Jeremiah 32:17
Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:
Original Language Analysis
יְהוִה֒
H3068
יְהוִה֒
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
3 of 19
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
עָשִׂ֗יתָ
behold thou hast made
H6213
עָשִׂ֗יתָ
behold thou hast made
Strong's:
H6213
Word #:
6 of 19
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
7 of 19
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙
the heaven
H8064
הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙
the heaven
Strong's:
H8064
Word #:
8 of 19
the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies r
וְאֶת
H853
וְאֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
9 of 19
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
בְּכֹֽחֲךָ֙
power
H3581
בְּכֹֽחֲךָ֙
power
Strong's:
H3581
Word #:
11 of 19
vigor, literally (force, in a good or a bad sense) or figuratively (capacity, means, produce)
הַגָּד֔וֹל
by thy great
H1419
הַגָּד֔וֹל
by thy great
Strong's:
H1419
Word #:
12 of 19
great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent
וּבִֽזְרֹעֲךָ֖
arm
H2220
וּבִֽזְרֹעֲךָ֖
arm
Strong's:
H2220
Word #:
13 of 19
the arm (as stretched out), or (of animals) the foreleg; figuratively, force
הַנְּטוּיָ֑ה
and stretched out
H5186
הַנְּטוּיָ֑ה
and stretched out
Strong's:
H5186
Word #:
14 of 19
to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great variety of application (as follows)
לֹֽא
H3808
לֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
15 of 19
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יִפָּלֵ֥א
too hard
H6381
יִפָּלֵ֥א
too hard
Strong's:
H6381
Word #:
16 of 19
properly, perhaps to separate, i.e., distinguish (literally or figuratively); by implication, to be (causatively, make) great, difficult, wonderful
מִמְּךָ֖
H4480
מִמְּךָ֖
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
17 of 19
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
Cross References
Luke 1:37For with God nothing shall be impossible.Jeremiah 32:27Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?Genesis 18:14Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.Job 42:2I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.Matthew 19:26But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.Exodus 20:11For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.Jeremiah 27:5I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto me.Luke 18:27And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.2 Kings 19:15And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said, O LORD God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth.Isaiah 45:12I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.
Historical Context
Jeremiah lived through catastrophic events—the destruction of Jerusalem, the temple's razing, the people's exile. From human perspective, these events seemed to negate God's covenant promises. How could God be faithful when His city was destroyed, His temple in ruins, His people enslaved? Jeremiah's appeal to God's creative power reminds himself and us: the God who made everything can certainly restore what was lost. Nothing is too hard for Him.
Questions for Reflection
- How does remembering God as Creator strengthen our confidence in His promises, especially when circumstances seem impossible?
- What promises of God do you struggle to believe are possible—and how does 'nothing is too hard for thee' address those doubts?
- How can we hold together trusting God's promises (like Jeremiah did in buying the field) while honestly expressing our struggles to understand His ways?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
After completing the purchase, Jeremiah prays, beginning with worship of God as Creator. 'Thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm'—this grounds everything that follows. The God who spoke creation into existence by His word has unlimited power. The phrase 'there is nothing too hard for thee' (lo yippale mimeka kol davar, לֹא־יִפָּלֵא מִמְּךָ֖ כָּל־דָּבָֽר) literally means 'nothing is too wonderful/difficult/extraordinary for you.' No situation exceeds God's ability; no problem lacks solution; no promise is impossible to fulfill.
This confession of God's omnipotence frames Jeremiah's struggle to understand how the field he just purchased has any value when Babylon will conquer the land (vv. 24-25). He doesn't doubt God's promise—he purchased the field in obedience—but he struggles to comprehend how God will fulfill it. This models mature faith: we trust God even when we don't understand His ways. Isaiah 55:8-9 reminds us that God's thoughts and ways are higher than ours.
Paul echoes this confidence in God's power: with God 'all things are possible' (Matthew 19:26); He 'is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think' (Ephesians 3:20). When God promises something, His power guarantees its fulfillment regardless of obstacles. When we doubt whether God can fulfill His promises, we should remember: He created everything that exists. Compared to that, what is too hard?