Jeremiah 32:41
Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul.
Original Language Analysis
עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם
H5921
עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
2 of 12
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
לְהֵטִ֣יב
over them to do them good
H2895
לְהֵטִ֣יב
over them to do them good
Strong's:
H2895
Word #:
3 of 12
to be (transitively, do or make) good (or well) in the widest sense
אוֹתָ֑ם
H853
אוֹתָ֑ם
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
4 of 12
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
וּנְטַעְתִּ֞ים
and I will plant
H5193
וּנְטַעְתִּ֞ים
and I will plant
Strong's:
H5193
Word #:
5 of 12
properly, to strike in, i.e., fix; specifically, to plant (literally or figuratively)
בָּאָ֤רֶץ
them in this land
H776
בָּאָ֤רֶץ
them in this land
Strong's:
H776
Word #:
6 of 12
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
בֶּאֱמֶ֔ת
assuredly
H571
בֶּאֱמֶ֔ת
assuredly
Strong's:
H571
Word #:
8 of 12
stability; (figuratively) certainty, truth, trustworthiness
בְּכָל
H3605
בְּכָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
9 of 12
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
לִבִּ֖י
with my whole heart
H3820
לִבִּ֖י
with my whole heart
Strong's:
H3820
Word #:
10 of 12
the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything
Cross References
Jeremiah 24:6For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up.Zephaniah 3:17The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.Amos 9:15And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God.Isaiah 62:5For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.Isaiah 65:19And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.Jeremiah 31:28And it shall come to pass, that like as I have watched over them, to pluck up, and to break down, and to throw down, and to destroy, and to afflict; so will I watch over them, to build, and to plant, saith the LORD.Jeremiah 18:9And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;Deuteronomy 30:9And the LORD thy God will make thee plenteous in every work of thine hand, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy land, for good: for the LORD will again rejoice over thee for good, as he rejoiced over thy fathers:
Historical Context
When exiles returned from Babylon and resettled the land, they experienced God's faithful provision. Yet the ultimate 'planting' is spiritual—God planting His people in Christ, rooted and grounded in love (Ephesians 3:17). Believers are 'planted' in the church, the body of Christ, and ultimately will be 'planted' in the new creation, where God dwells with His people eternally (Revelation 21:3).
Questions for Reflection
- How does knowing that God rejoices to bless us change our understanding of His character and our relationship with Him?
- What does it mean that God commits Himself with 'whole heart and soul' to do us good—how should this affect our confidence in His promises?
- In what ways does God's whole-hearted commitment to our good find ultimate expression in sending Christ to die for us?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
God declares He will 'rejoice over them to do them good'—a remarkable statement of divine delight in blessing His people. God is not reluctant or grudging in His goodness but takes joy in it. Zephaniah 3:17 says God 'will joy over thee with singing.' This overturns the pagan view of gods as capricious beings who must be appeased. The true God delights to bless His people, and this delight motivates His redemptive work. He saves us not from duty but from love.
The promise 'I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul' uses language usually applied to human commitment. God pledges His entire being to securing His people's restoration and blessing. The word 'assuredly' (be'emet, בֶּאֱמֶת) means 'in truth' or 'faithfully'—this is no uncertain promise but an absolute commitment. God will accomplish this with His 'whole heart and whole soul,' just as He commands us to love Him (Deuteronomy 6:5).
This demonstrates that God's love for His people is fervent, not detached. He is not the Aristotelian 'unmoved mover' indifferent to creation. He is the covenant God who enters relationship, who commits Himself completely, who delights in blessing His children. Romans 8:32 says if God 'spared not his own Son' for us, will He not freely give us all things? God's whole-hearted commitment to our good is demonstrated supremely at the cross.