Jeremiah 30:19
Out of them shall come songs of thanksgiving, and the voices of those who celebrate. I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will make them honored, and they shall not be small.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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What's so striking here is the promise that God won't just restore their numbers, but will also transform their status from "small" to "honored." It’s not just about becoming a large crowd again, but about shedding any lingering contempt and being recognized as truly significant.
This passage comes after God declares He will restore His people from exile, promising to break their oppressors' yoke and rebuild their land. It speaks of the joyous sounds of gratitude and celebration that will fill the restored communities, emphasizing a future where they will be greatly multiplied and held in honor, no longer few or insignificant.
Imagine a people emerging from exile, silenced by suffering, yet destined to erupt in song. What does this transformation tell us about God's heart?
Jeremiah 30:19 speaks of 'songs of thanksgiving' and 'the voices of those who celebrate' arising from the restored people. This isn't just any happiness; it's a profound, God-centered joy.
A Shift from Lament to Praise
The context of Jeremiah's prophecy is one of judgment and exile. The people had known deep sorrow, but God promises a future where their sorrow is replaced by expressions of genuine gratitude and exuberant celebration. This joy isn't superficial; it's a response to God's faithfulness and deliverance.
Spiritual Celebration
Commentators suggest this includes both spiritual praise directed to God and joyful fellowship. It points to a renewed relationship with God, marked by open and heartfelt worship, and a return to a state of peace and prosperity where celebration is possible.
After immense loss and shame, what does it mean for a people to be promised not just numbers, but also honor?
The latter half of Jeremiah 30:19 assures a dramatic reversal of fortune: 'I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will make them honored, and they shall not be small.' This speaks to both quantity and quality.
God's Abundance:
'Multiply them, and they shall not be few' is a direct fulfillment of God's ancient promise to Abraham (Genesis 12:2). Despite periods of severe reduction, like the Babylonian exile, God's people would eventually flourish in number, becoming a vast multitude.
Restored Dignity:
'Make them honored, and they shall not be small' addresses their status. During exile, they were likely despised and seen as insignificant. God promises to restore their dignity, making them a people of respect and honor in the world, reflecting His own glory. 'Small' here doesn't just mean physically little, but also contemptible or of little worth.
Understand the original words
towdah · Hebrew Noun
A formal declaration of gratitude, praise, or confession of God’s goodness offered to Him by His people.
Jeremiah's prophecy speaks directly to the profound devastation of the Babylonian exile, offering a powerful vision of future restoration, joy, and renewed honor for a people who felt diminished and forgotten.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Assyrian Captivity
The Northern Kingdom of Israel falls to the Assyrian Empire, leading to the deportation of many Israelites and their scattering among foreign peoples.
597 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon exiles a significant portion of Jerusalem's population, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel, to Babylon.
586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Babylonian forces destroy Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling most of the remaining population to Babylon. This marks a low point for Judah's national and religious life.
539 BC
Cyrus the Great Conquers Babylon
The Persian Empire under Cyrus the Great overthrows the Babylonian Empire, opening the way for exiled peoples, including the Judeans, to return to their homelands.
This passage echoes Jeremiah 30:19, promising that the sounds of joy and thanksgiving will again fill the land after restoration, emphasizing God's faithfulness to His promises of renewal.
Isaiah 35:10It describes a similar future of redemption where sorrow and sighing flee away, replaced by everlasting joy and gladness, mirroring the 'songs of thanksgiving' mentioned in Jeremiah 30:19.
Zechariah 10:8This verse speaks of God gathering and multiplying His people, making them honored and numerous, which directly parallels the promise in Jeremiah 30:19 of God multiplying and glorifying His people.
Psalm 126:2This psalm beautifully captures the transition from captivity to joy, where the people's mouths are filled with laughter and songs of praise, reflecting the outcome promised in Jeremiah 30:19.
barnesJeremiah 30:19: "And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small."
Them - i. e., the city and palace. Render the last words, become few become mean, i. e., despised, lightly esteemed.
cambridgeJeremiah 30:19: "And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small."
19 . small ] contemptible.
What's so striking here is the promise that God won't just restore their numbers, but will also transform their status from "small" to "honored." It’s not just about becoming a large crowd again, but about shedding any lingering contempt and being recognized as truly significant.
This passage comes after God declares He will restore His people from exile, promising to break their oppressors' yoke and rebuild their land. It speaks of the joyous sounds of gratitude and celebration that will fill the restored communities, emphasizing a future where they will be greatly multiplied and held in honor, no longer few or insignificant.
This passage comes after God declares He will restore His people from exile, promising to break their oppressors' yoke and rebuild their land. It speaks of the joyous sounds of gratitude and celebration that will fill the restored communities, emphasizing a future where they will be greatly multiplied and held in honor, no longer few or insignificant.
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538 BC
Decree of Return and Temple Reconstruction
Cyrus issues a decree allowing the Judean exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple, initiating the period of the Second Temple.
c. 515 BC
Dedication of the Second Temple
The newly rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem is dedicated, a significant step in the restoration of Jewish religious and communal life after the Babylonian exile.
"Out of them shall come songs of thanksgiving, and the voices of those who celebrate. I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will make them honored, and they shall not be small." — What's so striking here is the promise that God won't just restore their numbers, but will also transform their status from "small" to "honored." It’s not just about becoming a large crowd again, but…
