Jeremiah 3:16-17
And when you have multiplied and been fruitful in the land, in those days, declares the LORD, they shall no more say, “The ark of the covenant of the LORD.” It shall not come to mind or be remembered or missed; it shall not be made again. At that time Jerusalem shall be called the throne of the LORD, and all nations shall gather to it, to the presence of the LORD in Jerusalem, and they shall no more stubbornly follow their own evil heart.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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What's easy to miss here is the sheer completeness of the ark's disappearance from memory and practice. It's not just that it won't be used anymore; God says it won't even come to mind, be remembered, or be missed. This signifies a radical shift where the new reality in Christ so surpasses the old symbol that the symbol itself becomes irrelevant.
This passage speaks of a future time of great restoration and blessing, after Israel has multiplied and flourished again in the land. It describes a radical shift in worship where the ark of the covenant, once the central symbol of God's presence, will become obsolete and forgotten. This signifies the ultimate fulfillment of God's presence not in a physical object, but in a new covenant reality.
The Ark of the Covenant was the heart of Israel's worship, a tangible symbol of God's presence. Yet, Jeremiah declares it will be forgotten. How can something so central simply fade away?
Jeremiah 3:16 points to a future when the Ark of the Covenant will no longer be a focus of worship or even a memory. This isn't a sign of God's abandonment, but a prophetic glimpse into the Messianic age.
From Symbol to Substance
The Ark represented God's presence and His covenant with His people. It housed the stone tablets of the Law, Aaron's rod, and manna, all pointing to deeper realities. However, in the fullness of time, Christ would embody all that the Ark symbolized:
With Christ's coming, the need for the physical Ark and its associated rituals diminishes, becoming obsolete as God's presence is made known in a new, more profound way.
If the Ark, the symbol of God's presence, is no longer needed, where does God dwell? Jeremiah offers a stunning preview of a future where God's presence is radically different.
The obsolescence of the Ark isn't about God withdrawing, but about Him establishing a new covenant and a new way of being present with His people.
Presence Through the Spirit
Jeremiah's prophecy anticipates a time when God's presence would be internalized, not confined to a physical object or location. The commentators point out that this new presence is achieved through:
Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal, covenantal name of God in the Old Testament, revealing His faithfulness and self-existence to His people.
'aron berit YHWH · Hebrew Noun phrase
A sacred chest representing God's presence, the throne of His glory, and the container of the covenant documents between God and Israel.
Yerushalayim · Hebrew Proper Noun
The city of Jerusalem; historically the center of Israel's worship, God's dwelling place, and the site of His throne in the messianic future.
kisse YHWH · Hebrew Noun phrase
Refers to the seat of God's sovereign rule, majesty, and administration of justice and peace over all the earth.
Jeremiah proclaims a future so filled with God's presence and intimate knowledge that the physical symbols of the Old Covenant, like the Ark, will become utterly obsolete, not even missed, pointing towards the New Covenant where God's law is written on the heart.
c. 722 BC
Fall of the Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel, leading to the exile of many Israelites and the dispersion of the ten tribes. This event marked a significant decline in the unified worship of God.
622 BC
Josiah's Reforms and Rediscovery of the Law
During extensive repairs of the Temple in Jerusalem, the Book of the Law was found. King Josiah initiated sweeping religious reforms, centralizing worship in Jerusalem and destroying idolatrous sites.
c. 609 BC
Death of Josiah
King Josiah was killed in battle at Megiddo, a devastating blow to Judah's political and spiritual stability. His death led to a period of weak kings and increased foreign influence.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon conquered Judah and deported a significant portion of the elite, including Daniel, to Babylon. This marked the beginning of Judah's decline and eventual destruction.
This passage in Hebrews explains that the New Covenant, ushered in by Christ, makes the old covenant obsolete, which directly echoes Jeremiah's prophecy that the ark, the central symbol of the old covenant, would cease to be remembered.
Isaiah 65:17The phrase 'neither shall it come to mind' in Jeremiah 3:16 mirrors Isaiah's prophecy of a new heaven and new earth where former troubles and even memories of them will be forgotten, highlighting the radical newness of God's future work.
John 4:21-24Jesus' conversation with the Samaritan woman about worshipping in spirit and truth, not tied to a specific place like Jerusalem or this mountain, directly fulfills Jeremiah's vision of a time when the ark, as a fixed religious symbol, would no longer be the focus of worship.
1 Corinthians 3:16Paul's teaching that believers are the temple of God, indwelt by His Spirit, provides the ultimate fulfillment of Jeremiah's prophecy, showing how God's presence is no longer localized in an ark but diffused throughout His people.
Jeremiah 31:31-34This passage, also by Jeremiah, describes the New Covenant where God's law will be written on hearts, directly aligning with the idea in Jeremiah 3:16 that the physical Ark, containing the law, would become irrelevant as God's presence and law would be internalized.
pooleJeremiah 3:16: "And it shall come to pass, when ye be multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, saith the LORD, they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of the LORD: neither shall it come to mind: neither shall they remember it; neither shall they visit it; neither shall that be done any more."
When ye be multiplied; after the growth of the church under the Messiah. In those days; pointing at the great work of conversion that should be among them, especially in the days of the…
pulpitJeremiah 3:16: "And it shall come to pass, when ye be multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, saith the LORD, they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of the LORD: neither shall it come to mind: neither shall they remember it; neither shall they visit it; neither shall that be done any more."
Verse 16. - When ye be multiplied; a common feature in pictures of the latter days (Jeremiah 23:3; Ezekiel 36:11; Hosea 2:1). They shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of the Lord…
What's easy to miss here is the sheer completeness of the ark's disappearance from memory and practice. It's not just that it won't be used anymore; God says it won't even come to mind, be remembered, or be missed. This signifies a radical shift where the new reality in Christ so surpasses the old symbol that the symbol itself becomes irrelevant.
This passage speaks of a future time of great restoration and blessing, after Israel has multiplied and flourished again in the land. It describes a radical shift in worship where the ark of the covenant, once the central symbol of God's presence, will become obsolete and forgotten. This signifies the ultimate fulfillment of God's presence not in a physical object, but in a new covenant reality.
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leb · Hebrew Noun
The inner seat of human will, emotion, and intellect; often described as deceitful or wicked due to the fall, requiring divine renewal.
586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem and the First Temple, devastating the heart of Jewish worship and national life. The Ark of the Covenant disappeared during this period, its fate unknown.
c. 538 BC
Return from Exile
Under Cyrus the Great of Persia, some Jewish exiles were permitted to return to Jerusalem and begin rebuilding the Temple. However, the Ark was not among the temple furnishings mentioned as being restored.
This passage speaks of a future time of great restoration and blessing, after Israel has multiplied and flourished again in the land. It describes a radical shift in worship where the ark of the covenant, once the central symbol of God's presence, will become obsolete and forgotten. This signifies the ultimate fulfillment of God's presence not in a physical object, but in a new covenant reality.
"And when you have multiplied and been fruitful in the land, in those days, declares the LORD, they shall no more say, “The ark of the covenant of the LORD.” It shall not come to mind or be remembered or missed; it shall not be made again.…" — What's easy to miss here is the sheer completeness of the ark's disappearance from memory and practice. It's not just that it won't be used anymore; God says it won't even come to mind, be *rem…
