Jeremiah 31:35
Thus says the LORD, who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar— the LORD of hosts is his name:
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The text emphasizes God's power not just in the steady march of the sun and stars, but also in His ability to stir up the raging sea. This contrast highlights that God’s control extends to both the orderly and the chaotic, assuring His people that His promises are as steadfast as the natural laws He established, and even as potent as the wildest storm.
This passage appears in a section where God is reassuring his people about a future restoration and a new covenant, promising them forgiveness and an enduring relationship. After God has spoken of a future outpouring of his Spirit and a renewed relationship with his people, he now emphatically declares his power over creation. This declaration serves as a profound guarantee that just as surely as the celestial bodies follow their appointed courses and the sea obeys its limits, so too will God fulfill His promises of protection and permanence for His people.
Ever looked up at the stars and felt a sense of awe? God uses the unchanging rhythm of creation to guarantee His Word.
Jeremiah opens with a powerful reminder of God's authority over the cosmos. He gives the sun its light and sets the moon and stars in their courses.
The Creator's Hand
Notice how the text emphasizes God's active role: He gives light, He ordains the celestial bodies, and He stirs up the sea.
These aren't just distant, impersonal forces. They are deliberate acts of a sovereign God. The consistent, predictable nature of the sun, moon, and stars isn't an accident; it's a testament to the Creator's power and faithfulness.
A Guarantee of Promises
The amazing truth is that this stable creation is presented as a pledge. Because God upholds the universe with such unwavering consistency, His promises to His people are equally certain.
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While the stars seem fixed, the sea is a picture of chaos. Yet, God commands even its wildest waves.
The verse contrasts the predictable movements of the celestial bodies with the unpredictable power of the sea. God doesn't just control the calm, orderly parts of creation; He also reigns over the chaotic, the untamed.
Mastering Chaos
The phrase 'who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar' might sound like God is causing destruction. However, the context and other passages suggest God's power is in His ability to control or even calm the tempestuous sea. It shows His might over forces that seem uncontrollable to us.
A Deeper Meaning
This imagery of the roaring sea, often a symbol of nations in rebellion or overwhelming forces, highlights that no power, however frightening, is beyond God's sovereign hand. This is a crucial reassurance for a people facing exile and immense upheaval.
Why does the Bible repeatedly call God 'the LORD of hosts'? This name is packed with meaning for His people.
The verse concludes by identifying God as 'the LORD of hosts.' This isn't just a title; it's a declaration of His supreme authority and power.
Commander of Armies
'Hosts' refers to armies, both heavenly and earthly. This name signifies that God is the supreme Commander of all the forces in the universe – angels, stars, and all of creation. He commands them all.
Guaranteeing His Word
When God, the LORD of Hosts, speaks, His words carry the weight of His cosmic authority. The stability of the sun and moon, the power over the roaring seas – these all underscore that the One who commands these mighty forces is the very One making promises to His people. Therefore, His promises are as sure as the creation itself.
Understand the original words
ṣāḇāʾ · Hebrew Noun
A title for God emphasizing His role as the sovereign commander of the vast armies of heaven, including angels and the celestial bodies. It speaks to His supreme authority and power over all created reality.
In the shadow of Jerusalem's utter destruction and exile, Jeremiah's words are a radical act of hope. God's power to maintain the unshakeable order of the cosmos is presented as the ultimate guarantee that He will also restore and preserve His people, even when all seems lost.
c. 701 BC
Sennacherib's Invasion of Judah
Assyrian King Sennacherib invades Judah, conquering many cities and besieging Jerusalem. This event, while ultimately unsuccessful in taking Jerusalem, would have instilled deep fear and uncertainty about Judah's future.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquers Judah and begins deporting prominent citizens, including young men like Daniel, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of Judah's subjugation and a period of national crisis.
586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple Destruction
Babylonian forces under Nebuchadnezzar destroy Jerusalem and its sacred Temple, exiling most of the remaining population. This catastrophic event represents the nadir of Israel's national and religious life.
c. 550 BC
Rise of Cyrus the Great
Cyrus the Great, founder of the Persian Empire, begins his conquests. His eventual victory over Babylon will offer hope for the exiles' return.
539 BC
Cyrus the Great Conquers Babylon
The Persian Empire under Cyrus takes control of Babylon, paving the way for Jewish exiles to return to their homeland.
538 BC
Edict of Cyrus Allows Return
Cyrus issues a decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple, marking the beginning of the Second Temple period.
This passage speaks about God's covenant faithfulness being as sure as the sun and moon, directly echoing Jeremiah's imagery of natural order as a guarantee.
Job 26:12This verse also describes God's power over the sea, 'by his power he stirred up the sea,' paralleling Jeremiah's depiction of God controlling the roaring waves.
Isaiah 40:26This verse highlights God's vast power in creating and ordering the cosmos, showing the sun, moon, and stars as evidence of His might, similar to how Jeremiah invokes these celestial bodies.
Romans 11:26The Apostle Paul quotes Isaiah 59:20-21, which is thematically linked to Jeremiah 31:35-37, to illustrate God's faithfulness to Israel, showing the enduring nature of His promises through the 'Deliverer' from Zion.
Psalm 102:25-27This psalm contrasts the fleeting nature of creation with God's eternal unchanging nature, a theme that underlies Jeremiah's assurance that God's promises are as steadfast as the created order He governs.
calvinJeremiah 31:35-36: "Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name:"
Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; the LORD of hosts is his name:
Sic dicit Jehova, Qui ponit solera (vel…
pooleJeremiah 31:35: "Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name:"
The word egd is here ill translated divide , which hath led some interpreters to think that God here hath a respect to his dividing the Red Sea, that the Israelites might pass over, which seemeth not at all here to be intended. The word indeed signifieth to divide,…
The text emphasizes God's power not just in the steady march of the sun and stars, but also in His ability to stir up the raging sea. This contrast highlights that God’s control extends to both the orderly and the chaotic, assuring His people that His promises are as steadfast as the natural laws He established, and even as potent as the wildest storm.
This passage appears in a section where God is reassuring his people about a future restoration and a new covenant, promising them forgiveness and an enduring relationship. After God has spoken of a future outpouring of his Spirit and a renewed relationship with his people, he now emphatically declares his power over creation. This declaration serves as a profound guarantee that just as surely as the celestial bodies follow their appointed courses and the sea obeys its limits, so too will God fulfill His promises of protection and permanence for His people.
This passage appears in a section where God is reassuring his people about a future restoration and a new covenant, promising them forgiveness and an enduring relationship. After God has spoken of a future outpouring of his Spirit and a renewed relationship with his people, he now emphatically declares his power over creation. This declaration serves as a profound guarantee that just as surely as the celestial bodies follow their appointed courses and the sea obeys its limits, so too will God fulfill His promises of protection and permanence for His people.
"Thus says the LORD, who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar— the LORD of hosts is his name:" — The text emphasizes God's power not just in the steady march of the sun and stars, but also in His ability to stir up the raging sea. This contrast highlights that God’s control extends to both the…
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