Jeremiah 30:19
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This verse promises not just a return to normalcy, but a profound elevation, flipping the script from being "few" and "small" to being multiplied and honored. The joy and thanksgiving will flow out of them, signifying that their restoration isn't just about numbers, but a vibrant expression of God's faithfulness that impacts their very identity and reputation.
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)
These verses come at the end of a prophecy of Judah's restoration and future glory after their exile. God promises to rebuild Jerusalem, bringing joy and abundance back to the land. This promise of renewed prosperity, number, and honor directly follows the pronouncements of God's wrath against His enemies and His comfort for His people.
After immense suffering and exile, the prophetic word promises not just relief, but overflowing joy. What does it mean for worship to transform from sorrow to celebration?
Jeremiah's prophecy shifts dramatically here. After describing the pain of exile and God's judgment, he turns to a future of restoration. The remnants of Jacob won't just be free; they will be filled with songs of thanksgiving and the sounds of celebration. This isn't a quiet, subdued relief, but a vibrant, joyful expression of God's faithfulness. It points to a worship that moves beyond mere confession of sin to a full-throated praise for deliverance and renewed relationship with God. It's about acknowledging God's power to not only rescue but to restore in a way that brings abundant joy.
God promises His people will not only increase in number but also in stature and honor. What does it mean to be 'glorified' by God after being brought low?
The prophecy continues with a powerful declaration of God's intent: 'I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will make them honored, and they shall not be small.' This is a promise of both numerical growth and restored dignity. After the devastation of exile, where they were scattered and diminished, God pledges to make them numerous again. But it's more than just population increase. 'Glorify them' and 'not be small' speaks to a profound restoration of honor and significance. They will no longer be despised or insignificant; God will bestow upon them a recognized honor and a respected place among nations. This reflects God's ultimate desire to see His people thrive and be a testament to His power and faithfulness.
Understand the original words
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towdah · Hebrew Noun
A formal declaration of gratitude, praise, or confession of God’s goodness offered to Him by His people.
Jeremiah's prophecy points to a future of restoration and joy after the devastating exile, a time when songs of thanksgiving would replace the cries of despair, and a humbled people would be honored once more.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon deports some of the Judean nobility and skilled workers, including Daniel, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Following a rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar deports more of Jerusalem's elite, including the prophet Ezekiel and King Jehoiachin, to Babylon. The Temple is partially plundered.
586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple Destruction
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling the majority of the remaining population to Babylon. This event fulfills Jeremiah's prophecies of judgment and plunges Judah into deep despair.
c. 539 BC
Persian Conquest of Babylon
Cyrus the Great conquers the Babylonian Empire. This shift in power creates a new political landscape for the exiles.
538 BC
Edict of Cyrus
Cyrus issues a decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Judah and rebuild their Temple. This marks the beginning of the return from exile.
c. 458 BC
Ezra's Return and Reforms
The priest and scribe Ezra leads another group of exiles back to Jerusalem, focusing on religious and social reforms to restore Jewish identity and adherence to the Law.
This passage echoes Jeremiah 30:19, also speaking of returning exiles whose voices will again be heard in thanksgiving and joy, emphasizing God's restoration and faithfulness.
Isaiah 35:10Isaiah describes a future redeemed people returning to Zion with everlasting joy and gladness on their heads, mirroring the 'songs of thanksgiving' and 'voices of those who celebrate' in Jeremiah.
Ezekiel 36:36This prophecy foretells a time when surrounding nations will recognize that God has rebuilt the desolate places and that He has restored them, making them multiply and be honored, just as described in Jeremiah 30:19.
Zechariah 10:8Zechariah speaks of God calling His people, multiplying them and bringing them back, so they will be held in honor, directly paralleling the promise of God multiplying and glorifying His people in Jeremiah.
Psalm 126:1-3This psalm vividly describes the joy and exultation that comes from God restoring His people from exile, showing how their mouths were filled with laughter and their tongues with songs of joy, a perfect emotional parallel to Jeremiah's prophecy.
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.
This verse promises not just a return to normalcy, but a profound elevation, flipping the script from being "few" and "small" to being multiplied and honored. The joy and thanksgiving will flow out of them, signifying that their restoration isn't just about numbers, but a vibrant expression of God's faithfulness that impacts their very identity and reputation.
These verses come at the end of a prophecy of Judah's restoration and future glory after their exile. God promises to rebuild Jerusalem, bringing joy and abundance back to the land. This promise of renewed prosperity, number, and honor directly follows the pronouncements of God's wrath against His enemies and His comfort for His people.
These verses come at the end of a prophecy of Judah's restoration and future glory after their exile. God promises to rebuild Jerusalem, bringing joy and abundance back to the land. This promise of renewed prosperity, number, and honor directly follows the pronouncements of God's wrath against His enemies and His comfort for His people.
"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." — This verse promises not just a return to normalcy, but a profound elevation, flipping the script from being "few" and "small" to being multiplied and honored. The joy and thanksgiving will flow out…
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Last reviewed October 2026
