Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse promises "great and hidden things," which might seem to refer to future events Jeremiah hadn't heard before. However, the text suggests these "hidden" things are actually divine truths that, despite potentially being revealed already, weren't fully grasped or believed by Jeremiah or the people due to unbelief and the overwhelming circumstances. It’s a call to pray not for new information, but for God to unveil the depth and reality of His promises, making them truly known and believed in his heart.
Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jeremiah is still imprisoned, facing harsh criticism from his people, yet God speaks to him directly, promising restoration not just for the city and its people, but also healing and abundant peace. This message comes as a direct contrast to the ongoing destruction and despair, offering a radical hope that transcends the immediate devastation and the people's own wickedness. The prophecy emphasizes God's power to recreate and restore, assuring Jeremiah that even in their lowest state, God's plans for Jerusalem are far greater than anything currently seen or understood.
Imagine being locked away, in the dark, facing the harshest judgment. Where do you turn? Jeremiah's story shows that even in confinement, God's presence can be a sanctuary.
Jeremiah finds himself imprisoned, a difficult and unjust reward for his faithfulness. Yet, it is in this very place, the "court of the prison," that God's word comes to him.
God Meets Us Where We Are
This wasn't God's usual spot for revelation, like the Temple or the Ark of the Covenant. It was a prison. This highlights that God doesn't wait for ideal circumstances. He meets us in our deepest struggles, our most confined moments.
Prayer as a Sanctuary
Even when the nation had seemingly rejected God's promises and his prophet, God's interaction with Jeremiah in prison was a profound comfort. It was a testament that God valued his servant's faithfulness and offered solace, turning a place of despair into a place where divine communication could still occur. It shows that our prayers, even from the most difficult places, can become sacred encounters.
God issues a stunning invitation: 'Call to me.' It sounds simple, but it unlocks a divine promise that defies human understanding and expectation.
The core of this verse is a powerful exchange: Jeremiah is called to 'call to me,' and God promises, 'I will answer you.'
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God's Initiative in Prayer
It's God who initiates this conversation. He doesn't wait for Jeremiah to figure things out; He calls him to engage. This reminds us that prayer isn't just our effort; it's a divine invitation. God desires our communication.
What "Calling" Entails
This isn't just a casual greeting. The commentators suggest this 'calling' implies an earnest, perhaps even desperate, cry from a place of deep need. It's a recognition that human resources are depleted, and only God can intervene. It’s acknowledging God’s sovereignty and our dependence.
The Certainty of God's Answer
God’s promise isn't conditional on Jeremiah's eloquence or worthiness. He simply says, 'I will answer thee.' This speaks to the faithfulness of God, who is committed to responding to those who genuinely turn to Him.
God doesn't just promise to answer; He promises to reveal 'great and hidden things' that are beyond our current knowledge. What does this look like?
The promise extends beyond a simple answer to a profound unveiling of divine knowledge. God declares, 'I will show you great and hidden things, which you have not known.'
More Than Expected
Scholars describe these as 'great,' 'mighty,' 'abstruse,' 'inaccessible,' or 'hidden' things. This means God’s revelation goes beyond the obvious or the easily understood. It encompasses truths and plans that are far beyond human capacity to discover on their own.
Knowledge Beyond Human Grasp
The phrase 'which you have not known' is key. Even when God had previously revealed aspects of His plans to Jeremiah, the full scope, the deeper implications, or the future fulfillment of these promises remained hidden. This highlights that true spiritual understanding comes from direct divine revelation, not just intellectual pursuit or past knowledge.
Promise of Restoration and Beyond
In Jeremiah's context, these hidden things included the astonishing promise of restoration after exile, the rebuilding of Jerusalem, and ultimately, the future blessings brought by the Messiah. For us today, it can mean understanding God's deeper purposes in our lives, His redemptive plan, and the eternal realities He has prepared.
Understand the original words
qara · Hebrew Verb
Refers to prayer or an earnest appeal to God, signifying a relational interaction where the believer depends on God’s sovereignty and promises.
batsar · Hebrew Adjective
Deep, difficult, or inaccessible mysteries that are beyond human understanding, requiring divine revelation to be made known.
Jeremiah delivers this message of hope and future revelation while imprisoned during the final siege of Jerusalem. The promise to 'call on me' and receive 'great and hidden things' is profoundly comforting amidst the city's destruction and the people's despair, offering a glimpse of God's ultimate plan for restoration far beyond their current devastation.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians conquer Judah, deporting some of the royal family and elite, including Daniel, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of Judah's subjugation.
c. 597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Following a revolt, Nebuchadnezzar deports more of Judah's population, including the prophet Ezekiel and King Jehoiachin, to Babylon. Jerusalem's temple treasures are also taken.
c. 586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple Destruction
Jerusalem is besieged and falls to the Babylonians. The city walls are broken down, the temple is destroyed, and the remaining population is exiled to Babylon. This is the ultimate devastation Jeremiah prophesied.
c. 580-539 BC
Exile in Babylon
The majority of the Judean population lives in exile in Babylon, lamenting their situation and longing for their homeland and God's presence. Jeremiah's prophecies of future restoration are given during this period.
539 BC
Fall of Babylon to Persia
Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon. This event paves the way for the return of the Jewish exiles.
538 BC
Edict of Cyrus and Return of Exiles
Cyrus issues a decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Judah and rebuild their temple. This marks the beginning of the restoration promised by God.
This passage echoes Jeremiah 33:3 by referencing 'things which you have not heard' and 'things which you did not know,' highlighting God's unique ability to reveal hidden knowledge.
Jeremiah 29:12This verse directly parallels Jeremiah 33:3, showing God's consistent promise that when His people call on Him, He will hear and answer them.
Psalm 91:15This psalm speaks to God's presence and response during times of trouble, stating, 'He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I am with him in trouble,' which aligns with the promise in Jeremiah 33:3.
1 Corinthians 2:9-10This New Testament passage speaks to God revealing 'things that no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined,' which resonates with the 'great and hidden things' promised in Jeremiah 33:3, emphasizing divine revelation.
Romans 11:33This verse exclaims, 'Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!' echoing the sentiment of Jeremiah 33:3 that God's plans and knowledge are far beyond human comprehension.
calvinJeremiah 33:1-6: "Moreover the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the second time, while he was yet shut up in the court of the prison, saying,"
Quia sic dicit Jehova, Deus Israel, super domibus urbis hujus, super domibus regum Jehudah, quae dirutae fuerunt catapultis (vel, balistis, vel, machinis aliis) et gladio, (alii autem vertunt, ad catapultas, vel, balistas, vel, alias munitiones, et ad gladium; dicemus postea de sensu: hoec omnia legenda sunt uno contextu)
They come to fight wit…
clarkeJeremiah 33:3: "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not."
Call unto eve, and I will answer thee - To me alone it belongs to reveal what is future; and the stupendous things which are now coming are known only to myself. These idolaters go to their gods to get information relative to the issue of the present commotions; but there is no light in them. Ask thou, O Jeremiah, and I will tell thee the great and mighty things which even thou…
The verse promises "great and hidden things," which might seem to refer to future events Jeremiah hadn't heard before. However, the text suggests these "hidden" things are actually divine truths that, despite potentially being revealed already, weren't fully grasped or believed by Jeremiah or the people due to unbelief and the overwhelming circumstances. It’s a call to pray not for new information, but for God to unveil the depth and reality of His promises, making them truly known and believed in his heart.
Jeremiah is still imprisoned, facing harsh criticism from his people, yet God speaks to him directly, promising restoration not just for the city and its people, but also healing and abundant peace. This message comes as a direct contrast to the ongoing destruction and despair, offering a radical hope that transcends the immediate devastation and the people's own wickedness. The prophecy emphasizes God's power to recreate and restore, assuring Jeremiah that even in their lowest state, God's plans for Jerusalem are far greater than anything currently seen or understood.
Jeremiah is still imprisoned, facing harsh criticism from his people, yet God speaks to him directly, promising restoration not just for the city and its people, but also healing and abundant peace. This message comes as a direct contrast to the ongoing destruction and despair, offering a radical hope that transcends the immediate devastation and the people's own wickedness. The prophecy emphasizes God's power to recreate and restore, assuring Jeremiah that even in their lowest state, God's plans for Jerusalem are far greater than anything currently seen or understood.
"Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known." — The verse promises "great and hidden things," which might seem to refer to future events Jeremiah hadn't heard before. However, the text suggests these "hidden" things are actually divine truths that…
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Last reviewed October 2026