I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse highlights that genuine return to God isn't just about outward actions, but about God giving a transformed heart that truly understands Him. This deeper, wholehearted knowledge and repentance are presented not as something people muster up on their own, but as a divine gift that enables their covenant relationship with Him.
I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet Jeremiah has just seen a vision of two baskets of figs – one good, representing the faithful exiles already in Babylon, and one bad, representing those left behind in Jerusalem. This verse provides God's promise to those "good figs," the captives in Babylon, assuring them that their hardship will lead to a genuine spiritual transformation, a new covenant relationship with Him. This promise of a returned heart signifies a future, deeper connection and obedience to God, distinct from mere outward observance.
What does it truly mean to 'know' God? It's more than just information; it's a transformation that only God can give.
Jeremiah 24:7 promises, 'I will give them a heart to know me.' This isn't about acquiring more facts about God. The original language here implies a deep, intimate understanding that shapes our inner being.
Beyond Head Knowledge
This 'knowing' includes:
It's a holistic knowledge that affects our entire soul, moving us beyond mere intellectual assent to a heartfelt commitment. This kind of knowledge isn't something we can conjure on our own; it's a divine gift. As the commentaries suggest, this ability to 'know' God is a result of God's 'prevenient grace' – His active, preceding work in our hearts.
God's promise to be our God is met with our wholehearted return. It's a beautiful cycle of divine initiative and human response.
The verse beautifully intertwines God's faithfulness with human responsibility. 'They shall be my people and I will be their God' echoes the ancient covenant promises. But this covenant relationship is sustained by a reciprocal commitment.
Ask a follow-up
A Wholehearted Return
The promise continues: 'for they shall return to me with their whole heart.' This isn't a casual glance back, but a complete turning.
This complete return is presented as the result of God giving that heart to know Him. When God transforms us, our natural response is to give Him our all. This mirrors the covenant renewal described in Hosea and points towards a future, even more complete restoration.
Understand the original words
am · Hebrew Noun
The covenant formula expressing the intimate relationship between God and His people; it denotes God’s special ownership, protection, and faithfulness, and the people's exclusive allegiance and worship toward Him.
leb · Hebrew Noun
In biblical thought, the heart is the center of the human will, intellect, desires, and emotions; it is the control center of a person's moral life and their relationship with God.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal, covenantal name of God (YHWH), revealing His self-existence, eternal nature, and faithfulness to His promises toward His people.
This promise of a renewed heart and covenant relationship with God is given to the exiles taken with Jeconiah. It highlights that true repentance and knowing God stems from His initiative, not just human will, transforming their experience of exile and future restoration.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, conquers Jerusalem and deports a group of Judean elites, including the prophet Daniel.
c. 597 BC— this verse
Second Deportation and Exile of Jeconiah
Nebuchadnezzar deports King Jehoiachin (Jeconiah) and thousands more Judeans, including Ezekiel the prophet, to Babylon. This event directly sets the stage for Jeremiah's vision.
c. 587-586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, leading to a third, larger deportation of Judeans to Babylon.
c. 539 BC
Persian Conquest of Babylon
Cyrus the Great conquers the Babylonian Empire, paving the way for the return of exiled peoples.
538 BC
Cyrus' Decree and First Return
Cyrus issues a decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Judah and rebuild their Temple. Many return, but not all.
This passage echoes Jeremiah's promise of restoration, directly stating, 'I will say to those who were not my people, “You are my people”; and they shall say, “You are my God!”' This highlights the reciprocal relationship God establishes with His people.
Ezekiel 11:19Here, God promises, 'I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh.' This directly parallels Jeremiah's promise of God giving a heart to know Him, emphasizing a divine impartation for true understanding and obedience.
Jeremiah 31:33This verse expands on the new covenant, stating, 'I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.' This reveals that the 'heart to know me' leads to an internal transformation where God's law becomes a part of them.
Luke 11:9Jesus' teaching, 'And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you,' encourages a persistent seeking of God, reflecting the 'return with their whole heart' mentioned in Jeremiah, which is met by God's gracious giving.
1 Corinthians 2:10Paul writes, 'for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.' This shows that the 'heart to know me' is not merely human effort but a divine revelation granted by God's Spirit, enabling genuine comprehension of Him.
pooleJeremiah 24:7: "And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart."
Under the term know me is here (as in many other texts) comprehended faith, love, obedience, all those motions of the soul which rationally should follow a right comprehending of God in men’s knowledge. They shall be my people, and I will be their God; I will be a God in covenant with them; as I will fulfil wha…
ellicottJeremiah 24:7: "And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart."
(7) I will give them an heart to know me . . . —Of this also the history of the return gives at least a partial proof. Whatever other faults might be growing up, they never again fell into the apostasy from the true faith in God, which up to the time of the exile had been their besetting sin. They shall be my p…
This verse highlights that genuine return to God isn't just about outward actions, but about God giving a transformed heart that truly understands Him. This deeper, wholehearted knowledge and repentance are presented not as something people muster up on their own, but as a divine gift that enables their covenant relationship with Him.
The prophet Jeremiah has just seen a vision of two baskets of figs – one good, representing the faithful exiles already in Babylon, and one bad, representing those left behind in Jerusalem. This verse provides God's promise to those "good figs," the captives in Babylon, assuring them that their hardship will lead to a genuine spiritual transformation, a new covenant relationship with Him. This promise of a returned heart signifies a future, deeper connection and obedience to God, distinct from mere outward observance.
The prophet Jeremiah has just seen a vision of two baskets of figs – one good, representing the faithful exiles already in Babylon, and one bad, representing those left behind in Jerusalem. This verse provides God's promise to those "good figs," the captives in Babylon, assuring them that their hardship will lead to a genuine spiritual transformation, a new covenant relationship with Him. This promise of a returned heart signifies a future, deeper connection and obedience to God, distinct from mere outward observance.
"I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart." — This verse highlights that genuine return to God isn't just about outward actions, but about God giving a transformed heart that truly understands Him. This deeper, wholehearted knowledge and repen…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026