Jeremiah 17:26
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It's easy to see this as just a list of offerings, but notice how it ends: "bringing sacrifices of praise." This highlights that the purpose of all the other sacrifices—burnt offerings, grain offerings—was ultimately to express gratitude and acknowledge God's goodness.
And people shall come from the cities of Judah and the places around Jerusalem, from the land of Benjamin, from the Shephelah, from the hill country, and from the Negeb, bringing burnt offerings and sacrifices, grain offerings and frankincense, and bringing thank offerings to the house of the LORD.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Following a stern warning about violating the Sabbath, Jeremiah offers a vision of restored worship. This verse describes people from all over Judah and Benjamin, covering the lowlands, hill country, and southern regions, returning to Jerusalem. They bring a variety of sacrifices, including burnt offerings, grain offerings, and particularly, offerings of praise, back to the Temple.
Jeremiah paints a vivid picture of a people coming together. But why list so many places?
This verse is like a spiritual census, showing that God's people would come from every part of the land to worship Him.
From North to South
Jeremiah names specific regions: the cities of Judah, Jerusalem's surroundings, the land of Benjamin (north of Judah), the Shephelah (lowlands), the hill country, and the Negeb (the dry south). This wasn't just a local gathering; it was meant to encompass all of God's people, spread across the landscape.
More Than Just Geography
This detail emphasizes unity and the restoration of God's people. Even after times of division or destruction, people from all these distinct areas would be drawn back to the central place of worship. It signifies a healed and whole community centered on God.
Jeremiah lists many types of sacrifices. But what was the ultimate goal of all this giving?
The physical offerings described—burnt offerings, sacrifices, grain offerings, and frankincense—were vital parts of worship under the Old Covenant. But Jeremiah points beyond the rituals to their true purpose.
From Rituals to Relationship
While the law specified various offerings for atonement, fellowship, and remembrance, the ultimate aim was to express gratitude and acknowledge God's sovereignty. The mention of "sacrifices of praise" (or "thanksgiving") serves as a summary of all these acts. It wasn't just about giving to God, but about giving – our praise, our thanks, our hearts.
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A Timeless Principle
Even though the temple and its sacrificial system are no longer in practice today, the principle remains. Our worship is meant to flow from a heart of thankfulness, acknowledging all that God has done. The truest sacrifice we can bring is a life lived in praise and gratitude.
Understand the original words
ʿōlâ · Hebrew Noun
Ritual offerings consumed entirely by fire, symbolizing the total dedication and surrender of the worshiper to God. They serve as a means of atonement and expression of devotion.
zebַḥ · Hebrew Noun
Sacrificial offerings, often involving the slaughter of animals, presented to God for atonement, covenant renewal, or thanksgiving. They signify the cost of sin and the necessity of substitutionary sacrifice.
minḥâ · Hebrew Noun
An offering consisting of flour, oil, and spices, often accompanying animal sacrifices. It represents the dedication of the fruits of one's labor and the acknowledgment of God as the provider of sustenance.
lebônâ · Hebrew Noun
An aromatic resin used in the temple, often mixed with incense. It symbolizes prayer rising up to God as a pleasing and fragrant aroma.
tôdâ · Hebrew Noun
An offering presented to express gratitude and praise to God for His benefits and deliverance. It highlights the believer's acknowledgment of God's grace.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal name of God, YHWH, revealed to Israel. It signifies His eternal self-existence, covenant faithfulness, and sovereignty over His people.
This prophecy depicts a future restoration of worship in Jerusalem, drawing people from all parts of the land, including the historically distinct regions of Judah and Benjamin, to the Second Temple. It highlights the continuity of God's people and their worship practices even after periods of devastation and exile.
c. 931 BC
Division of the Kingdom
After King Solomon's death, the united kingdom of Israel splits into two: the Northern Kingdom of Israel (10 tribes) and the Southern Kingdom of Judah (2 tribes: Judah and Benjamin). This division sets the stage for the geographical references in Jeremiah's prophecy.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The Assyrian Empire conquers the Northern Kingdom of Israel, scattering its people and effectively ending its existence. This leaves the Southern Kingdom of Judah, primarily composed of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, as the sole remaining Israelite kingdom.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
The Babylonian Empire, under Nebuchadnezzar II, conquers Judah, destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, and exiles a significant portion of the population. This event marks a catastrophic end to the Davidic monarchy and the sacrificial system.
c. 538 BC
Return from Exile
Following the Persian conquest of Babylon, Cyrus the Great issues a decree allowing exiled Jews to return to Judah and rebuild their Temple. This marks the beginning of the Second Temple period.
c. 516 BC— this verse
Completion of the Second Temple
The Second Temple in Jerusalem is completed and dedicated. This rededication allows for the resumption of the sacrificial system and national worship, fulfilling the prophetic vision of restored worship.
c. 445 BC
Nehemiah's Reforms
Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem and leads efforts to rebuild the city walls and restore religious observance, including a renewed emphasis on the Law and the Temple's functioning.
This passage mirrors Jeremiah's vision of people coming from afar to worship, specifically mentioning sacrifices and the glory of God filling the temple, highlighting a future hope of restored worship.
Psalm 50:14-15This Psalm emphasizes that God desires heartfelt praise and thanksgiving ('sacrifices of praise') above mere ritual sacrifices, aligning with Jeremiah's inclusion of thank offerings as a key aspect of worship.
Hebrews 13:15-16The New Testament writer connects the Old Testament sacrificial system to the 'sacrifice of praise' that Christians offer today, directly referencing the concept of giving thanks and doing good works as sacrifices to God, echoing Jeremiah's prophecy.
Jeremiah 33:11This verse is a parallel prophecy within Jeremiah, promising that the sounds of joy and thanksgiving will again be heard in Judah's cities and Jerusalem's streets, reflecting the restored worship described in chapter 17.
Malachi 3:3-4Malachi speaks of a future time when people will bring offerings to the LORD with righteousness, suggesting that the purity and integrity of worship, not just the act of sacrifice, are crucial, which is an underlying theme in Jeremiah's prophecy about true devotion.
calvinJeremiah 17:26: "And they shall come from the cities of Judah, and from the places about Jerusalem, and from the land of Benjamin, and from the plain, and from the mountains, and from the south, bringing burnt offerings, and sacrifices, and meat offerings, and incense, and bringing sacrifices of praise, unto the house of the LORD."
- And they shall come from the cities of Judah, and from the places about Jerusalem, and from the land of Benjamin, and from the plain, and from the mountains, and…
pulpitJeremiah 17:26: "And they shall come from the cities of Judah, and from the places about Jerusalem, and from the land of Benjamin, and from the plain, and from the mountains, and from the south, bringing burnt offerings, and sacrifices, and meat offerings, and incense, and bringing sacrifices of praise, unto the house of the LORD."
Verse 26. - Parallel passage for the catalogue of the districts of Judah, Jeremiah 32:44. Three divisions are mentioned. (1) The neighborhood of Jerusalem (including…
It's easy to see this as just a list of offerings, but notice how it ends: "bringing sacrifices of praise." This highlights that the purpose of all the other sacrifices—burnt offerings, grain offerings—was ultimately to express gratitude and acknowledge God's goodness.
Following a stern warning about violating the Sabbath, Jeremiah offers a vision of restored worship. This verse describes people from all over Judah and Benjamin, covering the lowlands, hill country, and southern regions, returning to Jerusalem. They bring a variety of sacrifices, including burnt offerings, grain offerings, and particularly, offerings of praise, back to the Temple.
Following a stern warning about violating the Sabbath, Jeremiah offers a vision of restored worship. This verse describes people from all over Judah and Benjamin, covering the lowlands, hill country, and southern regions, returning to Jerusalem. They bring a variety of sacrifices, including burnt offerings, grain offerings, and particularly, offerings of praise, back to the Temple.
"And people shall come from the cities of Judah and the places around Jerusalem, from the land of Benjamin, from the Shephelah, from the hill country, and from the Negeb, bringing burnt offerings and sacrifices, grain offerings and frankinc…" — It's easy to see this as just a list of offerings, but notice how it ends: "bringing sacrifices of praise." This highlights that the purpose of all the other sacrifices—burnt offerings, grain offer…
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Last reviewed October 2026
