Jeremiah 32:38-40
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This seemingly simple statement is the absolute bedrock of God's relationship with His people, encompassing the entirety of the covenant of grace. It's not just a promise of future belonging, but a declaration that even when Israel is called "not my people" due to their sin, God will still ultimately claim them as His own, and they will find their identity and purpose in Him.
And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them. I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jeremiah is in prison during the final siege of Jerusalem, feeling discouraged as the city faces destruction because of its sin. God then commands Jeremiah to buy a field, a seemingly irrational act that signifies God's promise to restore His people and their land, even after judgment. This act and the accompanying prophecy culminates in the profound assurance that God will renew His covenant relationship with them, truly making them His people and Himself their God.
What does it truly mean for God to 'be' our God? This verse isn't just a nice sentiment; it's the bedrock of God's relationship with His people, a promise initiated by Him.
Jeremiah 32:38, nestled within the context of God's promises of restoration after exile, declares a foundational truth: "And they shall be my people, and I will be their God." This isn't a reward for human merit but a divine declaration.
A Renewed Covenant
Commentators point out that this signifies a renewal and affirmation of the covenant established with Israel. Even when they experienced God's discipline, as evidenced by the 'loammi' (not my people) declaration in Hosea, this promise looks forward to a time of reconciliation and faithfulness. God is the one who initiates this bond, promising to make His covenant known and bestow its blessings.
Divine Ownership and Care
For God to 'be their God' means He will own them, care for them, and bless them. It's a statement of His unwavering commitment, ensuring their service to Him will be more faithful because His love is constant. This isn't a conditional arrangement based on perfect human performance, but a promise rooted in God's unchanging character.
This short phrase is called a 'comprehensive summary' of the covenant of grace. What does that really mean for us, living centuries later?
Jeremiah 32:38 captures the very heart of the covenant of grace – the eternal agreement God made with Himself to save His people through Jesus Christ.
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Unconditional Love and Blessing
This covenant isn't based on what we do, but on God's faithfulness. He promises to 'own them, and take care of them, and bless them.' This speaks of a deep, personal relationship where God Himself commits to providing everything His people need, both spiritually and eternally.
A Future Hope Realized
While spoken to ancient Israel, this promise finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus. He is the mediator of a new covenant where all who believe in Him become God's people, and God is truly their God. This means we can count on His faithfulness, not because we are perfect, but because He is. His love for us is 'to the end,' unwavering and complete.
Understand the original words
am · Hebrew Noun
The biblical concept of a foundational relationship between God and His people, characterized by divine possession and covenantal protection: 'I will be their God, and they shall be my people.'
leb · Hebrew Noun
The inner core of human personality, encompassing intellect, emotion, and will; in the New Covenant, it is the center that God transforms to align with His nature.
yare' · Hebrew Verb
A sense of reverential awe, worship, and humble obedience toward God, arising from a proper understanding of His holiness and majesty.
beriyth · Hebrew Noun
A binding, solemn agreement initiated by God, in which He pledges Himself to His people; 'everlasting' implies an eternal, unbreakable commitment.
Jeremiah's prophecy of God's renewed covenant and unwavering relationship occurs at the absolute nadir of Israel's history, amidst the devastation of Jerusalem and exile. This promise, powerfully illustrated by Jeremiah's act of buying land in a conquered territory, speaks volumes about God's ultimate faithfulness even when His people faced what seemed like utter abandonment.
Late 8th Century BC
Assyrian Deportations Begin
The Neo-Assyrian Empire begins forcibly relocating populations from conquered territories, setting a precedent for future empires and impacting Israel's national identity.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar and the Neo-Babylonian Empire deport skilled laborers and elites from Jerusalem, including figures like Daniel, marking the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
597 BC
Second Babylonian Deportation
More Judeans, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel, are exiled to Babylon following a rebellion against Babylonian rule.
586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple Destruction
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling most of the remaining population. This event leaves the covenant people seemingly abandoned by God, raising profound questions about God's faithfulness.
c. 580 BC
Jeremiah Buys Land
While Jerusalem is in ruins and the people are in exile, Jeremiah, at God's command, purchases a field from his cousin. This act dramatically illustrates God's promise of future restoration and security.
539 BC
Cyrus the Great Conquers Babylon
The Persian Empire, under Cyrus, overthrows the Neo-Babylonian Empire, paving the way for the return of exiled peoples, including the Jews.
538 BC
Edict of Cyrus
Cyrus allows the exiled Jews to return to Judah and rebuild the Temple, signifying the beginning of the restoration period and the potential fulfillment of God's promises.
This foundational promise of God to Abraham, 'And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you,' echoes the deep covenantal relationship Jeremiah describes.
Exodus 6:7In the context of liberation, God declares, 'I will take you as my people, and I will be your God.' This shows the consistent pattern of God's heart to enter into a redemptive relationship with His people.
Ezekiel 11:19-20Ezekiel prophesies a future renewal where God will 'give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them.' This spiritual transformation is key to them being His people and Him being their God, as mentioned in Jeremiah.
Hebrews 8:10The New Testament writer quotes Jeremiah, showing the ultimate fulfillment of this promise in Christ: 'For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.'
Hosea 1:9Hosea powerfully illustrates the consequence when Israel strayed, being called 'Lo-ammi' (Not my people), highlighting what is lost when the covenant is broken and underscoring the profound significance of God's declaration in Jeremiah to restore that identity.
pooleJeremiah 32:38: "And they shall be my people, and I will be their God:"
I will renew my covenant with them, and keep my covenant towards them; they shall serve me more faithfully, and I will own them, and take care of them, and bless them.
jfbJeremiah 32:38: "And they shall be my people, and I will be their God:"
- (Jer 30:22; 24:7).
This seemingly simple statement is the absolute bedrock of God's relationship with His people, encompassing the entirety of the covenant of grace. It's not just a promise of future belonging, but a declaration that even when Israel is called "not my people" due to their sin, God will still ultimately claim them as His own, and they will find their identity and purpose in Him.
Jeremiah is in prison during the final siege of Jerusalem, feeling discouraged as the city faces destruction because of its sin. God then commands Jeremiah to buy a field, a seemingly irrational act that signifies God's promise to restore His people and their land, even after judgment. This act and the accompanying prophecy culminates in the profound assurance that God will renew His covenant relationship with them, truly making them His people and Himself their God.
Jeremiah is in prison during the final siege of Jerusalem, feeling discouraged as the city faces destruction because of its sin. God then commands Jeremiah to buy a field, a seemingly irrational act that signifies God's promise to restore His people and their land, even after judgment. This act and the accompanying prophecy culminates in the profound assurance that God will renew His covenant relationship with them, truly making them His people and Himself their God.
"And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them. I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that…" — This seemingly simple statement is the absolute bedrock of God's relationship with His people, encompassing the entirety of the covenant of grace. It's not just a promise of future belonging, but a d…
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Last reviewed October 2026
