Focused Passage

Jeremiah 9:23-24

Let the One Who Boasts Boast in Knowing the LORD

The chapter moves from Jeremiah's overwhelming grief, to the LORD's exposure of a society trained in falsehood, to the refining judgment of the people, to a lament over ruined land and scattered bones, to the summoning of mourning women, to the call to reject boasting in wisdom, strength, and riches, and finally to the warning that outward circumcision without heart reality leaves Judah under judgment with the nations.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

23 This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength, nor the wealthy man in his riches.

24 But let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, who exercises loving devotion, justice and righteousness on the earth—for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 23

Cross-references

Proverbs 3:5 Classic cross-references 1 Corinthians 1:27 Classic cross-references John 17:3 Classic cross-references Philippians 3:8 Classic cross-references 1 Corinthians 1:31 Classic cross-references

Original words

This is what כֹּ֣ה׀ H3541 Adverb the LORD יְהוָ֗ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular says אָמַ֣ר H559 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Let not אַל־ H408 Adverb the wise [man] חָכָם֙ H2450 Adjective - masculine singular boast יִתְהַלֵּ֤ל H1984 Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine singular in his wisdom בְּחָכְמָת֔וֹ H2451 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular nor וְאַל־ H408 Conjunctive waw | Adverb the strong man הַגִּבּ֖וֹר H1368 Article | Adjective - masculine singular - יִתְהַלֵּ֥ל H1984 Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine singular in his strength בִּגְבֽוּרָת֑וֹ H1369 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular nor אַל־ H408 Adverb the wealthy man עָשִׁ֖יר H6223 Adjective - masculine singular - יִתְהַלֵּ֥ל H1984 Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine singular in his riches בְּעָשְׁרֽוֹ׃ H6239 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular

Verse 24

Cross-references

1 Chronicles 28:9 Classic cross-references 2 Corinthians 10:17 Classic cross-references Galatians 6:14 Classic cross-references 1 Corinthians 1:31 Classic cross-references Micah 6:8 Classic cross-references

Original words

But כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction . . . אִם־ H518 Conjunction let him who boasts יִתְהַלֵּ֣ל H1984 Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine singular boast הַמִּתְהַלֵּ֗ל H1984 Article | Verb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine singular in this בְּזֹ֞את H2063 Preposition-b | Pronoun - feminine singular that he understands הַשְׂכֵּל֮ H7919 Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute and knows וְיָדֹ֣עַ H3045 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute Me אוֹתִי֒ H853 Direct object marker | first person common singular that כִּ֚י H3588 Conjunction I אֲנִ֣י H589 Pronoun - first person common singular am the LORD יְהוָ֔ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular who exercises עֹ֥שֶׂה H6213 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular loving devotion חֶ֛סֶד H2617 Noun - masculine singular justice מִשְׁפָּ֥ט H4941 Noun - masculine singular and righteousness וּצְדָקָ֖ה H6666 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular on the earth בָּאָ֑רֶץ H776 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular for כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction I delight חָפַ֖צְתִּי H2654 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular in these things בְאֵ֥לֶּה H428 Preposition-b | Pronoun - common plural declares נְאֻם־ H5002 Noun - masculine singular construct the LORD יְהוָֽה׃ס H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular

BSB notes

Cited in 1 Corinthians 1:31 and 2 Corinthians 10:17
Forms of the Hebrew chesed are translated here and in most cases throughout the Scriptures as loving devotion; the range of meaning includes love, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, and mercy, as well as loyalty to a covenant.

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