Israel e terra Aquilonis, et ex omni…
What's easy to miss here is that this isn't just about forgetting the Exodus; it's about a future deliverance that will be so spectacular it will overshadow it. God is hinting that the coming exile and restoration will be an even more profound display of His power and faithfulness than bringing Israel out of Egypt, making that foundational act seem almost commonplace in comparison.
Jeremiah has just announced a devastating judgment on Judah, emphasizing their deep sin and the impending exile. This verse, however, pivots to offer a startling prophecy of future redemption, one that will ultimately overshadow even the monumental exodus from Egypt in the people's collective memory. The promise of deliverance implies a captivity far more severe than the one their ancestors endured.
Jeremiah has just announced a devastating judgment on Judah, emphasizing their deep sin and the impending exile. This verse, however, pivots to offer a startling prophecy of future redemption, one that will ultimately overshadow even the monumental exodus from Egypt in the people's collective memory. The promise of deliverance implies a captivity far more severe than the one their ancestors endured.
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539 BC
Cyrus the Great's Conquest of Babylon
The Persian Empire, under Cyrus the Great, overthrows the Babylonian Empire, creating a new political landscape for the exiled Judeans.
538 BC
Edict of Cyrus and Return from Exile
Cyrus issues a decree allowing the exiled Judeans to return to their homeland and rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem, marking the end of the Babylonian exile.
"“Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when it shall no longer be said, ‘As the LORD lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt,’ but ‘As the LORD lives who brought up the people of Israel out o…" — What's easy to miss here is that this isn't just about forgetting the Exodus; it's about a future deliverance that will be so spectacular it will overshadow it. God is hinting that the coming exile a…
