Jeremiah 32:40
And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.
Original Language Analysis
וְכָרַתִּ֤י
And I will make
H3772
וְכָרַתִּ֤י
And I will make
Strong's:
H3772
Word #:
1 of 17
to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant (i.e., make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutt
בְּרִ֣ית
covenant
H1285
בְּרִ֣ית
covenant
Strong's:
H1285
Word #:
3 of 17
a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh)
עוֹלָ֔ם
an everlasting
H5769
עוֹלָ֔ם
an everlasting
Strong's:
H5769
Word #:
4 of 17
properly, concealed, i.e., the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e., (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial
אֲשֶׁ֤ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֤ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
5 of 17
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
לֹֽא
H3808
לֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
6 of 17
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
אָשׁוּב֙
with them that I will not turn away
H7725
אָשׁוּב֙
with them that I will not turn away
Strong's:
H7725
Word #:
7 of 17
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
מֵאַ֣חֲרֵיהֶ֔ם
from them
H310
מֵאַ֣חֲרֵיהֶ֔ם
from them
Strong's:
H310
Word #:
8 of 17
properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
לְהֵיטִיבִ֖י
to do them good
H3190
לְהֵיטִיבִ֖י
to do them good
Strong's:
H3190
Word #:
9 of 17
to be (causative) make well, literally (sound, beautiful) or figuratively (happy, successful, right)
אוֹתָ֑ם
H853
אוֹתָ֑ם
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
10 of 17
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
וְאֶת
H853
וְאֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
11 of 17
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
יִרְאָתִי֙
my fear
H3374
יִרְאָתִי֙
my fear
Strong's:
H3374
Word #:
12 of 17
fear (also used as infinitive); morally, reverence
אֶתֵּ֣ן
but I will put
H5414
אֶתֵּ֣ן
but I will put
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
13 of 17
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
לְבִלְתִּ֖י
H1115
לְבִלְתִּ֖י
Strong's:
H1115
Word #:
15 of 17
properly, a failure of, i.e., (used only as a negative particle, usually with a prepositional prefix) not, except, without, unless, besides, because n
Cross References
Ezekiel 36:26A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.1 Peter 1:5Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.Isaiah 55:3Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.Jeremiah 24:7And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.James 1:17Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.Ezekiel 39:29Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.Jeremiah 50:5They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to the LORD in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten.Hebrews 13:20Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,2 Samuel 23:4And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.Hebrews 7:24But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
Historical Context
The old covenant was conditional—'if you obey...then I will bless.' Israel repeatedly failed, breaking the covenant. The new covenant is also conditional (believers must believe), but God secures the condition through regeneration. Jesus is the covenant mediator who perfectly kept its terms on our behalf (Hebrews 8:6; 9:15). His blood ratifies the everlasting covenant, guaranteeing its permanence (Hebrews 13:20).
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's promise 'I will not turn away from them' provide assurance of salvation for believers?
- What does it mean that God 'will put my fear in their hearts'—how does this internal work secure our faithfulness?
- How does the everlasting nature of the new covenant differ from the breakable old covenant, and why does this matter for our assurance?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
God promises an 'everlasting covenant' that cannot be broken. Unlike the Mosaic covenant which Israel broke (31:32), this covenant is secured by divine initiative and power. Two key promises:
The covenant's permanence rests on God's unchanging commitment and His transforming work in human hearts.
This is the doctrine of eternal security grounded in divine preservation. God keeps believers from falling away not by external constraint but by internal transformation. He puts His fear in our hearts—creating genuine reverence, love, and loyalty—so that we do not want to depart from Him. We persevere not because of our strength but because of His preserving grace. Philippians 1:6 says, 'He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.'
The everlasting nature of this covenant means no subsequent apostasy can nullify it. The Mosaic covenant could be broken; the new covenant cannot. Not because it has no conditions (faith and repentance are required), but because God Himself secures those conditions in His people. He ensures we meet the conditions by changing our hearts. This is the gospel: God saves us and keeps us saved.