Jeremiah 33:7
And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first.
Original Language Analysis
וַהֲשִֽׁבֹתִי֙
to return
H7725
וַהֲשִֽׁבֹתִי֙
to return
Strong's:
H7725
Word #:
1 of 9
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
2 of 9
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
שְׁב֣וּת
And I will cause the captivity
H7622
שְׁב֣וּת
And I will cause the captivity
Strong's:
H7622
Word #:
3 of 9
exile, concretely, prisoners; figuratively, a former state of prosperity
יְהוּדָ֔ה
of Judah
H3063
יְהוּדָ֔ה
of Judah
Strong's:
H3063
Word #:
4 of 9
jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
וְאֵ֖ת
H853
וְאֵ֖ת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
5 of 9
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
שְׁב֣וּת
And I will cause the captivity
H7622
שְׁב֣וּת
And I will cause the captivity
Strong's:
H7622
Word #:
6 of 9
exile, concretely, prisoners; figuratively, a former state of prosperity
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל
of Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל
of Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
7 of 9
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
Cross References
Isaiah 1:26And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city.Jeremiah 30:3For, lo, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the LORD: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.Jeremiah 32:44Men shall buy fields for money, and subscribe evidences, and seal them, and take witnesses in the land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, and in the cities of the mountains, and in the cities of the valley, and in the cities of the south: for I will cause their captivity to return, saith the LORD.Jeremiah 29:14And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.Jeremiah 31:4Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry.Psalms 85:1LORD, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.Psalms 126:4Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.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 42:10If ye will still abide in this land, then will I build you, and not pull you down, and I will plant you, and not pluck you up: for I repent me of the evil that I have done unto you.Jeremiah 33:26Then will I cast away the seed of Jacob, and David my servant, so that I will not take any of his seed to be rulers over the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: for I will cause their captivity to return, and have mercy on them.
Historical Context
Jeremiah prophesied to Judah, but included Israel (the ten northern tribes exiled by Assyria in 722 BC) in restoration promises. This radical inclusion shows God's faithfulness to the entire covenant people, not just the surviving remnant. The reunification theme continues through Ezekiel 37 (two sticks becoming one) and anticipates the one flock under one Shepherd (John 10:16).
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's commitment to restore both Judah and Israel (despite Israel's longer exile) demonstrate His faithfulness to all His promises?
- What does 'as at the first' mean for restoration—a return to past glory or something surpassing it through Christ?
- How does this reunification of divided kingdoms speak to Christian unity across denominational and ethnic divisions?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return (וַהֲשִׁבֹתִי אֶת־שְׁבוּת יְהוּדָה וְאֶת־שְׁבוּת יִשְׂרָאֵל, vahashivoti et-shevut Yehudah ve'et-shevut Yisra'el)—The idiom shuv shevut literally means 'turn the turning' or 'restore the restoration,' a Hebrew intensification meaning complete reversal of exile. Critically, God promises to restore both Judah (southern kingdom) and Israel (northern kingdom, exiled 150 years earlier by Assyria).
And will build them, as at the first (וּבְנִיתִים כְּבָרִאשֹׁנָה, uvenitim kebarishonah)—The building verb echoes God's call to Jeremiah: 'to build and to plant' (Jeremiah 1:10). 'As at the first' suggests restoration to Davidic-era unity and blessing, ultimately pointing to Messianic reunion of all twelve tribes.